Help, I need a new cell phone

Pie · 09-10-2009, 03:56 PM

So I had a Sony-Ericksson W580i phone. It was pretty cool. I could sync it to outlook (and google) to keep my appointments and contacts up to date. It had a camera and mp3 playback functionality.

I washed it.

So I had to switch to my old clunky Samsung. It's a workhorse with a long battery life, but it's huge in my pocket and doesn't sync with nada.

Now I can get a new phone. What should I get? I don't want mobile web/email/'killer apps'. I need basic call functionality, basic texting, maybe mp3 playback, maybe a smallish camera. And I NEED to be able to sync it with my existing calendar and phonebook on my pc. Good battery life and small form-factor would also be appreciated.

Any suggestions?

ETA, I'm with AT&T. If I wait another 6 moths, I'll be a free agent. But right now, my husband and I are paying $45/mo for both our phones (only 250 minutes shared, but we never go over anyways.)

Cloud · 09-10-2009, 04:07 PM

if you're with AT&T, I highly recommend the iphone. I love mine. You don't have to get "killer" or any other kind of apps. The phone's expensive, but the plan is reasonable and includes a flat fee for data which helps me (though I dunno if it helps you). Good (not excellent) camera, lots of wonderful things--best toy eva! And a pretty decent cellphone to boot. I'm soooo glad I upgraded to it.

Pie · 09-10-2009, 04:14 PM

My husband has an ipod touch, and he does love it. But I ain't paying $90/mo per phone for my contract! AT&T already gets too much of my money!

wolf · 09-10-2009, 04:31 PM

get whatever they offer you for cheap, and don't let them sell you up on the phone or service plan.

If you're within 6 months of your contract end, they may allow you to do the renewal early, just to keep you as a customer.

(I loves my crackberry, but the battery life sucks ass and the service plan is expensive, so it's not what you're looking for).

Oh, and find out how much the replace it if I wash it or drop it or run over it with my car is. Could price out to being more expensive than a new phone, though, depending on your phone choice.

Pie · 09-10-2009, 04:45 PM

I'd like to keep my current contract. It's about a decade old, and the cheapest I can find anywhere. AT&T has let us keep it even though it's not generally offered any more.

I talk about 50 minutes/month and send ~10 text messages, so no neato-cool data plans necessary. My husband's a little more verbose (~100 minutes, 30+ texts) but we're still comfortably below our 250min/200 text limit.

What I need is a recommendation for a phone make/model that allows synchronization with outlook calendar and address book (via usb, bluetooth, whatever!). Not a smart phone, not a '3G' whatever.

Anyone?

PS: Perhaps I should crosspost this to the passive-aggressive thread.

lumberjim · 09-10-2009, 05:17 PM

GET THIS ONE

TheMercenary · 09-10-2009, 05:25 PM

Get a Crackberry. I have become addicted to mine, just for the email function alone.

Pie · 09-10-2009, 06:20 PM

Oddly enough, I don't want that addiction. More importantly, I don't want DH with that addiction. He can barely focus as it is.

No smartphones/PDAs.

dar512 · 09-10-2009, 06:59 PM

I went through this exact same process a couple of months ago. I did not find a single ATT phone that would sync with Outlook that wasn't a smartphone. I finally went with the Samsung Epix. It was $220 dollars because I refused to buy the data plan. I also had them turn off data for my number (they call it opting out), so that I can't even use data access accidentally.

It's a Windows Mobile phone so my schedule, tasks, and contacts sync fine. The windows sync software does not sync notes however, unless you have the latest version of outlook. There are shareware alternatives, though.

wolf · 09-10-2009, 09:16 PM

In that case, consider a Blackberry Pearl. It's as close to a just plain phone as Blackberry gets.

SteveDallas · 09-10-2009, 10:16 PM

Pie, check out goosync.com. They run a for-pay (or a free version with limited functionality) syncml service for Google Calendar. If you feel the google calendar sync is worth paying a bit for, they have a list of phones they support.

lumberjim · 09-10-2009, 11:33 PM

I'm actually in the same boat, Pie. I've been eligible for my new every two since last December. I have Razor. I LIKE it. My only complaint is that the up button gets fucked up sometimes when i play scrabble on it.

The closest match to the Razr verizon offers is some kind of 'ruggedized' thing that looks like it but is built to military specs.....wut evar.....and it costs $70 more than the 15 free ones i could get.

meh
.......

and double meh

Undertoad · 09-10-2009, 11:42 PM

The Blackberry is a very fine thing indeed. The beauty of the mini trackball becomes clear after a few days; you can get around your screen's real estate in a way that's almost mouse-like. The interface is very intuitive. The user community is very good. Software is plentiful and often surprising.

It works excellently with all things Google. I found that once I had Gmail set up on it, I could easily manage all my email just using the BB if I have to, which is very nice.

I had a Windows Mobile phone from Motorola and it was a depressing device to have. WinMo found ways to keep apps running, take up memory, and kill the battery in a day. If you want Outlook integration that's the strong point, if you but don't care to have Outlook on your system, it means you don't get your contacts and other such things sync'd up well.

The iPhone's lack of a real keyboard is huge. I grit my teeth when I'm forced to try qwerty on a touch screen. Apple needs to have a slide-out real keyboard...

...or hell, the netbooks could be sold with data plans and we could return to using phones as phones again...

xoxoxoBruce · 09-10-2009, 11:58 PM

.

ZenGum · 09-11-2009, 12:25 AM

Pie, did you try microwaving the old phone? That sometimes works.

