Thinking of changing my phone (Sony W995i) currently on an Orange contract to an I Phone or HTC Desire (which is cheaper on the contracts). WHich is the better phone, not just for web, but also texting and crucially as a phone?! HTC is cheaper and has had good reviews, but I know loads of mates with I Phones who rave about them.

Looking to move to Vodaphone or O2 as the Orange reception just for phoning andf texcting in Manchester City Centre is pants and when it comes to web stuff, beyond woeful! Currently pay around 30-35 quid a month for 600 minutes and unlimited web and texts (not a huge texter tho), so looking for a similar deal around that price, with hopefully a cheap or free handset, and maybe even a money back deal through Quidco or suchlike.

Any phone and or network/deal suggestions???

I'd go for a Desire HD if you can.

I'd go for a Desire HD if you can.

+1

HTC Desire (HD if possible)

Standard Desire seems fine for me - not sure of the need to pay extra for the HD

HTC Desire for me, mine is rooted and running an HD Rom, does everything I could want and more.

Definately go the HTC route if I were you!

Personally I prefer the normal Desire and there are some really good deals to be had on it now the HD has come out.

That said the HD does offer a few extra things that the normal one doesn't. The main one that sticks in my mind would be the extra internal storage for apps as the normal desire only has a smallish ammount (not a problem for me with root though).

Phil

TBF, the iphone is very good but the contracts/phone can cost quite a bit more then the Desire ones. One of the reasons I went for the Desire.

HTC Desire for me, mine is rooted and running an HD Rom, does everything I could want and more.

What's the benefit of running an HD rom (as opposed to a rooted non HD one) and which one are you using?

TBF, the iphone is very good but the contracts/phone can cost quite a bit more then the Desire ones. One of the reasons I went for the Desire.

What's the benefit of running an HD rom (as opposed to a rooted non HD one) and which one are you using?

Did you go for a desire or a desire HD?

I'm debating with myself whether to get one or the nexus S as my contract is up for renewal next month.

It gives you the new interface features and additional widgets that come with the HD version mate, just adds to the way you can customise the phone. I am a long time user of Neophyte's ROM's having never had a major issue with them, this is the latest http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=791315 but there is an updated version next week that fixes the 720p recording problem on the video camera.

Really happy with mine having had 3 iPhones before.

I take the **** out of Carl for his Apple fanboyism, but the iPhones are a great piece of kit, the iPhone 4 display is definatley one of the best on the market. For me, the total cost of iPhone 4 ownership put's the hammer on it, and the fact that if I want to really customise the way it looks and works then it has to be Jailbroken which can be a PITA after a software update from Apple.

You can root the desire if you so desire (see what I did there) in 10 minutes and a couple of mouse clicks with unrevoked and then the phone is wide open for you to use an OS of your choice, overclock it, undervolt it ....what ever you want to do with it. I am out of contract in March, and for the first time ever I am not actually tempted yet to go and jump at any other phone.

Did you go for a desire or a desire HD?

I'm debating with myself whether to get one or the nexus S as my contract is up for renewal next month.

I thought I'd shown you the one that I finally decided upon - but it did seem to be one thing after another in the run up didn't it! By the way, I seem to recall that the Nexus S has some sort of bug at the moment - a bit like the Galaxy S initially did. It'll probably be sorted by the time you come to decide though.

Anyway, it was the Desire as the HD had only just been announced so wasn't available at that time.

Thanks for the info fluff - I'm currently running Leedroid as it gets regular updates but will have a look at what you suggest to see if there's an value extras for me! I presume it has some sort of auto A2SD built in to save on the internal memory usage?

It gives you the new interface features and additional widgets that come with the HD version mate, just adds to the way you can customise the phone. I am a long time user of Neophyte's ROM's having never had a major issue with them, this is the latest http://forum.xda-dev...ad.php?t=791315 but there is an updated version next week that fixes the 720p recording problem on the video camera.

Really happy with mine having had 3 iPhones before.

I take the **** out of Carl for his Apple fanboyism, but the iPhones are a great piece of kit, the iPhone 4 display is definatley one of the best on the market. For me, the total cost of iPhone 4 ownership put's the hammer on it, and the fact that if I want to really customise the way it looks and works then it has to be Jailbroken which can be a PITA after a software update from Apple.

You can root the desire if you so desire (see what I did there) in 10 minutes and a couple of mouse clicks with unrevoked and then the phone is wide open for you to use an OS of your choice, overclock it, undervolt it ....what ever you want to do with it. I am out of contract in March, and for the first time ever I am not actually tempted yet to go and jump at any other phone.

