Advice on a new phone wanted <$300

[~vjay~]

Hey ho and all that,

I'm thinking of ditching my phone in the next few weeks and would like a new phone, preferably under $300 with the below features if possible.

USB cable enabled for computer connectivity
Non network locked
Camera
MP3's able to be played
expandable memory re: mini card or similar
bluetooth (isn't a necessity but it'd be nice to have)

I currently have an LG M4410 and it irritates me simply because it has a bizarre video/voice recording format and you cannot view the videos off the phone or share them, or upload standard 3GP videos to it.
That and it also cannot handle jad & jar files so a bunch of games I have on my computer which worked with my old Nokia are pretty much useless.

I'm thinking of going back to Nokia.

The reason I guess I'm posting this is because I'm sure someone somewhere has a phone they love or have been keeping an eye on and they can share their wonderful advice with me *suck suck*

And thanks :)

[-=[BB]=-]

I know its probably out of your price range anyway, but I would recommend not to get a Nokia Nseries. From my experiences they are horrible buggy phones, even if they do look nice and all. (Kind of like windows vista :p )

As for which phone to get, my mate swears by Motorola's, I use a Nokia 6101 but I don't want to be able to do anything but make calls and send the occasional message.

[t101]

=-;1190634']I know its probably out of your price range anyway, but I would recommend not to get a Nokia Nseries. From my experiences they are horrible buggy phones, even if they do look nice and all. (Kind of like windows vista :p )

I keep hearing this, but my N95 works like a charm, and my old N70 never had a problem either.

Maybe I'm just lucky :)

[Sutter]

I've got a Sony Ericsson K700i I need to sell. Not quite what you've got listed there, but it'll be a lot cheaper. PM if interested

[-=[BB]=-]

I keep hearing this, but my N95 works like a charm, and my old N70 never had a problem either.

Maybe I'm just lucky :)

I had a N73, was slow to start up, crashed, didn't have features that I needed that came with the cheaper nokia phones. You must be lucky! :)

[~vjay~]

I've got a Sony Ericsson K700i I need to sell. Not quite what you've got listed there, but it'll be a lot cheaper. PM if interested

I'll keep it in mind thanks. :D

[t101]

=-;1190648']I had a N73, was slow to start up, crashed, didn't have features that I needed that came with the cheaper nokia phones. You must be lucky! :)

My N70 was slow to start, but I just never turned it off :)

There were of course issues, but they were mostly software features (like not being able to set a repeat for alarms unless you used the calendar, and not being able to define weekdays) that have since been fixed.

That being said, a friend of mine who works for Hellstra has told me they're having problems with the N95 and MMS, but it seems to work fine for me (then again, I'm not with Hellstra). Don't use MMS much anyway :)

[skylar]

Since you're open to the brand, why not try a Samsung D900, A701 or the F300? There are private suppliers in Sydney and Melbourne selling Samsung mobiles that are unlocked and the late models have all the features you listed. I just bought the X810 which is a 6-8 months old model that doesn't have a card slot but everything you have above. You don't mention if you prefer a candybar phone over a clamshell though. The D900 is a sliding candybar phone. Also the A701 is under $300 atm and is a clamshell and the others are nearer the $400 mark.

[~vjay~]

I don't care if it is a clam, or a slider, or a normal phone.
These suppliers you mention? How do I get ahold of one? :p

[StrungOut]

i got no problems with my n95 as well, im with optus an mms works fine as well. last phone before this one was a motorola razor v3 it was good except battery died like fuckery, and also it had no memory on it at all which really blew. from others experiences lg's dont have good battery life but ive personally never had one

[~vjay~]

i got no problems with my n95 as well, im with optus an mms works fine as well. last phone before this one was a motorola razor v3 it was good except battery died like fuckery, and also it had no memory on it at all which really blew. from others experiences lg's dont have good battery life but ive personally never had one

Mines gotten a lot worse lately (LG), I have to recharge it every 2-3 days and I don't use it much for talking since I seem to always sms people instead and even that isn't over the top.

It's really irritating, I can barely take photos with it or use the MP3 function because the battery just drains.

[dozer]

get a sony ericsson, w880i or 810i, you dont get the lag and 2 hr battery life that nokia provides.

[muppet]

I have a nokia 5300 (i think omg i can't remember wtf it is now) but it's probably in your price range now and it does everything you want.

[~vjay~]

I like those phones dozer & muppet mentioned *cept from the sites I looked at they are more than I want to spend, hmmm, I may end up spending more than I originally planned hehe.

It's my fault for not wanting to go on some crummy plan and pay one off. :oops:

[Eds]

I know it's out of your price range, but I just had to chuck my vote in for the N95. It's sex on a stick.

[cqwheatley]

Hey ho and all that,

I'm thinking of ditching my phone in the next few weeks and would like a new phone, preferably under $300 with the below features if possible.

USB cable enabled for computer connectivity
Non network locked
Camera
MP3's able to be played
expandable memory re: mini card or similar
bluetooth (isn't a necessity but it'd be nice to have)


The N70 Music Edition is only $460 here:

http://www.simplymobiles.com.au/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=22

.. that is about $300 off if you can lash out with the extra $160

[spurr]

Nokia 6300 (http://www.nokia.com.au/BaseProject/Sites/AUEN_27973/CDA/Categories/Home/images/factsheet/_Content/_Static_Files/nokia_6300_fact_sheet.pdf) FTW. I got one a few months back and can't fault it. Has all the features you mention, is slim with a nice shiny metal case & good battery life (I get 4-5 days with my light usage).

I picked mine up from these guys (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-NOKIA-6300-2MP-CAMERA-MP3-RADIO-BLUETOOTH-PHONE_W0QQitemZ150138224066QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3123 5QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), but if you're not comfortable buying through eBay I've read online of people buying them from Vodaphone & paying the unlock fee basically right away and still coming out under your budget (this was back when I was looking at buying mine, Vodaphone plans/unlock cost may have changed since).

