What phone to go for?

[Guest theonlyrick]

Hi,

I'm looking to replace my XDA Mini S. Although it's a nice enough phone, I want something a bit slimmer and a bit less geeky. :D Should I restrict myself to just looking at Smartphones (or even a non-Windows mobile?)

I want it MP3 & video friendly, (I'll install Core player.)

I guess an update to the old candybar Orange C500 smartphone might do it.

So, what would people suggest?

Must have:

3.5mm headphone socket

1-9 keypad

Hefty internal memory

Expandable SD/mini/micro (pref to 32 Gb and more)

'Reasonable' camera

Synch with Outlook

For completeness: An OS, screen, battery and some other bits ;-)

Wants:

WiFi

Possibly a QWERTY keyboard, but not if it adds any bulk

Decent flash on camera

Bluetooth (may as well)

Cheers for any thoughts you have,

Richard

[Guest Laser_iCE]

[...]

Decent flash on camera

[...]

Well there's your first problem really. Any PPC camera flash I've come across is pretty lousy.

[Guest]

You might have a job on your hands finding all those 'must haves' on a Pocket PC device! :D The two devices I would suggest would be the HP iPaq 614c (which I own) or the Asus P750 (which is very similar in size and specs). However, there are a few drawbacks:

iPaq 614c:

Good: Internal memory (128Mb RAM, 256Mb Flash ROM). 1-9 Keypad with touch scroll wheel (which works really well). Support for MicroSDHC cards. Camera is quite good in good lighting, struggles a bit in low lighting.

Bad: No 3.5mm headphone socket (USB only). Camera not great in low light. Flash only useful for close up shots (not powerful enough for longer shots).

Asus P750:

Good: Internal memory (256Mb Flash ROM). 1-9 Keypad. Support for MicroSDHC cards. Camera is quite good in good lighting, struggles a bit in low lighting.

Bad: 2.5mm Headphone socket (3.5mm adaptor needed). Only 64Mb RAM.

As for the other good/bad points of the P750 - I wouldn't know as I don't own one! Cameras are not the Windows Mobile's strongest point so far (but they are improving as time goes on).

Going by your list of preferences, I would be tempted to suggest - dare I say it - the N95 8Gb (but that doesn't have a memory card slot). God I feel filthy for even mentioning a Nokia phone!! :(

[Guest trippenz]

if you want a really good one go with the o2 xda with a Nividia goforce gpu. I dont have one but i know someone who does and it runs better then my pc which has a p4 2.8, 1GB PC2700 DDR.

Edit. Forgot to mention also try looking into umpc phones as well which is pretty much a mini laptop with a phone.

Edited April 7, 2008 by trippenz

[Guest theonlyrick]

Cool - thanks for all the responses.

I've looked at the Nokia N95 (and N82), and the N95 particularly does have a keen following online. If I do go for that, I'll probably go for the N96 which will be coming out 3rd quarter of this year. (16Gb internal memory, plus micro SD expansion, plus a boatload of other nice features.)

If I was to compromise, I would start with the camera, so I'll definitely do some research on the the Asus and the iPaq - does anyone know if you can get a mini-USB-to-3.5mm adaptor?

I want to stick with a PPC-type device, just so that I know it would play whatever format I threw at it.

Cheers again,

Richard

[Guest]

does anyone know if you can get a mini-USB-to-3.5mm adaptor?

Ahh well that's the million dollar question at the moment! :D There are plenty of adaptors out there, but I don't think anyone has found one that works with the iPaq yet. Fingers crossed!

[Guest theonlyrick]

I do like all the features of the iPaq (and hey, the Asus as well), but they are both quite chunky.

Does the iPaq fit well in your trouser pocket? Any other gadgets the iPaq is close to in size?

Cheers,

Richard

[Guest]

I do like all the features of the iPaq (and hey, the Asus as well), but they are both quite chunky.

Does the iPaq fit well in your trouser pocket? Any other gadgets the iPaq is close to in size?

Cheers,

Richard

Yeah it fits in my trouser pocket no problem - I used to own a MDA Vario II (HTC Hermes) device so I'm used to carrying around 'chunky' phones! In terms of size (in height and width anyway), it's about the size of an iPhone (only a couple of millimetres in it). Obviously slightly thicker but by no means massive at 17.5mm thick. Seems pretty light for a Pocket PC device too. I certainly notice it less in my pocket than I did my old Vario II though.

[Guest theonlyrick]

Yeah it fits in my trouser pocket no problem - I used to own a MDA Vario II (HTC Hermes) device so I'm used to carrying around 'chunky' phones! In terms of size (in height and width anyway), it's about the size of an iPhone (only a couple of millimetres in it). Obviously slightly thicker but by no means massive at 17.5mm thick. Seems pretty light for a Pocket PC device too. I certainly notice it less in my pocket than I did my old Vario II though.

I've got an O2 XDA Mini S, which looks just about identical to the Hermes/Vario II. It's the thickness of my current phone that I would love to reduce, so this iPaq is looking better and better.

My next area of research is find out about a possible USB-3.5mm adaptor...