What phone for me?

[rickbitch]

I've currently got a XDAIIS, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth.

Ideally a replacement would be much the same, but smaller, 3G or better, and with a decent camera.

I would consider an iphone, but from what I've read it doesn't sync to outlook without an exchange server and paying through the nose.

I'm toying with the idea of a HTC Touch Diamond, but once again I'd like something smaller (maybe the size of a XDA Atom).

Suggestions?

[Sikosis]

the htc diamond pretty much the size of the atom i think?

[rickbitch]

It is smaller than the XDA, but I don't think it's quite as small as an atom tho.

But still, it might fit the bill.

[pnkru`]

Don't go the iPhone. It's all eye candy, and only good for low-life scum that need to be looked at because OMG they got an iPhone.

[rickbitch]

There's 3 things that turn me off with the iphone. No outlook sync to a local pc, have to install itunes, and it won't act like a generic USB mass storage device.

I did find out something about the Touch tho. It's got 4gb of onboard memory, but NO card slot. It's only a 3mp camera as well.

[lostreality]

??

http://www.my-xda.com/devices/xda_mantle.jsp

[rickbitch]

yer, the mantle is actually a touch bigger than my current phone.

[Spingo]

Storage aside, I think that the Touch Diamond is going to be your best fit. I doubt that it's as big as you think (it's smaller than most PDA devices around atm, including the wankPhone) - the main factor preventing smaller PDA's is the screen - and most people prefer a larger screen for PDA-like functions.

I don't think that "only" 4GB of storage is that bad - unless you want to sore all of your MP3s on it, then it's a tad small - but for day to day use, 4GB is adequate. And if you want to store all of your music on it, buy a friggen MP3 player/wankPod.

If you're willing to concerned size for to ability to add more storage, wait a little while longer and get the Touch Pro - exactly the same as the Touch Diamond, but also has a slidey-out keyboard. The drawback though - the Touch Pro is twice as thick as the Diamond. And girth aint always good on a phone...

Lastly, you also have the Sony-Ericsson X1 (SEX1 - LOL). That's looking like having much the same feature set as the Touch Pro with a slightly different shell, making it slightly thinner than the Touch Pro. But being an SE phone, it's probably going to be a couple of hundred dollars more than the HTC product, even though HTC still manufacture the device.

I'm personally in much the same boat, and am planning on getting a Touch Pro when they are eventually available... Well, at this stage at any rate.

[Chocoholic]

I love the hiptop phone but it's with telstra and the phone calls are way to expensive. I have decided to suck it up and wait until something I want comes available.

[Boobmeister]

Rick, have you thought about the N95? Lots of threads on here about what it can do.

[Pirate]

Get a nokia n-series phone like the n95 (avoid the 8gb as its got a larger screen but less goodies). I've got a n95 and it is seriously the best phone I have ever had. Camera in it is great (all the shots I take and post on the site are taken with it) plus all the other wank like gps, wifi etc make it a great tool for being in touch etc. Also the symbian OS means you can get a lot of free applications to improve the phone more.

Size wise, the phone isn't the smallest but I've never had a time I thought it was too big.

My work uses HTC phones, but they seem to be failing a lot these days but they have been in constant use for a year or so.

[rickbitch]

Stuff

As usual I'm probably being picky, but ideally I'd like a phone that is all things to all men (I'm not asking much, am I). It would be nice to be able to use it as a USB mass storage device, so 4gb isn't really that big. I think the folder for my last show topped out at around 3gb (show backup, bands cd, 3d cad files, and random other PDF's and excel/word docs).

As for thickness, I'm not *overly* fussed with it. My XDA has lived in a magnesium alloy case (designed for it) since the day I bought it, and it virtually doubles the thickness.


Rick, have you thought about the N95? Lots of threads on here about what it can do.

nokia stuff.
To be sure the n95 has the best camera, but that's not the main point. It would be handy to take some good daytime photos, so 3mp would be sufficent. I've steered away from nokia stuff simply because I love my touchscreen.

After all this though, the XDA Orbit 2 seems to have what I'm after. I've gotta wonder how much they are though, if they're available in AU, or if there's anything like it around.

[z3d]

I was hanging out for the Diamond until I had a half hour play with it at a Hong Kong duty free. Feature-wise it's top of class. Everything I've ever wanted in a phone, but it lost it's sexy very quickly.

Firstly, it feels like a cheap phone. I know that's completely subjective, but I had a feeling like the buttons wouldn't last. My previous phone was an Imate Jasjam (basically a htc) which felt much better put together although I had issues at the end with the slide out keyboard. It's certainly not on par with Nokia or Sony Ericsson. The camera was also as shit as the Jasjam camera.

Typing was awful on the touch screen. This was partly due to the size of the screen but because the touch screen is really best used with the stylus. Also browsing was fairly average for the same reason. Not unusable but annoying enough to make me think I would rarely use it for emails or browsing. Overall, the experience was very clunky. Kinda like a really pretty skin over a windows 3.11 operating system.

Before you dismiss the iPhone, have a play with one. I bought one because I wanted a new toy and I was pretty disappointed with the Diamond. It has half the features of the Diamond and you get locked with the apps you can download via ... *sigh* ... itunes but all the features that are there work great. U have proper usable internet and mail. I type at least as fast on the keyboard as i did on my jasjam slide out keyboard. Everything just works. I use the internet on my phone on a daily basis and all my email is push. Just don't think you can use the GPS google software for driving. Apparently Tomtom have driving GPS software in the works but I wouldn't be counting on it.

Just have a play with one before u dismiss it. I think most of the knockers compare specs without actually using the things. I buy a LOT of toys and this has been probably my favourite in a very long time. Its great.

[Ic3]

Wait for either the x1 or the Touch Pro

[Al]

There's 3 things that turn me off with the iphone. No outlook sync to a local pc, have to install itunes, and it won't act like a generic USB mass storage device.

I got an iPhone, and it's my first ever 'pda' style phone. I agree with the points you make though. Apple are a bunch of fuckwads with some of the limitations of the phone. Generally though, it works great and the interface is intuitive and easy to use.

I'm not a fanboy, I don't really like apple, but I do like cool toys. The iPhone is a cool toy. Once they fix some of the fucking retarded decisions they've made it will be much better.

Oh, and the battery life is shorter than you'd expect. You'll need a battery pack if you're a heavy user.

[cranky]

i have a Mitac Mio A701 and came to this thread looking for the same sort of answers as rickbitch.

my mio has been equal parts awesome and aids and i was hoping that and htc diamond would be the ideal replacement. reading this thread i am not so sure.

my partner has an N95 and while it's features are cool, it feels like you have a large family of pointy asians elbowing you in the cock every time you put it in your pocket.

the iphone is out... well because it is an iphone.

any other suggestions?

[rickbitch]

Zgeek: much more caring than OCAU. This thread gets lots of love!

Guys, I'm now 99% sold on the Sony-Ericson X1. It seems to have everything I want.

I've always hated SE phones because of their software, but because this use windows mobile, it's all good. Now I just need the price, and somewhere to buy.

http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/x1?cc=au&lc=en

[rayjayjohnson]

iphone. they come with redman's personal recommendation.