fancy helping me pick a new phone? :)

[jamena]

time has come to get a new phone and maybe switch to a new contract...

I've just finished 18 months with a V3 RAZR on Vodafone, and although motorolas software leaves a lot to be desired and the V3 is pretty sluggish, text system is a bit poorer than others, it's been a good phone. The battery is beginning to give out a bit quick now of course, but the phone is as slim as it ever was...

features I'm after:
small/pocketable design (clamshell or choc bar)
good battery life (at least 3 days between charges with regular use would be nice)
standard memory card slot
mp3 player function (radio too preferrably but not essential)
non-proprietry headphone socket (i.e. I can plug my own 'phones into it) preferrably not via an adapter, but will make allowances for this.
non-proprietry connector where possible (V3 uses a regular USB connector for pc connection and charging which I like)

anything else is secondary I think though email/web might be fun if it's included in a cheapish contract somehow

[dave87]

V3x?

I Personally don't like it, but it has all of the features you are after in a small phone. Otherwise the ultra thin Motorola?

[sTrAnGeFrUiT!]

get the samsing e900!! small,long battery life, micro SD though..

[jamena]

hmmm... V3x looks rather chunkier than the V3, reviews aren't terribly complimentary (i.e. still has lots of problems like my V3) and the e900, while a rather nice looking phone (SD is a standard memory card format...so fine ) appears to use a proprietary headphones connection?

do any of the newer Sony Ericsson phones have proper headphone sockets?

[Koolpc]

Sony Erricson phones are nice.

[jamena]

anyone got one of these Blackberry 8100's? O2 seem to have some decent deals, unlimited email and stuff

[dave87]

Not used the blackberry, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Sony Ericsson.

The last 3 contract phones I have had have all been SE, k700i, k750i & k800i

[jamena]

SE are on the list - my gf has the w800 and it's pretty nice...just saw the blackberry and the o2 data offer and am now rather tempted by that!

[pp05]

Blackberry 8100 isn't too big.

[GeorgeTuk]

V3 based phones are hideously unreliable. It all about personal preference for the rest. The Blackberry looks good but do you really need email on the move?

[jamena]

V3 based phones are hideously unreliable.The Blackberry looks good but do you really need email on the move?

it's not necessarily that I "need" it, but rather that the vodafone deals don't look very good unless they gie me some serious discounts when I ring up...the o2 deal costs the same, or not much more than the vodafone ones, and comes with free data useage ... I'd probably use it

[5lab]

what about the new one that looks a little like the v3m?

[Apex]

I would adv against the Sonys due to the very poor design of the fast port connector, it is a known fault with these.

Nokias while limited in range and must have features are still the best, am going to be moving from sonys to nokia.

Drew

[dave87]

I would adv against the Sonys due to the very poor design of the fast port connector, it is a known fault with these.

Nokias while limited in range and must have features are still the best, am going to be moving from sonys to nokia.

Drew

Slightly Off Topic, but whats the fix with the fast port connector - will the operator (Vodafone in my case) just switch it out for a new one?

[jamena]

done a little researching...and have a few options that seemed appealing, boiled it down to the following... agreed on the phone manuf. quality. SE are definitely quite nice, and I think blackberry are pretty good too. Not entirely sure about the audio connector options on thee so might have to go check them out in a shop.

SE W850i
- orange, 12 month @ £16 per month with 200min, 75sms
- o2, 12 month @ £22.50 per month with 400min, 100sms

"clearance/refurb" SE K800i
- 02, 12 month @ £12.99 per month with 400min, 100sms

Blackberry 8100 "Pearl"
- o2, 12 month @ £30 per month with 400min, 100sms, and free data&email
- tmobile, didn't understand their pricing structure so figure they're a rip off...

of course if vodafone will match one of the better deals I might stick with them. The free data&email thing sounds very appealing but I'm not sure if it's actually worth it! advertising sucking me in!

p.s. I also foung the SE k610i for *free* for 12 months on the 3 network but I dislike 3

p.p.s. vodafone's best offer on the W850i is for me to get another 18 month contract at £25 for 200min, 250sms, and their "stop-the-clock" thing. They wanted to charge £70 for the phone but once I got through to the leaving dept it became free...still nowhere near as good as the e2save offerings though...might be time to switch networks again!

[5lab]

http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp...source=BROWSER

what about that?