Time to upgrade my handset - to a Tytn II?

[Guest Paulplex]

My contract is up with Orange: I don't mind Orange too much and I was therefore looking at perhaps upgrading my phone and sticking with them.

My current phone is the Orange SPV M3100 - otherwise known on other networks as the HTC Tytn - and it's nice: a Window's mobile device with a slide-up screen that reveals a full qwerty keyboard

http://www.modaco.com/content/Reviews/2438...ange-SPV-M3100/

The 'replacement' for this phone is the HTC Tytn II which looks very similar; indeed it's basically the same phone with a different keyboard arrangement, so I'm lead to believe.

My first thought however for a new phone was to go for the new Nokia N95 Black; it's the same as the N95 already out but with an 8Gb storage onboard - very nice camera too so I thought I'd have that.

Orange aren't getting them in however; apparently the N95 phones are bad news in terms of always breaking down and being unreliable with battery life and operation.

My question (sorry for the long pre-amble!) - do I go to another mobile carrier and get the N95 black or is the N95 a phone to avoid and I'll upgrade to the Tytn II?

[Guest steveoidm]

Depends what you want. Compare the features. They are both good phones.

If you need a decent gps and a keyboard then get the kaiser. If you want a good camera then get the n95.

[Guest rameses]

In my opinion go for the TyTnII / Kaiser rather than the Nokia. I bought a Nokia a few weeks back and after having a M3100 I just couldn't get used to the user interface or it's file system and I missed the QWERTY keyboard (I've never got the hang of T9 texting). I flogged it and bought another M3100.

I would imaging if you have any apps on the M3100 they will work on the Kaiser, but you have to get a whole load of new ones for the Nokia. Also you can always get a 8gb micro sd card if you really need that much storage.

[Guest Paulplex]

Depends what you want. Compare the features. They are both good phones.

If you need a decent gps and a keyboard then get the kaiser. If you want a good camera then get the n95.

I like Windows Mobile and I've enjoyed my M3100 (the HTC Hermes) - so I'm thinking 'should I stay loyal': however, since you can put a lot of software on the Symbian based N95's that's what drew me there.

I've heard the N95 is very buggy and has poor battery life but nobody I know has one to confirm that for me - I'd probably prefer the Kaiser but can anyone post an example photo from the camera or confirm that the screen is smooth and unlikely to loosen and break as it did on my Hermes?

[Guest hotphil]

I think that's the only distinguishing feature - HTC have never been able/willing to make more than a token gesture with the camera. If you need decent pics, go with the N95, for everything else, TyTN II.

[Guest steveoidm]

I like Windows Mobile and I've enjoyed my M3100 (the HTC Hermes) - so I'm thinking 'should I stay loyal': however, since you can put a lot of software on the Symbian based N95's that's what drew me there.

Pretty sure there is more software available for windows devices!

I've heard the N95 is very buggy and has poor battery life but nobody I know has one to confirm that for me - I'd probably prefer the Kaiser but can anyone post an example photo from the camera or confirm that the screen is smooth and unlikely to loosen and break as it did on my Hermes?

I think that is probably unfair now. When they first came our they were bad, but there have been loads (and continue to be) improvements to roms. Battery has been improved too. Made my girlfriend get one and she loves it. I couldn't live without the kaiser though!

[Guest Paulplex]

Pretty sure there is more software available for windows devices!

I think that is probably unfair now. When they first came our they were bad, but there have been loads (and continue to be) improvements to roms. Battery has been improved too. Made my girlfriend get one and she loves it. I couldn't live without the kaiser though!

So - Kaiser it is then I think: can anyone confirm if they've had problems with the screens though? My old M3100 (hermes) had to be replaced twice under warranty - the first time because the touch-screen alignment went all screwy and it refused to accept any stylus input in a five pence piece sized circle in the middle of the screen and the second because the screen image kept going white and flickery if you pressed one of the softkeys at the bottom of the screen.

I'm a little concerned that the sliding and tilting mechanism might be a little weak and I'd have problems because of that?

