C500 or C550 - Which Is The Best Xmas Present?

[Guest MonkeyJug]

i'm buying my wee sister (she's 17) one of these phones for xmas, but i'm not sure which one to get her.

i have the c500 and i love it, but i have heard that the c550 isn't as good as the c500. i thought both phones were identical, except for the obvious multimedia buttons and joypad.

is it also true that the c550 comes with a 512 memory capacity? it says this on orange's website, but it isn't clear whether it is a mem card bundled with the phone or it is in-built into the phone.

if it is built in, can i just use it as a normal 512 card? will all software & apps that work on the c500 work on the c550? she doesn't drive, therefore doesn't need tomtom, which i think has problems with the c550 screen.

i know for sure she would appreciate the multi-media aspects of the c550, and the silver finish of the c550 looks much better than that of the c500, but if it is a worse all-round phone than the c500, i think i would opt for the c500.

i need advice, please...

also, is orange's website the cheapest place to buy the c550?

thanks for any replies...

[Guest mutleyboy]

the £130 on orange website is for the C550 with the standard 128MB card.

For the 512MB card, plus i think some audio cables, it is £150 on PAYG. I have not found anywhere cheaper.

Personally i would go for the C550, had a couple of these, also had a few C500's, and for me, the improved screen, improved camera, music buttons, and a normal joystick make it the winner in my eyes.

Although, it may be worth considering, not all apps have been updated to run on the new qvga screen resolution of the C550.

and, i think your sister can count herself lucky that she will be getting a lovely new windows mobile phone for xmas,whichever one you choose, wish i had a brother like you ;) :D

[Guest jporch316]

I think you would be lucky to get hold of a brand new c500 - they are officially "out of stock"

[Guest MonkeyJug]

thanks for the info!

does TCPMP work on the c550? i know she would love being able to watch the simpsons and stuff like that on her phone...

also, if i was plumpling for the c500, i'd most likely get one brand new from ebay...

[Guest Restorer]

Anyone know what is the latest ETA for the c600?

[Guest MonkeyJug]

Restorer - no offence, but this thread has nothing to do with the release date of the c600!

[Guest mutleyboy]

tcpmp wprks on the c550 fine, just need to change the video codec or something similar to GDI i think, someone else can confirm this, its a while since i had a c550

[Guest pjam001]

A guy at work has just paid £129 for the C550 off the Orange site and it came with the 512mb card.

[Guest dave106]

Yeah its now listed in the O site as having a 512mb card. Not bad seeing how you can unlock for free for all networks and less than half price than the new sim free wm5 handsets. certainly isnt half the phone.

[Guest MonkeyJug]

on that news, i have just bought one!

i hope she likes it... ;)

[Guest Toyota-F1.com]

Poor thing has to wait till Christmas! That's well over a month!

[Guest barrowfordred]

Maybe I'm being a little churlish, but - will a 17 year old really use the fuctions of a C500 or C550 smart phone????

[Guest Restorer]

Restorer - no offence, but this thread has nothing to do with the release date of the c600!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No offence taken! I was simply implying that should the ETA for the C600 be before Xmas, it might be worth considering - esp given that the c500 seems to be no longer available.

Only trying to be helpful, m8. I am really delighted with my c500 and , had I not acquired it almost by accident myself as a free upgrade from Orange, I would have been forever grovellingly grateful to anyone who made me a present of it. Just hope your little sister appreciates what this fantastic little thing can do.

Also I just can't wait for the latest news of the C600 and always reluctant to waste space on new threads.

Edited November 17, 2005 by Restorer