Advice on a new phone/network/contract please!

[red_eye_righley]

Hey guys,

Second post here, my first was an "introduce myself" one. Looking forward to involvement on the forums.

Well, long story:
- I am currently on a top-up 315s from Vodacom, I dont use much of my airtime to be honest (my balance permanently sits at R1000-00 pm. This is beacause I no longer phone my girlfriend as much as I live in the same town as her again (and am since married to her).
-I had a blackberry, loved the functionality, its having some software issues now.
-I am not sure the R60p/m BIS thing is worthwhile for me, or its close as I dont think my data charges will be huge in my normal running as I have wifi at home and internet at work. It might get larger when I go "into Africa" for work which is seldom. I realise that a smartphone will likely use alot of data (but tahts what wifi is for) ;-)
- I'm interested in an Android phone particularly (I think anyway), I like the HTC phones and maybe the Motorola Defy (if it didnt have the cluncky motorola interface) but am open to suggestions.
- Part of me says dont bother and get a cheaper contract with a cheaper phone (I mean, Ive been using a VERY old Nokia for over a year now because my contract phone got damaged and I've survived) as I dont need something fancy. But I really wouldnt mind a decent phone.
- I've looked at Virgins extremely good deals, but I dont like the fax machine like noise when you connect and I have heard nothing but bad reports about their help-line, their sms's not going through and dropping calls as well as no internet connectivity (any of this true?).
- Vodacom hasnt been terrible to me lately, but they do tend to have poor choice of phones available for my contract, but then their reception is good.

So, I'm willing to consider a number of things - one is to get a friend in the UK to bring me a nice unlocked HTC over here (I actually like the look of the legend, but I'll porbably go with the Desire HD) and then just get a cheaper contract with Vodacom (do you pay less if you dont take a phone?).
The other alternative is to drop right down to the 135 top-up a month for R99 and get the Wildfire (not too good though is it?) or maybe the cheapie blackberry if I decide its worthwhile.

So, long story, very confusing, but any thoughts on what you would do if you were me?
So - what do I need in an answer/s:
1. Is it a bad idea to import, have you got personal experience with doing so. Who would you use in the UK? Were there any issues and does EVERYTHING on the phone work?
2. What phone would you recommend? - if I have to wait a while so be it.
3. Is the wildfire that bad?
4. What network is best (I cannot handle dropped calls etc.)
5. Would you recommend rooting my phone and getting all the fancy add-ins, I like the Mozart 7 but would prefer Android (even the old touch HD2 is nice, my mate has one and runs Android).

Any other advice would really be appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[superskully]

Too long story.
But also in a similar boat.
I heard HTC's camera is poor compared to the rest.
I am looking at the Sony Er Neo - good reviews.

 

[red_eye_righley]

My Apologies! Is it not better to have as much info as possible when giving someone advice, I thought/think so - hence my long post? Anything that I've left out or been unclear on?
Regarding networks, any thoughts there SS?

Cheers, will look into that Sony

 

[superskully]

My Apologies! Is it not better to have as much info as possible when giving someone advice, I thought/think so - hence my long post? Anything that I've left out or been unclear on?
Regarding networks, any thoughts there SS?

Cheers, will look into that Sony

No prob. Just long to read on a dreary Friday.
Sorry but cannot answer most of your questions, i am guessing you would have to wait for more members to get back from holiday.
Check out www.gsmarena.com
They have all the phones, reviews, specs, comparisons...
Thats where i decided on Neo (you can get the Arc at a better build quality but it comes with a price).
I think the only advantage Sony will have over the Samsung/HTC is the camera - so if you not interested in that, start again.

 

[Elimentals]

I have a Desire HD and I can agree the camera is crap, well if you compare it to something like N8
example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elimentals/5637426666/in/set-72157626413942293/lightbox/

On that note I still love my phone, and have not found a reason to not recommend it, if you can get one from UK that is unlocked make sure beforehand that if something goes wrong that local HTC partner(Leaf) will repair it for you. Worse case is that you will have to ship it to HTC yourself.

