Oi phone nerds - upgrade time, what should I do?

[Bluejuice]

My O2 contract FINALLY runs out next month and as a result I am eagerly anticipating my next handset purchase.

Now having been satisfied with my O2 service to date, and enjoying reduced rate very decent home broadband as a result of being a mobile customer I am reluctant to leave them for a rival network. Therefore I have been looking at my options for a new handset with O2 and as yet I cannot find anything that comes even close to the iPhone in overall superbness.

I had toyed for a while with the Nokia E71 which is lovely and thin but has all the functionality of a modern 3G internet equipped e-mail phone HOWEVER a) it's a bit old and out of date now and b) the hardware keyboard is fiddly and I find my typing speed is far better on the iPhone.

So I took it to the chap in the store and asked his advice. He told me the two phones to look out for in the next month are the Palm Pre, which I've been reading positive things about for a while now, however it does look a bit chunky and again has a hardware keyboard which will doubtless beat the iPhone's software one.

The other option is the latest Samsung effort which will be running Android. Now I have long been a fan of the Android OS and have been waiting for a decent handset to really show it off. Having looked at the reviews thus far however it would appear this Samsung jobbie is NOT going to be the handset that finally makes Android cool. It looks plasticy and naff, even though Samsung's are generally solid handsets.

So I am left looking at the iPhone, which with its recent 3GS release makes it a good time to buy because the hardware will be up to date for at least the next six months anyway. HOWEVER in order to get even the smaller capacity 16gb model I'd be looking at signing up to a contract of TWO years OR sign up for 18 months and pay a fairly hefty fee for the phone.

The thing is, as much as I love the iPhone it has become a bit common now and even with the updated 3GS model it's still the same phone when you look at it that everyone else is carrying around with them. I really fancied something new and groundbreaking but I can't see any other manufacturers getting it right yet.

Not heard too many positives about the Blackberry Storm before anyone mentions that as an alternative, and besides I'm not sure O2 do it.

SO, good people of NSC, what's my best move?

I need a phone with decent internet and e-mail capability which has a proper keyboard as I need it for both work and pleasure AND I want it to look cool as f*** and really impress other people WITHOUT being a fatty.

Anything else I should know about upcoming releases which may make it worth my while waiting an extra month perhaps or should I just cave in to the excellence of the iPhone?

Genuine responses appreciated

 

[dougdeep]

Just e-mail them and threaten to leave, you'll be amazed at the super new offers that will magically appear.

 

[Notters]

IPhone

 

[wehatepalace]

iphone

 

[Bluejuice]

Yes yes I'm fully aware of the threat to leave deals to be had HOWEVER it seems that when it comes to the iPhone you've bugger all chance as they have simply no need to offer it with any reductions/incentives due to its MASSIVE popularity and the waiting list for it meaning they have absolutely no need to give them away willy nilly. I am very aware of the fact that were I to plump for an inferior handset I could bargain my contract deal down to pay less and get more, but in this scenario what kind of handset would meet my needs?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Whatever you do don't go for the E71 - I've got one as my work phone and they're shite !

 

[Northstander]

Its either.... Iphone or Blackerry....nothing else competes!

 

[Vankleek Hill Seagull]

iPhone

 

[Bluejuice]

Blackberry's don't do it for me, hence I was thinking of the Nokia E71, it does much the same as a Curve or a Bold but is skinnier than Kate Moss which was a big appeal for me.

But as I said the E71 is a bit old now and as Mr Westdene has already slated it I think I'm relegating it to the NO pile.

Surely the bestest Blackberry is the touch screen Storm which O2 don't appear to offer, and at any rate it STILL doesn't beat the iPhone does it?

Why can't somebody brave just produce a mint sexy slimline touchscreen handset that runs Android?

In fact why don't Nokia retire the ageing Symbian OS and jump ship to Android, whilst making sexy looking phones which they once excelled at.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

iPhone obviously.

 

['sladegull]

no brainer - Iphone

 

[jordanseagull]

iphones are good, but unless you are minted, why pay so much?

I am on my Nokia 5800 Xpressmusic now, the touchscreen is fantastic, it has 3.5G, and i can honestly say i have never seen faster phone. The touchscreen qwerty is great and you hardly ever make a mistake, and the internet browsing is really, REALLY superb. The iPlayer and youtube is indeed 'cool as f***'

To top it off, you can view NSC *JUST* as you do on the computer, it looks exactly the same. Another good feature is that it doesn't annoyingly change the website to 'phone version', they stay the same. The screen is just slightly smaller than the iPhone, but it is comfortably useable.

I am on Vodafone with it. It is only on 12 months which is great, and after recieving the handset for FREE i am on 100 minutes, 500 texts and UNLIMITED internet all for just £15 a month, although you can of course increase the minutes etc for a small increase in price. DEFINATELY the most pleasing handset i have ever had, and i have had the iPhone.

Go for it, and don't waste your money

 

[phoenix]

Got a 42 in flat screen Toshiba tv.8 mg broadband,1200 min anytime any network.unlimited free texts.But had to pay £100 for the phone.with orange £34 a month.But save £15 per month,not using home phone.

 

[Bluejuice]

Got a 42 in flat screen Toshiba

Your phone has a 42 inch screen? How LITERALLY deep are your pockets?

 

[tinx]

Seriously the iPhone is a wonderful piece of kit. Everything just works and it's fast especially if you get the 3gs. I had a nokia 5800 before but that was just rubbish.

Other phones to look pit for if you are determined not to got for the iPhone are the new Sony Ericsson which has symbian operating system a 10 mp camera and loads of cool stuff but I'm not sure on release date of that and I have been hearing lots of good things about the samsung android number. Nokia are also releasing some good new phones but they are probably at least 3 months away still.

None of these compare with the iPhone though I can't do without mine and I honestly can't see myself going anywhere else but new iPhones from now on.

 

[Hiney]

HTC Touch HD

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I am on Vodafone with it. It is only on 12 months which is great, and after recieving the handset for FREE i am on 100 minutes, 500 texts and UNLIMITED internet all for just £15 a month, although you can of course increase the minutes etc for a small increase in price. DEFINATELY the most pleasing handset i have ever had, and i have had the iPhone.

Was that bought through the Vodafone website? As the £15 deal I have found is for 24 months and doesn't mention about unlimited internet?

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

HTC Touch HD

Have you got one of these? They do look quite smart

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Not going to get into the whole saying one is better than the other as obviously it's down to taste. I got the iPhone 3gs 16gb version and it's just truely ridiculously brilliant, especially it's active gps which I thought I wouldn't use but LOVE. great for the internet? On mine now) and just FUN. Certainly recommend it but again depends on what aspects of it you think you'll actually need.

 

[REDLAND]

HTC Touch HD

what he said .. but the HD 2 is supposed to be out pretty soon and that will be running android, could be exactly whats Juiceys after

HTC readies radical Touch HD revamp • Register Hardware