Pros and Cons please help me make up my mind!

witchypoo

I'm happy with Orange, always have been in the many years I have been loyal to them. For the past year and a half I have been on a rolling 1 month contract on Dolphin10 and consistently pay about £15 a month all told. My handset is a samsung D900 and I have no real desire to change it, it is a little scratched on the number pad but it's been a really good little phone.

However, my head has been turned because my son's DS Lite needs replacing, it's his birthday next week and he really didn't 'want' one for a present as he already has one and it would not seem like 'a present' - but he does need one and my money can be better spent on something he actually wants. The offers of free DS Lites etc have caught my eye. I have been looking at mobiles.co.uk via Quidco for £50 cashback also.

My quandary is this:
Do I upgrade my orange handset for free, 12 month contract: Racoon 30, £30 a month and a free DS Lite or even a Wii which I could sell and purchase DS with some left over (this way I could even keep the new handset till it was needed and continue with my D900 till it dies, maybe even end up selling new handset if it looks like I don't need it after the contract is up) thereby keeping my loyalty points in place with Orange and keep Orange Wednesdays - although I could still get this with my kids' PAYG SIMs
or
Do I port my number over to o2 and have a free handset, 24 month contract at £15 a month (same cost as other deal over double the timescale) free PSP which I would have to sell to buy the DS Lite or trade in a game shop, the only real benefit here is that I can use my phone number to get the discount on our o2 broadband if my husband wanted to port his number to a new network when his contract ends.

I guess I just answered my own question, but advice and opinions would be appreciated even if I do not act upon it.
My PAC arrived today from Orange.
I already spoke to Orange Retentions, who do not offer gifts and I really am not that bothered about the handset upgrade yet and it is purely about the free DS and not having to pay upfront for one for my son's birthday next week - but I do feel a little silly paying for a £30 contract even for 12 months only to get the game console for no cost now.

I've done the maths and I can see my only real gain in the long run is the cashback IF it goes through OK on Quidco, since I am paying over and above what I currently pay - which covers the cost of the DS Lite and the cost of the handset if truth be told.

witchypoo

Anyone got anything to add?
Anything that I might not have thought of, that might persuade or dissuade me?

OneADay

Why phaff around entering a contract to get a DS Lite.

I had the Nintendo DS Lite (well my brother had it) - it was purchased in US. We got rid of it via ebay.

Why not just buy it for less than £100 I think outright and get a cheap mobile contract separately.

Racoon 30 12 months thats £360 - so you must be able to get a mobile contract for less than £260 over 12 months.

Oh and the PSP - I have slim, fat and Go (all 3 versions) - do not get the PSP Go, the PSP Slim is the one to get. And your son would be happier me thinks with the PSP than a DS.

witchypoo

I realize you are right about it being better to buy it now, deep down I do

The deal offers PSP slim bundled with Fifa game. No offense to PSP fans but we are an avid Nintendo family and my son (14 nearly) has a lot invested in his DS collection . He's a purist and doesn't even want a DSi which lots of companies are currently giving away! And anyway Fifa is of no use to us anyway so the thing would simply have to be sold on
Thanks for your input, it makes perfect sense.
Anyone else have anything to add?

witchypoo

I think I am heavily leaning towards upgrading on Orange for 12 months...
I kinda hate the thought of leaving them, and it feels like I won't have to pay anything upfront and spread the cost.

*edit
I ended up with the O2 deal and sold the psp which covered cost of new DS lite and a game, and my Paypal and eBay fees. Everyone is happy including my old D900 which I unlocked and continue to use