Choices? What to do? Advice on which handsets to go for.

Kazman · 18-05-2009, 4:06 PM

OK

I'm in the privilaged position to have quite a few options for my next handsets.

I currently have a Samsung i8510 Innov8 and a Nokia N96. Now, both phones are fabulous, but, I REALLY like the look of the Samsung i8910 and the upcoming T-Mobile MDA Compact V (basically a touch diamond 2).

In the past, I have not really got on too well with touch screen phones (only the Samsung ones with their haptic feedback have felt tactile enough for my giant fingers and thumb) hence the switch to the i8510 and N96.

I have an upgrade due on T-Mobile, and one coming up with Orange in July.

So, the choices:

1) Buy the i8910 sim free and offset the cost by selling the i8510. And keep the N96. Problem here is that I will have two symbian based phones, which can get a little boring.

2) Buy the i8910 sim free, get the MDA Compact V from T-Mobile as a free upgrade and sell both the N96 and i8510 to offset the cost of the i8910 purchase. Only downside to this is that I lose the keypad luxury of the i8510 and N96.

3) Wait for Orange upgrade to be due and try to get the i8910 on that. Keep the i8510 until then and sell the N96 to be replaced by the MDA Compact V. Downside to this scenario is the risk of Orange doing the wackiness on the i8910 interface. I really do not like the Orange bar that they insist on installing on most of their handsets. Oh, and can I be patient enough to wait for the i8910?!?!?

At this present moment in time, I'm favouring option 2.

Any other suggestions peeps? Does anyone know if Orange have 'orangified' the i8910 UI? Any other handsets that one could possibly consider?

Thanks in advance

Kaz

apolloa · 18-05-2009, 11:32 PM

HTC Touch Pro 2? Has a QWERTY keyboard. N97? Also has a QWERTY keyboard and is currently dropping in price sim free. Otherwise the Samsung does have a big screen, here's a good preview and at 4.30ish in you can see the keyboard in use:

YouTube - The Phones Show 78 (Samsung Omnia HD)

Kazman · 19-05-2009, 10:53 AM

That video has just convinced me on the i8910. Now which phone to sit along side it.

Hopefully with such a large screen, the telepad buttons will be large too

RobM · 19-05-2009, 3:40 PM

Obvious question perhaps, but why do you need two phones and what do you need each of them to do?

Personally, I have a Sony Xperia X1i as the keyboard is superb and it's main use is email (lots of email!) and phone calls (work phone). I then have a HTC Magic as it's main use is a web browser, media device and personal email (receiving rather than sending) and phone calls.

I guess what I'm saying, is if you list what you need each phone to do it makes it very easy to find a suitable device

Kazman · 19-05-2009, 4:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobM83

Obvious question perhaps, but why do you need two phones and what do you need each of them to do?

Personally, I have a Sony Xperia X1i as the keyboard is superb and it's main use is email (lots of email!) and phone calls (work phone). I then have a HTC Magic as it's main use is a web browser, media device and personal email (receiving rather than sending) and phone calls.

I guess what I'm saying, is if you list what you need each phone to do it makes it very easy to find a suitable device

One is more for business and one is for personal use.

The business one needs good synch and email capability, while the personal one needs to be a great all in one media device. I think the MDA Compact V will fit the bill for business usage and the i8910 will fit the bill as the all in one device for general multi-media usage and photos. Although for email usage I'm thinking the MDA Vario V (T-mobile's version of the HTC Touch Pro 2) will be a better solution for its email capability. the only downside is that I lose the 5MP capability of the Compact V. Although I don't care too much about that as that is what the i8910 will be for.

RobM · 19-05-2009, 8:41 PM

The camera on the Touch Pro 2 will be just as good... don't forget that more pixels doesn't mean a better quality image, it's just a bigger image. The quality of the sensor and lens wont be any different.

But the keyboard on the TP2 looks to be a cracker. The Touch Pro was good, just as good as the Xperia, but the TP2 looks slightly bigger, which can only be a good thing.

Since email is the main factor here, I would absolutely, without a moments hesitation, suggest the Touch Pro 2 over the Diamond 2. The software is the same, but the physical keyboard will be far easier to live with. However good on screen keyboards are getting, they are no match for a good physical qwerty.

I think the two you have chosen (TP2 and Omnia HD) are a superb choice though

Kazman · 02-06-2009, 12:43 AM

Right......things are now even more complicated.

Priorities have changed a little. The i8910 has shown itself to be a fabulous device!! The touch screen is excellent, it's so good that writing emails and texts is incredibly easy with the large touchscreen, it is even easier than it appears in the video earlier in the thread.

The i8910 HD is a large phone, so I'm now thinking that the second phone need not be so large, the Vario V is comparable in size to the i8910 HD. I would still prefer a smartphone type device, but now it doesn't need to have a full qwerty keypad.

I'm thinking of reverting back to the original choice of the MDA Compact V. The problem there though is that I haven't heard glowing reviews of it yet, heard lots of complaints, but not enough praise of its sister phone, the Diamond 2.

Mind you, there is another choice......keep the N96 that I currently have and get T-Mobile to give me a laptop as the freebie instead. Actually no, the i8910 HD already has a Symbian O/S, so something different would be welcome.

When are t-mobile updating the G1? Anyone know? Man this is a hard decision.....

apolloa · 02-06-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazman

Right......things are now even more complicated.

Priorities have changed a little. The i8910 has shown itself to be a fabulous device!! The touch screen is excellent, it's so good that writing emails and texts is incredibly easy with the large touchscreen, it is even easier than it appears in the video earlier in the thread.

The i8910 HD is a large phone, so I'm now thinking that the second phone need not be so large, the Vario V is comparable in size to the i8910 HD. I would still prefer a smartphone type device, but now it doesn't need to have a full qwerty keypad.

I'm thinking of reverting back to the original choice of the MDA Compact V. The problem there though is that I haven't heard glowing reviews of it yet, heard lots of complaints, but not enough praise of its sister phone, the Diamond 2.

Mind you, there is another choice......keep the N96 that I currently have and get T-Mobile to give me a laptop as the freebie instead. Actually no, the i8910 HD already has a Symbian O/S, so something different would be welcome.

When are t-mobile updating the G1? Anyone know? Man this is a hard decision.....

News in the US at least of soon:

T-Mobile USA: next Android set coming "early summer"

HTC also have an event in London on June 24th announcing a new device, engadget think it may a new Android phone with HTC's own skin interface, like it's touch flow.

Have you read these HTC Diamond 2 reviews:

HTC Touch Diamond2 review: Director’s cut - GSMArena.com

Review of HTC's crown jewel, the Touch Diamond2 review

Kazman · 17-06-2009, 4:38 PM

Well, after a little bit of a run-around from T-Mobile I've finally managed to order an MDA Compact V.

Looking forward to it, should arrive tomorrow.

So, I'm happy again, got my Samsung i8910 and it's being accompanied by the MDA Compact V (HTC Diamond 2). I'll be in bright and early at work tomorrow, waiting impatiently for the postman