More info available on the Nokia (http://www.nokia.com.au/nokia/0,8764,99435,00.html) site.

[~vjay~]

Nokia 6300 (http://www.nokia.com.au/BaseProject/Sites/AUEN_27973/CDA/Categories/Home/images/factsheet/_Content/_Static_Files/nokia_6300_fact_sheet.pdf) FTW. I got one a few months back and can't fault it. Has all the features you mention, is slim with a nice shiny metal case & good battery life (I get 4-5 days with my light usage).

I picked mine up from these guys (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-NOKIA-6300-2MP-CAMERA-MP3-RADIO-BLUETOOTH-PHONE_W0QQitemZ150138224066QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3123 5QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), but if you're not comfortable buying through eBay I've read online of people buying them from Vodaphone & paying the unlock fee basically right away and still coming out under your budget (this was back when I was looking at buying mine, Vodaphone plans/unlock cost may have changed since).

More info available on the Nokia (http://www.nokia.com.au/nokia/0,8764,99435,00.html) site.

Either ebay or vodafone will irritate me, since the ebay phone is also locked to vodafone urgh.

This handset is locked to the Vodafone network. It can be unlocked for a service fee of $50 (or $25 if you use the web), plus an additional fee of $50 if you unlock within six months of purchase.

I'd want to unlock it straight away :banana:

[cqwheatley]

Either ebay or vodafone will irritate me, since the ebay phone is also locked to vodafone urgh.


I'd want to unlock it straight away :banana:

This one (http://www.simplymobiles.com.au/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=66) is $290 unlocked.

I got my E65 there and it has worked like a dream.

[~vjay~]

Hmmm, so many choices of places :D

This is fun.

[StrungOut]

haha when i got my n95 (optus if i havent written that) they were like do you want it unlocked, thinking fuck that for paying more i asked how much. to which they replied free so i said hhhmmmm let me think about that YES YOU DICKHEADS, but i didnt say that cause the chick was hot. the end

[spurr]

Either ebay or vodafone will irritate me, since the ebay phone is also locked to vodafone urgh.

Oops, that's my bad for just linking one of their random Nokia 6300 auctions without checking the details.

The handset I got from them was unlocked & looking at some (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-NOKIA-6300-2MP-CAMERA-MP3-RADIO-BLUETOOTH-PHONE_W0QQitemZ150139817646QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3123 5QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) of their other (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-NOKIA-6300-2MP-CAMERA-MP3-RADIO-BLUETOOTH-PHONE_W0QQitemZ150140693568QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3123 5QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) auctions they still sell them unlocked as well. Courier delivery was fast, only taking a couple of days to reach me out in the sticks. I also picked up a 4GB SanDisk microSD card from another eBay seller at the same time and I've been cooking with gas ever since!

[royale]

Ill put another vote in for the Nokia 6300, mine got delivered a few days after they were released here and i'm finding it great.

[~vjay~]

I've been looking at Motorola RIZR Z3's like this one (http://www.shoppingsquare.com.au/p_808_MOTOROLA_Z3_LICORICE_BLACK_UNLOCKED), anyone had any dealings with these phones?

[sagit]

heres a phone under $300:

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46960fce05aec8f4273fc0a87f9c073e/Product/View/F4524

[~vjay~]

heres a phone under $300:

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46960fce05aec8f4273fc0a87f9c073e/Product/View/F4524

Hahaha.

I didn't mention in here I actually wanted a new cordless housephone as well but that type's not what I was thinking of :p

[skylar]

Have a look at the other products offered by these suppliers. There was a Leichhardt one, but I can't seem to find them.

This guy (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brand-new-Samsung-X820-SYDNEY-SELLER-1yr-AU-Wty-PICK-UP_W0QQitemZ130131943449QQihZ003QQcategoryZ15046QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) is the Korean guy I went to in Sydney. No need to buy the phone from eBay, just give him a call with the model of the phone you're interested in and he can tell you what you need to know - he's very funny and knows his stuff.

X-Stream (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAMSUNG-D900i-HANDSFREE-USB-SOFTWARE-3-Colours_W0QQitemZ150139290111QQihZ005QQcategoryZ14 8175QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) is another, based in Melbourne.

Or Eclipse (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BNEW-Samsung-D900i-SILVER-SLIM-3-13-Meg-RADIO-Phone_W0QQitemZ180137058616QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1481 75QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), again in Melbourne.

[Salted_Chipmunk]

Im looking at getting a new phone in about a fortnight and was sorta set on the n95 staying with Virgin (ends up being $77 per month for $250 of calls a month)

I keep on hearing good things about the Dopods, does anyone know of any similar priced plans for them (can be on other providers)??

[Zan]

I've been looking for a new phone for a number of weeks.

The key feature I require is slimness. I'm really looking for something under 1.5cm thick, if at all possible.

I don't need the music player or video functionality, my Meizu Miniplayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M6_Mini_Player) does that and does it extremely well. I also don't like the extra battery load media playing puts on a mobile phone.

I'd like to have GPS or perhaps just google maps, and I'd like access to my email if possible (my friend administrates my email/mail server so I'm sure he can whatever into the mobile-appropriate format), and internet.

So far the two that have caught my eye are Samsung's U700 (http://www.samsung.com/au/products/mobilephones/mobilephones/sgh_u700.asp?page=Specifications) or Motorola's RAZR2 v8 or v9 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_RAZR_2).

I'm leaning towards the Samsung as I've never been a big fan of clamshell phones and the v9 is not yet available in Australia.

Budget is 500AUD and I won't consider any type of contract.

Any suggestions?