The frustrating search for my perfect phone

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timbosan

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#317268 12-Apr-2010 11:45

Edwood: I had a quick look at the Omnia, but i stopped as soon as I saw that it had a capacitive screen.

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=2525&idPhone2=2691

I'll clarify my non-negotiable must haves with the bold text:
Must Haves:
- Large screen (3.5 - 5 inch)
- Stylus & Handwriting Recognition (ie. RESISTIVE touch screen)
- GSM Phone functionality
- Bluetooth / wifi /

The Archos 5 smartphonisation looked interesting, but from what I can tell, plans were announced in Sep 2009, and the project has since died.

Edit: Question... Where can I get my hands on an HTC Touch Pro2 or a HTC Touch HD? I want to have a fiddle... maybe Parallel Imported in Newmarket (Auckland).

When I last visited Parallel Imported in Queen St (last week) they have real devices on display, which you can play with, but none of the them where 'working' i.e. switched on or had SIM cards in them. I guess if you wave cash in their face they will let you play to your hearts content! They had the TP2, N900 and HD2 (is the Touch HD a currrent model? Too lazy to Google yet another phone

). Otherwise try Digi Parallel Imports in the middle of Queen St.

There is another ANOTHER mobile phone shop in Newmarket, saw it on the weekend, about 10 shops down from Parallel Imports (towards 277). Is the number of import shops in direct corrolation with the health of the economy or something??? Almost more of them than there is Starbuck stores!!!

Edwood

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#317438 12-Apr-2010 17:46

I shot into Digi Parallel Importers, and manhandled the HTC Touch HD2.

It felt good, and @ 4.3" felt like it would have enough real estate for me. I also handled the Touch Pro-2 which was just too small - it appeared smaller than my iPhone screen. At the time, I thought the Touch HD and Touch HD2 were the same size - which they are totally not.

Touch HD2:    4.3"
Touch HD:   3.8"
Touch Pro2:    3.6"
iPhone:          3.5"

I'm really tempted to change my specs to be a screen over 4". This really limits the field, and I'm starting to feel like I'm gonna just have to wait for someone to make something :(. (or maybe try a dodgey tramde MyPad, or even that HTC Advantage).

Edit: (below)...

When I restrict my search to 4"+ screen phones, we are left with very little choice

This sharp phone would be awesome. I don't like the colour, but I would dearly love to have a slide out phone with a 4" screen and stylus. This is perfect for texting one-handed, and perfect for all my other stylusey stuff.

However, it's a Japanase only thing, so we are left with my old HTC Advantage (which I'm seriously thinking about importing), and this Toshiba TG01 which I can buy from a parallel importer for just short of $1000.

The Toshiba is also reasonably ugly, and I'll have to find some user reviews. I think I just wrote it off originally because I didn't trust Toshiba to make me a cell phone. However, it seems to tick all my boxes, so it's going straight to my very short short-list.

NZtechfreak

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#317441 12-Apr-2010 17:56

Yep, I can attest that my HD2 feels great in the hand! Excellent screen.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

Edwood

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#317445 12-Apr-2010 18:07

Oops - I forgot to mention... the Toshiba TG01 stupidly has no place to hold the stylus! The stylus is a extra hanger-on-er-er! Thats just stoopid. :(

Why does nobody realise that I am a legitimate market here! Make me a 4.5" resitive stylusey touch screen phone you silly handset peeps!

NZtechfreak

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#317464 12-Apr-2010 19:00

Check out the user review for the TG01 at mobile-review forums. Its a good handset once you install a UI replacement like SPB Mobile Shell.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
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Edwood

218 posts

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#317611 13-Apr-2010 07:22

It just seems so stupid to me that there is no housing for the stylus :(. Presumably though, I can just use any old pen or fine tipped piece of stick lying around.

I wish I could have the HD2 with a resitive screen. I love the fact that the screen goes close to the edges of the device (unlike the TG01 or HTC Advantage).

I'm torn. Do I wait? Is someone going to meet my needs? Is the stylus / resistive screens really going to be considered a thing of the past that nobody wants any more? Maybe I'll write to HTC and ask them to make me a phone.

