Choice for phones

[durendal]

I don' t fiddle with my phone much, especially if it's a business phone. My old phone, I got it free from a subscription, so I didn't really have any choice for it. But since now I will be buying a new phone to replace the one that I just lost, I'm at a loss as to what I want. My current personal phone is an E66.

Of course I need the basics like calling and sending short messages. I'm also going to need the capability to check email, and to do that, I'm going to need a WLAN capability. I'm not really interested in a hitech phone since my primary use of the mobile phone is to call. I'm not even interested in a touch screen because of my difficulty with it when I used an LG cookie (probably because it was a n entry class touch screen). But the thought of using it is starting to appeal to me. And since this is not my main phone, I don't want to spend too much time researching for features that I might not even use.

I will try to look into the Sony Ericson, but their designs are kinda iffy for me. Major factor for me when I choose a phone is the design. Functionality comes as secondary.

[durendal]

Ugh, with time constraint and the need to have a phone immediately, I was left with no choice but to buy the Nokia C3-00. Yes, it's a nokia phone. I decided to go nokia again because I didn't want to have too many different chargers. But since both my phone are Nokia phones, I can simply use one charger. Also didn't want to get another car charger.

I was thinking of getting the Nokia 2730 but the C3-00 is very close to it's price range. Since it is a qwerty phone with WLAN, I decided to get that instead. I must say that the ease of typing message is impressive in a qwerty phone. No longer do I have to wait in between keypress for double letters. Sucky thing is that it didn't include an SD card, which is probably why its price was very close to the 2730.

[durendal]

Argh! I can't get the push mail in my Nokia C3 to work. I've managed to make it work in my E66, but the C3 just won't work. I'm using Outlook Web Access by the way, which Nokia Messaging does not support, so I had to get a third party software, emoze. It works like a charm for E66, but somehow, I can't login on my C3. What gives?

[durendal]

Ah, I had to give up my Nokia C3-00 in lieu of the Blackberry Curve 8520. This was an office phone so I had no choice. But I was forced to get an add-on data+BB plan due to the office requirement of having a blackberry service. Although the office did provide the sim, I opted not to get it as I don't want to change my mobile number and have to message everyone in my contact list that I have changed my mobile number because it is a freaking hassle. *breath*

Anyway, I loved the functionality of the Blackberry service, but I hate the phone. It doesn't have 3G so surfing is really, really slow. It's a shame too, since I can't maximize the unlimited data plan that comes with the add-on. Just for comparison, the additional blackberry plan is just $15 or 11 Euro.

[durendal]

Just wondering, is it really worth it to get a 3G enabled phone if you are a heavy data user? With my current blackberry curve 8520, I feel that the speed of the GPRS just won't cut it. I'm contemplating getting the Blackbery 9300 3G. Physically, its physical appearance as well as technical specifications are completely the same with my Curve 8520, with the exception that the 9300 is 3G enabled and has GPS, as well as support for a newer version of the OS.

[*Jess♥]

i say go for it.

3G is really the way forwards.

although i'm not familiar with your infrastructure, they might start phasing out gprs over time

[durendal]

Well, I doubt they're going to start phasing out GPRS anytime soon, as not everyone has the luxury of a phone capable of high speed mobile internet. Most of the local branded phones still rely on the old GSM network. But thanks for the moral support. I needed someone to push me to get it, as I tend to procrastinate when it comes to buying decisions. You could say I'm subconsciously looking for reasons why I shouldn't buy it.

[durendal]

Guess what? My subconscious succeeded in finding a reason why I shouldn't buy the curve 9300. I just learned that my service provider has recently added the Curve 9360 into their lineup. This is a higher version of the curve 9300 but at a much steeper price. But I can get it cheaper if I get with with my plan. Although I have to shell out a few bucks for this, it's relatively cheaper than getting an open line phone. How cheap? Probably about 50% off the market price. But since my contract will only end by July next year, I have to wait until April before I can get this phone. *sigh*

[durendal]

Well, April is just around the corner and I'm about to take the next step. All these months I was dead set on getting the Blackberry Curve 9360. But I just read an article a few minutes ago about RIM posting major loss in their financials. They also said that major key people were resigning from the company. Now I'm worried if I should continue using blackberry.

