Getting a C500! A few questions

[Guest |cJ|]

Hi this is my first post

i am really excited about this phone cant wait to get mine...

i have a few questions

1. Have read about unlocking the phone, but not read any reasons why, why is it a good idea to unlock the phone...?

2. when will 1gig MiniSD's be avalible? i want to store as many mp3s as possible...

3. The battery life, people say how good it is, but 4 days dont sound that amazing, do smartphones have low battery life?

4. how quickly does data transfer from pc to phone? say an mp3 of 3.5mbs how long would that take...?

5. what programs can u run on this thing? just some links to site which provide programs for the OS it runs?

6. How often are patches released for the OS? i mean we talking weeks months or years? its easy to update?

7. how much can i reley on this thing as a mobile pc? i mean can you really be productive on it?

8. i have 3 weeks till im due an upgrade, if i kick up a fuss will orange upgrade me early?

Thankyou

cJ

[Guest pisquee]

1. Unlocking. You will need to application unlock it to run some programs. You will need to SIM unlock it if you are wanting to use non-Orange SIM cards with it.

2. Not sure

3. Smart phones are mini-PCs and so their battery life is typically less than a non smart phone - a smart phone will typically have a large colour screen and run a few programs at once, and a load of other things that eat your battery life - a laptop battery only runs for a few hours, a smart phone a few days.

4. Not sure - have never timed it. It is quicker to use an external card reader/writer to transfer stuff than through the phone/computer connection

5. There are loads of programs available from a load of different sources, including direct from Orange and Handango, and site, have a look around the "Software - Applcations" and "Software - Games" forums.

6. Patches tend to months - on average from memory, about 6 months to a year. Not great, certainly not as regular as Windows or graphics/sound drivers, but is better than no updates (or updates you have to go to a service centre to get) like Nokia

7. as long as you don't mind entering stuff using a t9 phone pad it is OK.

8 - 3 weeks to go, you shouldn't even need to kick up a fuss to be honest. Although this usually depends on what kind of monthly tariff you are on, what your average montly spend (ARPU) is, as well as who you actually speak to and what mood they are in! ... if you have no luck with general customer services, then call up again and ask to be put though to retentions ... be nice, but explain you are thinking about leaving orange for a better deal.

[Guest Pondrew]

3. The battery life, people say how good it is, but 4 days dont sound that amazing, do smartphones have low battery life?

6. How often are patches released for the OS? i mean we talking weeks months or years? its easy to update?

Hello mate, and welcome to the site.

Battery life on smartphones (and Microsoft Smartphones) is traditionally pretty poor compared to mainstream mobiles. The SE P900 apparently gives about 3days with use, something Microsofts offerings were unable to match until the Typhoon (aka C500) came out. Afraid four days is pretty good with these devices.

As for patches, based on my experience with Orange supporting the original SPV and the E200, there'll likely be a couple of rom updates about six months apart (if you're lucky!).