Some Basic Questions

[Guest Lohikaarme]

Hi, first post here, nice to meet you all :rolleyes:

So, I'm thinking of buying a zte blade, as I need an android phone cause I'm developing an android app and the emulator doent cut it anymore :D

Of course I'll be using it as my main phone as well :huh:

I have a couple of questions:

I have a friend who is in London. If he buys it and sends it to me, will I be able to unlock it from here?

Will I need the orange sim card to do that (to be able to get the IMEI num) or is it possible to unlock without a working (orange) sim?

(I guess I could have him unlock the phone before he sends it or at least get the IMEI number, will that work?)

About the cpu usage problem's :

as I understand these are kinda random, and there are some workarounds.

Do these happen on stock /unbranded roms or is it a bug of the modified ones only?

Finally, to anyone who has the phone for some time now: are you satisfied with it?

Do you have any problems with it in day to day use?

I was thinking about getting a used motorola milestone for twice the price, but I dont think it's worth it, almost the same specs, only the camera is better (and slightly the screen for text and colour) which I dont mind.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance

(Sorry for the potentially stupid questions :huh: )

[Guest jasonXXx]

You can unlock without the orange sim i did it.

[Guest salazared]

The IMEI is printed on a sticker attached to the outside of the box.

I am using the MoDaCo ROM and I very rarely get CPU issues.

I'm very satisfied with it. I'd rather have a HTC Desire, but that's beside the point. Its software is slightly young for my liking, in so far as there's the odd problem (such as the wifi not turning back on when you come out of sleep: just need to toggle it) that I could do without but it's pretty good for its age.

[Guest goatee]

Hi,

1. You can unlock from anywhere, and no, you don't even need the Orange SIM card at all. I used nckcodes.co.uk to purchase an unlock code - all you do is give them the IMEI, then put in a non-Orange SIM card, and it will ask for the unlock code you get emailed.

2. I've had no experience (I don't think) of the CPU issue (I'm using the Modaco R4 ROM with A2SD), though I understand it's happened on the stock and Modaco ROMs.

3. I've had the phone for a few weeks now, and very happy with it. Only quibbles are the fact that wi-fi is a bit of a pain - if the phone goes to sleep, when it wakes up you need to toggle wi-fi off and on, for it to connect. The other problem is that battery life isn't great, though I get two days of average use between charges by having it on 2G, and using JuiceDefender to manage data. The build quality is "good enough", but I'd strongly suggest getting a TPU or Silicon case, and a screen protector, as it's nowhere near the build quality of a Hero or Desire.

4. The camera on the SF is rubbish - if a camera is important to you, then it may be worth getting the Milestone (I've never used it), but other than that, I'd save your money, and use it to buy apps :rolleyes:.

Hi, first post here, nice to meet you all :huh:

So, I'm thinking of buying a zte blade, as I need an android phone cause I'm developing an android app and the emulator doent cut it anymore :D

Of course I'll be using it as my main phone as well :huh:

I have a couple of questions:

I have a friend who is in London. If he buys it and sends it to me, will I be able to unlock it from here?

Will I need the orange sim card to do that (to be able to get the IMEI num) or is it possible to unlock without a working (orange) sim?

(I guess I could have him unlock the phone before he sends it or at least get the IMEI number, will that work?)

About the cpu usage problem's :

as I understand these are kinda random, and there are some workarounds.

Do these happen on stock /unbranded roms or is it a bug of the modified ones only?

Finally, to anyone who has the phone for some time now: are you satisfied with it?

Do you have any problems with it in day to day use?

I was thinking about getting a used motorola milestone for twice the price, but I dont think it's worth it, almost the same specs, only the camera is better (and slightly the screen for text and colour) which I dont mind.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance

(Sorry for the potentially stupid questions :D )

Edited November 11, 2010 by goatee

[Guest Stooby]

I've had mine about a month. I'm now running the FroYo alpha as a day-to-day rom and it's working pretty well - I haven't

had the CPU issue since I flashed this ROM.

I use it as my main phone/MP3 player/SatNav/EBook reader etc.

As has already been said, I'd rather have a Desire, but for the money, the SF can't be beaten.

[Guest Lohikaarme]

Thanks for all the answers, I'm gonna have my friend get it tomorrow, hopefully I'll have it early next week so I can start messing with it :rolleyes:

Thanks again :huh:

[Guest goatee]

Thanks for all the answers, I'm gonna have my friend get it tomorrow, hopefully I'll have it early next week so I can start messing with it :rolleyes:

Thanks again :huh:

No probs - I hope you enjoy it. As long as you're aware of its limitations, it's an amazing phone - it's essentially an HTC Legend with a better screen :huh:.