Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I'm looking to upgrade my phone (which is very basic). Reviews of all the ones I'm looking at are so mixed I thought I'd seek the advice of people I "know" . Most of the reviews seem to complain about lack of battery life or the lack of 3G for fast browsing. I don't want to spend more than about £60-70. I want a decent camera and the capacity to use the internet (although I've never had before that so could live without it!). I like the touch screen idea. Not sure about slide out keyboards . These are the ones I've looked at so far: LG Pop GD510 Samsung Genio Touch LG Cookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Hi Vicki I have had a Samsung Tocco for the last 12 months. I love it. It is touch screen and doesn't have a pull out keyboard. I would guess the Genio is a newer (and maybe better) model. I find the battery life excellent. The camera on my phone is 5 mega pixels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I've got the Tocco and DD has the Genio - both brilliant. I'd always go for Samsung. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Hiya - I've got the Samsung S560 on 3. I absolutely love it. Battery brilliant, camera brilliant & it's so easy to use. Mines lilac. I had the Tocco before, which was also good! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Hi Vicki I have the LG Cookie and I love it, OH has the Samsung Genio Touch and hates it. First, the cookie: I love the QUERTY keyboard that you can call up just by turning the phone horizontal when inputting info, but it sometimes decides not to respond and you have to go to the trouble of selecting the input method to get it to work. Using the standard phone keyboard is OK, but not as nice as phones with proper keys. It really goes through the battery fast. Even with only texting and very rarely making calls (I work from home where there is no mobile signal), I have to recharge the phone every couple of days. My old motorola would go a week before recharging. I love the calendar function, calculator, bluetooth, but there do not appear to be any apps for it despite there being a folder for them. Camera is OK, but not brilliant. Internet use is a right pain: the screen is too small to look at the web pages properly and it has this weird auto zoom feature that activates when you touch the screen so to click on a link you have to touch and hold for ages and it often zooms when you want to click. Apart from in emergencies I found the browser almost unusable. It does link up with the laptop via a USB cable (and probably with bluetooth but I haven't tried it) to provide internet service though and that worked very well. The touch screen is reasonably responsive but sometimes I find it just won't react or selects the item below it. I managed to crack the screen the other month and while I was waiting for the replacement I went back to my old motorola. I did miss the cookie, so I think I would say it is an improvement. Second, the Samsung Genio Touch: I found it OK to use, but OH who is a techno-phobe found it very annoying and has gone back to his old basic Nokia (hmm, he might sell you his if you want it!!! ). Anyway, the downsides for me were that it does not have a QUERTY keyboard function and texting is a bit hit and miss as the touchscreen seems to have a mind of its own, so it is pretty annoying. Part of the problem is that there is no stylus so you have to use just your fingers/thumbs for inputting and unless you have lovely petite fingers you often hit the wrong key. We have not tried internet browsing but the phone comes loaded with links to facebook, bebo etc etc. Battery life may be a bit better with the Genio. The camera is OK according to OH who is a camera buff (his phobia does not apply to cameras it seems!). Out of the two I think I would prefer the LG Cookie for ease of texting (and text inputting generally). I think the Samsung would start to annoy me dreadfully as I do text quite a bit. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 thats a coincidence I am looking at all these models myself and also the samsung s5560 which is on offer at the moment and Nokia 5230, so I will read this with interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I have a Cookie + don't like it - sorry The battery isn't great, camera isn't too bad - I use the internet quite a lot, but if you go on the forum it jumps back to the first unread post every time you scroll to the next Its fine on facebook + twitter Texting is quite easy, I don't use the stylus anymore - its got a qwerty and 'normal mobile' keyboard if you turn the screen The main thing I don't like is that it resets itself all the time (sometimes a couple of times a day). It resets to factory settings, so back to being on Loud, no wallpaper, deletes all texts etc. They won't replace it because its a 'know fault' ... but its a year + a half old, so could have been software updated etc, though. A few friends have the Genio touch and get on with it well Only thing is the scrolling through texts is a bit clunky if the font size is on large. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 Thanks for all this, very helpful . Cookie, surely there's no question which phone you need to get . The clue's in the name . What offer have you found for the Samsung 5560 - it looks really good but not sure I can justify the price (to my OH!) I still can't decide if it's worth having the internet. How much do you all actually use it? I use my laptop constantly when at home but manage perfectly well without the internet when I'm away from home so can't really decide if it's just an expensive gimmick that I won't use. I only really text on my current phone but is that because that's all it does? Will I use all these fancy features? