It's upgrade time! Vodafone have called to remind me i'm free to upgrade as of now... I've stalled them for now as i really couldn't decide what phone to go for.

The shortlist is as the thread title says; the bb curve or n97

The lack of 3g on the curve is slightly off putting, and i hear the camera is cack, though the web browsing interface looks great with the track ball etc. The touch screen is my main concern with the n97, i fear i will hate trying to text with touch screen.... I had a se w960i that was touch screen for a brief time, before it met it's untimely death being thrown in rage across the room.... Yes, even though that wasn't full touch screen and had a (annoying) keypad, i hated that touch screen and haven't been near one since! So how does the n97's fair?

Anyone had/got either or even used both? What's the verdict?

I currently use and love my n95 8gb but web browsing is kind of clunky and i'd like something better for this as i seem to be using the net on my phone more and more....

Cheers

I got a 97

Good camera, 3G, touch screen is a little quirky. Web browsing is pretty good though and full keyboard is a good idea imo, and pages fill the screen well.

But beware, it's still at the hands of firmware updates, so it has it's moments of madness, which do seem to be getting better. But it is a handful when it wants to be. If you don't mind being a test pilot for nokia then it's not an issue. Next FW due the end of this month so it should perk up even more. Iirc a biggie is coming in september as well .

HTH

You checked out the Bold?

You checked out the Bold?

What he said.

Usually the mobile co's dont call you. Sounds more like a third party that have gotten hold of your details.

Usually the mobile co's dont call you. Sounds more like a third party that have gotten hold of your details.

Oh they do. Times are really that hard.

What you mean certain company's customers might go elsewhere and pay less :eek:

Tis why I said *usually*

Vodafone called Mr P a couple of weeks ago to also remind him of it being upgrade time. He was offered a shockingly good deal on the N97, but it took him unawares so he said he would call them back later that day.

He decided it was the phone for him and rang back to clench the deal, only to find that nobody could do that same deal. It was a buy back scheme, where he had to send back his N95 8gb and only pay £20 for the N97. His tarrif would remain the same.

Had a bit of a play with the N97 in the shop and it feels a bit chunky. But then I suppose phones are actually getting bigger now. I remember a time when companies would make them as small as possible.

I have a Blackberry 8900 Curve on Orange.

£25 a month - 600 minutes, 500 texts, unlimited internet and email, phone was free.

The camera is 3.2 megapixel and I wouldn't say its "cack" - its certainly better than the bold and the pictures are good enough for internet hosting and printing standard size pictures.

As for the lack of 3G, i've never had a 3g phone so can't compare it to that. But the browser is excellent (I use Opera - one of the many free applications availiable) and the pages load fairly quickly, usually takes 5-10 seconds to load a page. Its really useful for me as I check my stocks and shares and my emails on the go through my GMAIL application.

Another great thing is that if you take out a contract with Orange which is £35 or more per month (mine is £35 with a £10 credit from PHONES4U) you get sent a free SAT NAV application (Orange Maps) which is free to use and has UK and Europe maps. I have used it twice and it is excellent.

Battery life is good, I tend not to keep it in its holder, and it lasts 3-4 days with sporadic use.

it is a slim phone and fits in the pocket nicely.

I have a curve 8900 too, very pleased with the interface etc but I only ever get 48 hours' battery from it which is quite disappointing, maybe I was expecting too much as it is a smartphone after all!

I think the 8900 curve is the one that tickles my fancy the most if i'm honest.... Anyone on vodafone got one? Just wondered how badly voda have crippled it with their branded firmware?

When they called Vodafone said i am able to upgrade to either for free on the tariff i'm on. I wasn't ready to commit as i couldn't decide on which phone to go for, so they said they'd call monday, no call though :-( whats the bettin when i call them they can't do the same upgrade as i was offered....

Unless they can offer a better deal than other companies just walk away and go to Phones4U and get the deal I got its pretty good I think.

I didnt even know about the free sat nav but its a quality perk.

i got a n97. before the updates it was a right mess but it seems to have settled down now. just have to accept that it is an N series and they have their moments ( well all of mine have ). tis a good phone for internet if u have the signal and camera is pretty good being a 5mp. only trouble with the camera in low light is that flash will "leak light" onto your picture as the lens is so close to the flash. but overall a good phone, even if the battery is a bit poor on life.

I'm going through this process at the moment and have decided to hand on until the Sony Satio is out - shouldn't be too much longer.

Also, do remember that you only get to the decent deals when you arrive at the customer retention department, you will _never_ be offered anything half decent until you actually go through the process of leaving.

I haven't paid a penny for a phone in over a decade, I only pay £18 per month and I always have a smack up to date phone.

Go me

Seriously though, decide what phone you want and say you're leaving until you get the deal you want. What do you have to lose?

Unless they can offer a better deal than other companies just walk away and go to Phones4U and get the deal I got its pretty good I think.

I didnt even know about the free sat nav but its a quality perk.

I wouldnt use phones4u ever. Their staff simply sell for the commission, and dont seem to care once you've left with your purchase.

