What phone should I get?

[ciphergoth]

I need a new phone. I'm almost totally at a loss about what I want. I don't know whether I should get a smartphone, or whether the browser/diary/etc facilities of a normal phone are enough. Any ideas?

Rules (updated):

• 3G, Bluetooth
• No Microsoft
• Must work in San Francisco

Update: Currently tempted by the Sony M600i...

Comments

[meta.ath0.com (from livejournal.com)]

I like my Z520a. At the time I got it, it was the smallest quad band phone that would sync with a Mac. I haven't looked to see if anything better has come out in the last year.

The organizer facilities are adequate. I don't use the browser much, mostly because browsing the web via phone costs by the KB. I've tried some Java apps on it, including a nifty Amazon price check thing and a Jabber client.

It doesn't have 3G, but I've yet to hear of anything I'd want 3G for, even if the network around here supported it, which I'm not sure it does. It does have Bluetooth and work with the car, which was the other key requirement.

Basically, I'm of the "make it a good phone, make it small" mindset. Give me something I can put in the pocket of my 501s and use anywhere in the world. If I want the web as well, I'll carry an N800 with me, and probably use a free WiFi hotspot rather than an overpriced mobile data service.

Palm OS is dead (officially), and I'm tired of waiting for them to release their new Linux platform, so I wouldn't touch a Treo.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately Orange don't seem to be offering me any phones that have both quad-band and 3G. And I think 3G would be nice for using the laptop on the train to and from Hatfield and suchlike.

[pengshui-master.livejournal.com]

Why stay with orange?

It prolly worth shopping aropund at least. Unfortuantely orange _do_ seem to have the best data charges , on the other hand data is charged per MB so if you use efficeint protocol you can prolly get more use than the ave phone websurfer.

I don't really limit my use of the web/internet on the phone and rarely have spent more than a fiver extra a month on it. OTOH I could certianly use it more too.

I ended up changing becuae they would offer be a better phone buy changing , and discovered that vodaphones customer service is much quicker asnwering.