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 trouble is my son has the cookie and it doesn't excite me.. :lol: this is the samsung offer I saw http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/mobile-phones/SAMSUNG-S5560/PPAY although I am sure other places so it aswell. I am now lingering after an iphone or blackberry, someone pull me away from the mobile pages... I am sure I would use all the features Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I still can't decide if it's worth having the internet. How much do you all actually use it? I use my laptop constantly when at home but manage perfectly well without the internet when I'm away from home so can't really decide if it's just an expensive gimmick that I won't use. Most days - I'm on Orange so top up £10 a month and get 300 free texts + 100MB internet (you probably won't use half that ). Its good when you're out to look at opening times and stuff, but could probably live without it. Use facebook + twitter when you're out and bored too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I have a Cookie + don't like it - sorry The battery isn't great, camera isn't too bad - I use the internet quite a lot, but if you go on the forum it jumps back to the first unread post every time you scroll to the next Its fine on facebook + twitter Texting is quite easy, I don't use the stylus anymore - its got a qwerty and 'normal mobile' keyboard if you turn the screen The main thing I don't like is that it resets itself all the time (sometimes a couple of times a day). It resets to factory settings, so back to being on Loud, no wallpaper, deletes all texts etc. They won't replace it because its a 'know fault' ... but its a year + a half old, so could have been software updated etc, though. A few friends have the Genio touch and get on with it well Only thing is the scrolling through texts is a bit clunky if the font size is on large. It seems that each mobile has a mind of its own so whether or not you get on with it depends not only on your own personal characteristics but also on the particular phone you end up getting. My cookie doesn't do the reset thing you mention. Without the stylus the querty keyboard is useless, but as I sit and type all day long, it makes me feel comfortable to have the querty keyboard . OH found his fingers too big to use the Genio touch properly he kept hitting the wrong keys which was partly because he absolutely refused to hold it in one hand and use the other to hit the keys, he insisted on using the thumb of the hand he was holding the phone with to key in numbers etc. I found the internet hopeless on the cookie...if I had the text big enough to read, not enough showed to be able to make any sense of the page! (Maybe those with better eyesight get on better with it!). It was also incredibly slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 We were looking at mobiles the other day and the one I would like is a Cookie and they had one in purple which would be so its interesting to read the reviews on it. Good luck with your choice ANH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 If you are after a great touch screen phone,with a brilliant camera that also allows you to browse the web,you can do no better than an HTC Magic. The camera is amazing - much better than an i-phone,& it is by far the best phone i have ever had (& I am fussy about my tech!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I don't use the internet a lot on my phone but it is nice to be able to if I need to. I have looked up information, checked FB and Twitter and the weather. Like you ANH, I am permanently attached to my laptop and having albeit limited access from my phone helps to alleviate any distress caused by not being near it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grracee Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I've got a Sony Ericsson C902 and out of the phones i've had in the past i would say it's probably one of the best ones! I use the internet on my phone quite alot and it's pretty decent speed etc. Plus i'm on Orange and if you top up at least £10 a month you get free interent & texts. The camera is pretty good too, think it's a 5 megapixel camera. I think when I brought my phone it was about £70 - £80 but if i remember rightly i think it was on sale then so not sure of the price now.... http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/c902 Okay... i've just looked at some prices on the net and it's now about £150!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 HTC Phones are amazing. By far the best on the market, I have a HTC Dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 DD has a Cookie and gets on very well with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 My head hurts . Checked out all the phones you've mentioned but still can't decide (HTC phones do look amazing but I can't justify the cost for the amount I use a mobile ). I think I'll have to go to a shop and play with some of them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 24, 2010 Share Posted April 24, 2010 If you are due for a contract change & go somewhere like Phones 4 You, you may well get one free I got my HTC Magic free,& at the time it was worth over £300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 24, 2010 Author Share Posted April 24, 2010 That's the problem, I've always had PAYG. I only top up every couple of months so I don't reckon a contract is worth it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 24, 2010 Share Posted April 24, 2010 If you don't mind me asking, how much do you spend a month? My girls are on a great Voda contract - £12 a month,600 mins,unlimited texts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 24, 2010 Author Share Posted April 24, 2010 Not even £10 . When I top up by £10 I get 300 free texts so I then don't use up the £10 so only have to top up when the free ones have gone and I've used up the £10 (if you follow me ). ES has a fancy new PAYG phone - Orange gives him free texts and browsing if he tops up by £10 a month but I'm assuming he'll end up with loads of unused credit eventually . Calls aren't free but he tends to text rather than call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 24, 2010 Share Posted April 24, 2010 I am with 02 on the £10 top up a month and get 300 free texts, but you can now call them and select it to have free internet aswell I top up about the same as you ANH, really cannot justify a contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 24, 2010 Share Posted April 24, 2010 My friend with the genio is on a £10 a month contract from Tesco mobile - unlimited texts, 500 minutes and 3 months free internet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 After extensive research (and umming and aahing ) I eventually went for the Samsung Tocco Lite . I was going to buy it from Tesco Direct as they had 25% off but when I went to the Orange shop to have a look at the phone, the chap asked me where I worked then said because I work for the City of Edinburgh Council I could have £20 off if I produced a payslip . Very pleased with it so far (although I can't access the internet, not sure why ) . "Ooops, word censored!"ody's called me yet though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
