Yet another "Help me with Phones" thread.

Pickers · 25-07-2011, 10:58

I'm at the end of my 18 month contract with O2 and looking for cheaper monthly phone costs.

I like the iphone as the apps are brilliant, especially a few make great teaching aids... but could be swayed to another smartphone, but I am utterly clueless as to what is a suitable comparison! I feel totally out of my depth, and could do with some advice from people in the know (thats you guys!).

I currently pay £35 per month I believe for 100 mins and unlimited texts, which I've needed. These days I find it unlikely I shall be texting as much, and I am thinking perhaps a pay as you go tarrif may be cheapest way to go, although this would probably mean spending £££ on getting a phone, unless I stick with my current iPhone 3GS. Alternatively, I trade in the 3GS to raise some funds.

I just wondered if anyone had any immediate suggestions/reviews?

Kitten · 25-07-2011, 11:03

I just moved from a 3GS to the Samsung Galaxy S2 about 6 weeks ago and I love it.

Jingo · 25-07-2011, 11:08

I'm with Vodafone on £25/month, 18 month contract and get 600mins, unlimited texts, 500MB mobile internet (I've never gone over this usage) and got the HTC Desire for free.

I can't recommend it enough - there's not been any instance in which I would have preferred an iphone, and many where I'm glad I had HTC, all whilst saving money etc.

If you use specific apps as teaching aids, it might be worth checking they are also available on Android as some of the more unusual apps are not always available; though I imagine an alternative will probably be floating around on such occassions.

Everyone will have their mixed experiences with all providers I'm sure, but I'm pleased with Vodafone- their coverage is far superior to Orange in my area and their customer service is incredibly quick and helpful - something I never found with Orange.

/twopence

Zirax · 25-07-2011, 11:12

I was just about to put a thread up like this

I'm coming to the end of my contract and I can get £140 for my Desire.

It seems that the S2 is still the one to go for. The new HTC Sensation seems to get mixed reviews, especially compared to the S2.

BBx · 25-07-2011, 12:24

Funny how everyone had iphones... then HTCs then Samsungs...

RIP iphone...

*snigger*

BB x

Kitten · 25-07-2011, 16:47

Quite likely it will go directly the other way when iphone5 comes out, I suspect there will be a lot of androids on ebay to raise funds for that. All thats happened really is that android have nicked all the best bits of the iphone and made an alternative to it, whereas before, it was a horrendous, painful experience to use anything other unless you were happy with substandard performance.

I had an HTC first which I sold to get the iphone 3GS because it was just horrible. Slow, laggy, rubbish.

Del Lardo · 25-07-2011, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

Quite likely it will go directly the other way when iphone5 comes out, I suspect there will be a lot of androids on ebay to raise funds for that. All thats happened really is that android have nicked all the best bits of the iphone and made an alternative to it, whereas before, it was a horrendous, painful experience to use anything other unless you were happy with substandard performance.

I had an HTC first which I sold to get the iphone 3GS because it was just horrible. Slow, laggy, rubbish.

Don't confuse phone hardware and OS, I dumped a HTC Hero to use a 3GS because as you say it was slow and laggy but that was down to the hardware, not the OS which I still preferred, I only used a 3GS as it was free, if I had been spending money I would have got a Desire.

The iPhone 5 will have a few new nice features courtesy of iOS5 but it looks like it will also be available on the 3GS and 4 and the big fixes (PC Free, Photos and Notification Center) are already in Android. Most people I've spoken to who've moved to Android recently love the live widgets (that I don't think iOS5 will have) and the general feeling that you can do what you want rather than what Mr Jobs or your Service provider allow you (connection sharing using wi-fi springs to mind).

Kitten · 25-07-2011, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del Lardo

Don't confuse phone hardware and OS, I dumped a HTC Hero to use a 3GS because as you say it was slow and laggy but that was down to the hardware, not the OS which I still preferred, I only used a 3GS as it was free, if I had been spending money I would have got a Desire.

I wasn't confusing them. My HTC phone was out 2.5 years ago and compared to the iphone, it was incredibly slow and unresponsive. The OS was windows mob, not android - if you like that, you're welcome to it.

Quote:

The iPhone 5 will have a few new nice features courtesy of iOS5 but it looks like it will also be available on the 3GS and 4 and the big fixes (PC Free, Photos and Notification Center) are already in Android. Most people I've spoken to who've moved to Android recently love the live widgets (that I don't think iOS5 will have) and the general feeling that you can do what you want rather than what Mr Jobs or your Service provider allow you (connection sharing using wi-fi springs to mind).

I've been using I0S5 and it's good. Lots of the bits that android fans like have been incorporated into the new OS, just as a lot of the iphone hardware bits have been incorporated into android.

