View Full Version : Phone musings
I'll quite probably be in a position to either A) get out of my contract or b) blag a new phone in the coming weeks, so I've been having a look around. Now, I like my PDA, and I like Windows Mobile. Obviously XDA-type devices have been around for some time, but what I dont want to buy in a phone is kind of a given for the hybrids - size.
There is, supposedly, light at the end of the tunnel for me, in the form of the XDA Graphite (http://www.my-xda.com/alreadyHaveGraphite.html). A phone running Windows mobile rather than a PDA that can make calls - perfect on paper.
Reviews are somewhat polarised and I've yet to find one to look at myself in an o2 shop. I'm trying to decide if it would be worth a risk, so I don't suppose anyone has used/seen one?
[edit]Though the spec says WM5, it will either come pre-loaded with WM6 or I can do the upgrade myself.
110x47x18mm, 105g. It's smaller, but not that much smaller.
SPV E650 is similar dimensions, but possibly not your style (knowing what you're like :p)
Length doesn't really bother me (fnarrrr!), my old 6210 (I think that was it) was pretty long for it's day but I liked it.
Well, here (http://www.business.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Business&c=OUKDevice&cid=1044134892703)'s the E650 details if you've not seen it.
I'll take a look :) Similar in dimensions yet somehow looks chunkier :S
No touch screen though eh? Hmmm.....
Matblack
07-09-2007, 09:41
Benq T80?
http://www.slashphone.com/104/8195.html
MB
Looks smart but I guess it wont be Windows Mobile?
No touch screen though eh? Hmmm.....
Not really bothered though, not like I've had it on any of my other phones :p
Ok, so after thinking I had a fight on my hands to get away from O2, I think my 1 and only letter was written pretty well, as I'm free... and they didnt even tell me, just cut me off ;D
So I'm properly on the hunt now. Decided to look at things from a different point of view and find a data friendly network, which leaves 3 and T-Mobile really. On T-Mobile there's the MDA Touch...
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/phones/pay-monthly/t-mobile/mda-touch/overview/
http://www.tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2007/08/15/htc_touch_review_1 (good read)
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/gallery/index.phtml/review/2381/REVIEW-2381-63eb652c62f59c0dc9b684bdb36de9b5.jpg (good pics)
I'd probably buy one now if it had 3G, but it unfortunately doesn't. Though having said that it probably wouldn't be as small if it had. The little 3D cube looks cute too - Even if it isn't useful it has a party piece. The today app is swish too. If anyone can find something similar with 3G then speak now!
Does anybody know much about T-Mobile's tariff's and how they work (lo Alex)? What about customer service, decent rep?
leowyatt
22-09-2007, 16:07
We're with t-mobile, what do you want to know? Data tarriff if you're going to use the web alot get the web 'n walk which is 7.50 a month but you can't use your phone as modem (this is actually tosh as I've used my 6021 with the iBook at Chester and that connected to the web with no problems)
Depending on how much you use your phone for texts and calls I'd suggest the Flex 35 with wnw which should probably come to around £35 a month. I've had that for the last 18 months and it's very rarely gone over £40, on Orange I regularly had £50-£60 bills:(
I was looking at Flex 25 with WnW. My last O2 bill said I used 121 minutes and 55 texts, and I exceeded my 100K data allowance which cost me >£5 :rolleyes: 27.50 a month and I'd all be covered :)
In the FUP for WnW they say 'Not applicable to connection via CSD', which I presume is their way of saying no modem use, but I'm not sure how they'd tell depending on what I was doing. Not that I'd do it without 3G anyway.
I need to decide how important 3G is to me really. I know it'll only be mega useful as a modem to the laptop, I can live without it on the phone itself - it'll sync with Exchange happily enough over GPRS, rarely will I pull attachments.
[edit]27.50 on a 12 month contract I should say. Which is a bonus :)
leowyatt
22-09-2007, 16:19
well I've used my phone with the iBook quite a few times and there is no way for them to tell, it's just a case of getting it to work :)
Flex 25 sounds good, I'm actually going to drop wnw myself when I upgrade in a couple of weeks and maybe drop my tarriff depending on what my last couple of months usage shows.