Sometimes I think that fate keep messing with me. Because this issue is giving me another reason not to get a blackberry. Even some of my colleagues have abandoned the Blackberry in favor of the Iphone. *sigh* What to do.....

[*Jess♥]

Iphone is the market leader at the moment.

yes, it's no surprise that blackberry is going down after those catastrophic network outages.

I used to really hate apple. I always avoided the ipod and any related stuff.

but when I got The opportunity of a phone contract that gives me unlimited mobile broadband, the phone that came with it was an iphone 4.

I didn't mind so much since I am aware that it is a highly developed and cutting edge technology.

so I said, yes please sir, thank you very much for this highly advanced tech device.

now I have been using it for a while, it is far from perfect. my last phone was probably more stable. but when I consider the leap forwards in advancement, I can understand. this is really more of a miniature computer rather than a phone like my last one.

If I were you, I'd listen to the fates. the fates will win in the end anyway, won't they?

even if you did become stubborn and go with the blackberry, it would probably end up as a miserable product riddled with problems.

[durendal]

I am warm to the idea of getting an Iphone, but our company issued phones are blackberry. Although the setup is simple, I find the push email of the blackberry to be convenient. I have yet to see how the push email works for the Iphone. Not to mention the amount of effort I would need to transfer all my contacts.

[*Jess♥]

I have my iphone set to sync with hotmail.

it also has settings to sync with gmail yahoo and aol.

with this synchronisation, it can use contacts and calendars.

so if you stored your contacts to hotmail or gmail, you could sync that with the iphone and they would be immediately accessible.

I don't really know about the ins and outs of push for email, but i can have my phone set up to get emails the second they arrive in my inbox.

actually I have to turn that off because it'll wake me when i'm sleeping XD

[durendal]

Oh I see, so it's similar to push mail. They "push" the "email" to your phone when it arrives. We are actually using outlook web access to get our mail. But one thing that I cannot dispense is the BBM, or Blackberry Messenger, which our office use. If I changed to another brand of phone, I won't be able to access my BBM since BBM is locked to a specific device exclusive to Blackberry. Decisions, decisions..... *sigh*

[*Jess♥]

oh yes, there is a outlook sync as well. well i say that, I am not sure how outlook works.

but it is one of the options when you want to add email accounts and import messages, contacts etc.

that BBM is an issue, I guess you're stuck if you need to rely on that thing.

I would suggest finding a different IM service but what can ya do, I guess if blackberry go under as a company, then you'd be screwed anyway.

[durendal]

Well, I finally changed my phone, but I'm still using a blackberry phone. I'm currently using the Blackberry Curve 9360, and so far I'm quite happy with it. I can now view youtube on my phone. 3G is really fast and I'm quite satisfied that I am now able to fully utilize my data plan. And it's also unfortunate that I finally took the plunge and bought a playbook. I know that RIM has a shaky future, but it's a dead cheap tablet that I cannot refuse.

[*Jess♥]

a playbook?

I didn't know you could actually buy them... mr stinson?

oh cool, you got another blackberry? well it is good for your office since you use that messaging thing. it is good that you did not get the iphone because apple is way too overzealous with their security. do you know that i can't even choose my own ringtone? If I want a new one, they force me to actually buy one from their store. I can't choose my own sound file.

as soon as I am out of my current contract, I will jailbreak this phone and do the stuff I WANT to do with it.

[durendal]

Oh yes, you can buy a playbook, you just to need to fill them up with your moves to actually be useful in picking women up.

