Which smart phone to go for?

[Crispy]

That's a ridiculous comparison. The N95/96 is an excellent handset with a superb feature set and you'll find no shortage of folks able to zip through their functions in every day use.

And, of course, the N95 can perform genuinely useful functions like Tom Tom GPS, MMS, video recording and cut and paste, and comes with a memory card slot, physical keypad, infinitely superior camera with flash etc etc.

I don't like the interface myself, but 'nuff people get along with it just fine.

I think your argument only works if the user is comfortable with advanced technology. The swiss-army-knife argument would work better without the poundstretcher bit. A big SAK has every tool under the sun, and is well made, but the average shopper has no idea what most of them do, and they're not as useful as the full-sized tool they replicate.

Now, there is no no shortage of people using all the flash features on their N95, but I'd be willing to bet that those people are predominately techy types who are willing to forgive WM6 its flaws in order to be power users. The iphone is not designed for these people. It's for people who'll start running away, the instant things get complicated. So yes, that means less features, but made so slick and intuitive that everyone can use them.

In this case, I've got Filter down as a techy type, so he shouldn't get the iphone. The missing features will frustrate him.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I'm not typing all that shit out about the iPhone again! We've just had a thread on this!

 

[ChrisFilter]

I would say - for its complete usability. Stephen Fry said something in defence of Apple's products, about how design certainly isn't everything, but if you're using something every day then its not unreasonable to hope that what you use looks and feels nice. And the iPhone has this in buckets, the way it works is so aesthetically pleasing. It just appeals to your senses. The touch screen is so intuitive and the way you flick through menus, photos, the GUI is just...lovely, for want of a better word.

Of course, this doesn't really scratch the surface for a sensible buying choice, when the iPhone is beaten on features. It's a bit like choosing a lady - do you want the sexy model, or the ugly bird with brains? I'm waiting for the sexy model to get a few years of education - ie, waiting for the 3rd or 4th gen.

It's a very good point re: usability, but a lack of proper keyboard (or haptic feedback) means that little things like one handed texting could be a pain in the arse. This is my concern.

My main areas of use, apart from the obvious calling and texting, is browsing the web on the train into work and browsing the web whilst sitting in front of the telly. With this in mind, the G1 is probably the best option but I really don't want to go for it if it's a bit pants and I can't help, despite feedback on here, think it might be a bit pants.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I've used phones with an adaptor. Very soon you lose the adaptor or just can't be arsed. Major ommision imho.

Yeah, I guess it depends on if you have a dedicated pair of 'phones for use with the phone or not. If you're constantly having to take off the adapter to use them with something else then I can see it would be an issue.

 

[tarannau]

Yep, the Poundstretcher bit was perhaps unnecessary, but there's something a bit clumsy all around about the N95/N96. It's solid rather than designed iykwim.

I've known people who like it mind, albeit they're usually of the techy/home-build persuasion. It does everything, yet nothing's class leading - browsing's not that pleasant, GPS is clunky, the keyboard's not great for email and so on. It feels compromised by its generalised nature in some way, hence the swiss army knife comparison

 

[ChrisFilter]

I think your argument only works if the user is comfortable with advanced technology. The swiss-army-knife argument would work better without the poundstretcher bit. A big SAK has every tool under the sun, and is well made, but the average shopper has no idea what most of them do, and they're not as useful as the full-sized tool they replicate.

Now, there is no no shortage of people using all the flash features on their N95, but I'd be willing to bet that those people are predominately techy types who are willing to forgive WM6 its flaws in order to be power users. The iphone is not designed for these people. It's for people who'll start running away, the instant things get complicated. So yes, that means less features, but made so slick and intuitive that everyone can use them.

In this case, I've got Filter down as a techy type, so he shouldn't get the iphone. The missing features will frustrate him.

Fantastic post, thank you Crispy.

This is what I was after, insights (i.e. really not a dig at the iPhone, despite subsequent trolling - I couldn't resist).

And it leaves me still drawn between the Storm and the G1.

G1 is £10 less a month...
G1 doesn't have 3.5mm jack
G1 is a tinkerer's dream
G1 is 1st gen and looks a little unfinished
G1 doesn't even play video very well

Storm is very slick
Storm doesn't have wifi
Storm doesn't have a proper keyboard
Storm is a Blackberry, not so good for tinkering

 

[ChrisFilter]

Yep, the Poundstretcher bit was perhaps unnecessary, but there's something a bit clumsy all around about the N95/N96. It's solid rather than designed iykwim.

I've known people who like it mind, albeit they're usually of the techy/home-build persuasion. It does everything, yet nothing's class leading - browsing's not that pleasant, GPS is clunky, the keyboard's not great for email and so on. It feels compromised by its generalised nature in some way, hence the swiss army knife comparison

I think that's a fair assesment, truth be told. The multimedia functions are far from usable, the browsing is passable, etc.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Basically my heart says G1, my head says Storm.

A lunchtime of playing around is in order I think.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

G1 doesn't even play video very well

It dosen't

 

[Treebeak]

To the iPhone voters, convince me why it's worth more than the others despite so many major flaws!

It has a lightsabre function that makes the real weald and crash noises. There is nothing better than pretending to be a jedi. Nothing in this world. Nothing.

I rest my case.

 

[ChrisFilter]

It dosen't

My apologies, I had read that out of the box it's media player functionality is dire if not non-existant, but that you could download media player apps that were average at best.

