Buying my first smart phone - Should it be an Iphone?

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Kiwiteacher

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#85013 11-Jun-2011 09:52

Hiya

I don't know much about phones but am wanting to buy a smart phone.

My husband has an N8 but I think its got crap reception.

I was sent an android from Vodafone but it was painfully slow and not responsive so sent it back and now with 2deg with an old phone so need to be proactive.

I want a great camera/video, reception, texting so needs to be responsive, and the usual websites - fb, email.

Some sites I know about have apps but don't know much about them.

Sorry if I seem dumb but would love some help.

Iphones just seem incredibly expensive but are they worth it?

Thanks in advance :)

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2degrees

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#479990 11-Jun-2011 10:06

Interesting about the N8 reception. IPhones do a lot of things well, but their radio performance is not one if them. Traditionally Nokia phones have excellent radios. If you're worried about reception where you live, iPhones (and a lot of other smartphones for that matter) are not your best choice.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

alasta

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#479993 11-Jun-2011 10:27

Personally I have never experienced a dropped call during the 18 months that I have owned by iPhone 3GS so I'm very happy with the radio performance. The iPhone 4 'antenna-gate' fiasco appears to have been a storm in a teacup since everyone went quiet about it pretty shortly after it broke, although from all accounts AT&T's performance in the US is quite poor which may have unfairly tarnished the iPhone's reputation somewhat.

Having said that I haven't really noticed any significant variance in radio performance between any of the handsets that I've owned, with the exception of the Nokia 7650 that I had a few years ago which was an absolute pig. In my view there are more important things to base your purchasing decision on.

If you want ease of use and you're not strapped for cash then I think that the iPhone is hard to beat, but I'm sure there will be a range of opinions coming out here.

Gilco2

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#479994 11-Jun-2011 10:29

I havent tried the iphone, but I tried the HTC Trophy 7 which I liked except I found screen abit small for me. I tried the Samsung Galaxy S i9000 which is excellent but I cant read black text on red or blue background and the galaxy has a blue tinge and made it difficult for me. I have the HTC Desire HD. Nice white screen, large so I can read it okay and takes excellent photos. And I have had no problem with reception or call quality so this is my recommended phone

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#479995 11-Jun-2011 10:30

The LG 2X on 2degrees would be a good choice. Not too heavy, very fast, great screen and good camera.

tdgeek

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#479996 11-Jun-2011 10:30

As an iPhone4 user I'm not aware of radio or reception issues, and being an avid forum user, never seen that as an issue raised at all.

I suggest to have a decent play with an iphone and high end android such as Galaxy and see how you like the user experience. Then go to a couple of iPhone and Android websites, check the How To guides to get a feel for general functionality and capability. And Youtube. I would take any bad comments with a grain of salt is an Apple user is badmouthing Andriod and vice versa, that is fanboy bias.

The only thing that irritates me with the fanboy comparisons is when Apple is labelled as locked down. Anybody can create Apple iOS apps and place them into the Appstore, there are heaps pf NZ related apps. The issue is that with an open OS like Andriod the creator can simply upload it to a android app site, with Apple, they vet it to ensure it is bugfree as can be, and malware free, and I assume, compliant with Apples standards. That is quality control.

At the end of the day there are many reasons to get one or the other, and no choice is the wrong choice if it meets your needs and you enjoy using it.

billgates

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#480011 11-Jun-2011 11:24

I recommend a Windows Phone. Beautiful UI and very responsive OS. It has Facebook integration built right into the OS and an upcoming major update called mango in September/October will add facebook chat, windows live messenger chat and twitter right into the OS as well. The email client has the best UI and is really good. The marketplace has 20,000+ apps and it's growing day by day. It also lets you take a photo and upload it to facebook or skydrive while phone is locked using the dedicated camera button which the iPhone does not have.

The below is a Samsung Omnia 7 handset which has an 4" Super AMOLED display and is a very fast device.

http://einfo.co.nz/shop/samsung-i8700-omnia-p-15587.html

Do whatever you want to do man.

blakamin

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#480016 11-Jun-2011 11:31

tdgeek: As an iPhone4 ...

The only thing that irritates me with the fanboy comparisons is when Apple is labelled as locked down. Anybody can create Apple iOS apps and place them into the Appstore, there are heaps pf NZ related apps. The issue is that with an open OS like Andriod the creator can simply upload it to a android app site, with Apple, they vet it to ensure it is bugfree as can be, and malware free, and I assume, compliant with Apples standards. That is quality control.