I suppose the other thing I should consider is that I have free OpenZone/Cloud access through work. These days you're never far from a chain hotel or a McDonalds drive through.
I shall pop into the shop tomorrow and try to get my hands on one properly.
[edit]Cool vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8-wMtuWT8o
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/images/stories/reviews/elf/compare1.jpg
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/images/stories/reviews/elf/compare3.jpg
Tiny!
CSD = dial-up modem. If that's all they bar, then there's nothing to stop you using GPRS/3G via a laptop (as was proven in Chester).
I was going to go to T-mobile had Orange retentions not done me such a good deal (I told them that's where I was going, which I'm sure helped swing the deal).
I'm very much a fan of the htc devices, and the Touch in particular certainly has a lot going for it. Shame about the 3G (probably the same issue as Apple are having).
They don't bar anything afaik when it comes to using it as a modem, it's just in the T&Cs that you don't do it. I'd doubt you'd have any problems using it occassionally though.
The more I think about it the more the my free wifi access is making it less of an issue. I can sync over GPRS/Edge which is definitely something I want to do wherever I am, casual browser/MSN access will be fine, and for the handful of times I'll be out with my laptop, wanting to use broadband and not be in spitting distance of a McD's, it isnt worth it really. The more I see video's of it working the more I want it:
http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Page=8&Id=3442
Obviously the 'big finger' interface wont extend to everything underneath it in WM, but it doesn't need to, the main things you need to access regularly on a phone are covered perfectly well.
Heheheeeee.
Love it love it love it :D Though I'm in the new toy phase right now so excuse the bias :p Was impressed when I plugged it into laptop and Vista did this:
http://dwuk.net/misc/mds.jpg
Got it spot on right down to brand. Told me I had new photos ready to import, asked me if I would like to throw some music at it from media player's library (came with a 1GB micro-sd card which is a bonus). You have to use more pressure than I thought you would with this touchflo shiznit but I'm getting used to it.
Mostly though I cant get over how small it is. One of the thinnest phone's I've ever owned, can barely feel it in my tight jeans pocket, doubt I'll feel it at all in work trousers.
New toy new toy new toy :D
That was the other phone I was tempted with, but the lack of 3G was a bit poo as EDGE isn't really that much faster than GPRS IMO. That phone does look REALLY cool though... hmm this has thrown a spanner in the works - do I sacrifice fast web for that....
How fast is it to use? How good is it for texting? Does it boot quickly?
New toy new toy new toy :D
You're as bad as me. :D
No new toy for me today. I've been landline phone shopping but feeling a bit meh about the lot of 'em. Trouble is I don't use the landline much (I'd be sorely tempted to get rid if it wasn't for ADSL), so how much can I justify spending on phones. :/
That was the other phone I was tempted with, but the lack of 3G was a bit poo as EDGE isn't really that much faster than GPRS IMO.
Oh totally. I decided that it was fine for the 2 things I wanted wherever I was - syncing with Exchnage, and messenger. It's quick enough for casual browsing, and besides, I have wireless access in the house, at work, and at most hotels and McD's round the country. I'll survive :)
That phone does look REALLY cool though... hmm this has thrown a spanner in the works - do I sacrifice fast web for that....
How fast is it to use? How good is it for texting? Does it boot quickly?
Speed wise it's fine, it's no text beast though. No physical keyboard, and while the touchflo has actually been pretty good at interpreting my fat finger presses onto the small on screen keyboard, you can't whack them out very fast, even with the stylus. No bother for me though, I only send about 50 texts a month.
Boots and resumes from standby in a flash. The fat finger friendly cube thing is great, everything you need regularly (call this, enable disable this, play music/video) can be done easily with one hand.
Looks good :D
Let us know what it's like a few weeks in too.
Sounds good and looks good. But it would be the texting that causes me worry, I tend to send a few more than 50... but it's an option. I've been reading reviews, some people REALLY didn't like it :(
Meh, different strokes for different folks.
TomTom installed now, working fine :D
IT's still tempting as it does look really cool.
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