new mobile

jamos316

im after a new mobile and would like suggestions on what to get.
i have a iphone 3g, the main reason why im getting a new phone is that it really gets on my nerves that there is a lag when you do anything, like to bring up your contacts or messages it takes a long time where i want it to be more or less instant.
i need the wifi function and a decent camera.
my max budget is 200pound but really dont want to spend more than 150pound

MikeyMacbeth

Hi Jamos

I'm just about to change from my iphone 3gs myself - have narrowed it down to either the Experia Arc or the HTC Desire S, although if money were no object it would probably be the Galaxy S. If the camera is important to you the xperia may have the edge although the nokia n8 is probably worth a look.

Its taken me long enough but I've finally been persuaded that the iphone simply isn't worth the money now that the competition has matured a bit, although on the whole I've been quite happy with it:)

TechRadar.com I've found to be useful along with Revoo for deciding on the hardware.

If you're on contract then I really can't recommend going through the steps suggested on the mobiles section of the main MSE site highly enough, and it's definitely worth analysing your previous bills to make sure you are on the right tariff for your usage. Always worth trying the old haggle down the current contract trick although sadly it didn't work for me this time (bye bye o2 after nearly 19 years!)

jamos316

thanks for responding.
i have just discovered the 'orange san francisco' does anybody know about this phone. looking at the reviews it looks absolutely fantastic and i can't believe the price. has to be too good to be true

Jon_01

jamos316 wrote: »

thanks for responding.
i have just discovered the 'orange san francisco' does anybody know about this phone. looking at the reviews it looks absolutely fantastic and i can't believe the price. has to be too good to be true

I've got one and love it.

Got my wife one and she hated it after using an iPod touch for 2 years. Had to go and get her an iPhone.

So if you've been using a 3GS for while you might not take to Android. If you have any mates with HTC or the like you'd be best to have a play before getting one, there are differences. . .

jamos316

Jon_01 wrote: »

I've got one and love it.

Got my wife one and she hated it after using an iPod touch for 2 years. Had to go and get her an iPhone.

So if you've been using a 3GS for while you might not take to Android. If you have any mates with HTC or the like you'd be best to have a play before getting one, there are differences. . .

im not an iphone lover at all so i think i'll be fine.
a question about the orange san fransisco: in a review i read it says that orange have screwed the phone up by bogging it down with their own apps. have you found this?

T_T_2

jamos316 wrote: »

im not an iphone lover at all so i think i'll be fine.
a question about the orange san fransisco: in a review i read it says that orange have screwed the phone up by bogging it down with their own apps. have you found this?

Yup they have loaded it with orange bloatware and it runs on android 2.1 so if you aren't happy with the lag on your iphone 3gs then you won't like the OSF on 2.1. Alas, you need not worry for there is a massive voluntary development community for the orange sanfrancisco (also known as ZTE Blade) and they have created ROMs that will upgrade your phone to 2.2 or 2.3. This will remove all of the orange bloatware and make your phone run pretty fast.

check out www.blade.modaco.com for more information (google it first if you are concerned about where I am sending you.)

I should add by the way that I am an OSF owner. I am currently using the CM7 stable mod. http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices/zte-blade

jamos316

i have done my research on alot of phones and have narrowed it down to 2 chooses.
the orange san fransisco & the samsung wave gt-s8500
we already know about the o.s.f but does anyone know anything about the samsung?

T_T_2

jamos316 wrote: »

i have done my research on alot of phones and have narrowed it down to 2 chooses.
the orange san fransisco & the samsung wave gt-s8500
we already know about the o.s.f but does anyone know anything about the samsung?

The biggest drawback for the wave in my opinion is the fact that it runs on samsung's own 'Bada' operating system rather than android. As a result, you are dealing with a much smaller suppport and development community which means less answers when things go wrong, less apps and generally less customisation. For me it is enough of a reason to rule it out but it certainly has a lot of other aspects that stand it in good stead namely:

1GHZ processor (vs. 600Mhz on the OSF)

An ARM version that supports flash/iplayer (vs. ARMv6 on the OSF which doesn't support flash/iplayer)

Better battery than the OSF

Better camera than the OSF

AMOLED screen rather than the TFT screen on most new OSFs (an OLED version does exist for the OSF but it is rare)

But again, whilst on paper the phone is better, for me the fact that it runs on Bada is enough of a reason to dismiss it, plus it is more expensive.

Can I throw another phone in the mix that offers a good compromise between the two? Another samsung, the Galaxy Ace...with a price match deal you can get it for £149.99 (+£15 top-up) unlocked from carphone warehouse.

In keeping with my above comparison it rates as follows:

800MHz processor

ARMv6 like the OSF so it still won't run flash.

Android 2.2 operating system (a much improved stock rom than the osf so you won't need to mod it so no warranty issues there)

Another good battery, better than the OSF, not quite as good as the wave.

5MP camera like the wave, better than the OSF.

TFT screen like the OSF but lesser pixel density.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-ace-s5830-149-99-3-uk-plus-15-00-top-up/969481

jamos316

ok, ive taken in everything you have said and it sounds like the only draw back is the o/s. can you point out the reasons why its so bad please. bearing in mind im used to a iphone os so i'll have to get used to an android o/s as well