New phone choice

RobBruce · Post by **RobBruce** » Tue 29 Jun, 2010 21:38

To all the techno-geeks out there, some advice please on getting a new mobile.

I'm with O2 at the moment, but would be willing to change for a good deal.

Orange are doing the Blackberry Bold 9700 3G with UMA - which means it uses your home wifi for a signal when you live in the back of beyond.

However, the automatic reaction from most people is "Get the iPhone".
Yet everyone who has had a BB loves them and wouldn't touch an iPhone.

Can anyone shed some light for me?

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 09:22

The problem I found with BB is tiny keys. I have the Iphone 3GS and I'm very happy with it.

Prefer to have it on O2 as the signal/reaction time is much faster than with Orange.

Mad Max · Post by **Mad Max** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 09:29

I've got the Berry as I just can't abide by these touchy-feely phones. Euch.

If you've got to get one the HTC Desire seems to be the one to get, my missus has one. But still, it's not as user friendly as my Berry.

A word on the UMA though, I don't know if it's my O2 router, but it doesn't work all the time. Most of the time, but other times it just won't :S I should probably ring Orange about it... still, no regrets on the phone choice

Gio · Post by **Gio** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 09:59

I have an iPhone 3GS, which is a great phone, but don't get the iPhone 4.
It has all sorts of problems with call reception and loss of wi-fi connection, and Apple's reaction to complaints from customers is appalling.

A friend has had to get in touch with Trading Standards due to Apple refusing to replace the phone for new, even though his only had it 2 days.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 17:48

I've tried all sorts over the past 7 years but always fell back on a "normal" phone and filofax.

I love my gadgets and so that really surprised people.

I then got a iPhone and everything changed, I've not touched my filofax since and it does everything I could possibly need (which is quite varied) even watching live TV (well 3 second delay) via www.TVCatchup.com (great fort he world cup) on 3G.

Just be careful if using abroad, I just got a £400 data bill after 4 days in Portugal

(but was all work reclaimable

).

Get the right package in the UK though and its more or less a fixed monthly cost

Alex L · Post by **Alex L** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 18:04

Rob, I've got the iPhone 3GS for personal use and the above Blackberry for work, both on o2.

They're both good for different reasons, the iphone is much better for surfing the net and apps but blackberry is far superior for instant access to emails and much prefer the calender layout and how it syncs to Outlook.

If you're passing you can have a play with both if you want

GazHyde · Post by **GazHyde** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 18:33

I had a Blackberry before my iPhone 3GS. To be honest the iPhone made the Blackberry seem like a cheap toy. The only annoyances with the iPhone 3GS is the battery life and iTunes. Its a real pain in the sensitive parts. The iPhone 4 is much better battery wise though.

Not tried any of the Android phones yet, but have several mates who absolutely rave over them.

Gaz

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Wed 30 Jun, 2010 18:53

Alex L wrote:but blackberry is far superior for instant access to emails and much prefer the calender layout and how it syncs to Outlook.

The new Operating system for the 3GS makes emails even better and I use the "pocket informant" app for calander synch with outlook etc... (thats what made me finally ditch the filofax

)

I too have heard the android phones are getting better and better ?

Dakeyras · Post by **Dakeyras** » Sat 24 Jul, 2010 22:53

Jonttt wrote:I too have heard the android phones are getting better and better ?

+1 for android

I have a HTC hero with android, newer version is HTC Desire aka Nexus one (google phone). Same breed of animal as an iphone, i prefer android as it's open source and you can tinker more.

one big plus for most people i'd say for android over iphone is satnav on your phone for free.

but each to their own and touchphones aren't for everyone, in that case i'd look towards a motorola droid.

blackberrys have generally been more business focused but exchange support is there in android, and i presume so in the iphone.

i sync my work outlook (mail, contact, calendar), 2 gmails (mail, contacts, calendar), 3 other mail accounts (yes I have too many email accounts but such are the trials and tribulations!!) facebook, twitter etc. etc.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 25 Jul, 2010 10:52

Having had the usual Nokias, Sony Erricsons etc, wouldn't go back from an iphone. I'm still using the MK2 3g and its been brilliant. Thinking of going for the iphone 4 but will wait for the fuss and the glitches to die down a little. A work colleague handed me a Blackbury and felt like it had come out of a Christmas Cracker, cheap and plasticky and how anyone can use the ridiculous keys is beyond me. A large icon that you tap seems far better.