I would recommend any contract/prepaid with decent bandwidth if you want to stay with Vodacom the 2+2 deal is highly recommended. Personally I use a Cell C 5 gig prepaid and topping it up with airtime if needed but then I use Skype on my phone all the time. From experience I would say you need about 1 gig a month internet be it 3G only or mixed in with WiFi at home/work for any smartphone to use them properly.

You can also look at importing the Samsung S2 as its currently the top rated phone, it even gets rated better than iPhone by Apple sites like Engadget.

I would not recommend the Wildfire unless you are on a very tight budget. In my view Wildfire is the dumb-phone of the future. Wont run half the decent software on the market and screen size is not worth it for surfing the internet(typing is a be itch). Its something I would give to a kid that already has an iPod.

 

[Elimentals]

Oh crap I just realized why my camera sucks... dam lens is dirty as hell

ok taking camera comment back

 

[red_eye_righley]

Hi guys, thank you for your replies!

Elimentals, I have considered the wildfire not because I'm broke (maybe cheap though) etc etc, it is more of a case of what I actually need - but the other offerings are so much better. I survive without a camera even, but when I used the BB i got upset with the poor quality. Ironically though, if I need a camera it is invariably for work which can get dirty as I'm an engineer (maybe the Defy is a good option I suppose). I'm looking at the Desire HD and it is still fairly costly in the UK, any other models worth looking at (will looksee at the SGS2)? As I mentioned my mate has a Touch HD2 running android and its really nice, would anyone recommend doing something like that with a Mozart for example? Also, how soon will the Desire HD become ourdated considering the dual core monster coming out, should I perhaps wait it out a while and take advantage of falling prices or get a dual core machine?

Thanks again!

 

[Elimentals]

Again I would not recommend getting HD2 just so you can run Android on it, Murphy has a liking to devices that is warranty voided. If you going to buy a Mozart do it to run Windows not Android.

The Desire HD is already outdated if you compare it to other devices, but not outdated if you look at running software. Just Look at the HTC Sensation, EVO 3D and so on. That is unfortunately something that will happen in the mobile world. Even the SGS2 that was released just yesterday will be out of date specs wise in a month or 2. Nothing says you have to be in front. My old HTC Desire still runs all the software on the market and can still last another 2 years easy even with it being a year old.

In regard to the camera I had a huge fingerprint over the lens.

Personally I can only comment on the phones I do have Trophy, Desires and iPhone. from that list I would say go Desire HD. I have no experience with Motorola or Samsung so I can only comment on what I read, and on that front I would say try and get a SGS2.

Maybe the best option would be to decide 1st on the data/cell plan that would suite you best and then decide on device based on the list you will get on those plans. If its Pre-paid with import obviously it would then depend on budget.

 

[red_eye_righley]

Hi Elimentals,
Point taken re. rooting the phone I get.

Thanks! I agree - I should probably take a close look at the data/cell plan. Any suggestions other than topup? I must say that I would prefer to stay on prepaid or top-up as I prefer to have a limit to work with. I realise the charges are higher, so maybe another package would be worthwhile, I'm not sure what to look at though.
Does anyone here have any thoughts/experiences on the Motorola defy, is the interface really that bad?

Cheers

 

[red_eye_righley]

Hey everyone,

I've been researching phone a ridiculous amount over the last few days and am actually tending towards the Motorola Defy; the reason is that I feel it will do what I want to/need to and the ruggedness is a plus as I tend to hammer my phones from time to time. Any thoughts about this, who has an in depth review on this phone (looking for a review in RSA from someone using it a month or two if possible).
What drawbacks does it have, comparing to the HTC DHD I know its lower spec'd etc, but what doesnt it do that the DHD does. Is the GPS as good, can one store apps on the microSD card to run on the phone or not. I saw the DHD has the functionality where you can wipe your phone remotely should you lose it, would that be possible with the Defy? Oh, regarding rooting etc, I'm not sure if I will do that, but if I did would it be easily possible to restore it again?
Any other drawbacks/considerations before I pull the trigger on this phone?
Oh, what is cellC like with the RBM contract, I see there are a few chirps about no internet when using alternative towers (is this still an issue?). What about signal in remote areas vs Vodacom or other?
I have about R1000 top-up with Vodacom, do you think I should rather stick with them for that reason or would it still be worth while to go to Cell C anyway?