Cell phone gurus!

Forum dedicated to computer hardware and software, mobile phones and electronic gadgets.
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MinisterofDOOM
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I'm going to be getting a phone through my job, and I have a good amount of say in which phone it'll be. I'm looking for some suggestions.

My desired qualifications are:-Thin-Durable (ESPECIALLY the screen--I want to be able to toss it in my pocket with my keys and knife and not worry about it)-MicroSD or other flash media support-Fairly okay camera (1.3mp or higher)-Mobile web access-Mobile email

It'll have AT&T for service.

Before anyone suggests it, I don't want the iPhone. It's expensive and does a lot I don't need, has a HUGE VULNERABLE screen, and is a bit too...overdone for my taste.

I'm thinking the BlackBerry 8310 or 8320 look good. Any feedback on them?


Sil40_Mayhem
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Funny, I was just going to suggest the 8830. Does AT&T carry that model?

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MinisterofDOOM
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How does it compare to the 8310? Especially price-wise? (The 8310 is only $99 through AT&T, so...)Doesn't look like it has a camera (not a huge loss necessarily, though).

Sil40_Mayhem
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Looks like it isn't offered by AT&T. But it has a 2MP camera + video recording. One place had it for $199 + two $100 mail-in rebates (free, when all was said and done).

Have you heard of phonescoop.com? You can select phones by carrier, then compare features.

EDIT:

Here's a quick sample comparison of phones that fit your interests: http://www.phonescoop.com/phon...=1054

I guess you can cross reference the pricing for each on the AT&T wireless website or at a store.

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MinisterofDOOM
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Thanks!

I'm liking the Treo 750...kinda pricey though.

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szh
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MinisterofDOOM wrote:Thanks!

I'm liking the Treo 750...kinda pricey though.
The Treo 750 is a bit old and somewhat outdated now. I think the AT&T equivalent of the Blackberry 8830 (from Verizon) is a good way to go ...

Z

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Blackjack 2. I have the Blackjack 1 and it is awesome. Really great!

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MinisterofDOOM
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Oooh, I like the BlackJack. Windows Mobile is a huge plus.

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The best part of Win mobile is when you want to add phone numbers etc to the phone, open up Microsoft Outlook on your PC. Add phone numbers to all your contacts via a "real" keyboard. Add new contacts if needed. Sync, Done.

Also, if you get a BJ1, it only has win mobile5, not 6, but... I have about 400 different apps for win mobile5, and have unlocked and overclocked it from 132Mhz to 252Mhz, with absolutely no problems. The phone runs REALLY fast compared to stock. With win mob 6, it is a lot harder to OC, and edit the registry.

You can still order BJ1's from At&t's online store.

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PoorManQ45
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I'd recommend the HTC Tytn 2

It kicks everythings arse

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redtop91
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Yeah HTC is the only way to go as far as Smartphones go but AT&T is FTL for smartphones. They won't insure them so if you drop your shiny phone you have to pay full retail for replacement, not to mention the internet is slower than dial up.

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PoorManQ45
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redtop91 wrote:Yeah HTC is the only way to go as far as Smartphones go but AT&T is FTL for smartphones. They won't insure them so if you drop your shiny phone you have to pay full retail for replacement, not to mention the internet is slower than dial up.
That's a PDA Phone.

Smart phones = no touch screen

PDA phone = Touch screen

But who cares about insurance on a phone. It's all a ripoff anyways.

From what I've experienced most phones will take a beating.

I've got a HTC 620, aka Tmobile Dash that has been dropped, kicked, dropped in water, thrown, etc... and it has only one little nick on the corner.

The key is to get a really good padded case for it

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redtop91
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PoorManQ45 wrote:
That's a PDA Phone.

Smart phones = no touch screen

PDA phone = Touch screen
That's actually wrong. That is only the Designation for the OS that the phone runs. Windows Mobile 6 Smartphone Edition versus WM6 Standard. AT&T and all wireless carriers FWIW as a whole calls any device not running an OS proprietary to the manufacturer with a QWERTY Keyboard and syncing capabilities a smartphone. AT&T's policy extends to Touch and Non touch screen "smartphones."

I use the 6800 Mogul and while it I love it, it's not really the thinnest of phones but it's no Jabba. Full activesync exchange server support. Emails are pushed realtime to my phone and with a 1200 kbit/sec download speed attachments and the like are destroyed. I'd recommend waiting on the HTC Diamond:

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=46278


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PoorManQ45
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See, you used the carriers designation, and they're just wrong.

