Help me choose a new phone

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Ben

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#9158 25-Aug-2006 22:27

I'm fed up with Telecom and their crappy phones, so I'm off back to Voda and GSM/Sim/cool phone land.

Budget: $600-$800
Needs to have: nice screen, pop/imap email, bluetooth
Nice to have: camera, easy text input, nice web browser

So, currently I'm looking at the Nokia E-series. Fantastic screens. No camera except on the E70 which looks a bit geeky. The E60 is currently my pick of the bunch, but no camera is a bit annoying. I can't afford an N80. Anything else in the N-series with the hi-res screen plus a camera?

What's the Sony Ericsson space looking like? I had a K750 previously and quite liked the interface. The web browser was pretty crap if I recall.

Thoughts? Comments? Help a brother...

freitasm

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#44714 25-Aug-2006 22:49

Can you wait a month or so? And increase your budget on $200? There are plenty of HSDPA-ready handsets coming out, some interesting Samsung ones (including one with a cool 3.2megapixel camera)...

johnr

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#44716 25-Aug-2006 23:05

You will be able to get a sweet as GSM 3GSM handset for that price

And yes HSDPA handset for sure

Ben

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#44720 26-Aug-2006 08:02

Ok here's where I expose my shockingly poor geek cred... HSDPA?

[edit] Ok, I got it. Next-gen GSM right?
Hrmm. But it doesn't offer me anything on top of the phone functionality other than download speeds. I read it initially as HS P D A, thinking it had something to do with better PDA functionality on the phone :D

Back to the topic, what's the thinking on current-gen phones?

freitasm

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#44724 26-Aug-2006 09:27

More like next-gen WCDMA (UMTS in some literature). WCDMA and GSM are different technologies, completely unrelated. It just happens that the provider is the same, here in New Zealand.

Anyway, your major benefit will be an enhanced speed, but if you buy your 3G model now and in a few months time you decide you want it, you will have invested on a handset that's lot its value - like a new car when leaving the seller's patio.

alasta

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#44730 26-Aug-2006 11:07

Ben: So, currently I'm looking at the Nokia E-series. Fantastic screens. No camera except on the E70 which looks a bit geeky. The E60 is currently my pick of the bunch, but no camera is a bit annoying. I can't afford an N80. Anything else in the N-series with the hi-res screen plus a camera?

What's the Sony Ericsson space looking like? I had a K750 previously and quite liked the interface. The web browser was pretty crap if I recall.

Sony Ericsson's V630 should be released soon, and is definitely worth considering. I suspect that Vodafone are holding out on it while they clear the last of the V600 stocks.

IMO, Sony Ericssons and Nokias are the only handsets with decent user interfaces so if you can't hold out for the V630, then you're going down the right path by looking at Nokia's offerings. The Symbian operating system found on most modern Nokia phones takes a bit of getting used to, but it grows on you.

Freitasm is quite right in pointing out that current UMTS handsets will soon be superceded by HSDPA compatible devices, but the reality is that any phone will depreciate quickly no matter what you buy. I suggest that you go with whatever suits your needs now, otherwise you could be delaying your purchase forever. If you find that you need high speed Internet access in the future, then you will always have the option of buying an HSDPA data card for your notebook.

Lipex666

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#44734 26-Aug-2006 11:56

The Sony Ericsson v630i looks like a good 3G phone coming soon if you like Sony Ericsson. Another cool phone is the ultra slim Sharp 770SH 3G which is here in NZ from Vodafone.

HSDPA - 3G Broadband from Vodafone is a option if you are looking at streaming vid or mobile tv as the increased download speed will be noticable as it will be Vodafone Live on steriods. The other Vodafone opocs show Samsung phones but mostly laptop data cards is the main use for HSDPA

I still use a 2.5G phone as I shove content like mp3 and vids etc onto my phone from my pc saves on VLive charges.

But I wouldnt buy a phone just for content from Vodafone Live.

You need to go and have a play in one of the Vodafone stores as it comes down to a personal look and feel and what you want out of the phone.

There is also the new Nokia 6234 3G handset as well.

"The only way to learn some- thing is to do it"

alasta

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#44745 26-Aug-2006 15:17

Lipex666: HSDPA - 3G Broadband from Vodafone is a option if you are looking at streaming vid or mobile tv as the increased download speed will be noticable as it will be Vodafone Live on steriods. The other Vodafone opocs show Samsung phones but mostly laptop data cards is the main use for HSDPA

I still use a 2.5G phone as I shove content like mp3 and vids etc onto my phone from my pc saves on VLive charges.

But I wouldnt buy a phone just for content from Vodafone Live.

This is a good point. Anyone who is considering buying a new handset should remember that Vodafone Live services are very expensive, and it's not worth investing in a fancy handset in order to get these services if you're likely to discover that they don't provide value for money for you.

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Ben

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#44796 27-Aug-2006 20:40

OK so tell me, does the N80 support HSDPA? It talks about WCDMA in the specs...

johnr

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#44799 27-Aug-2006 20:50