Iphone. Yes, I understand your predicament perfectly. My brother has an Iphone and some of my friend too. A lot of people here jailbreak their phones, but with apps priced at less than a dollar, it makes you feel guilty to have to resort to "piracy". I am actually thinking of getting an iphone myself, but my principle still prevents me from getting one. Besides, my personal phone (Nokia E66) is still working perfectly fine, so no reason for me to get a new phone.

Well, that is the problem with any of Apples product, you are restricted to the amount of customization you can do. I think an android phone would suite you very well.

[durendal]

The phone I got was the curve 9360. I got it last June for $380. I just learned that RIM released the Blackberry Curve 9320, with the exception of the camera and resolution, has the exact same specification as the 9360, but only priced at $280. In fact, the 9320 has better battery life. Now I feel like hitting myself in the head.

Why does this happen to me every time? The phone I chose is always either phased out immediately or has a better version that comes out.

[durendal]

I think I'm gonna be needing a new phone soon. My personal phone, the Nokia E66 which I bought I think around 4 years ago is starting to act weird. I plugged my phone to charge it at 10 in the morning, and now it's already 8 in the evening and it's still charging. I hope it's just the charger, but if it's the phone, then I might be needing a new phone soon.

Then just like the phone can read what I was typing, it suddenly beeped that the phone is fully charge, just as I am typing this post. Really weird. I really do hope it's the charger, since I really hate to have to change phones.

Anyway, any suggestions as to my next phone in case my E66 bit the dust? I am leaning away from an Iphone and the Galasy S III is kinda big and too thin for my pockets, it's gonna break easy if I use it.

[*Jess♥]

I was gonna suggest the samsung. to be honest, I don't think it would break in your pocket. they design them to go in pockets so I think it should be ok.

I'm having problems with my phone too.

actually I've been having problems for almost 2 months. I've been passed back and forth with customer service and i'm just about getting sick of it.

I keep losing network connectivity. signal is full. but when i try and do the simplest things like a google search, it just fails completely.

I'm gonna tell them to switch my phone. I'm just fed up of all the hassle.

[durendal]

Didn't you have an iphone? So it's having problems now? That's unexpected from an apple product. Or were you talking about your older nokia phone?

[*Jess♥]

yeah it's an iphone.

it's just really really bad.

currently, I seem to be able to connect ok, but I don't know what it'll be like later.

the customer service keep telling me they have had no other complaints and that the masts seem to be working properly.

they've reset my network account and network settings and all of that. I can't imagine what could be the issue if it isn't simply my phone going majorly wrong.

actually i am experiencing applications freezing and force-quitting.

there has to be something wrong with it.

[durendal]

Have you updated to the latest OS? I hear that the IOS was recently updated to 6. An update that turns you map into crap.

[*Jess♥]

yeah totally. they destroyed the maps. it used to be pretty functional but now it's rife with misinformation and gives the most backwards directions.

actually, I went into my phone store again today. now this is interesting, they said to me that they are also having the same issues. it seems there are issues everywhere because they are messing about with 4G.

she said that apparently in some cases, it is the upgrade to ios6 that screws things up with signal etc.

so she recommended a full restore.

it may not be my phone that is the issue.

and it turns out the woman i spoke to the other day is known for being obnoxious and unhelpful and may get the sack soon.

doesn't change the fact that iphone is not too good anymore though.

google is doing some good work on their voice recognition and may surpass siri soon.

I am pretty sure my next phone will not be an apple product.

[durendal]

I don't see a big deal with Siri. Siri is not really a voice recognition program but just some nice lady apple hired and put in an office to let you think that you are talking to your iphone.

Here's the proof:

But yeah, with the passing of Steve Jobs, apple seems to be losing it's hold in the market. There seems to be less innovation in the apple headquarters. Since any new product they launch are actually inferior products compared to their competitors. iphone 5? SIII wins hands down. And the ipad mini? They have to wait until everyone has it until they released it. In fact, my playbook is actually better than the ipad mini, and I got it at half the price of the ipad mini. These days, the hardware of apple products no longer justifies their overpricing.