[Tech] New Phone!

[Nanor]

So, I'm currently on contract with my LG Viewty (KU990) which hasn't lived up to expectations. It's an older model and the touch screen is absolute pants.

Basically what I'm looking for is the following:

• Camera - The Viewty has one of the best cameras I've ever seen on a phone. It's brilliant. The phone I'm looking for has to have an amazing camera for some high quality pictures.
• No touchscreen - They're just such a pain in the arse to text with.
• Good contract - This must include unlimited texts and I'm not pushed regarding the amount of minutes. To be honest if you find me the phone I can probably find myself the contract, but I'm all open to suggestions.

Anything else is basically a bonus. I'm not pushed on net access or e-mail capability but I won't be complaining if you get it.

I had my eye on a SE C905 but if you can improve on that go ahead.

 

[BiG D]

PALM PRE. Touchscreen PLUS physical keyboard. Win.

 

[Pingue]

I've been looking at HTC phones today (as I am also in need of a new phone) - there's a number (mainly touch pro) which have both, and are pretty good (linky).
If anyone has any suggestions of good places to look for contracts, that'd also be a help for me

 

[BiG D]

Careful with HTC, from what I hear their build of android isn't quite ready for prime time.

EDIT: OR they run windows mobile. I'm not sure which is worse

 

[BiG D]

OK! Thinking about this further! Also, I only talk about smartphones. Feature phones are so boring.

I think you need to decide what's most important to you.

If you want a phone that does excellent picture/video viewing and generally looks pretty, you probably want an iphone.

If you want a robust email/text/communication device, snag a blackberry.

The Pre is something in the middle of that -- a sort of cloud based person oriented device that's good at integrating with online messaging services.

If the most important feature to you is really the camera, I would have to say just buy a camera. Even a tiny little pocketcam is going to net you better photos, and in all likelyness a camera + a vanilla phone will cost less than a phone with a good quality camera.

Also, if you do a lot of texting, are you sure you want a phone with a 12 button keyboard?

 

[Nanor]

iPhones have crap picture taking quality? Or so Fury was moaning about at i37.

The reason I'd prefer a camera and a phone is when I'm going out somewhere where I take photos I have my wallet in one pocket and the phone in the other. There's not much hope of me getting a camera in there as well. Plus having more than one thing in a pocket is a pain in the ass, especially when the thing you want is below the other thing in the pocket.

And I suppose since you mention it a full QWERTY keyboard might actually be more beneficial. I was looking at those HTC phones but they're damned expensive. As for the PRE, no sign of it on o2.co.uk.

 

[waterproofbob]

I actually quite like the camera in the iPhone, the touch to focus is a nice thing as well. But tbh as you already have an iPod touch it seems silly to go for a smartphone at all. Just get some Sony thing with a 18 willypixel camera.

Also get bigger/more pockets .

 

[BiG D]

iPhones have crap picture taking quality? Or so Fury was moaning about at i37.

Nowhere did I say it was good at taking pictures.

I really think you're relying too much on this camera stuff. What I'm understanding here is that your pictures are so important that you need an 8+ megapixel camera, yet they're so unimportant that you can't dedicate a proper camera to them. Rather conflicting requirements. A normal cameraphone works fine for everyone else at parties, why not you?

 

[Nanor]

Nowhere did I say it was good at taking pictures.

Nowhere did I say you said it was good at taking pictures. I simply stated as to why I didn't want an iPhone.

I really think you're relying too much on this camera stuff. What I'm understanding here is that your pictures are so important that you need an 8+ megapixel camera, yet they're so unimportant that you can't dedicate a proper camera to them. Rather conflicting requirements. A normal cameraphone works fine for everyone else at parties, why not you?

I don't see what's so confusing about wanting a high quality camera and phone in one. Enlighten me!

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

I've got an LG KC910, which is basically just a tarted up Viewty. It's got a great camera and tonnes of features, but is let down by fiddly touchscreen and terrible battery life. My brother's Nokia N97 is really nice, though. It has loads of handy features and supports the Symbian OS (which is handy for GPS applications). I'd recommend one of those, or the C905 (C905 if camera is top priority, N97 if you want versatiliy).

 

[waterproofbob]

I don't see what's so confusing about wanting a high quality camera and phone in one. Enlighten me!

No such thing exists.

There are a few phones out there with ok cameras, none that can stand up to a even half reasonable stand alone camera.

As I say your best bet is to avoid the smart phones and aim at one of the sony type things. The ones where they try and claim that a 5willypixel camera is something to be proud of.

 

[BiG D]

I don't see what's so confusing about wanting a high quality camera and phone in one. Enlighten me!

Simply, you'll get a shit phone and a satisfactory camera. See your old phone for details.

If you're serious about pictures, get a camera. That's all there is to it.

 

[Nanor]

I'm not that serious about pictures. It's just when I do take pictures I'd like them to be good quality. The only thing that's hampering my soon to be old phone is the touch screen. If it wasn't for that I'd be happy.

 

[BiG D]

It's just when I do take pictures I'd like them to be good quality.

Again, most everyone else is happy with the basic cameraphone picture quality. What's the big deal? I really think you're going to blow a ton of cash on something that makes no difference in the end.

 

[thatbloke]

My Tocco has a nice camera

But that's getting old and has a touchscreen... maybe take a look at the newer Tocco Ultra?

 

[Nanor]

How about the Nokia n95?

 

[BiG D]

Still awfully expensive. At least it's a proper smartphone.

Still, I don't recommend texting with a numpad. It sucks.

 

[Nanor]

So are you suggesting a blackberry, then?

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

Oops! It's the N96 my bro has, not the N97.

 

[BiG D]

I think you should take a look at what phones you can get for $0 on contract, and then pick one with a keyboard and decent camera.