This is basically what I've done with my current phone - Samsung Galaxy, abandoned by Samsung at 1.5, now running a rooted version of 2.2 thanks to a brilliant developer called drakaz - only problem is the lack of memory on the phone. Swap, compcache and overclocking help to a certain degree, but it's still a slow experience compared to any of the newer devices.

One thing that I do like the look of on the HD is HTC Sense, with the ability to remote lock if your phone is stolen etc.

I thought I'd shown you the one that I finally decided upon - but it did seem to be one thing after another in the run up didn't it! By the way, I seem to recall that the Nexus S has some sort of bug at the moment - a bit like the Galaxy S initially did. It'll probably be sorted by the time you come to decide though.

Anyway, it was the Desire as the HD had only just been announced so wasn't available at that time.

Thanks for the info fluff - I'm currently running Leedroid as it gets regular updates but will have a look at what you suggest to see if there's an value extras for me! I presume it has some sort of auto A2SD built in to save on the internal memory usage?

To be honest, you've shown me so many phones, I couldn't remember which one you finally decided on!

The iPhone is great if you don't plan to fiddle and mess about with it. My 3GS is almost 18 months old and has been utterly reliable, I'll be upgrading to whatever the latest iPhone is in September.

The only downside is the expense of the bloody expense of the damned things.

I've got a DHD and the only problem is the ridicules battery life, it last one day at the most and that's a 14 hour day. My mate has an Iphone 4 and everything about mine is far superior (IMO) – screen, looks, processor........

Oh and I have just bought a new spare battery – something the Apple users don’t have the luxury of!

On a side note you can't "one touch root "the DHD - it is quite lengthy compared to other HTC's, I am yet to do it but will be soon.

As John says the contracts are cr*p as well with the Iphone.

Edited 14 January, 201115 yr by JohnRS

I am looking at the Desire or the HD - Firstly though can they be used with the Bluetooth in my car?

I am looking at the Desire or the HD - Firstly though can they be used with the Bluetooth in my car?

I suppose the general answer is yes - depends on which BT and how many of the BT 'add ons' you require though?

I suppose the general answer is yes - depends on which BT and how many of the BT 'add ons' you require though?

I have the Skoda Bluetooth which is RSAP.

I have the Skoda Bluetooth which is RSAP.

I'll defer to someone who has that combination and they'll confirm compatibility!

Does this mean if I go with the HTC, I (or some tech-savvy person) will be able to update the OS, maybe even to Gingerbread 2.3?? If so, defo thumbs-up!

Only Android phone compatible with Rsap is the Galaxy S as yet

Does the Skoda kit not work simply as a handsfree?

Does the Skoda kit not work simply as a handsfree?

Not with the GSMIII. You need GSMII or the new GSMIII+ I am considering complaining to SUK to see if i can get a new unit seeing as i paid £400odd for a unit which doesn't work with smartphones...

I have the Desire if you know what i mean, and have pretty much come to the conclusion that is it is comfortably better than the iphone 3G, but I think the iphone 4 is probably a slightly better machine overall. But and as you can see it's a big 'but' (the phone's but, not mine), the iphone cost nearly twice what the Desire does, so I wouldn't even give it a second glance for the reason of the benefits are too small for the cost involved. I agree with most of the above though, get the HD version of the Desire and laugh at all the ipad owners too

USB tethering is a doddle on the Desire as well, so using it as a modem (indeed typing this from it) without messing around with Jailbreak and PDaNet. It's allowed me to get rid of my £15 a month 3G dongle and still stay within the limit's of my business contract on T-Mobile.

Another thing I like on the Desire (I am sure it was not supported on the iPhone's I had) is simultaneous bluetooth connections, so I can have my Desire connected to the Hands Free kit in the car, and at the same time have it connected to my ELM327 ODBII Dongle, so it displays my geeky digital boost guage, intake temps, manifold pressure using the free Torque app etc etc etc (The boost guage is actually pretty cool) and allows me to make and take calls, whilst it's reading this data from the ECU| over bluetooth

No doubt, the iPhone 4 is a sexy bit of kit though, mainly down to the display as facetime is nothing new, you could do that on the original LG / Motorola bricks 7 years ago when 3 launched as a network.

The Android Market place is really getting up to speed nowadays and a lot of stuff available for iPhone is available on the market place. Personally I got 2 x HTC Desires on my business contract with Unlimited (8GB FUP Data) and 2000 cross network minutes for £50 mont h+ VAT, that was at the time cheaper than a single iPhone 3gs with a much more restricted tariff.

Edited 17 January, 201115 yr by fluffmeister

One thing that I do like the look of on the HD is HTC Sense, with the ability to remote lock if your phone is stolen etc.

Didnt know you could do that