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I am weakening, but if I get an iPhone now, it will be out of date in a few weeks, and the iPhone4 will probably be about £600, which is more than I want to spend on a phone.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I am weakening, but if I get an iPhone now, it will be out of date in a few weeks, and the iPhone4 will probably be about £600, which is more than I want to spend on a phone.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