Fair to say though that these are the very same live widgets that will spawn a gazillion "why does my battery only last 10 minutes" threads here and on the blue place! I don't think people are particularly brand loyal now, so will go with whichever is best or whichever they prefer, and at the moment, it's android, indeed I am using android, but should the iphone5 be of a similar or higher standard, I'll be selling and going back over.

Jingo · 25-07-2011, 17:30

I didn't even know HTC were around back then!

Generation improvements seem staggered with release dates and so majorities swing between platforms as each competatively brings out improved models; I think it will reach a plateau soon however as I haven't seen anything in the pipeline which seems to be a real advancement over the benchmarks of 12 months ago.

Mark · 25-07-2011, 19:37

S2 /thread

[irrelevant rant]
Would have one by now because it ****es all over my ex-3GS, but it would need Android to have a clue about accessibility - which despite iOS showing how it should be done is still patchy at best (and doesn't do the features that I need at all).

So I've had to tough it out since May with an old SPV for phone and a recently-acquired BlackBerry 8800 for internet and maps (IE on WinMo is ****e even if it does have 3G, and Maps and Opera both just about kill the SPV because it's so old). If the new iPhone isn't out September I may just have to throw in the towel and get a 4 even though I don't like them.
[/irrelevant rant]

25-07-2011, 10:58	#1
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	Yet another "Help me with Phones" thread. I'm at the end of my 18 month contract with O2 and looking for cheaper monthly phone costs. I like the iphone as the apps are brilliant, especially a few make great teaching aids... but could be swayed to another smartphone, but I am utterly clueless as to what is a suitable comparison! I feel totally out of my depth, and could do with some advice from people in the know (thats you guys!). I currently pay £35 per month I believe for 100 mins and unlimited texts, which I've needed. These days I find it unlikely I shall be texting as much, and I am thinking perhaps a pay as you go tarrif may be cheapest way to go, although this would probably mean spending £££ on getting a phone, unless I stick with my current iPhone 3GS. Alternatively, I trade in the 3GS to raise some funds. I just wondered if anyone had any immediate suggestions/reviews? __________________ Pictures

25-07-2011, 11:03	#2
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I just moved from a 3GS to the Samsung Galaxy S2 about 6 weeks ago and I love it. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

25-07-2011, 11:08	#3
Jingo Smother me in chocolate and eat flapjacks with it! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Somerset Posts: 1,854	I'm with Vodafone on £25/month, 18 month contract and get 600mins, unlimited texts, 500MB mobile internet (I've never gone over this usage) and got the HTC Desire for free. I can't recommend it enough - there's not been any instance in which I would have preferred an iphone, and many where I'm glad I had HTC, all whilst saving money etc. If you use specific apps as teaching aids, it might be worth checking they are also available on Android as some of the more unusual apps are not always available; though I imagine an alternative will probably be floating around on such occassions. Everyone will have their mixed experiences with all providers I'm sure, but I'm pleased with Vodafone- their coverage is far superior to Orange in my area and their customer service is incredibly quick and helpful - something I never found with Orange. /twopence __________________

25-07-2011, 16:47	#6
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	Quite likely it will go directly the other way when iphone5 comes out, I suspect there will be a lot of androids on ebay to raise funds for that. All thats happened really is that android have nicked all the best bits of the iphone and made an alternative to it, whereas before, it was a horrendous, painful experience to use anything other unless you were happy with substandard performance. I had an HTC first which I sold to get the iphone 3GS because it was just horrible. Slow, laggy, rubbish. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher Last edited by Kitten; 25-07-2011 at 16:50.

25-07-2011, 17:30	#9
Jingo Smother me in chocolate and eat flapjacks with it! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Somerset Posts: 1,854	I didn't even know HTC were around back then! Generation improvements seem staggered with release dates and so majorities swing between platforms as each competatively brings out improved models; I think it will reach a plateau soon however as I haven't seen anything in the pipeline which seems to be a real advancement over the benchmarks of 12 months ago. __________________

25-07-2011, 11:12	#4
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	I was just about to put a thread up like this I'm coming to the end of my contract and I can get £140 for my Desire. It seems that the S2 is still the one to go for. The new HTC Sensation seems to get mixed reviews, especially compared to the S2.

25-07-2011, 12:24	#5
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	Funny how everyone had iphones... then HTCs then Samsungs... RIP iphone... snigger BB x

25-07-2011, 19:37	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	S2 /thread [irrelevant rant] Would have one by now because it **es all over my ex-3GS, but it would need Android to have a clue about accessibility - which despite iOS showing how it should be done is still patchy at best (and doesn't do the features that I need at all). So I've had to tough it out since May with an old SPV for phone and a recently-acquired BlackBerry 8800 for internet and maps (IE on WinMo is **e even if it does have 3G, and Maps and Opera both just about kill the SPV because it's so old). If the new iPhone isn't out September I may just have to throw in the towel and get a 4 even though I don't like them. [/irrelevant rant]