General musings on current mobile phones / hand held devices

Doubs

So, for the last couple of months or so I've been on the lookout for a new phone. What do I want from this phone you ask? Well, in terms of functionality - do I really need a camera? Not really. Internet? I've Internet access at home and in work, not particularly. Music player? I'm happy with my Nano. To make calls and text? Yes, but all phone's do that. So what is it? I want something thats looks cool. Simple.

Define 'cool'? Personally, I like stuff thats discreet. Subtle. Small. Not too heavy. Uncommon. Something that can take a bit of a fall, I'm clumsy. And I was struggling.

My last 3 phone's have been Nokia 6100's (for those that need reminding - http://www.alcim.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/nokia_6100.jpg). I had my first one for a few years until it eventually packed it in, I loved it and was gutted. So I bought another one on eBay and promptly lost it. Back to eBay. I had that for a couple of months until one night I decided to do a handstand outside some pub at 3am, que phone tumbling 4ft from my pocket to concreate. Currently I have one of my mates old phone's, its crap but I didn't see anything that took my eye. And herein lies the problem - bloat. Since the 6100 from what I can tell, phone's have been getting bigger and heavier, with more and more crap on them that either don't need, or don't want.

The iPhone. Steve Jobs announced it and I got worked into a frenzy practically like everyone else that works in IT. I told my friends about it. I did a uni research project on it. But now? It's too big! And worse, it's common. I find it a bit similar to a Burberry hat. One of my mates has an iTouch that I borrowed every now & then, the shine quickly wore off. Look at the interface, nice shiny icons but - calendar? notes? stocks? weather? clock? youtube? Do I really need any of this stuff? No. Calendar, notes, and clock have been around since the 3210, give me a break. So it's an iPod. Like I said I've used it and I'm not a fan. Definately a case of don't judge a book by its cover, or in this case a an album cover. I didn't like the browsing experience. Give me my Nano and a scroll wheel anyday. Plus pulling the thing out of your pocket to change tracks was a chore. Internet & Email? Like I mentioned above, nice to have but hardly worth the money. Video? Got me there, I like it. Camera? Nice, but the quality's not upto scratch. If I want to take photo's I'd still be bringing my digital. At the end of the day though, I don't want all the bloat, I want something small, and the iPhone is too big. When it comes down to the the 2 primary functions of a phone - talk and text - it's doesn't stand up. Texting is a nightmare, calling is fine, but no better than any other phone. I like the innovation Steve, I really do, but I must say I prefer a keypad.

The latest nokia's, N95 et al. I've always been a fan of Nokia, every phone I've owned has been a Nokia. My problem with the N95 and similar? Again, size! My Nokia 6100 was 13.5mm in depth, 76grams, you wouldn't know the thing was in your pocket. N95? 21mm. 120g! The N96 looks cool but its bigger again. I bulge in my jeans is enough thank you very much.

I'd heard of Blackberry, but I'd seen the earlier models and their qwerty keyboards, my God the thing was akin to holding a saucer in your hand. Never looked at them again. Figured it was more for industry boffins, people in PR, people who need email on the go. However, I've recently started using the Pearl in work, and... I like it. I really like it! First off, it looks the business. Beautiful black finish, it's shiny! Suprisingly easy to use. 15mm, 90.7 grams. Thumbs up. Camera and Video is very good, bonus (which is why I presumed the N95 is so big, apparently not). Not that many people have them. In fact I've yet to find something I don't like. So, I've decided my next phone is going to be a Pearl.

So, onto my point for this ramble - has anyone else been frustrated by this seemingly non-stop growth of bulk in terms of functionality, and size/weight of mobile phone's (although they are not really phone's anymore)? Or is it just me who like's the simpler things in life.

Discuss

Davy

You could try something like Nokia 7310 Supernova its small, light and some would say stylish depending on taste.

Also something like the 6500 classic, its slimmest phone and quite slick.

You might like the E60, or even the E51. Would be more expensive than the other two i think.


A smaller post might help with more replys.

Jonathan

Get an E51. Basically an N95 without:

1. the bulk
2. internal gps (just use a external one)
3. 5m pixel cam (has 2m pixel)
4. dnla
5. accelerometer

richieg

Get the Pearl 8110 on O2.
€29 euro if porting from another network.
Built in GPS.
Better camera and OS than original pearl
Great battery
Unlimited email and internet (now at cheaper price of €14.99 p/m)

Doubs

richieg wrote: »

Get the Pearl 8110 on O2.
€29 euro if porting from another network.
Built in GPS.
Better camera and OS than original pearl
Great battery
Unlimited email and internet (now at cheaper price of €14.99 p/m)

Most have a look at the recommendations above, I'm pretty certain I'm going to go for that when I get home though (in Mebourne at the mo), if the offer is still going that is...

strecker

Doubs wrote: »

Most have a look at the recommendations above, I'm pretty certain I'm going to go for that when I get home though (in Mebourne at the mo), if the offer is still going that is...

hahahahahaaaaa....
You spend 5000 words to tell us you want a 1999-Phone in a 2010-body, and then THAT? A Blackberry Pearl? That was easy....hahaha

aliqueenb

samsung tocco. cool as.

Doubs

strecker wrote: »

hahahahahaaaaa....
You spend 5000 words to tell us you want a 1999-Phone in a 2010-body, and then THAT? A Blackberry Pearl? That was easy....hahaha

5000 I wish, would have made uni a lot easier! You'll notice from the title of the thread I was not asking for phone recommendations per se (I'd already pretty much decided on the Pearl), but the thread was more of a general thoughts on current phone's and bloat.

hahahahahaha! :rolleyes:

Dades

Doubs wrote: »

Give me my Nano and a scroll wheel anyday. Plus pulling the thing out of your pocket to change tracks was a chore.

You can change tracks using the clicker attached to the headphones, btw.

Though since all you want to do is talk and text I don't know why you're looking at all the biggest phones on the market. They are for people who want internet/video etc. Get yourself a 6300 and be done with it.

Discuss.

Quazzie

Dades wrote: »

You can change tracks using the clicker attached to the headphones, btw.

Though since all you want to do is talk and text I don't know why you're looking at all the biggest phones on the market. They are for people who want internet/video etc. Get yourself a 6300 and be done with it.

Discuss.

or a 3210. I think I have one in a drawer somewhere :P

drunkmonkey

I can't understand that there's not more water proof phones (can you name any)....me thinks it's a conspiracy....imagine a waterproof nokia, there's not a farmer in the country that wouldn't want one....but that's proably the last phone they'd buy....

I'd love to see more gadgets built into phones, like a bottle opener, cigarette lighter, vibrators etc....

Jonathan

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

or a 3210. I think I have one in a drawer somewhere :P

Ohhh.. wow.. the memories of playing that rotation game

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I can't understand that there's not more water proof phones (can you name any)

Nokia 5140 and Nokia 6250 were splash proof. Waterproof-ish :P