Looking for a Smart phone within the next 3-6 months

[leeland]

The wife and I have a simple Razr cell phones with Verizon, no bells or whistles on our current plan.

She wants to get into some multimedia stuff (music / texting / web / email)

I had stopped into the Verizon store and reviewed a couple of the current smart phones mostly the Android phones. I didn't get a chance to play with any of them as they were display models and the sales reps didn't we busy.

I believe it was the Droid X that looked like a mini laptop as far as the size was concerned...

How to safely carry something that big in your pocket and not break the phone?

The Droid 2 had the slider keyboard which is something I don't think I would want if the screen keyboard type phones work just as nice.

I did get a chance to mess around with my sister - in - laws phone with I believe was a Droid and the typing seemed very responsive (remember I am coming from a crappy slider Razr)...

Anyways I have been browsing the phone forums here and see a ton of discussion threads regarding current phones and functionality and also a bunch of customization threads...

Also a bunch of 'just wait until xxx is released' or 'don't get one now...xxx will be on sale soon'

So...is there anything to look forward in the next 4 months that will eclipse what is currently for sale (Verizon)?

What are some of the cell phone / smart phone websites that have reviews or updates on new products that you guys look to?

Thanks in advance,
Lee

 

[zerocool84]

Four months is too long in cellphone time to recommend anything. If your contract isn't up until four months from now come back then. The cellphone landscape moves too fast.

 

[pm]

The only ones that I know of that are forthcoming in the next ~4 months are the T-Mobile G2, the Nokia N8 and the new crop of Windows Phone 7's.

Of these, if you want to stick with Verizon, only the Windows Phone 7's will likely be on your list. We'll see how they look... Microsoft's entry should be interesting to watch.

There are no doubt other phones coming... but things change quickly and these are the only three that I can think of.

 

[leeland]

have been month to month for several months...we are moving / building a house so we went from a land line and cell phones just to cell phones

wife had an older phone from Verizon (given to her by a friend that is only about a year old) that we had activated that had a full keyboard and is a tough screen (it is basic but an upgrade for her).

She isn't really pressing the whole issue but now that I have seen some of these phones I am changing my mind that I think I would actually use the phone for surfing the web and texting...(so hard to text from the standard keypad!)

If you had to recommend something right now what would it be (Verizon carrier since we get a 22% discount from her work)...

 

[pm]

If I had to recommend now on Verizon, it would be the Droid X or the Droid 2 - depending on which feels better in your hand.

I personally would take the Droid X, a bigger screen and it's thinner and lighter than the Droid 2, but lacks the keyboard... which for me is no big deal, but I know people who hate on-screen keyboards. The Droid X is larger, but I don't that would be a problem for me. I keep my phone in my front pocket (too easy to crush it in my back pocket) and there's room for a larger phone.

I would go back to the store and spend some time playing with both and see which you like better after you type a bit on the onscreen keyboard vs. the real keyboard. Heck, trying pocketing a Droid X - after warning the salespeople in advance.

 

[leeland]

If I had to recommend now on Verizon, it would be the Droid X or the Droid 2 - depending on which feels better in your hand.

I personally would take the Droid X, a bigger screen and it's thinner and lighter than the Droid 2, but lacks the keyboard... which for me is no big deal, but I know people who hate on-screen keyboards. The Droid X is larger, but I don't that would be a problem for me. I keep my phone in my front pocket (too easy to crush it in my back pocket) and there's room for a larger phone.

I would go back to the store and spend some time playing with both and see which you like better after you type a bit on the onscreen keyboard vs. the real keyboard. Heck, trying pocketing a Droid X - after warning the salespeople in advance.

With the size of the smart phones these days do you have some sort of protective screen cover that you can use or a body glove case?

Does the Droid phones have a belt carrier? I can imagine a way to transport that size of a phone in a pants pocket...

 

[Uppsala9496]

HTC Incredible is ok.
Samsung Fascinate is nice, however there are GPS issues.
Droid X is nice, however there might still be some backorder issues.

 

[theeedude]

Dual core processors, higher frequencies, hardware acceleration, etc.
3-6 months is an eternity at the rate Android smartphones are progressing nowadays. I think you are better off deciding what capabilities you want and finding the best product out at the time you decide to buy. Playing waiting game with technology is not very rewarding, plus you can always upgrade in a couple years.

 

[rudeguy]

With the size of the smart phones these days do you have some sort of protective screen cover that you can use or a body glove case?

Does the Droid phones have a belt carrier? I can imagine a way to transport that size of a phone in a pants pocket...

There are indeed Body Glove cases. The screens are made of pretty tough glass (search youtube for gorilla glass). The phone should fit pretty well in your pocket without being too bulky unless you wear skin tight pants.