First SmartPhone

G

GeorgiaPeach18

New member
Hello all,

About to get my first smart phone - I finally decided that lugging around even a 12 in laptop was too much.

So far, based on my limited research - I am leaning towards the HTC s710. And a far second choice is the Nokia N95 due to the price and battery issues.

Let`s see - I need something that I can check email with (including web based email like gmail) - can surf the regular web (especially news sites, ebay and forums like this) , MUST be GSM and has a regular keypad (and not required but preferrably, something like those found on regular Nokia phones, e.g. press the # (pound) key to switch between caps (not the stupid press the arrows on my Razr) and the space key on the `0` key.

Also, must support Wi-Fi. And must be able to at least, open and edit documents, specifically, word, excel and to view PDFs. And if it does zip files too that``ll be a bonus. (Not sure if there is one that does zip files though)

Am in Canada - but would prefer purchasing unlocked ones online. So if you can also recommend places to buy, that will be much appreciated.

Many thanks.
 
The S710 will cost you less. Both have WiFi and can view Office Docs. Neither supports 3G in North America. The N95 does NOT have a QWERTY keyboard, but I don't know if it supports HID Bluetooth profiles (to use an external keyboard).

Of course, the N95 will also replace your camera and camcorder probably, too.
 
If you're going to be doing a lot of web browsing and emailing I would recommend getting something with a large touch screen with high resolution (something like the Toshiba G900). I find browsing using Opera Mini 4 excellent on touchscreen phones.
But it seems you're looking for something medium sized so I guess these phones aren't for you. Otherwise check out the HTC P3450 and HTC Tytn. I think they'd work well.

Nokia S60 phones have a decent browser so the n95 would be a good choice. However, the e61/e61i might make a better choice. It has a qwerty keyboard, a larger screen, and costs much less than the n95.

I'm not certain if all these phones can edit office documents but they can at least view them.


PS: I don't think 3G is an issue. Most of Canada doesn't have 3G .
 
Thanks for the replies.

Well, E90 is definitely out of my price range.

I meant I would prefer one with a 'regular' non-QWERTY keypad. I don't need a QWERTY pad actually, I find they're of limited use.

I text and email alot and actually much prefer a regular phone keypad even for long emails vs a QWERTY pad. I just seem to do it about 3x as fast vs a QWERTY one.

I've come to love the Nokia ones since they make a lot of sense to me - i.e none of the funny type your letter, then press the up arrow to make it capital like on some phones.

The N95 is really really nice and would do everything I need - the battery is just one big issue for me. Although come to think of it, I guess I could buy an extra batt, haha. Hey that might actually work.
 
^^ Hmm.. yeah, mostly just basic checking of email, so no need for 3g. Then WI-FI for the rest - so battery becomes quite an issue.

I never really thought of how browsing would be on a nonTS phone..? Would I be using just the dpad on the N95?

Checking out teh e61 now, seems interesting so far.

How would you compare the Symbian vs the Windows Mob 6 on the HTC s710? For web use and general phone use?

Thanks!
 
Well, I haven't been able to play with Symbian yet (Planning on getting an N75, just waiting for the right time to port...thinking of having then drive me off by setting myself to roam all the time, hehehe, no ETF). You probably wouldn't be interested in the N75...no WiFi.

Anyway, Windows Mobile is OK as a phone OS (I used it on the MPX220 and the PPC-6700), but the version of IE on there hasn't been so good in the past. Supposedly they updated it for WM6, but I've found Opera to be a better browser on Windows Mobile. There is more software available for Windows Mobile over Symbian, but that's mostly because WM is more popular over here; most of the good Symbian stuff stays in Europe, since it's more popular there. Also, WM isn't that stable...really made me miss my old Treo and PalmOS (And I hear S60 is just as stable as PalmOS was).

If you're not interested in a QWERTY keyboard and have the money to spare, just get the N95. The S710's screen is a bit small. On either, you'd basically use the D-pad to browse, yeah.
 
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