Telecom Phone Recommendations Please...

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom Phone Recommendations Please...

egel

36 posts

Geek

#26403 21-Sep-2008 21:05

Basically, I had a phone, and I was hoping it would last until July next year. It broke last Thursday. Thus I am in the market for a new one, and AFAIK Telecom's new network is still only partially functional. I don't want to spead too much but I definitely want something that will not become hopelessly obsolete as soon as WCDMA etc does finish rolling out. Ironically, 95% of the people on my reasonably long contact's list are Telecom users, but a similar percentage of the handsets I like are Vodafone. I don't want to switch networks.

So I'm asking for recommendations as to what to buy. By all means, suggest importing something unlocked and getting a SIM for it of you think that's a good idea, I don't know enough. Anything over $400 or so probably won't be considered right now.

paradoxsm

3000 posts

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Trusted

#166138 22-Sep-2008 00:30

seriously, just visit a store, there are too many variables for the phone that might suit, memory card, megapixel camera text use most, voice use most, data use most etc. . you could always get a low cost one and wait for then new network possibly?

Avoid Samsung m300 though if you use predictive text. you cannot import phones for use on CDMA network curently.

egel

36 posts

Geek

#166156 22-Sep-2008 08:37

paradoxsm: seriously, just visit a store, there are too many variables for the phone that might suit, memory card, megapixel camera text use most, voice use most, data use most etc. . you could always get a low cost one and wait for then new network possibly?"

Yeah, I could. Would mean putting up with a junk phone for the best part of a year though. I'll think about it.
With regards to going to store, is it just me or are most of the staff always idiots?

paradoxsm: Avoid Samsung m300 though if you use predictive text. you cannot import phones for use on CDMA network curently.

From that I assume the m300's predictive system is generally a pain in some form or other? As it happens I'm not a fan of predictive text anyway. And I didn't know that about CDMA phones. Cheers for the advice.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#166164 22-Sep-2008 09:20

The new network has been delayed (I think they announced when it would launch – Easter maybe?). The CDMA network is still going to remain active for at least 3 years after that, so, other than roaming limitations that exist today with CDMA, unless you are planning to have your phone longer than that I wouldn’t worry too much about it becoming obsolete.

As fart as which handset to choose, you don’t really say what you would be using it for so it is pretty hard to give a recommendation. The Sanyo range are generally good phones with a good GUI and good features. Try the Sanyo 6650 for a reasonable budget phone, or the Sanyo 8500 for a more expensive version but with more features. The LG Groove is pretty good as a music device – and very good value considering it’s feature set, but may not be your ‘cup of tea’ as it looks s bit strange.

ETA: and steer clear of Samsung’s – the GUI is not so great IMO

egel

36 posts

Geek

#166174 22-Sep-2008 09:44

NonprayingMantis: The new network has been delayed (I think they announced when it would launch – Easter maybe?). The CDMA network is still going to remain active for at least 3 years after that, so, other than roaming limitations that exist today with CDMA, unless you are planning to have your phone longer than that I wouldn’t worry too much about it becoming obsolete.

Ah well, thats really good to know. More than likely I'll want a new phone by then. 3 years after Easter is a long time in terms of tech.

NonprayingMantis: As fart as which handset to choose, you don’t really say what you would be using it for so it is pretty hard to give a recommendation. The Sanyo range are generally good phones with a good GUI and good features. Try the Sanyo 6650 for a reasonable budget phone, or the Sanyo 8500 for a more expensive version but with more features. The LG Groove is pretty good as a music device – and very good value considering it’s feature set, but may not be your ‘cup of tea’ as it looks s bit strange.

ETA: and steer clear of Samsung’s – the GUI is not so great IMO

Hmm, the Groove does look a little odd, but I could probably get used to it.. Sorry, I should have thought of indicating what I'd be using it for. Basically, a moderate amount of calling and texting. Not bothered by music features or anything. And I hate interface lag. I also want to buy it Open Term, which means the handsets are all going to be quite abit more expensive than the advertised prices :( Does that help at all? The Nokia 6275 is the same price as the 8500, any idea how they compare? Still, they're both $499 Open Term. The Sanyo 6650 looks pretty good for the price though.

