Another cell phone thread

[dklaiman]

My wife and I are planning to get our first "smartphones" later this month. After researching endgadget.com and cnet.com, my head is spinning. It would be nice if their reviews were similar and if the comment section on endgadget didn't make me question every conclusion I thought I'd reached.

Anyway, we're going to go with Sprint for a number of reasons. SWMBO and I are looking for phones with good call quality along with texting, e-mail, web surfing, and apps availability. I'm considering either the BB Style (hated on endgadget.com) or the Optimus S (which doesn't have a QWERTY keyboard and CNET says has mediocre call quality).

There has to be an easier way to do this. Does anyone here have any recommendations for specific phones, other websites, features to look for/ignore/avoid?

Thanks.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

I've heard nothing but goot things about the HTC Evo that Sprint offers. I'd wager that it is their best phone, and one can't argue with a huge screen, 1GHz processor, and 4G coverage.

While I would usually suggest Palm devices, Sprint doesn't carry the upgraded (Plus) models, nor will they carry the second generation models next year.

 

[sol92258]

I've heard nothing but goot things about the HTC Evo that Sprint offers. I'd wager that it is their best phone, and one can't argue with a huge screen, 1GHz processor, and 4G coverage.

While I would usually suggest Palm devices, Sprint doesn't carry the upgraded (Plus) models, nor will they carry the second generation models next year.

seconded. If I had to go with Sprint, EVO is what I'd get

 

[dklaiman]

seconded. If I had to go with Sprint, EVO is what I'd get

We planned to stay 3G. Don't we need to pay the extra money for 4G to go with the EVO?

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

We planned to stay 3G. Don't we need to pay the extra money for 4G to go with the EVO?

Looks like it's $10 extra a month, so... yeah.

Cnet review

 

[dklaiman]

Looks like it's $10 extra a month, so... yeah.

Cnet review

Although I am saving lots of money by using a DE and wetshaving lol, an extra $240/year plus tax doesn't make sense to me considering how we'll be using the phones.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Let's back it up a bit then. What exactly do you want from your phone?

Web, email, and texting will all be standard on any smarthphone.
Apps capabilty will be dependant upon th OS, not the phone so much. Android and Blackberry are both major players, so you should be fine with either. Even if one has a few more apps, it's not likely to have something essential that the other doesn't.

The only real variables you're looking for that I can decifer are A QWERTY keyboard and call quality.
Call quality will probably be lower simply due to the fact that you're going with Sprint, but as you noted you've read the Optimus has poor call quality as well as no keyboard. I think you could live without the keyboard, but thats just something you'll have to weigh.

Honestly, both phones rate well among users, so I don't think you'll be majorly disappointed with either.

 

[royalshave]

I have the Evo and I absolutely love it.
I almost don't even need a personal computer with this phone.
It is an extra $10 a month, but I think it's still worth it.
You might be able to look around for employee discounts and whatnot because at the end of it all, I'm paying ~$65/month for 1 line (which is cheaper than any network with a smartphone).

-Kristie.

 

[chris456]

If you don't want to pay the extra $10 a month then the Optimus S is really the only semi-solid option you have.

In my opinion, as somewhat of a smartphone geek, Sprint has two phones I would consider buying and they are the HTC Evo or the Samsung Epic. I am not a fan of LG smartphones' quality and think that both the Evo and Epic are both worth paying extra $10 a month for, especially if you live in an area that already has 4g.

All three of those phones run Android. Personally I would stay away from Blackberry if you are interested in apps. Blackberry's apps are not even close to the quality of Android apps and BB's app store isn't a great experience. There is a reason that Blackberry (RIM) is losing ground in the smartphone wars to Apple (iOS) and Google (Android) and it's because it's boring and the UI is outdated, even with the new 6.0.

I usually trust Engadget over CNET and I find some of the best info to be in the comments even if you have to sort through them a bit to find good info.

 

[dklaiman]

Let's back it up a bit then. What exactly do you want from your phone?

Right now I use my phone for calls and texting, only. I'd like to be able to do that easily, check e-mail (including attachments) and download apps that I think are useful. I'm a middle aged guy. I don't need the fart sound, a helicopter game, or lord knows what else. I'd also like to be able to surf the web fairly easily when I'm out for things like scores to ball games, restaurant names, directions, and things like that. It won't replace my desktop or my laptop.

