New phone

[hannaugh]

I want to get a new phone that can do a lot of stuff.  I don't really care about using it as an mp3 player or anything, but I'd like it to do maps and calendar/organizer functions well, and have a good camera in it.  I don't really use my phone that much for email though.  It would be great if it isn't one that I have to pay a lot extra for per month like a Blackberry.  And it can't be an iPhone, because I have Verizon and I'm not switching, and I am not a big fan of Apple. 

What do you guys recommend?  I was looking at the Droid, but I don't know anyone that has one that can give me their opinion. 

 

[Dan025]

if i were looking for a new phone on verizon the phones from palm have me interested but i haven't used one. the android phones do alot but i feel they can be complicated but still much better than blackberry. you dont want an iphone anyway, the navigation is horrible, it never gets a strong enough signal in a car and doesn't find alternate route in real time. you miss a turn and it's an ordeal. the third party stuff for iphone can be pricey.

 

[-CB-]

I want to get a new phone that can do a lot of stuff.  I don't really care about using it as an mp3 player or anything, but I'd like it to do maps and calendar/organizer functions well, and have a good camera in it.  I don't really use my phone that much for email though.  It would be great if it isn't one that I have to pay a lot extra for per month like a Blackberry.  And it can't be an iPhone, because I have Verizon and I'm not switching, and I am not a big fan of Apple. 

What do you guys recommend?  I was looking at the Droid, but I don't know anyone that has one that can give me their opinion. 

I'd ditch Verizon in a second if MetroPCS was available at your locale.  Metro charges $40, which includes all taxes and fees, for UNLIMITED phone, long distance, text messaging, internet, voice mail, and photo messaging.  Email costs $5 more a month.  The catch?  You pay the real price, not the co-opted price for the phone.  No contract, no minutes... just $40 a month, and not a penny more.

There are phones by Samsung that have all the web access and qwerty keypads.

 

[AndyG]

I'm not sure what kind of plans your service provider offers ....

I've got a Blackberry.  The data plan I have with Rogers mobile here is the same $$ no matter which smartphone you choose.   The REALLY nice thing about the Blackberry is that if you know anyone else that has one, they have a proprietary texting system called "pin"-ing, where you can text anyone who has a Blackberry with no texting fees.   There is also Blackberry Instant Messenger, which works like MSN.   you can text live (I think it counts as data, but text is so small it won't make a dent in your MB of usage), and not use up your cel minutes.

I know a few people that have the iPhone.  It's pretty cool, but a bit of a toy at the same time.  There are lots of apps available for the iPhone (moreso than for the BB), but again, most of them are amusing and little else.

 

[hannaugh]

I text way more than I talk, but almost everyone I talk to on a regular basis has Verizon, so I get unlimited free texting and calling with them.  The other upside is I almost never lose reception, even when I'm working in the school basement.  When I had AT&T, it seemed like I could never get reception.  Plus the company is evidently run by the minions of Lucifer... at least that's what it felt like when I was a customer of theirs. 

I have no idea if MetroPCS is around here, and I've never heard of Rogers.  I'll check em out, but I think I'll probably stick with Verizon just because of the in-calling. 

 

[Dan025]

the company is evidently run by the minions of Lucifer... at least that's what it felt like when I was a customer of theirs. 

funny my friends all say the same about verizon.

 

[whyachi]

I work for T-Mobile, but I'll try to give objective information.

The Droid is an Android phone. It requires the internet. If you buy it without the monthly internet, it won't work. Its not like the iPhone where its optional, it just has to have the internet. Its a great phone, and Verizon's version of our Motorola CLIQ, but it requires the internet.

One thing I want to mention, hannaugh, is the myTouch Fender Limited Edition from T-Mobile. I'll save pitching you plans and everything 'cause I'm off the clock, but it has a few features that might interest you, and we're set to get another shipment in April.

