Need help picking new phone please

Hello and welcome to wireless advisor. I am an employee with tmobile and I think a device you may want to look at is the tmobile dash, great first smartphone. Should be about 49.99 with a new two year contract. Your concerns about the g1 are valid however I must say that I am also not in a 3g coverage area and I love mine I am posting this message from it right now, although I am currently connected to WiFi. Its really about the feel of the phone in your hand both have data plans for same cost, 24.99 (unlimited data and 400 sms/mms), or 34.99 (unlim data & msging). Remember you could try the g1 first and return it if you don't like it my only honest complaint is the battery has to be charged daily. Good luck and keep us posted with what you decide.

 

I second tmobileman's suggestion of the Dash. For your first foray into smartphones, it would be an excellent phone to start with. The price is also good too.

The only other phone I would have recommended is the Wing, but that phone is still too expensive and the Dash does pretty much the same as the Wing, and it's far less expensive too.

 

As long as you're within the 14 day return period (30 days in California), you should be fine.

I believe if you get it online, you send it back to them. I'm not sure of this, though. Check with T-Mobile's CS or with a store, or wait for tmobileman to answer this one, as he'll know what the policy is.

 

While I definetly agree with the other guys, you also might try out a Blackberry depending on which operating system and feel of the phone that you like. I personally love the Blackberry OS over Windows Mobile, and since you do have those 14 days of buyer's remorse use it. It's better to take the hassle of finding a phone you like then wait for 2 years or pay full retail price for a different if you get a phone you can't stand.

 

All devices are returned to point of purchase so if you order it you have to send it back, however if you do send it back you don't have to wait to order your new device just call with a tracking number and we will send you out a new phone with best pricing again, as the original order will be credited within 30 days of us receiving it back. So it is easier in store, but like you said if you're not in a 3g area you would have to order the G1 and have it shipped, I also like BB software, but in using both I prefer the win mobile just because most of the stuff I have is windows oriented so it worked better for me. But it is about the right fit for you so try as many as you want.

 

Hi , let me add a couple thoughts... I've used the dash and initially thought it would be to my liking, and indeed it was, but soon it became clear that the keys are too small and unhappiness ensued because I "liked it" well past the buyer's remorse period. You may like the bberry 8320 a lot more. I do. I tested the bberry flip also and found the screen too narrow. I'm really a flip phone type guy so that was disappointing. G1 is pretty fast even OFF the 3G network. If you don't mind the size of it, it's great.

 

One of my employees has a G1 and I was quite impressed with it.

 

Agree with both points. I have used my G1 pretty extensively in a 2G area (Hartford, CT). It works fine and Web browsing is OK, although obviously not as fast as in a 3G area. Even if you are pulling up complicated pages, like the front page of the New York Times, the wait is not too long. Another way of putting it is, there is really no penalty for having the G1 in a 2G area (relative to any other phone you would have on 2G).

The G1 is pretty big (but hey, you want the big screen) and thick (but hey, you want that keyboard). I'm willing to sacrifice a little sexiness (compared to say, the iPhone) for functionality. You may want to check out my review.


SW

 

I like the G1, from what I've seen of it. I know the HTC Magic/rumored G2 doesn't have a real keyboard, but I think for those who email or text a lot the real keyboard would be preferable from a speed and usability perspective?

 

Well hopefully you get a white one, for some reason I have taken about 5 calls over the last couple days of people who have all ordered the white one and ended up receiving the bronze, one guy called so we express orderred another white one and he got another bronze, if this happens to you let me know before you call so I can tell you how we are going to get it resolved so that you know what to expect beforehand, I have a ticket in on this issue with mgmt. But congrats you will love your G1, I love mine

 

frenchienut, congratulations and good luck with your new toy. I for one, am intrigued & impressed by the G1, although not too thrilled by the size and the bulk of it.. I am one of those who definitely need a physical keyboard.

Unfortunately for me T-Mobile has scant coverage in my area and so I have to wait for AT&T's infatuation with the I-Phone to wane, so we can get the Android, Plam Pree type of devices with AT&T 3G.

Keep the reviews of the G1 coming please.

 

the 8900 is nice also and keep trying until you find the right phone for you, remember with the buyer's remorse period you get that everytime.

 

I'm considering the G1 but the more I read about it, the more I think I should wait for the next Android phone, or at the very least see what cupcake can do before I take the plunge.

Battery life is a big issue on the g1- they suggest turning off everything- wifi, 3g, data sync, turning the brightness all the way down, carrying the charger, 2 batteries, getting the brick battery, etc.

How often did it freeze and what did you do?

 

The next Android phone from HTC has already been shown and you can see it on the Web (search for HTC G2). It looks a lot more like the iPhone than the G1 and, like the iPhone, has a virtual on-screen keyboard. If this appeals to you, wait about 6 months and you will be able to buy it. Likewise, the features of the "cupcake" branch are known, but are not available on any supported handsets at this time. It looks like T-mobile is going to release this functionality a bit at a time, and I would bet that there will not be an all-in-one "cupcake" release. That is really just a development term for a code branch that you don't have access to unless you are a developer with root access to your phone.

Turning off functions gradually, based on battery charge, can be done automatically by installing the G1 application Power Manager. You install it and forget it, although you can still manually override or use the manual controls in the Useful Switchers app. It is important to properly condition your battery (deep discharge it a few times when you first get it). After doing that, and with Power Manager installed, you should get 3.5 to 4.5 hours of use on the standard battery. I do. In addition, I do have a car charger and, of course, I carry the wall charger with me while traveling, but I have not found multiple batteries or the "brick battery" necessary.



SW

 

One more battery trick is to take the USB charger with you to work, if you work on a PC all day, plug it in while at work it charges select don't mount so you're not enabling transfer of files just charging, I do this from time to time when forgetting to charge my battery before I start my day

 

Thanks for the tips on battery life, if I do end up getting an HTC phone, I'll have to remember that.
I don't think the HTC Magic/G2 will come to America. Vodafone got the exclusive and they aren't exactly buddies with T-mobile. Personally, I think the G2 will be another Android phone released in October, about a year from when the G1 was released.

Although it would be nice if the G2 came to the States... only if the keyboard is easy to use, battery life improved, and bugs get sorted out. I am hoping that cupcake turns out to be the Jesus-update that everybody has hyped it up to be, otherwise I'll be looking at the next iPhone/waiting for a LONG time until a non-HTC Android phone comes out. CTIA is coming up and hopefully something will be revealed to us.

 

Awesome, don't forget to update your profile information with your list of devices so that everybody can be jealous of your 8900 :wink: Enjoy