Tim.

OO 1005 · Post by **OO 1005** » Mon 26 Jul, 2010 15:00

I used to go through about 4 phones a year, until the iPhone came out, had every one since as well, now on my iPhone 4 and everything is great - I really believe the signal issues have been over-hyped by the americans, I've got one, as has my brother and a few friends in Devon and none of us have had any signal issues - at all...

Mad Max · Post by **Mad Max** » Mon 26 Jul, 2010 16:23

Mad Max wrote:A word on the UMA though, I don't know if it's my O2 router, but it doesn't work all the time. Most of the time, but other times it just won't :S

Just an update, I reset the UMA up and it's been working perfectly ever since. Good job as that's the main reason I went with the bberry

Hard Top · Post by **Hard Top** » Mon 26 Jul, 2010 17:23

I use this kit, I know that the E61 is a bit passé, but it works for me.
The 'Think Outside Keyboard' is excellent, and saves me having to drag a laptop around.

HT

<a href="http://s890.photobucket.com/albums/ac10 ... kiaE61.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac10 ... kiaE61.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s890.photobucket.com/albums/ac10 ... yboard.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac10 ... yboard.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

siwilson · Post by **siwilson** » Mon 26 Jul, 2010 22:04

I currently have a BB for work and an iPhone 4 for home. The iPhone 4 works just as well as my 3GS ever did, so I too think all this antenna stuff is a hatchet job. The iPhone can't be beat for apps, web, etc. That said, the iPhone is not a patch on the BB for corporate email. I can type 10 times as fast on the BB with its tactile keyboard as I can on the iPhone. Battery life on the BB has never ever been an issue for me and I travel a lot.

IMO, get a BB if you email or text a LOT and an iPhone if you do anything else. There really is an app for everything.

Si.

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 26 Jul, 2010 22:39

Have all the iPhone probs been in the States thus far? If so then it probably has more to do with the frequencies that their network operates on than anything else.

I did quite like my colleagues BB when I was forced to use it, and the battery life is infinitely better than my Nokia, but the techie in me is telling me to try an Android based phone next.

Cheers R.

siwilson · Post by **siwilson** » Tue 27 Jul, 2010 09:27

Robert T wrote:Have all the iPhone probs been in the States thus far? If so then it probably has more to do with the frequencies that their network operates on than anything else.
Cheers R.

No, it happens here also and I can make it do it on mine. I just lick my fingers and give the phone a grip of death across the slot between the antennae. After a few seconds the bars go down, then let go and they go back up. I have never dropped a call, even though I use the phone in my left hand (supposed to be the most problematic).

Sure, you can 'break' it but you need to want to make it happen. I have no blind love of Apple or their products, but I do like some of the things they do and object to the way this has been hyped out of all proportion.

Si.

Gio · Post by **Gio** » Tue 27 Jul, 2010 09:36

Where my wife works 4 people had iPhone 4's and they have all returned them. due to the antenna, and other issues.
I'm sticking with my 3GS for the now, which works great after I jailbreaked it

Jackster · Post by **Jackster** » Tue 10 Aug, 2010 18:51

My contract is up in Sept and I as much as I like the iphone am very tempted with the samsung galaxy s and the android OS

jamesac · Post by **jamesac** » Tue 10 Aug, 2010 19:18

i have an iphone 3g for personal and a 8810 bberry pearl for work, i hate the bb as my thumbs are far to big and i hate the way the keys lay out,

i would be looking to upgrade to the touch pro 2 though soon (when my contract expires), android OS is very quick. i was looking at the Iphone4 but i think apple are losing the market now as other phones can do what the iphone does but better, faster and cheaper!

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Wed 11 Aug, 2010 08:05

You need to read this important information.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/11 ... ting_more/

I'm sure you'll go for the iPhone afterwards

:D:D:D

Post by **Robert T** » Wed 11 Aug, 2010 11:10

OXO wrote:You need to read this important information.

Ah, but that just tells you that you are more like to catch something nasty if you get an iPhone - if you get an Android, you can keep going like a machine.

Anyway, sex is banned on the iPhone - Apple's appstore says so!

Cheers R.