Pray tell, exactly how bad are the Samsung's GUIs? I've heard the same (i.i that they're bad) from others but never used one.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#166185 22-Sep-2008 10:16

It’s hard to describe, but basically the texting is really unintuitive, some Samsungs don’t even have dictionaries where you can save words you regularly type, and all the functions seem to require a lot more button presses to get things done.

I have used the 8500 for while, and definitely prefer it to the 6275 (I work for Telecom and have played with the 6275 quite a bit) – but it comes down to individual preference and what you are used to. I prefer the Sanyo GUI to the Nokia one. Both phones are good though. I would suggest finding one of the Telecom stores where you can actually have a play with the live phones (Albany, St Lukes, Queensgate, Newmarket) instead of relying on the staff to tell you how it works. Then you can see which one you prefer to use.

I’ve found the battery life to be ridiculously long on the 8500 – unusual for a slim phone.

Opinions are my own and not necessarily that of my employer.

egel

36 posts

Geek

#166190 22-Sep-2008 10:26

NonprayingMantis: It’s hard to describe, but basically the texting is really unintuitive, some Samsungs don’t even have dictionaries where you can save words you regularly type, and all the functions seem to require a lot more button presses to get things done.

I have used the 8500 for while, and definitely prefer it to the 6275 (I work for Telecom and have played with the 6275 quite a bit) – but it comes down to individual preference and what you are used to. I prefer the Sanyo GUI to the Nokia one. Both phones are good though. I would suggest finding one of the Telecom stores where you can actually have a play with the live phones (Albany, St Lukes, Queensgate, Newmarket) instead of relying on the staff to tell you how it works. Then you can see which one you prefer to use.

I’ve found the battery life to be ridiculously long on the 8500 – unusual for a slim phone.

As it happens I'm in Dunedin. I'll try to find somewhere, because that sounds like a great idea. Cheers for the heads up about Samsungs. I guess I've gotta find time to go looking sometime this week then. Could be fun. Any other tips/recommendatiosn are welcome.

egel

36 posts

Geek

#166191 22-Sep-2008 10:28

NonprayingMantis: It?s hard to describe, but basically the texting is really unintuitive, some Samsungs don?t even have dictionaries where you can save words you regularly type, and all the functions seem to require a lot more button presses to get things done.

?I have used the 8500 for while, and definitely prefer it to the 6275 (I work for Telecom and have played with the 6275 quite a bit) ? but it comes down to individual preference and what you are used to.? I prefer the Sanyo GUI to the Nokia one. Both phones are good though.? I would suggest finding one of the Telecom stores where you can actually have a play with the live phones (Albany, St Lukes, Queensgate, Newmarket) instead of relying on the staff to tell you how it works.? Then you can see which one you prefer to use.?

I?ve found the battery life to be ridiculously long on the 8500 ? unusual for a slim phone.

nunz

1423 posts

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Inactive user

#166257 22-Sep-2008 13:12

The Nokia 3115 has lasted me three years, simple, easy to use and completely bomb proof. There is a new version of it (or its replacement a) at most TCom stores.

I have an HTC Ttitan and it keeps displaying strange quirks like not ringing more than once beofre failing over to voice mail - I tested it and it just seems to take ages to start ringing by which time the voice mail has kicked in.

THe Okta Agent is a pretty groovy and easy to use phone. My IT guy loves his.

For what it is worth.

egel

36 posts

Geek

#166276 22-Sep-2008 14:03

nunz: The Nokia 3115 has lasted me three years, simple, easy to use and completely bomb proof. There is a new version of it (or its replacement a) at most TCom stores.

I have an HTC Ttitan and it keeps displaying strange quirks like not ringing more than once beofre failing over to voice mail - I tested it and it just seems to take ages to start ringing by which time the voice mail has kicked in.

THe Okta Agent is a pretty groovy and easy to use phone. My IT guy loves his.

For what it is worth.

3115 eh? What's its replacement called? I think the Agent looks pretty decent btw. Thanks for the help.