Dell Sprint

[Simon]

Can't do links, but anyone got any opinions on the Dell Sprint?  I know it's Andriod, but looks quite configurable, and less Googleised than some Android phones I've seen. 

[Rik]

You're weakening, Simon. Skip Android and go straight to an iPhone. 

[Simon]

I am weakening, but if I get an iPhone now, it will be out of date in a few weeks, and the iPhone4 will probably be about £600, which is more than I want to spend on a phone. 

[Rik]

Think of all the cheap iPhones which will shortly be appearing on eBay.

[Simon]

I've already been offered two on here! 

[Rik]

Why am I not surprised.

[Steve]

I never said it would be cheap though.

[Simon]

[Gary]

I am weakening, but if I get an iPhone now, it will be out of date in a few weeks, and the iPhone4 will probably be about £600, which is more than I want to spend on a phone. 

iPhone 3GS will run the new 4OS operating system Simon, so it wont be out of date really.

[Gary]

I never said it would be cheap though.

American prices are cheaper than UK, $299 for the 32GB model. But Apple may drop the price slightly to get Market share and lots of sales.

[Steve]

Some of them will even come with one years AppleCare free

[Simon]

How restricted are they to Apple software, and do they sync with Outlook?  There's a brand new one on eBay for £375, which I was looking at.

[Rik]

I think they're restricted to iTunes, Simon, but someone else will now for sure.

[pctech]

I gather they are restricted to iTunes, unlike the iPod you cant enable disk use and use them like a disk drive.

[Simon]

Ah, so you can't transfer files, such as ringtones, pics, via USB from a PC?

[Rik]

Yes, but through iTunes.

[pctech]

I think you have to import the MP3s as tracks whereas on other phones it appears as a mass storage device and you just drop them into the phone's file system which I gather is what you are after Simon?

[Simon]

Yes, Mitch.  Another dead end here, I fear.  I'm beginning to think there's nothing to match the BlackBerry. 

[Rik]

Apart from the fact you can't type on it , what would you say it's advantages are, Simon?

[Steve]

Ah, so you can't transfer files, such as ringtones, pics, via USB from a PC?

Not used an iPhone with a PC, but I understand that in addition to music through iTunes (same as iPod) you can sync Outlook calendars. Pictures officially through Photoshop elements 3 but I think there are other applications

[Simon]

Rik,

The advantages of the BlackBerry are that everything 'just works' out of the box.  There's no messing about with different apps to sync with Outlook, emails are a doddle to set up, you are not reliant on Google, iTunes, or anything else to get it to work, and it's easily upgradeable and customisable.  Of the other phones I have looked at, they all seem to have something they don't do as easily as the BB. 

[Rik]

Sounds good.

[Simon]

Steve,  thanks for that.  So, basically, things are reliant ion iTunes?

[Simon]

On, even. 

[Steve]

Even my wife can use a blackberry which is saying something,however I don't like the keyboard and the small low resolution screen.

[Simon]

You could do a lot worse, Rik. 

[pctech]

I did think about getting a Blackberry myself once on Orange PAYG but as I spend a good part of my day responding to e-mail at work I thought 'don't think so'

I maintain a personal e-mail address simply because you have to these days, I'm not a big fan of e-mail.

[Rik]

On, even. 

Yup, the typing is still a problem. 

[Rik]

Even my wife can use a blackberry which is saying something,however I don't like the keyboard and the small low resolution screen.

Don't like the keyboard in what way, Steve?

[Rik]

You could do a lot worse, Rik. 

I'm thinking of the next upgrade at the end of this contract term. Increasingly, I find texting difficult because of the finger tremors, so qwerty could be a big advantage for me.

[Rik]

I maintain a personal e-mail address simply because you have to these days, I'm not a big fan of e-mail.

I am, I've had an account, in one form or another, since 1984.

[Steve]

Just find the keys too small, I think its a Curve 8520 .Mind you the virtual keyboard on the iphone is no different really but it doesn't compromise the screen size when not in use.

[pctech]

I am, I've had an account, in one form or another, since 1984.

Quite a while then.

[Rik]

For the first year, I know no-one else with email, so it was a bit of a waste. Back then, one account costs about £15pm, plus long distance phone calls, plus a data charge. Times have really changed.

[Simon]

The virtual keyboard on the Storm is full QWERTY, and displays horizontally, thus with bigger keys, as with most touchscreen phones, Rik.  The difference with the BB is that you have to 'click' the keys, rather than just touching them, but whether that would help with your tremors, only you can say.  My trouble is, I try to rush it.  If I take my time, I don't make so many mistakes. 

[Rik]

I was looking at the non-touch screen variant, Simon. If the t/s is anything like that on a Palm PDA or Satnav, I'd be in trouble.

[pctech]

For the first year, I know no-one else with email, so it was a bit of a waste. Back then, one account costs about £15pm, plus long distance phone calls, plus a data charge. Times have really changed.

Long distance?

Weren't using a service in the States were you?

[Rik]

No, but it was in the days where calls to London were quite expensive - about 10p/minute.

[pctech]

Using BT for your e-mail were you?

[Rik]

As it happens, yes, they were the first people to offer a service in the UK afaik.

[Simon]

I don't know what the touchscreen on the Palm is like, Rik.  I think you'd need to pop into a phone shop and ask to try one.  Alternatively, you could look at something like the Nokia N900 with the slide out keyboard.

[Rik]

Thanks.

[Glenn]

Dell Streak review.

[Steve]

I think you'd be better off using it with a headset or have very big ears.

[Simon]

 

Doesn't look bad though, does it?

[pctech]

Does it come with a free forklift?

[Simon]

No, but I believe it runs off a car battery, which you can get a special rucksack for.  

[Rik]

Not if it's a Prius battery you can't.

[Simon]

[pctech]

I hear they're working on a mini nuclear reactor.

[Rik]

About the size of a mouse?

[Simon]

Really?  I've not heard a squeak about that.

[pctech]

 

[Simon]