This feels like another sad and unfulfiling end to my frustrating search. :(

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Mattnzl

282 posts

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#317614 13-Apr-2010 07:49

Edwood - read your PM. I have an Advantage you can try out.

Edwood

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#317635 13-Apr-2010 09:08

Hey! Thanks Mattnzl... I've replied to your PM.

You may as well answer this question in thread...

Is it possible to use the Advantage as a traditional phone, or are you forced to use speakerphone/bluetooth?

Thanks muchly!

BlueToothKiwi

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#317638 13-Apr-2010 09:13

I'm torn. Do I wait? (

Yes - wait. You got two good devices that keeps you going in the mean time.

Tim M, Auckland
Blog: http://paddler.co.nz

timbosan

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#317704 13-Apr-2010 11:41

Edwood: It just seems so stupid to me that there is no housing for the stylus :(. Presumably though, I can just use any old pen or fine tipped piece of stick lying around.

I wish I could have the HD2 with a resitive screen. I love the fact that the screen goes close to the edges of the device (unlike the TG01 or HTC Advantage).

I'm torn. Do I wait? Is someone going to meet my needs? Is the stylus / resistive screens really going to be considered a thing of the past that nobody wants any more? Maybe I'll write to HTC and ask them to make me a phone.

This feels like another sad and unfulfiling end to my frustrating search. :(

Edwood, if you REALLY like the HD2 (which is amazing device, just capacitive screen) then HTC have just released a STYLUS JUST FOR THE HD2!!! Might be the answer to your problems:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/official-htc-capacitive-stylus-for-hd2-now-shipping

I am unsure as to the accuracy, I would guess it would be like the stylus on the HP tablets (I have a TC1100 for a while, fantastic and still regret selling it).

Would this make the HD2 a contender?

Edwood

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#317712 13-Apr-2010 11:56

Nah, I've looked at the officia HD2 Stylus, and it is not designed for notetaking. It is simply designed to let you manage the user interface with your stylus.

The pictures are craftily taken so you can't see the crayon like end of the stylus.

I posted some youTube clips earlier which show how this device works.
The end of it is basically a circle (think 5c piece), with a hole in the middle... it simulates a finger. Unfortunately, nothing like my tablet pen...

I'm really tempted to think about buying this Touch HD... but also really tempted to just wait and see what the device manfacturers do with Windows Mobile 7.

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BlueToothKiwi

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#318134 13-Apr-2010 23:02

just wait and see what the device manfacturers do with Windows Mobile 7.

I hope that the new Windows 7 devices don't all end up looking like the new Windows Pink devices announced this week

Tim

Tim M, Auckland
Blog: http://paddler.co.nz

Kiwipixter

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#318138 13-Apr-2010 23:32

Edwood: Nah, I've looked at the officia HD2 Stylus, and it is not designed for notetaking. It is simply designed to let you manage the user interface with your stylus.

The pictures are craftily taken so you can't see the crayon like end of the stylus.

I posted some youTube clips earlier which show how this device works.
The end of it is basically a circle (think 5c piece), with a hole in the middle... it simulates a finger. Unfortunately, nothing like my tablet pen...

I'm really tempted to think about buying this Touch HD... but also really tempted to just wait and see what the device manfacturers do with Windows Mobile 7.

You'll be waiting for a long time. WP7 devices won't have stylus input and I doubt will have 5" screens either. Unfortunately, technology advancement and user preference means stylus input will be regulated to devices for the vertical market. Get the Touch HD or HD2 with a 3rd party app for note taking with a stylus. Otherwise look on trademe for second hand Windows Mobile devices with brands like imate, okta, O2 etc...

Edwood

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#318402 14-Apr-2010 15:34

Well, my near-new HTC Advantage X7500 has arrived today... I picked it up cheap enough to just give it a go - Mattnzl in this thread - Thanks Matt!

I look forward to trying it out and seeing if it can work for me.

Failing that, the only real option today is the HTC Touch HD - the above one sold for $500, and I'm already wishin I'd bought in... Oh well, many more fish in the sea.

No stylus inputs for Winmo7 devices!? How disappointing!

Vee shall see!

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