Smartphone under $1k ... HTC Snap, Nokia E75 or other?

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taniat

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#41287 13-Sep-2009 20:13

Any opinions out there on which cheapish Smartphone/PDA I should buy?

I'm looking at the HTC Snap (because of the price) but I like the key pad/keyboard layout on the Nokia E51 so wondering if worth the extra $$$. Any others I should consider under a grand?

And what do I need to know that the shops aren't telling me?

I really just need a PDA for the calendar and contacts (sync to my laptop MS Outlook) and emergency data when I'm out of town: email (check it occassionally on one day a week), viewing documents (maybe a couple of time a year) and as a modem to download files to my PC (maybe twice a year at most). I'm a pretty boring user ... I call, text, and send pxts and videos to family. I never use TV, music or internet. A camera good enough to print photo's from might get me to spend more. WIFI to connect to my wireless broadband and a speakerphone would be useful.

I don't want to be tied to a network if I can help it and I like to travel so the phone needs to be compatible with overseas networks (US, Europe, etc)

I have a reasonable understanding of how things work but I'm no techno so it needs to be reasonably easy to setup and use!

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cat
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#255478 13-Sep-2009 22:59

Something I like is the Nokia E63 - It's $699, has Wifi, Bluetooth, and also a 2MP Camera (With a flash)
Another phone worth looking at is the Nokia 5800 which is $899, has a 3.2mp Camera, GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth and comes complete with a 8gb MicroSDHC Card for music.

I find Symbian as a phone OS very good, has never failed me in the past, there's some pretty good apps for them, and also feature-wise it's awesome.

If you are thinking about going on a plan, take a look at the HTC Magic too - I have one and love it. The smart plans really do make it quite cheap. [Phone] [Plans] - Also all 3 phones here feature Extended 3G Coverage which means everywhere you are, you get 3G coverage provided you have Voda's Reception.

The Nokia E75 is a good device, but it's a bit on the pricey side.

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RockResearch

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#255492 14-Sep-2009 06:24

I use the Nokia 5800, although it seems to be marketed as a music player, I use it more for email, maps, twitter and calling.

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fostercrif

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#255494 14-Sep-2009 06:39

Why not look at a Nokia E71. Easy to use and has everything you needed. I have had mine for 3 months and love it. My wife liked mine so much she gave her new $600 Samgsung touchscreen phone to our daughter and bought herself one.

taniat

18 posts

Geek

#255496 14-Sep-2009 07:23

Will look at the E71 but it looks to be $200 dearer than the HTC?

I like the E75 because it looks like a phone & have both keypads but not sure I want to pay that much more.

Vodafone ... hmmm I'd be more than happy to consider BUT I can't answer my Vodafone mobile in my house in Auckland (I live fairly central!) so for now have to go with Telecom or 2 Degrees.

Kyanar

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#255498 14-Sep-2009 07:35

On Telecom, the E75 is $200 cheaper than on Vodafone - so you should add that back into your considerations :) It's $850 on a 24month plan with er... 100 minutes?

michaelmurfy

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#255512 14-Sep-2009 08:57

@taniat - Vodafone reception is pretty much all over Auckland, but 2degrees roams on Vodafone too (Unless if they built one of their 2G towers close to you) - if you have a HSDPA 900MHz Device (like the ones I said) you should pretty much have no problems with signal.

btw, the E71 is a awesome phone if you want a full qwerty keyboard (Woah I don't do mornings, had to think how to type qwerty)

taniat

18 posts

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#255619 14-Sep-2009 15:40

Re Vodafone reception ...

Quite a few Vodafone people have trouble at my house. Interestingly my mother who has the cheapest Nokia she could buy has less trouble. 3G reception doesn't exist ... I can get GPRS only. Very frustrating when work provided me with a business laptop with a 3G card to connect to their network. When I asked at Vodafone Takapuna if it's possible to buy a phone with better reception they said its hit and miss and they couldn't advise me. My conclusion ... who would spend $700+ and hope for the best!!!

I got a free 2 Degrees card & put it in my phone and had 5 bars of signal so there must be a tower nearby.

My husband had a Telecom phone and a data stick on the old network with much fewer problems. XT is untested but they looked it up for me and it looks ok.

tonyhughes

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#255621 14-Sep-2009 15:46

michaelmurfy: (Woah I don't do mornings, had to think how to type qwerty)

Exact same issue here about a week ago. :(

ALSO, about two weeks ago, I was making 2 minute noodles, that I usually do in a pot, but thought I would nuke. I emptied packet of 2 minute noodles into a bowl, added hot water, placed in microwave, then actually read the packet to see how long the 2 minute noodles needed to be cooked for.

FAIL

(OT I know, but I am bigger than any of you.)

Back on topic, based on original post, why arent you looking at a Nokia 6120c ?

taniat

18 posts

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#255623 14-Sep-2009 15:48

Just checked my current phone .. a Motorola (sorry don't know what type). If I go into the networks I can see the bands 1900, 900/1800, European, & WCDMA 2100. I have it set to automatic.

taniat

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#255627 14-Sep-2009 15:54

Nokia 6120c ... can it sync calendar, contacts, etc with MS Outlook and is it readable? sorry for the dumb questions but it's not like they show you it working in store! And they are only trying to sell me the HTC in the Telecom stores ... obviously theres a big incentive on it!

michaelmurfy

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#255686 14-Sep-2009 18:34

The Nokia 6120 can indeed sync with Outlook.

tonyhughes

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#255696 14-Sep-2009 18:57

taniat: Nokia 6120c ... can it sync calendar, contacts, etc with MS Outlook and is it readable? sorry for the dumb questions but it's not like they show you it working in store! And they are only trying to sell me the HTC in the Telecom stores ... obviously theres a big incentive on it!

Yep the 6120c does all of that either via Exchange or via PC Suite on the desktop (automatically via Bluetooth too).

Its a dream phone for the price.

Highly underrated.

I have one here as my spare phone.

Paulthagerous

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#255747 14-Sep-2009 21:43

I have a 6120c as my work phone. Have only had it for a week or so, but am really enjoying it. Great to talk on, and the data tethering was very useful when at my grandparents house at the weekend :) Sounds like this would help when you are out of town. No wifi, but I wouldn't browse on it too much anyway. Haven't done any outlook/sync stuff though personally so cant comment on that side of things.

Paulthagerous

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#255751 14-Sep-2009 21:52

Oh, and as for the 2MP camera, here is a photo. You may want to download it to see it better...

Ducks

taniat

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#255755 14-Sep-2009 22:08

Wow I had no idea the much cheaper phones can do all that. The stores had convinced me that I needed to shell out for a Smartphone if I wanted decent calendar fuctionality.

When will one of the stores wake up and set up up a hireage service so you can try these things out? Even a live phone with email and calendar appointments etc setup would be a huge help. I'd certainly pay to try out a couple of phones!

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