The phone has a tuner built in for guitar, bass and other stringed instruments. It also has built in backing tracks, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack. Plug in any headphones, turn on a drum loop and practice away - after tuning your guitar with your phone. Plus you can write music on it, and its sexy.

If you're interested, PM me and I can get you more details. I'm going to go drink a few Amp Overdrives and twitch to myself for a bit.

 

[hannaugh]

I was actually kind of curious about that phone.  You can write tabs on it?

 

[Steiger]

It's got some nice flame on the back of that fender phone too.

Can you get an unfinished rosewood one?

 

[whyachi]

I was actually kind of curious about that phone.  You can write tabs on it?

Thats what is says. To be completely honest, I haven't got a chance to play with one. They sold out in a week last time, and I suspect they will in April too. So you might start gassing if you're interested. Good news is, you can join up with T-Mobile and do it without signing a contract, and we'll break the phone up into 20 payments for you, no interest. So less gassing is required, I guess.

It's got some nice flame on the back of that fender phone too.

Can you get an unfinished rosewood one?

No, and they've ignored my requests for spalted maple too.

 

[hannaugh]

I'll shop around a bit, I'm not in a huge rush to get one, my phone still has some life in it.  Thanks for pointing me in a direction. 

 

[AutoBat]

I have Verizon, and I really love my htc Droid Eris (not to be confused with the Motorola Droid)
the tuner on it is very handy for any instrument.

 

[stormbringer]

I have Verizon, and I really love my htc Droid Eris (not to be confused with the Motorola Droid)
the tuner on it is very handy for any instrument.

+1 - Same here, droid eris and I love it...

 

[hannaugh]

Cool, good to know. 

 

[tfarny]

Wife and I are thinking of jumping to MetroPCS - $110 monthly all-inclusive (tax etc.), no contract, for two smart phones with unlimited talk, text, email, full internet, literally everything, PLUS unlimited international calling. Get rid of the land line and the phone bills to Japan - oh yeah, more $ for GAS. Haven't looked at the actual phones yet though, and you have to buy one of theirs. No idea of the call quality either.

 

[DangerousR6]

If you're on a GSM network, I'd recommend the Samsung Epix. Think Blackberry only better...Touch screen plus a querty keyboard(virtual and actual), Windows Mobile 6.1, 624 Mhz processor, 256meg ram. And a real optical mouse, not just some crappy dpad or ball...
there's also the HP ipaq Glisten, similar to the Epix.

 

[-CB-]

I've had MetroPCS for over a year - almost never drops here in Florida.  I dont think anyone is 100 percent no drop - its a radio after all.  Quality is good on the voice, zero issues.  Their "direct connect" thing is .. well its not like Nextel, which is what I'm used to at work, but it does work once you get the hang of it. 

I ended up getting a cheapie $79 phone - Samsung, and it works better than the $150 motorola "ruggedized" phone I have at work, and seems to be more rugged, as the motorolas keypad keeps going south, plus the samsung has a better display.  Go figure.

Zero issues on MetroPCS... except... their text message reminder to pay the bill is goofy, but they finally got that fixed.  Thats about the only problem ever experienced.

 

[tfarny]

Good to know. :icon_thumright: I still want to know about service in NYC, call quality to my folks outside a small town in Oregon, and to/from Japan for sure. They have a 7-day return policy so that can all be investigated. Has to be both good and save $ to keep the wife away from the iphone itch.

 

[Orpheo]

a good phone?

Do you guys in the USA have the HTC HD2? nice one!
Or the xperia 2 by sony ericsson? The x10 is also nice!
Or what about Nokia? its n97 is a really nice one.
Samsung omniaII, or omnia qwerty, or omnia pro is nice aswell.

that fender-phone, well, looks nice, but its hopelessly outdated. its last-years-phone in last-decades-look. no thanks

The droid is a nice one, by the way, but it has some issued regarding playback of audio, when it switches from 2g to 3g...