I have an iTouch and use the touch screen keyboard on occassion. I don't use it enough to get used to it. That's why I'm leaning towards a physical keyboard of some type. I do get calls to and from work and clients, so call quality is important. Fortunately, Sprint has a good network where I live--I'd consider AT&T but their call quality and coverage here stinks. Verizon is too expensive with a data package.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Well, Sprint also offers a couple other phones that might suit you even if they aren't the best phones on the market. I'm not sure what you're willing to spend per phone, but there is always the HTC Pro Touch 2, which has Windows Mobile. WinMo should be decent for all of your office related needs; call quality is something you'll need to look into. You can also go with a different Blackberry model.
Honestly, any smartphone, as I've said, should easily be able to hand what you're asking. Email, attachments, text and voice are easy-peasy.

If you don't care as much about having the fastest and best, you could go with one of the Palm Devices I mentioned earlier (I know, I know. I rant). They won't be top of the line, because for some reason Sprint isn't carrying the Plus models, but they should work well (if a little slower). WebOS is such an amazing operating system that everything you are asking will be quite well taken care of.

Though you have said that you want to go with Sprint, do what Royalshave suggested and check out employer deals and such for other carriers. I pay very little for my service with Verizon, and I get free mobile HotSpots ($40 anywhere else) because of my Pre, which can be really handy. Verizon is has been my favorite service provider and they carry a lot of smartphones. They have Palm devices (Pre Plus, Pre 2 in '11), some of the best Android phones (Droid Pro, DroidX, Incredible), and they'll have the Iphone 4 in '11. There data coverage is the best I know of, and voice quality is top-notch. I agree that AT&T is awful.

One thing to consider is possibly using a VOIP system while at home (or any other WiFi area) to make free calls, and cut your monthly minutes to a cheaper bracket, which might make a more expensive carrier more tolerable.

Other than that, I don't know what else to suggest my friend.

 

[dklaiman]

Thanks for the information. I'll check with my employer to see if any discounts are offered. I'll call Verizon, too, to see if they'll do anything to keep us as loyal customers.

 

[LouieGrandie]

Have the HTC EVO and love it also. When I go on the road for non-business reasons I don't take my laptop anymore. I can do just about everything like read company e-mail, read personal e-mail, search the web. That being said you might want to look at the Samsung models also. Once you have a large screen as on the EVO you will never go back to the normal size again. It is just so much easier to read web pages and e-mails with it.

Note on the EVO, it has 4G and if you have 4G in your area you can turn it on and use it as a hot spot and it will not cost you anything! If you want to use the HotSpot feature in 3G it will cost you $30 a month. Weird but true.

I have the basic Sprint all in one plan which is $69.99 +$10 due to the EVO and it covers my needs. It has unlimited texting which I do more of rather than make a call. I think the Sprint plans are better than AT & T and Verizon.

All in all an excellent phone.

Side note, I would NOT go with a HTC Pro, Pro2 or any phone running Windows Mobil. It is a dead OS since the release of Windows Phone 7. Same with Palm. Currently the two best OS are the Android and Apple applications. Windows 7 is suppose to be a big leap forward for Microsoft but their sales have been slow and they have not gotten a lot of "must have" reviews.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Side note, I would NOT go with a HTC Pro, Pro2 or any phone running Windows Mobil. It is a dead OS since the release of Windows Phone 7. Same with Palm. Currently the two best OS are the Android and Apple applications. Windows 7 is suppose to be a big leap forward for Microsoft but their sales have been slow and they have not gotten a lot of "must have" reviews.

Windows mobile might be dead but WebOS is alive and well. Things got slowed down a bit for them when HP purchased Palm, but with more support and money HP should be able to make it formidable. There are supposed to be several new devices next year featuring the platform including a tablet, a device on which WebOS should be much etter equipped than Android.

 

[media]

If you go verizon, get a droid 2. It's everything you're looking for and it's very easy to use. I got mine last week and it's a fantastic phone.

 

[dklaiman]

Thanks, again, for all the responses. We ended up with Sprint and the Optimus S. It does everything we needed/wanted, and the call quality (my main concern with the phone) has been great.