Lol

Apple don't vet for bug-free, they vet for malware, infringements and "standards".
Like the "I'm Rich" app that was a screen displaying a diamond or something and cost $999...
How did that end up in the app-store?
These days, because of the "app race", they have sped things up a bit and some stuff still gets through.

Google tries to do the same thing.
Then there's Jailbroken apps for iphones...

Again, fanboi comparisons....

My father showed me his iphone recently and I was pretty dissapointed with the price of the apps and its basic funtionality. But then I like customisation, so android is the way for me.

I'd recommend a droid or a WP7 phone... or waiting for the next iphone.

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tdgeek

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#480018 11-Jun-2011 11:53

---Apple don't vet for bug-free---

They do, as much as they can

---These days, because of the "app race", they have sped things up a bit and some stuff still gets through---

LOL Sped things up? They have long had many apps, and they get added as usual, naturally as the userbase grows the apps available increase. Andriod apps grow at a fast pace, as expected

---My father showed me his iphone recently and I was pretty dissapointed with the price of the apps and its basic funtionality. But then I like customisation, so android is the way for me---

So, you get an Android, thats what you prefer, thats fine. Many Android owners feel the same, many Apple owners don't Same for Ford and Holden, etc, etc, etc.

skyplonk

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#480019 11-Jun-2011 11:57

I had an iPhone until our house got broken into and it stolen in October last year, after that I made the switch to a Motorola Milestone, have not regretted it at all.

Maybe a bit long in the tooth now, but the Galxy S II or the Motorola Defy look amazing.

I know so many people who have an iPhone just because it is an "iPhone"... The whole social status this... If that is their reason, sweet.

On the same note, guys I know have an Android phone because it is not Apple.

It is a bit like Holden vs. Ford or Pepsi vs. Coke. All the fans of different platforms will argue theirs is the best until they are blue in the face.

End of the day, if you want an iPhone, buy and iPhone.

blakamin

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#480020 11-Jun-2011 11:58

tdgeek,
yup, like I said on the last line, whatever floats your boat, but if getting an iphone, wait until the end of the year!

OP, Go to a shop and see if they have demo phones (some telecom shops do), basic functionality doesn't depend on carrier so have a play

tdgeek

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#480021 11-Jun-2011 12:03

--I know so many people who have an iPhone just because it is an "iPhone"... The whole social status this... If that is their reason, sweet. ---

I am sure that is the case, many many reasons to buy any phone. Me, I have one, had a play with Galaxy, I just prefer the iPhone so as has been said whatever the user prefers is the best phone for him.

This same debate also appies to many other products in life, but yep, have a nice play with both

Kiwiteacher

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Wannabe Geek

#480024 11-Jun-2011 12:10

Thanks for all that.

Some I understood and others I didn't!

Yeah I think of an Iphone purely because it is an 'iphone' but I don't want to buy a name - just want to buy a phone.

All rather confusing so I am currently googling all the recomendations. Is a 5MP camera good? You can so tell I'm a novice.

Looking at the HTC desire as a friend suggested that one too (crikey my poor addled brain). What does it mean by only having one camera? Iphone has 2??

Also is an android vs apple just the operating system - just like pc vs mac? So it comes to personal preference?? Or is there really a vast difference.

Thanks for bearing with me!

blakamin

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#480027 11-Jun-2011 12:17

The operating system is different, like mac and pc.
5mp camera is good, 2 cameras are only needed for video calls with skype etc..
The apps are different... some may be available on one OS and not the other, but there are always ones that are comparable.
In the end, it IS just personal preference, even with a vast difference.
The best way is to play with both.

tdgeek

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#480028 11-Jun-2011 12:24

Googling is a good option, you can often get a good feel for the pros and cons on a Google review.

Also be specific if you want to say check a Galaxy camera, Google "galaxy camera"

When you have the phone, also use Google to get up and running quicker for say functions that aren't obviosu to you how to use, or use better.

With iPhone you have one choice, an expensive phone.Only Apple uses iOS the operating system.

With Android based phones you have a big choice on the hardware phone, as there ane many different phones using the Andriod OS. So you can choose the phone with the screen size you want, specs, price. Same for Windows Phone 7 but a smaller range at the moment.

mckenndk

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#480030 11-Jun-2011 12:32

The Samsung Galaxy S has come down alot in price lately.

Good size screen, memory, speed, apps.

It has been a good phone for the last 8 months but I will be upgrading in the next few months to the Galaxy S II depending on the deals that come out when it is released here.

I have not used one buy my work mate loves his Huawei X5.

Dion

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