Mother in law had bitter experience of them.

I've got the 8900 as my work phone and the storm for personal.

8900 is good, never had a problem with it. Battery is good, UMA function is awesome as we have NO signal in our Birmingham office so it'll use the wifi for calls and everything else. I also use Opera on this, lack of 3G doesn't bother me. Is on orange, no idea of the tarrif as i don't pay that one sorry.

I do love my storm, had it since December. Firmware was awful from release but it's since been updated with many new versions and is tons better, i know the new storm 2 is out soon and that has Wifi so if your interested it may be worth waiting for that.

I got myself an HTC Hero the other week after moving away from Orange and my Nokia N95 8GB. I was originally after the N97 but decided against it on the basis that it wasn't getting fantastic reviews and the Android platform sounded much better for web based stuff. Having used it for a few weeks now the only problems I've had are a) battery life isn't fantastic, but then it wouldn't be when i have persistant internet connection and wi-fi on and the facebook contact sync goes a bit iffy every now and then, but it sorts itself fairly quickly. It has 5 megapixies in the camera, but no flash. The pictures I've taken have all come out 'Ok' though.

Overall a fantastic phone, much more slick than the N97 that I played with in the shop! The OTA updates and the fact it's an open source platform should mean that it only gets better in time too.

Also i forgot to add, my step dad got the Nokia. Had it 3 weeks and has had 2 new ones because the firmware kept screwing up. Just a thought!

The HTC hero is really nice, i've been reading up on the Android phones after i saw that one. At the moment it's the only other phone i'd consider getting rid of my BlackBerry for.

This site it awesome for phone reviews, have a nose

BlackBerry Curve 8900 review: Curved right - GSMArena.com

HTC Hero review: Born to rise - GSMArena.com

Cheers for the links, i had actually read the review on the 8900 already. For some reason i'm still drawn to the bb curve for some reason, despite all the negatives of the review... But i'm gonna look into this android malarky a bit more as i know bugger all about them. I'll have to have a play with one and see what i think.... Cheers again.

No FM radio... who cares..

Yes camera is best described as "adequate", but if your serious about photograhpy, why are you taking pictures with a phone?

I use a GMAIL acccount flawlessly? not sure what the blackberry account thing is all about

As you mention it, yes, i am serious about photography which is why i have about 6 grand worth of camera gear. However, as it goes, i don't carry several thousand pounds worth of camera and L lenses around with me all day every day every single place i go. So, if a phone has got a halfway decent camera on it then it can be quite handy to be able to a quick snap of something rather than have no pic at all....... It's not like i'm gonna go out trying to shoot landscapes or try to shoot showjumping with my phones camera..... That's what all the gears for! but if i'm on my hols and want to text friends and fam a pic of where i am etc...... As for fm radio.... no i couldn't careless either....

Well, just to update........ i plumped for the BB 8900, and have had it now for almost a month. I must say that i'm a bit disappointed with it to be honest..... One of the key things i wanted from this phone was a better internet experience on the move than i was getting from my n95, well, other than the nifty little trackball using the net anyway other than through a wifi connection is next to bloody useless! The browser couldn't be slower if it tried! I realise that this phone lacks 3g and my old phone did have 3g, but even when i was not in 3g coverage, my n95 was much quicker than this! My other little niggle is email.......... i can use my gmail flawlessly, but, my virginmedia account will only allow me to receive emails, but for some reason i am unable to send from this account........... but, now as of today, i can no longer even receive email from this account either! I keep getting this automatic email everytime my phone tries to receive an email to my virgin acc:

From: [email protected]

Subject: Action required: update password!

20 Sep 09 11.23

Update the password [email protected] in the BlackBerry Internet Service! Email messages from [email protected] are not being delivered to your BlackBerry device. To resume receiving email messages from this email address, update the password for [email protected] in the BlackBerry Internet Service:

1. Open your BlackBerry Internet Service account by completing one of the following actions:

* Click the email setup application on your device.

* Using a browser on your computer, visit the BlackBerry Internet Service web site.

2. Go to the Email Accounts page.

3. Edit [email protected].

4. Update the Password field.

5. Click Save.

Email Account Information:

Email Address: [email protected]

Email Account Name: [email protected]

-- Automatically generated email: Do Not Reply to this email --

So, all in all...... i'm not overly impressed, and now have another 18mths putting up with it..... ah well...... I still think i would probably of hated the n97 too.....

So, all in all...... i'm not overly impressed, and now have another 18mths putting up with it..... ah well...... I still think i would probably of hated the n97 too.....

You tend to get a 14 day cooling off period if you are really that unimpressed by it rather than sticking with phone a phone you are unhappy with .

You tend to get a 14 day cooling off period if you are really that unimpressed by it rather than sticking with phone a phone you are unhappy with .

Only on a new account. Upgrades are exempt.

You tend to get a 14 day cooling off period if you are really that unimpressed by it rather than sticking with phone a phone you are unhappy with .

Only on a new account. Upgrades are exempt.

Plus i've had it nearly a month now........ :(