[ElRazur]

I am looking to buy a sim-free phone, but it is hard knowing which one to go for. HTC Hero is my current phone, but the lag is so annoying now that I may be better off with another phone to be honest.

The BB 9700 looks okay and there seem to be many positive review about it, my only concern is just the browser or browsing experience a few people have point out online. Anyone know, how does the browser on the BB compares to that of HTC? I do a lot of surfing when am up an about so, I am not sure if the BB will meet my need here.

HTC desire may be the way to go, but then I am worried it may end up like the Hero - I.e Good at the beginning, but then start to play up after a while.

The milestone is probably the ugliest of the bunch, but I am after something fast, possibly with a keypad - but not essential. While the motorola Milestone is good too, the reports on the UI and what not is not encouraging.


Can anyone recommend which phone to go for? My max budget is around £380.

[RobM]

What are your absolute priorities? You've listed quite different phones that excel in different areas, so if you list what's most important to you and what the next phone you buy simply must be good at, it will be much easier to predict.

I've had the Nexus One (largely the same as the Desire technically), Milestone and now have the 9700 so hopefully I can add something useful to this for you

[ekinlock]

I am not the OP but am in the same boat, my iphone 3g contract with O2 is ending next month, i love the iphone but is in a mood for something different and want to go android or blackberry, my primary need is for a good internet browsing music playing phone so i have narrowed it down to the milestone or the desire, (screen ssize is important too) what i want to know if the android version 2.1 on desire with Sense is much better than the stock 2.0 on the milestone.

I have played with the milestone and quite like it, but is being tempted by the promise of the latest version of android with Sense.

[RobM]

Originally Posted by ekinlock

my primary need is for a good internet browsing music playing phone so i have narrowed it down to the milestone or the desire, (screen ssize is important too)

Internet browsing and music isn't that different between the two. I'm basing this on Android 2.01 on the Milestone Vs Android 2.1 on the Nexus, since the Desire hasn't been released. The browsers are the same, especially now Multitouch has been added to the Nexus.

The difference is in the text entry. Both have on-screen keyboards, the Milestone adds a physical QWERTY keyboard. For general surfing it makes sod-all difference, but for forum use, for email and for anything involving typing, the physical makes life easier.

That aside, there is nothing in it. The same applies to the music capabilities.

Originally Posted by ekinlock

...what i want to know if the android version 2.1 on desire with Sense is much better than the stock 2.0 on the milestone.

Better is a subjective word... but it's certainly different and adds a visual flair missing from the stock Android UI. Not that Android itself doesn't look good, but the bells and whistles of Sense are certainly nice to live with.

But whether it's actually better, whether it helps you do anything is another matter.

And do bear in mind that there are numerous widgets and homescreens for 'normal' Android to add some of this flair and prettiness without needing Sense. So if the overall package of the Milestone suits you better, but you want the fancy stuff, it is possible.

Really, what you're comparing is the form factor, physical keyboard and visual flair. There wont be much else different to worry about.

I've deliberately left Blackberry out of this reply until now as, quite honestly, your priorities are BB's weaknesses. The browser on the latest BB OS is adequate. It's not bad by any means, but cannot compete with Android.
Music is very good though, in terms of simple navigation and sound quality.

I'd suggest Android would be the better choice of OS.

[ekinlock]

Really, what you're comparing is the form factor, physical keyboard and visual flair. There wont be much else different to worry about

I thought as much, well i quite like the physical keyboard on the Milestone and the strong industrial design, if all else is equal i will be going for it, might have to go sim free though as i dont think its available on O2 from any of the independents....

[ElRazur]

Originally Posted by RobM

What are your absolute priorities? You've listed quite different phones that excel in different areas, so if you list what's most important to you and what the next phone you buy simply must be good at, it will be much easier to predict.

I've had the Nexus One (largely the same as the Desire technically), Milestone and now have the 9700 so hopefully I can add something useful to this for you

Oh thank you, thank you.

My needs are simple really I think. A good phone with good build, long battery, Something that surfs the web well - I use forums a lot when am up and about. Twitter/Email/Pop3/MS et al and some fancy looking interface will be nice.

Keyboard will be nice too but not necessarily essential.

[RobM]

Then I think what I replied above for ekinlock applies to you also, you're pretty much looking for the same thing

I'd discount Blackberry, which is an odd thing for me to say given I'm using and really enjoying my 9700 at the moment. If you had said your priority is a great phone and email, I'd give a different answer.

But Android is great for email, so you're not really losing out. And it meets your other priorities spot-on.

So as said, it just a case of working out which specific handset you prefer.

Personally, I prefer the Milestone as the physical keyboard removes a frustration with touch-screen devices.

[chrism_scotland]

Does anyone know what the battery is like on the Milestone?
I've been looking at the N900 and the Milestone seems like it could be a good Android equivalent.

[RobM]

I can't compare with the N900 and you would have been better asking this in the Milestone thread But I can say I got a touch more from the Milestone than I did the iPhone 3GS, but without turning off everything like Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G etc you'll still not get two full days use out of it.

It's about the same as most phones like it.

[Palmist]

Originally Posted by ElRazur

I am looking to buy a sim-free phone, but it is hard knowing which one to go for. HTC Hero is my current phone, but the lag is so annoying now that I may be better off with another phone to be honest.

The BB 9700 looks okay and there seem to be many positive review about it, my only concern is just the browser or browsing experience a few people have point out online. Anyone know, how does the browser on the BB compares to that of HTC? I do a lot of surfing when am up an about so, I am not sure if the BB will meet my need here.

HTC desire may be the way to go, but then I am worried it may end up like the Hero - I.e Good at the beginning, but then start to play up after a while.

The milestone is probably the ugliest of the bunch, but I am after something fast, possibly with a keypad - but not essential. While the motorola Milestone is good too, the reports on the UI and what not is not encouraging.


Can anyone recommend which phone to go for? My max budget is around £380.

mate, BB is excellent phone, there is no match for the keyboard but its no good for browsing. Droid/Milestone is a decent phone but keyboard is quite flat and uncomfortable.
N900 is a fabulous phone and keyboard is great too but maemo is no way near as advanced as android.
Your initial question was browsing comparison between desire and 9700. Desire is better by miles. 1GHZ processor is lightening fast. And the keyboard is virtual and very much like iphone. Good looking phone as well. Who knows what future beholds so I cant comment on how its gonna be like in the next few months. I have had an Orbit before and it was fine for about 2 years, needed a few hard resets though just like a PC.

[mikeossy]

Ive had the iPhone 3GS, BB Bold 9700 and now have the Milestone.

I plumed for a new phone that had a largish screen well that of the same size as the iPhone and had both physical and onscreen keyboards and although yes the Milestones keyboard is flat ive never had a problem and i used it with ease surfing and typing out long emails and forum responses.

The BB's keyboard for me is too close together and the keys are rather small, mistakes were very often and v fustrating.

As a phone its crystal clear call quality dare I say it is better than the iPhone and on par with the BB.

For me TBH I wont go back to the iPhone till the 4G at least comes out and then it would need a multiple app open software, the BB is a bit like marmite I think and I dont like marmite .