Is this not true?

 

[tarannau]

The Storm's lack of wi-fi counts it out as a secondary home browsing machine for me. And the browser's not meant to be great, although I've not had a play

If browsing's really a huge draw, it'd seem to come down to an Android vs iphone showdown. My impressions of the G1 are that it's slightly faster, but the iphone's multitouch still makes it a more pleasant experience - you can also pinch into the screen to speed up linking to where you want as well, which makes it feel more responsive and lessens the frustration of waiting for page loads. The iphone's still better for browsing imo.

I reckon the G1, given your latent dislike of the iphone and tinker needs, is probably the only real option for you. I'd be tempted to wait

 

[Crispy]

Yep, I think waiting is the only sensible option. What you want is an Android phone that's not the G1.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

My apologies, I had read that out of the box it's media player functionality is dire if not non-existant, but that you could download media player apps that were average at best.

There's a youtube app built in, and there's a few video players available in the market, but I dunno how good they are as it's not something that interests me tbh.

The music player built in seems fine to me - I'm not quite sure why people are having a go at it, what more do you need than to be able to search (by artist, album or song), have playlists and be able to play/pause/ff/rew

 

[ChrisFilter]

The music player built in seems fine to me - I'm not quite sure why people are having a go at it, what more do you need than to be able to search (by artist, album or song), have playlists and be able to play/pause/ff/rew

'cos once you've used the iPod, going back to a bog standard player is pretty painful.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Yep, I think waiting is the only sensible option. What you want is an Android phone that's not the G1.

Damnit Crispy. I can't wait! This will eat me up inside until I'm broken.

 

[Private Storm]

It's a very good point re: usability, but a lack of proper keyboard (or haptic feedback) means that little things like one handed texting could be a pain in the arse. This is my concern.

I thought that this might be the case, but I've found typing on it a pretty smooth process. There's an app that let's you turn it landscape too for emails and that works really well. The fact that it should come with that function out of the box is a different matter...

 

[ChrisFilter]

The Storm's lack of wi-fi counts it out as a secondary home browsing machine for me. And the browser's not meant to be great, although I've not had a play

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2HevrXJeW6Y looks ok to me, remember I'm happy with browsing on the N95!

There isn't another Android handset out for ages.

 

[tarannau]

'cos once you've used the iPod, going back to a bog standard player is pretty painful.

Yep. And it's got to be said the iphone/touch is a fucking fantastic bit of Ui for music. I keep telling myself that I don't want one - auspicious pocket-out electronics with breakable screens aren't the thing for me - but they're fun bits of tempting kit.

 

[tarannau]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2HevrXJeW6Y looks ok to me, remember I'm happy with browsing on the N95!

There isn't another Android handset out for ages.

You're a more patient man than me. It's what you get used to I guess - similar to your ipod comparison.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

'cos once you've used the iPod, going back to a bog standard player is pretty painful.

It no iPod certainly (what is?), but it's a fuckload better than any other player I've seen built into a phone.



Not the best video quality, but you get the gist of it.

 

[Kanda]

It no iPod certainly (what is?)

The iPhone is

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

The iPhone is

Oh bugger off

 

[editor]

I've known people who like it mind, albeit they're usually of the techy/home-build persuasion. It does everything, yet nothing's class leading - browsing's not that pleasant, GPS is clunky, the keyboard's not great for email and so on.

It's got a far better camera than most current smartphones, it's got a flash, the keyboard is better than a virtual one, browsing is average, the GPS is reasonable and unless Britain has suddenly filled with spods, the vast majority of people using the phone are not 'techies.'

The Storm's lack of wi-fi counts it out as a secondary home browsing machine for me. And the browser's not meant to be great, although I've not had a play

The lack of wi-fi is ridiculous, but the browser looked fine to me - easily good enough for everyday use. Compared to the iPhone, the text auto correct is better on the Storm as is the keyboard - by miles.

It's worth noting that unlike the iPhone, you're also able to install third party browsers on handsets and there's certainly some interesting developments in that area.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Gotta run to a meeting, but just quickly:

Storm is rubbish. Slow. Clunky. Typing isn't easy.
iPhone is nice, but failed to make the right connection when typing too many times.

The surprise entry is the HTC Serra, which I believe is the HTC Touch Pro - fantastic keyboard, and the flo stuff is really nice.

Possible winner!

Xperia keyboard isn't up to scratch.

Between the G1 and the Touch Pro.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Just decided to go for the HTC Touch HD. It's beautiful. Makes the iPhone look ugly and dated. The screen is much bigger and is of a much higher resolution. Battery life is significantly better. Text entry is as good as if not better than on the iPhone, with loads of 3rd-party systems available if you don't get on with the native controls.

The battery is replaceable and it'll take microSD cards of any size, 32GB being the max at the moment but give it time and the 64GB card will be along.

The TouchFlo system does a very good job of mimicking the Iphone's control system. Not quite as good, but when you consider it pisses on the iPhone in pretty much every other way, that can be lived with.

Wind up merchantry aside, seriously, it's better than the iPhone.

HAPPY NOW COCKFACE?

 

[kained&able]

God chris can't you post this on the right thtread it should clearly be on the fanboy thread so we can have a bun fight about it you cock!


dave

 

[Kanda]

Looks like a nice phone. Well done

 

[ChrisFilter]

Looks like a nice phone. Well done

Thanks

*slow hug, deep breath*

 

[Kanda]

div