Which new cell phone to get??

lilDeath said:
this is the main reason I asked whether you can switch 3G off, to save battery power.
Guy @ CellC said you can switch 3G off, but I already know the N70 you cannot, so ye.

I must say u get quite a lot with the phone, practically all the essentials.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised - all the messages and such I see on the internet indicate the selection option of the network mode.

Tools>Settings>Network>Network Mode

GSM should give you 2.5G, while Dual mode should give you 3G/2.5G. Are you sure you can't select this?
 
u referring to the N70?
I am basing my comment on someone that has the phone and then also from forums.
You got the link handy
 
lilDeath said:
u referring to the N70?
I am basing my comment on someone that has the phone and then also from forums.
You got the link handy
Click to expand...

Well, I quickly did a google search, basically for n70 dual mode. For example, this one on the Nokia boards:

http://discussion.forum.nokia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76136 (This guy was actually complaining about the fact that he couldn't force 3G only, but it confirms that he at least have the option of dual mode/GSM only)

Not sure, as I don't have the phone, but I really thought they would implement this!

I can find out directly from someone who has the phone, if you want.
 
thx, I will check this in the morning when I can get the phone from the guy.
Won't help though if I want the N80 ;)
 
lilDeath said:
thx, I will check this in the morning when I can get the phone from the guy.
Won't help though if I want the N80 ;)
Click to expand...

Let us know about the outcome! And if you get an N80 - do some testing on the VC network and see if it works fine - I would love getting the phone myself... :)
 
Switch 3G off

On the Nokia N80, you can enter the following menu:
MENU, TOOLS, SETTINGS, NETWORK.
Then you enter into NETWORK MODE.
Here you can choose between Dual Mode, UMTS and GSM.

I suppose this is what you mean when you asked about switching 3G off.
 
Ok, so 3G is switched 'off' on the N70 now. Thx! :D
ye, thats what I meant. I only saw the option for Dual Mode and GSM tho, not UMTS (which in effect is 3G anyway)
What firmware software version u running?
 
lilDeath said:
dude, did u just feel like spinning any name you could think of???
This phone has like absolutely NO features.... it's just a phone :(
Click to expand...

I usually always buy the phones that have the best and the most features and guess what the novelty dies quickly and i end up just using the phone for what it is ... LG chocolate is a cool phone... has the features that everyone will use ... got good reviews too
 
adamr said:
I usually always buy the phones that have the best and the most features and guess what the novelty dies quickly and i end up just using the phone for what it is ... LG chocolate is a cool phone... has the features that everyone will use ... got good reviews too
Click to expand...
I would have agreed with you about one year ago but now I really use especially the connectivity methods.
Specifically BT and GPRS.
I am required to almost always be permanently be connected, so if ADSL can't help or I am travelling, I resort to GPRS. ;)

This leads directly into battery life and signal having to be supreme.
I do use the camera and extras like media capabilities as well.

The LG chocolate lacks in these areas. It is still a very retro phone.
 
i also got a w800! Sony ericsson are the best phones to go for! Did you guys check the w950i and w850?:D
 
As far as I know:
W810i - same as W800, but has EDGE support - currently available
W900 - fully featured, 2 megapixel camera, 470MB memory, 3G and EDGE - slightly bulky phone with awkward rotating mechanism to open the phone. I wanted this phone initially, but did not like it when it cam out, so I opted for the N80 - currently available.
M600 - true 3G multitasking device, great screen that is a touch screen, handwriting recognition, no camera or radio, business phone - available overseas, not launched locally yet.
W950i - same as M600, but more for the fun user, has an RDS radio and 4GB memory, but still no camera - not launched yet
K800i - very similar to Nokia N80 - no WLAN, but has true 3.2MP camera that apparently takes better photos, true xenon flash, 64MB memory, RDS radio - not launched yet
W850i - very well styled phone, 2MP camera, music recognition - this is the same phone that Tom Hanks grabbed from the guy on the bus in Da Vinci code - not launched yet

On the Nokia side, N80 is the best phone available as the moment.
N91 - similar features to N80, better build quality, 4GB memory, only 1 x 2.0MP camera instead of 1 X 3.0MP and 1 X VGA camera that N80 has, bigger
N93 - soon to be the top of the range Nokia, DVD video (640x48- at 30fps), 3.2MP camera, big and bulky, same form factor as N90 - not launched yet

When I last enquired at Sony - P990i, K800 and M600 woul dbe launched at the end of July, beginning of August.
 
