Ian C Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I'm in a dilemma. I've had an old Nokia for a while and the keys are almost transparent now and the back falls off a lot. It cost me twenty quid, hasnt' even got a camera, and it's on Tesco PAYG (which I'll stay with as it's a really good deal). So I idly looked at phones at the local Tesco emporium the other day and saw a Nokia C3-01, which I liked the look of until I read the hundreds of one-star reviews based on the screen dying within moments of purchase So I looked at a Nokia 201 which was apparently crap compared to the Nokia C3, but that's not available in PAYG format A challenge, then, for you phone-savvy peeps - I'm a mass of probably quite conflicting requirements, so here goes: Needs to be: £80 or less Durable A good battery life, as in charge it once a week tops, not bloody daily Want to have: I want Nokia as I like their user interface, but this is probably moot if I get a more 'smart' style phone I like the 'candybar' style phone I'd actually like a qwerty keyboard though, which conflicts with the previous requirement, and might conflict with "durable", do the keys last? Is it too big? I like keys to press when I'm typing Nice to have: I'd like the ability to do email/web/facebook in some limited fashion A good camera with a flash would be nice I want to use Tesco PAYG, but I'm utterly clueless about phones being 'locked', can I just buy a phone and stick the Tesco SIM in or not? Must not be: Apple anything I don't like purely touchscreen phones as there is no tactile feedback and the size is bizarre, it's like talking to a kitchen tile, oh and the battery lasts five minutes I don't want an iphone or an android or apps or angry birds or the ability to watch films, and I'm certainly not paying £400 for a phone. So er, any recommendations? Can I get a C3 and stick my Tesco PAYG SIM in it easily? Will I like a C3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 "iPhone FTW!!!" There, now that's got that out of the way, we can read Ian's requirements and suggest something else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I've heard iPhones are awesome!!!1! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 On a more seious note I was going to suggest something on the Blackberry-type planform but I see that the Nokia 201 is exactly that. It sounds like you want one of the old style touch screen phones but with a portrait style slide out keyboard. I thought I had an old one kicking about that you could have tried out to see if you like it but I can't find it so it must have been traded in. How about an HTC Desire Z? Its still Android but it ticks some of your other boxes. No idea were you might get one, though. A couple of things I would point out, though: Surfing the net on anyhing with a candy bar sized screen will be a pain. Its not all that even on a 4" screen TBH. A big screen as you say will eat the battery, but now that most phones have USB style connectors for charging you can set yourself up with charging points all over the place for a few quid. I charge from my work PC and at home I keep the wall-wart charger on my bedside table for the weekends. Not sure how common this is, but when typing on my touchscreen only phone, the phone vibrates slightly each time you hit a key, providing some tactile feedback. Brian was showing me his new ANdroid table the other day and he told me that for some devices you can install custom keyboards to imporve the typing experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Don't touch the desire-z, it weighs a ton, lasts about as long as it takes for a ton to fall 20 feet and it weighs a ton. Nokia e5 any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 I was looking at the Nokia C5-00 as my fiance has one for work and that seems ideal, but the E5 has a phat keyboard as well Thanks Scott, I shall investigate. I sense my budget will get blown a tad but as I keep phones for about 5 years it should be worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 I found an E5 on Amazon Sellers, Used but "as new" for £95 delivered. It's in the post Yay I'll have a modern phone with a camera and everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Nokia e5 any good? I think the "Blackberry" style layout (for want of a better term) probably matches Ian's requirements best but I'd go for a full touchscreen any day. Once I started using my phone for anything other than talking and texting the small screen size soon became a pain. Ok, the Nokia has real keys you can press but in reality its no smaller than a touchscreen phone. At least with a touchscreen the keyboard dissappears when you don't need it, plus you don't need the silly joystick which takes up even more space. In portrait mode I reckon the keys on my HD2 are about the same size as the ones on the e5 but in landscape mode they are much larger and easier to hit. As far as "durable" goes, I have had mine for over three years without a hitch. Its the only phone I've ever bothered with insurance for as at the time I got it it was cutting edge. As fate would have it, its also the most durable phone I've ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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