Looking for a smart phone that's techie approved

[Thetech]

I'm looking for a smart phone that's techie approved.
I'd love something that could play games well, maybe one that can run emulators so I don't have to buy crappy games from the provider(I'm not sure if it's possible but I can dream)
Music, and Video would be a plus(something I could plug standard headphones into), something that could browse the REAL internet without costing me a whole paycheck each month would be great, it would be even better if it could use my wi-fi router.
Email, etc, a qwerty keyboard, and if possible in the 75-200 dollar price range (probably dreaming!)

I can't even think up everything I'd want! I'm not concerned if it doesn't have a camera on it.
Overall something a geek/techie would love.

 

[secretanchitman]

iphone has probably all you need. the only bad (or good) thing is that its gsm, no upgradeable storage and you're stuck using itunes. i think the iphone can run NES emulation.

but if you want one that does everything, but kind of clumsily, but works, the treo is a good way to go. it plays emulation, music, video, email (no wifi), and everything else, but not as nicely or refined as the iphone.

 

[Thetech]

The Iphone is out of my price range, the I'm not to sure on the palm treo.

 

[pm]

It's tough to recommend much in the <$200 price for a high-spec'd smartphone.

The Treo's are a good choice, but you won't find any of the newer ones on Ebay for less than $200. You can get an unlocked Treo 600 for around $120 on Ebay ( http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-...5-6452_7-30597291.html ). And for around $200 you can get a Treo 700.

An HTC 8125 can be had for around $200 on Ebay. That does everything you want (music, video, full keyboard, expandable memory, downloadable games, WiFi, Bluetooth). Yes, it's at the top of your price range... but it's hard to find anything with WiFi for less than $200. http://www.gearlive.com/index....evice-review-12091111/

Samsung i730 is around $175 on Ebay: music, video, full keyboard, expandable memory, downloadable games, WiFi, Bluetooth. ( http://www.mobiletechreview.com/samsung-i730.htm )

 

[intogamer]

8125/MDA can be had for a good deal. You can unlock via software. Check the forums at www.xda-developers.com

It is very moddable. Also just get a 2.5mm > 3.5mm while you are at it.

T-Mobileweb $5.99 Unlimited EDGE/GPRS FTW

 

[Thetech]

What does everone think of the Samsung Blackjack?

 

[pm]

The Blackjack is hard to get for less than $200 (unless you sign up for a service, but I assumed that requiring a contract wasn't an option). And it doesn't have WiFi.

But it has a nice bright big screen, full keyboard, expandable memory, and plays music and video.

http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-...5-6452_7-32143267.html

 

[Thetech]

No no. I have no problem getting a contract if it means I get a nice phone.

 

[Thetech]

I'm leaning more towards multimedia over business, what are the software options like on a Windows based phone vs. others? I'm interested in having some music study programs on my phone (java or flash based). And I like the idea of being able to browse the web over my wireless router, but I am concerned about the functionality of browsing on a phone.

 

[Thetech]

bump

 

[Raduque]

I got the Wing (HTC Herald/P4350) on T-Mobile for 49.99 from Letstalk.com. They're a decent reseller, a lot of people are unhappy if you read reviews, but that's because they're illiterate morons who don't read contracts and dick around with their plans before the 6 month "probation" period is up (which is when Letstalk.com gets to keep their comission).

The Wing is a nice phone, runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional (Smartphone) edition, and is extremely customizable. I use hackedAIM 2.0, Live Messenger, and smartirc.net on it, and it runs about 9 hours a charge fiddling with various programs off and on. Here's a very good thread on NES emulating on Windows Mobile.

T-Mobile's data packages are also quite affordable. I have 300 anytime minutes, unlimited myFaves, and some other stuff (don't use voice on the Wing) for 39.99 and unlimited data "Total Internet" for 19.99. The only con I can see is that it's EDGE, but it's actually pretty speedy for email and surfing, and it's fast as expected if you use the built-in WiFi.

 

[uli2000]

If you can wait, openmoko is the open source platform based on linux. It will be a geeks dream phone. You can buy a developers kit now that includes a phone for about $300. Im not sure when they hit production.

But if you do stick with windows mobile, stick with WM pro/ppc (has touchscreen) over smartphone/WM standard (non touchscreen like the blackjack/Q). If you want to buy a new one w/ contract, most carriers now require you to get a data plan to get promo pricing ($30-50/month on top of voice plan). As far as buying one, I second the 8125/MDA for gsm or a xv6700/ppc6700 for cdma. Both can usually be found used for $200 or under.

 

[Thetech]

I was thinking about the 8525 after listening to everyone and taking a good look at what's available. As far as the wing goes I'm not sure about the speed, doesn't it have a 200Mhz cpu whereas the 8525 has a 400Mhz, and thanks for the article uli2000.

 

[Raduque]

I have my Wing overclocked to 234MHz. It hurts battery life but does helps performance, though the biggest thing for performance on WM smartphones is memory management. Using a "page pool" hack on the Wing to get from 7mb ram to 20mb ram free was the best bit of tweaking for perf I did.

Either way you go, get a WM6Professional device.

 

[uli2000]

IIRC, the wing has a slower cpu because it has a Nvida mobile chip handeling the graphics processing, so they dont need the cpu clocked as high. Save battery life that way.

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: uli2000
IIRC, the wing has a slower cpu because it has a Nvida mobile chip handeling the graphics processing, so they dont need the cpu clocked as high. Save battery life that way.

So for gaming and video watching would it be a better phone? How about overall compared to the 8525(Aka hermes)? (I don't expect to do heavy 3d gaming on any cell phone, but I don't think you expected me too, hey how about Team fortress 2 on a cell phone )

 

[JoPh]

mogul?