Mohammedm - you sound like a seriously informed chap re cellphones. I can get a Nokia 9300i free on my Talk 240 contract. What's your feelings on the 9300i ????? I think it's between that and the N70............????
 
The only thing I would be wary about with any of the N-series phones, being smart phones (Symbian) is a) crappy battery life and b) generally slower UI.
 
Thanks for all the info mohammedm!! :D
If I recall correctly, the N91 has no where near the features of the N80, maybe the N70 yes, but not the N91. :confused:
I got the impression the N91 is more of a media / music phone.

I actually read some reviews where the guys said the response from the N80 is very good, they had t wait for the camera application to open a couple of seconds but the rest is very responsive.
So, havent heard about the slowness.
The N80 has the latest 3rd gen S60 Symbian OS.
Disadvantage of this though is that there are not a lot of apps out for it yet, coz it aint backwards comptabile with earlier symbians. :(
 
More answers and suggestions

1. lildeath:
a. Battery life on the N80 does suck. It lasts from morning to evening and I have to plug it in to charge as soon as I get home. However, after using the phone for two weeks (novelty has worn off), and using it to make mainly calls, I have extended this to a day and a half. The N80 has an autopower off mode (similar to a pc standby) where it goes to sleep - not even a screensaver on the screen - this saves battery life considerably.
b. The camera is a little slow and is of the fixed focus type, not an autofocus type. Not recommended for action shots. Then again, this is a camera one will use for occasional photos and not daily use (I have a Sony T9 for that).
c. I got used to a reasonably slow Siemens SX1 (the original Symbian60 smartphone). The N80 is a race car compared to that apart from a slow switch on time.
d. The lack of applications for S60v3 is actually a good thing. This means that the newer apps and games will be of a higher standard and only the decent ones will be upgraded to meet S60v3 requirements.

2. CIS:
The 9300i is a great phone. It all depends on your usage. My wife had a 9500 that was stolen and she now wants a 9300i as it is smaller to use. I myself will have more need for the N70.
9300i Pros:
1. This phone has a full size keyboard and a large screen - this is the greatest thing ever if you send a lot of SMSs and also need to read web pages. Buttons are now like 9500 and not the old 9300 - this is good.
2. 9300i now has WLAN built-in - fastest way of transferring files to the phone. Can also surf at ADSL speeds at hotspots.
3. The darker colour is cool.
4. Price has dropped substantially.
Cons:
1. Only has EDGE support and not 3G.
2. No radio (a must for me).
3. No camera.
4. Older generation of phone that needs to be updated with the 9500 - I don't see this happening before the end of the year.
In short, it is a mean business phone, but cannot do much else.
N70 Pros:
1. Smaller size.
2. More apps available.
3. Has a decent camera - video calling enabled.
4. Has 3G.
5. Solid built quality.
Cons:
1. No radio.
2. I've been told that menus are tricky, especially if you want to send an SMS - I don't really believe that and you can set up shortcuts.
In short, a solid but bland phone that does "almost" everything.
Like I said, it depends on your needs - on a Talk240, Vodacom should be allowing you to choose more expensive phones (like the N80, N91, even the brick of a 9500).
 
Thank for your reply - I agree ( re the range of phones to choose from ) they are full of **** !!!! I'be been with Vodacom for 10 years now and spend on average R1000 / month on cell bill but I get pathetic treatement from them. You sign a 2 year contract to the minimum value of R10k and a guy taking out a weekender contract to the value of R 2k get's almost the same deal............ Ridiculous !!!! I want the N80 but it's not available on the Vodacom market yet.......:-(
 
When's the N80 available on Vodacom?

@mohammedm, how do you find the keypad beneath the slider?
This is the one big con that people are mentioning: The top line (numbers 1-3) of the keypad when the slider is open is difficult to use... :(
 
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