[Guest Boinng]

I'm new to HTC devices, previously having had generally well made Sony Ericsson phones, but I've absolutely no problems with the Kaiser's build quality or screen. Dropped it (quite heavily) a few times, with no ill effect.

The slide is spring loaded and feels well engineered, and the tilt seems solid enough too (you can prod the screen etc when it's open and tilted, without anything folding up).

[Guest hotphil]

Well-made Sony Ericssons? You must be getting them off a different production line from the ones I've seen :)

[Guest crazyc]

Well-made Sony Ericssons? You must be getting them off a different production line from the ones I've seen :)

My wife's SE phone has been bathed, battered, teethed on, dropped, had one of those big thermometer (wrong word I know) glass vials with the coloured balls that go up and down with the temperature broken over it, (and it soaked in), and still works OK 18 months later.

I have never had one myself but I have to respect that phone. K800i I think.

[Guest Boinng]

Well-made Sony Ericssons? You must be getting them off a different production line from the ones I've seen :D

No idea what you've seen, but I've had six of their handsets over the last seven or so years, and they've all been solid enough :)

Sadly their smartphones have lost their technical sparkle in recent years, which is why I now carry a Kaiser...

[Guest jimbouk]

I had an M500, then an Imate JAMin, then the m3100 and now the Tytn2. And the Tytn2 is brilliant.

Its your m3100 plus: more memory, faster, built in GPS, tilting screen...

But (although the culture shock is less than going to a Nokia) the screen slides out the opposite way, the keyboard has a slightly different feel to it, its not as good as the N95 for showing video or taking pics.

I don't think the N95 rep you have heard is that true. The current models seem well built and the OS seems a lot less buggy than it used to.

Anyway - get a Tytn2, they are brilliant.

[Guest mark4130]

I had an M3100, then I went to a Nokia N95... within a week I was back with my M3100. Yes, the nokia camera was great... but everything else was really poor in comparison. Battery life was woeful, bugs everywhere, constant freezing, really poor build quality... not a patch on my lovely M3100!

[Guest )^Y]

Have to seen Today launched N96 ? That has 16gb onboard + Micro sd slot but that will come in 3rdquarter !

N96

[Guest Restorer]

I was in a similar position before Xmas - wavered back and forth between N95 and Kaiser. In the end opted for Orange Tytn II.

Very glad I stuck with a WM device. With all the hacks and free software avaiable I have had endless fun getting it to look and work the way I like.

I would say if you are a already familiar with Windows Mobile and a bit of a tinkerer then go for the Tytn II. Oh and btw the camera is not half as bad as some suggest. It takes nice snaps esp in daylight.

Edited February 12, 2008 by Restorer

[Guest Restorer]

If anyone is worried over how good the camera is people are posting photos taken with their Kaisers here. Some very nice indoor ones too. It certainly suits me.

[Guest MorSti]

Hi

First please overlook any wrongspelled words.

I got my N95 - the first one - in may'07 and Nokia has released several firmwares (ROMs) since then. Today I'm very satisfied with the N95. It's stabel and takes very good pictures. It playes MP3 songs very nicely, but you need a very decent headphone. However the GPS sucks. And I cannot get it to sync pushmails from my job. (We have a very strong security policy at my work.)

Thats the main reason for also bying the HTC TyTN II (Kaiser). It also works fine, and pushmails and calender syncs works nicely.

But the MediaPlayer sucks on TyTN II. And the camera isn't even close to the one in N95. The GPS in TyTN II with TomTom WE maps works fine as well, and it locks onto satelites in just a few seconds. The N95 takes about 3 to 4 minutes before locking to satelites.

So far the N95 can set Proxy values for Internet access if thats in use, but I can't find out how to do it on the TyTN II

So what to recomened?

You have to decide what is most importent to you. If Sync (pushmail/calendar) and GPS is importent - go for HTC TyTN II.

If multimedia (Podcast, Video, FM radio and MP3 and camera) is importent go for the N95 or the N95 8GB. You may by a 8 or 10 GB SD-Micro card to a N95 and have the same storage capasity as N95 8GB.

Morten

Oslo, Norway