Mobile Upgrade Time- Recommendations

[JayPee]

I realised two things the other day. I am due for a phone upgrade, and I have become completely out of touch with any sort of modern technology. I have been with o2 for a good few years now and the contract is up so I am going to try and upgrade through them and see what I can get for cheap/free. I'm not after anything particularly flash but being a sucker for gimmicks, an Iphone with the Vbox application could be amusing. 3G would be useful but obviously contract prices will rise etc. so I am not 100% sure whether it is worth it. Most Important features are-
-Reliable
-Decent-ish Camera
-Fair sized memory or ability to expand

If anybody has any recommendations or tips then I would be very grateful, it feels like ages since I last researched any gadgets! Thanks

[pies1981]

any good?

[arryb]

Current camera on an iphone isn't that great.....so depends what you mean by decent-ish. Would also be useful to know what sort of contract you are on because obviously, if you're on a basic £15ish contract then you won't be getting an iphone for free......

[Burba]

had a go on the G1 from t-mob and i really like it - currently on a Blackberry myself..

[paoloh]

Do not buy the N96. Just got two and both have been replaced already.

[Mars]

I just moved from Orange to O2. Orange had me on a "Talk 60" contract with no free texts for £25/month. I've been with them for years (15) and having just received an email telling me they have reviewed my contract and usage and found that I'm on the best one possible, I decided it was time for action.

So called O2 and got 200 mins and 400 texts for £20/month. A fiver less than Orange.

I'm sure there are better contracts.

Also, I've moved from a Windows phone, a truly hateful device, back to a Nokia (6500)... and my life seems less complex already.

[JayPee]

Current contract is around 30 quid a month with insurance, I don't tend to use more then a few hundred texts and minutes a month and so it suits me okay. Wouldn't mind paying a bit more for 3G web access but then again I don't really want to be checking facebook while I'm out and about so maybe it isn't a good idea?

[Danger_Mouse]

Because you have a fairly wide criteria, I would suggest you head down to the shop and try some phones.

The Iphone is a cool device but the camera is completely rubbish so I don't know how much that will bother you.

If you can look past the camera thing, the Iphone may be the device for you, however just try the virtual keyboard before buying the device. I have tried them on the Iphone and Blackberry Storm and hate the keyboards. The Storm has the better keyboard but I don't really like either.

I wouldn't consider the N96, it feels like something from the 90's compared to the Iphone and is also plagued with problems.

The G1 is a contender and will shortly be the number one device when the new devices are launched around Feb time. The G1 has probably the best browser I have used on a phone and the fact it's open source will mean there will be a lot of cool things you can do with it.

I prefer the Blackberry because of the email/txt functionality simply rocks, they are also very secure and can do all media functions like edit office documents. I'm off to get a 8900 this week which for me is a great device. There is, however one thing that will rule it out for a lot and thats the lack of 3G. Interestingly though the 8900 can load some sites quicker than quite a few 3G phones, personally I don't care as I'm not into surfing the net from my phone. The reason why the Blackberry is for me is, the ultra effective nature of the phone means I can reply to email/txt and do everything very quickly rather than faff about which affects some of the other devices.

[muckymotor]

arryb said:

Current camera on an iphone isn't that great.....

This is the one thing that puts me off the iphone, is it likely to be upgraded in the future?

[parakitaMol.]

muckymotor said:

is it likely to be upgraded in the future?

All phones are likely to be upgraded in the future.

[JayPee]

Danger_Mouse said:

Because you have a fairly wide criteria, I would suggest you head down to the shop and try some phones.

The Iphone is a cool device but the camera is completely rubbish so I don't know how much that will bother you.

If you can look past the camera thing, the Iphone may be the device for you, however just try the virtual keyboard before buying the device. I have tried them on the Iphone and Blackberry Storm and hate the keyboards. The Storm has the better keyboard but I don't really like either.

I wouldn't consider the N96, it feels like something from the 90's compared to the Iphone and is also plagued with problems.

The G1 is a contender and will shortly be the number one device when the new devices are launched around Feb time. The G1 has probably the best browser I have used on a phone and the fact it's open source will mean there will be a lot of cool things you can do with it.

I prefer the Blackberry because of the email/txt functionality simply rocks, they are also very secure and can do all media functions like edit office documents. I'm off to get a 8900 this week which for me is a great device. There is, however one thing that will rule it out for a lot and thats the lack of 3G. Interestingly though the 8900 can load some sites quicker than quite a few 3G phones, personally I don't care as I'm not into surfing the net from my phone. The reason why the Blackberry is for me is, the ultra effective nature of the phone means I can reply to email/txt and do everything very quickly rather than faff about which affects some of the other devices.

Thanks for that Danger Mouse, really useful stuff. My Dad has a Blackberry Curve 8310 and I liked all the features on that, although I can't see it offered on o2. They do however offer a new 9000 model, does anybody have any experience of these? http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phone/specification/Bl... Seems to do everything, and camera-wise I am not desperate for anything too special as for those occasions I would probably have a digital camera with me.

[nottyash]

Sony C905

[bigburd]

nottyash said:

Sony C905

+1 despite it having had a recent mechanical failure with the contacts that connect the handset speaker, workaround till fixed is use it in car kit/handsfree kit

I'd still recommended it as it has less software failures than my previous Nokias (I avoided crackberry horn and iPhone)

iphone lacks many of the basic feature such as forwarding txts, etc etc
crackberry storm...no wifi
both - I don't like being tied to networks!

[viper55]

+1 speaker broke but was replaced next day best cam yet

[Danger_Mouse]

JayPee said:

Thanks for that Danger Mouse, really useful stuff. My Dad has a Blackberry Curve 8310 and I liked all the features on that, although I can't see it offered on o2. They do however offer a new 9000 model, does anybody have any experience of these? http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phone/specification/Bl... Seems to do everything, and camera-wise I am not desperate for anything too special as for those occasions I would probably have a digital camera with me.

O2 do have the 8900 http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/commerce/servlet/... which you can see through carphonewarehouse or directly from 02.

The 8900 is smaller than the 8310, looks better and has a lot more going on and is just basically a much updated 8310

As for the differences between the Bold (9000) and the new curve (8900). The biggest difference is the fact the bold has 3G that the curve doesn't have.

I have used both. The bold is much bigger than the curve and I personally feel the curve is a better package being smaller, thiner and delivering nearly the same functionality. Incidentally the Curve has also loaded web pages quicker than the Bold in tests which has 3g.

A review of the new curve http://gizmodo.com/5071533/blackberry-curve-8900-f...

Edited by Danger_Mouse on Saturday 3rd January 14:12

[ChrisDT]

HTC Touch HD for me next, or if I change network providers probably the G1...

[lost in espace]

If you buy a new phone make sure you go through http://www.quidco.com/mobiles-utilities/mobile-pho... for cashback. I had an iphone and now have a G1, I actually prefer the G1 although its nowhere near as cool and won't fit in a docking station.

[Tycho]

I have the Xperia X1 on Vodafone and I love it.

[Lauross]

You won't be able to get the BB storm on o2 I don't think as I believe it's on Vodafone only. I have the Bold and would definately reccomend it. I had one as soon as it was released, and it was horrific, poor signal and awful battery. Got a replacement handset and I've had no faults what so ever. The keyboard is great. Only gripe is the software for PC, but you don't need to use that anyway.

[Mrs Trackside]

Does anyone know if the G1 has a good calendar and contacts function? My phone is also my diary, so the diary function is a deciding factor for me on my next phone.