C500 or C550

[Guest Dr.Pepper]

It's about time I renewed my contract with Orange and got myself a new handset.

I've got a Nokia 6600 at the moment, and had an SPV before that.

I think I want to get the SPV C500 but I've just seen on the Orange website

that there is a C550 "coming soon".

The features look fairly similar, with a bizarre difference in the battery lives, and the

C550 having a "wireless modem".

Does anyone know

When the C550 will be on sale

How much it will be

If it's significantly better than the C500 - more importantly enough better for me to pay money instead of getting a free upgrade to the C500

Cheers for any words of wisdom....

[Guest Pondrew]

The C550 offers small improvements over the C500 but there are question marks over how backward compatible it will be with the existing Smartphone software out there.

EDIT: Fraid no one has adequately explained the wireless modem references yet so can't help you there...

I'd say if you're happy to wait a month or so and won't mind paying a small upgrade fee (probably just a token amount) then wait for the C550. Otherwise get the C500 for free(?) now as many here swear by it.

Edited June 22, 2005 by Pondrew

[Guest usdiver]

Hi, in response to your question, YOU are the only one who can really decide what to get as everyone is different, therefore what some are happy with others are not. I personally love my c500s. bought it off ebay for £160, invested another 20 to unlock it, and would do it again. I paid that much because I wanted the silver color, as well as wanting the original orange receipt for warranty purposes from the other individual. As far as the c550 goes, I don't think it has that many more extras than the c500, plus I think it's ugly...but that's my opinion. New c500's are being shipped with windows media 10 and the new update, but we all present owners of the c500 are waiting for the update. I have found that I can do most things with the c500: ie, mp3's, videos, and some have got full length movies on theirs. If you can get the c500 on an upgrade for free, that's the one I'd go with myself, provided they gave me one with the new update already installed. Hope this helps.

[Guest Disco Stu]

Moved to Help & Advice

[Guest mupwangle]

My brother had a nokia 6600 until I showed him my c500 - we sat them side by side and ran a simple operation - showing the contacts list. The secoind that he saw the c500's contacts list come up (and then closed, opened calendar, etc before the 6600 had finished opening contacts!) he went online and bought a c500 for £140.

I lost my phone and it wasn't until I had to use a nokia 6220 and a panasonic x70 that I realised how awesome the c500 is. It's a shame about 2 things - the british ROM is far inferior to the current french rom (don't get me started!) and the dust issue.

I would buy a c550 when my contract is up if there isn't a better option. It doesn't sound much different bar the resolution, form factor and the extra media player buttons. If I was buying a smartphone for the first time and had a choice between the 2 I would buy the c550 (depending on cost) but I've yet to be convinced that it would be worth any extra.

[Guest Dr.Pepper]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions everyone.

I went and got myself the free upgrade to a C500 on Friday.

So far so good.

The camera is impressive, the OS seems responsive, and call quality is pretty good.

Just need to start looking for apps, and unlock it now.

Is there a skin editor readily available ?

[Guest rand]

Does anyone know if there is a C600 planned? i am looking to move back to Orange so should be able to get a good deal with regards the phone but not sure if i should get the C550 or wait a little longer.

I did move to the XDA2s but this was massive so sold that and have the money burning a hole in my pocket.

Someone mentioned the french rom being better on the C500 is there a thread about this one?

thanks again

[Guest usdiver]

Dr. Pepper, congratulations. I think you'll be pleased with your purchase...the more you use it the more you'll like it. If you have a look through some of my posts, you'll find where I've asked others about advice regarding apps, video, music....etc. I couldn't even think of where to start for guidance as I'm still learning myself. if you go to www.imei-check.co.uk and see what they have to offer...for unlocking that is, they are excellent. pay 20 pounds by paypal, they send you a key file and you just follow instructions. simple. Orange will charge you 20.00, but can take up to 2 weeks to get the unlock code from them. Also, in imei check's unlocker, it goes deeper into your software to unlock other parts of the software in addition to your sim unlock. The only thing I need for mine now is a good case (have gone through 4 krusell cases but each one has been a victim of poor quality control, therefore letting small, slight defects get out the door)

[Guest usdiver]

rand, there is a few posts around....French Rom for c500 among others. All in all it's one of those things...depends on how patient you are and how brave you are. I personally am more patient than brave. Some have gone to the french rom and had no problem, others however...had problems and went back to the uk rom. I am holding out for the new rom update as even though I am really fed up with orange's excuses, along with everyone else...I've been told there WILL be an update...but no date as of now. I can also say that HTC, the manufacturer told me they would put the new rom on my phone for £35.00. As wrong as that may sound, I'd rather go that route than the french one. It might work fine, but then may bugger up your phone...?? It is a risk I would recommend not taking. I will also say I'm not an expert when it comes to things like this but I've learned a long time ago, it is best to keep things the way they were made. Some have defeated this rule, but not many. The main reason I've not already tried the french one is one, I know the update is coming, and 2, I couldn't afford to buy a new phone if mine got messed up with such procedure. Regards.