09-10-2009, 03:56 PM	#1
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Help, I need a new cell phone So I had a Sony-Ericksson W580i phone. It was pretty cool. I could sync it to outlook (and google) to keep my appointments and contacts up to date. It had a camera and mp3 playback functionality. I washed it. So I had to switch to my old clunky Samsung. It's a workhorse with a long battery life, but it's huge in my pocket and doesn't sync with nada. Now I can get a new phone. What should I get? I don't want mobile web/email/'killer apps'. I need basic call functionality, basic texting, maybe mp3 playback, maybe a smallish camera. And I NEED to be able to sync it with my existing calendar and phonebook on my pc. Good battery life and small form-factor would also be appreciated. Any suggestions? ETA, I'm with AT&T. If I wait another 6 moths, I'll be a free agent. But right now, my husband and I are paying $45/mo for both our phones (only 250 minutes shared, but we never go over anyways.) __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-10-2009, 04:07 PM	#2
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	if you're with AT&T, I highly recommend the iphone. I love mine. You don't have to get "killer" or any other kind of apps. The phone's expensive, but the plan is reasonable and includes a flat fee for data which helps me (though I dunno if it helps you). Good (not excellent) camera, lots of wonderful things--best toy eva! And a pretty decent cellphone to boot. I'm soooo glad I upgraded to it. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

09-10-2009, 04:14 PM	#3
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	My husband has an ipod touch, and he does love it. But I ain't paying $90/mo per phone for my contract! AT&T already gets too much of my money! __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not. Last edited by Pie; 09-10-2009 at 04:46 PM.

09-10-2009, 04:31 PM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	get whatever they offer you for cheap, and don't let them sell you up on the phone or service plan. If you're within 6 months of your contract end, they may allow you to do the renewal early, just to keep you as a customer. (I loves my crackberry, but the battery life sucks ass and the service plan is expensive, so it's not what you're looking for). Oh, and find out how much the replace it if I wash it or drop it or run over it with my car is. Could price out to being more expensive than a new phone, though, depending on your phone choice. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-10-2009, 04:45 PM	#5
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	I'd like to keep my current contract. It's about a decade old, and the cheapest I can find anywhere. AT&T has let us keep it even though it's not generally offered any more. I talk about 50 minutes/month and send ~10 text messages, so no neato-cool data plans necessary. My husband's a little more verbose (~100 minutes, 30+ texts) but we're still comfortably below our 250min/200 text limit. What I need is a recommendation for a phone make/model that allows synchronization with outlook calendar and address book (via usb, bluetooth, whatever!). Not a smart phone, not a '3G' whatever. Anyone? PS: Perhaps I should crosspost this to the passive-aggressive thread. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-10-2009, 05:17 PM	#6
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	GET THIS ONE __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

09-10-2009, 05:25 PM	#7
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Get a Crackberry. I have become addicted to mine, just for the email function alone. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

09-10-2009, 06:20 PM	#8
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Oddly enough, I don't want that addiction. More importantly, I don't want DH with that addiction. He can barely focus as it is. No smartphones/PDAs. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-10-2009, 06:59 PM	#9
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	I went through this exact same process a couple of months ago. I did not find a single ATT phone that would sync with Outlook that wasn't a smartphone. I finally went with the Samsung Epix. It was $220 dollars because I refused to buy the data plan. I also had them turn off data for my number (they call it opting out), so that I can't even use data access accidentally. It's a Windows Mobile phone so my schedule, tasks, and contacts sync fine. The windows sync software does not sync notes however, unless you have the latest version of outlook. There are shareware alternatives, though. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

09-10-2009, 09:16 PM	#10
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	In that case, consider a Blackberry Pearl. It's as close to a just plain phone as Blackberry gets. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-10-2009, 10:16 PM	#11
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Pie, check out goosync.com. They run a for-pay (or a free version with limited functionality) syncml service for Google Calendar. If you feel the google calendar sync is worth paying a bit for, they have a list of phones they support.

09-10-2009, 11:33 PM	#12
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I'm actually in the same boat, Pie. I've been eligible for my new every two since last December. I have Razor. I LIKE it. My only complaint is that the up button gets fucked up sometimes when i play scrabble on it. The closest match to the Razr verizon offers is some kind of 'ruggedized' thing that looks like it but is built to military specs.....wut evar.....and it costs $70 more than the 15 free ones i could get. meh ....... and double meh __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

09-10-2009, 11:42 PM	#13
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The Blackberry is a very fine thing indeed. The beauty of the mini trackball becomes clear after a few days; you can get around your screen's real estate in a way that's almost mouse-like. The interface is very intuitive. The user community is very good. Software is plentiful and often surprising. It works excellently with all things Google. I found that once I had Gmail set up on it, I could easily manage all my email just using the BB if I have to, which is very nice. I had a Windows Mobile phone from Motorola and it was a depressing device to have. WinMo found ways to keep apps running, take up memory, and kill the battery in a day. If you want Outlook integration that's the strong point, if you but don't care to have Outlook on your system, it means you don't get your contacts and other such things sync'd up well. The iPhone's lack of a real keyboard is huge. I grit my teeth when I'm forced to try qwerty on a touch screen. Apple needs to have a slide-out real keyboard... ...or hell, the netbooks could be sold with data plans and we could return to using phones as phones again...

09-10-2009, 11:58 PM	#14
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Caution - Thread Drift . Attached Images __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-11-2009, 12:25 AM	#15
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Pie, did you try microwaving the old phone? That sometimes works. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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