I use the manufacture's designation.

HTC says no touchscreen is a smartphone. If it's got a touchscreen it's a PDA Phone or higher, but never a smartphone.

I dont listen to anything the carriers say. They dont make the phones, and 99% of the time they have no clue how to even work them. So why pay attention to what they say?

BTW, I bought my Dash outright as I didn't want to extend my contract. So no warranty anyways.

If I break this one I'll probably get the TyTn2

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redtop91
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Oh so when your phone isn't working and you call the Cell provider needing help using the manufacturer's designation is how you get the problem fixed with no confusion. I see.

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PoorManQ45
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HUh? If my phones not working I either fix it or get a new one.

Check out the forums. They'll expose you to features on your phone that the manufacturer wont even tell you!

One thing I hate about buying phones through the phone company is that some of them choose to remove features. Like Verizon charging extra for GPS on a phone that is supposed to come with GPS built in! LOL

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I work for Sprint's Advanced Tech Support LOL. There really isn't much about wireless phones that a forum can educate me about. Also GPS itself is just a hardware designation. Like any electronic device having the hardware and no software to run it is useless. Verizon charges you for the software, not the use of GPS.

Edit: In my mind that didn't sound so cocky but in type it's pretty pompous but I'm not sure how to rephrase it.

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PoorManQ45
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Nah, it sounds informative

You're correct, verizon does charge for the software. Unfortunately for most users of the phones they dont know that they can egt the appropriate software from the internet.

You work for sprint. COol. So i'm sure you're familiar with the hack rom updates that fix issues that the companies official Rom doesn't, correcT?

Like for my Dash T-mobiles Rom has a flaw in it that keeps "ghost" alarms. When you set the alarm and then change it the one that was set before still stays there! Randomly it'll go off at that time, sometimes not. A hacked rom fixes this issue

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MinisterofDOOM
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PoorManQ45 wrote:I'd recommend the HTC Tytn 2It kicks everythings arse
It's nice, but as I said in my first post: I don't want anything with a touchscreen that big.First, touch screens are too vulnerable.Second, I don't want to have to type with a touch screen. I want a real qwerty keyboard with tactile buttons. Typing on touch screens, especially with your thumb, sucks.

And yeah, I know AT&T isn't the best when it comes to smart phones. Unfortunately that part is out of my hands.

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PoorManQ45
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no, it has a full qwerty keyboard that slides out

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I just bought a T-Mobile SDA (HTC Tornado) and it's great. Killer awesome battery life, not exactly slim, but it has wifi, 1.3MP cam, video, windows mobile, and few nice goodies. No qwerty though. It only cost me $112 brand new on ebay express. Check for unlocked phones as well.

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redtop91
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PoorManQ45 wrote:You work for sprint. COol. So i'm sure you're familiar with the hack rom updates that fix issues that the companies official Rom doesn't, correcT?
ROFL. You don't know how many calls a day I got on people bricking their phone with hacked roms. The roms themselves are pretty good but they don't have the idiot proof setup of OEM roms. I had one guy install the Alltel rom update for his Sprint Touch (HTC 6900). I laughed at him and he asked for my supervisor.

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PoorManQ45
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LMFAO! THat's so awesome.

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telcoman
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MinisterofDOOM wrote:I'm going to be getting a phone through my job, and I have a good amount of say in which phone it'll be. I'm looking for some suggestions.

My desired qualifications are:-Thin-Durable (ESPECIALLY the screen--I want to be able to toss it in my pocket with my keys and knife and not worry about it)-MicroSD or other flash media support-Fairly okay camera (1.3mp or higher)-Mobile web access-Mobile email

It'll have AT&T for service.

Before anyone suggests it, I don't want the iPhone. It's expensive and does a lot I don't need, has a HUGE VULNERABLE screen, and is a bit too...overdone for my taste.

I'm thinking the BlackBerry 8310 or 8320 look good. Any feedback on them?
Blackberry. I've had mine for a few years now and love it.There is a reason they call it a crackberry. Wife gets pissed when she's talking and I'm checking my email.

The latest ones from AT&T have the push to talk. (8800 series)The network upgrade to 3G is going to make them much faster

Telcoman


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