check out phonescoop.com they have good reviews of all the different phones coming out and are currently out.

 

thanks. that site was good...even though ALL the phones seemd to get good reviews...

looks like imma go with the sony ericsson phone...cant beat that 7.5hr talk time

 

don't believe all those claims of high standby or talk time. those are based on ideal lab situations. you will probably expect to lose about 30% of that, if not more.

 

I've used Nokias for the last 4 years and loved them except for the face getting scratched. I decided to switch to a Samsung flipphone, the face is protected. The phone sucks, I get a delay of about ten seconds every time I hang up the phone. I can't do anything with it for that time. I'd go with a brand you know, that you can trust. Plus, the phones typically operate similarly.

 

If you're just looking at phones, I'll tell you my general experience with the brands I've used.

Samsung - Flashy, looks nice, but performance is sub-par. The phonebook is horrible, and it lacks many features. I've never felt satisfied using a Samsung phone. I've used the D410, S307, S308, and E715.

Motorola - Their menus are horrible. Since the StarTac days, Motorola UI has never been great. They've made great advances with their V300-600 series but it's still not great. Recent Motorolas: V300, V600

LG - Similar to Samsung, but I've had only limited experience with it. Couple hours only. I used the 4010.

Nokia - I've been using Nokia GSM phones since the 5190. Their interface is simple, yet offers smart features. Of all the GSM phones I've used, the Nokia is the only phone that gives the options of using only the entries on the SIM card, the phone memory, or both. (just a minor detail that shows how they're engineered slightly better) Recent Nokia phones: 8390, 6100, and 3595.

Right now I'm using a Nokia 7610, and it's the only recent phone I've that has satisfied me. I can finally stop looking for a phone that has all the features I want.

Also, if you're planning to open a new line with a new number, you can go to smaller shops where they will offer you much better phones for free. The NGage, T637, V600 would all be free. The corporate shops have set pricing whereas the smaller shops cut their commission to get you a better deal. However, if you're upgrading, that's a whole other story. I'm not sure what their upgrade plan is like.

 

I need a new cell phone also ... my contract with T-Mobile has been up for 4 months, but I just can't find a phone with everything I need/want.

1.) Camera phone (1MP would be )
2.) MP3 player (some type of I/O expansion like SD memory would be )
3.) PDA functionality (MS Smartphone 2003 first choice, Palm second)
4.) NOT A HUGE BEAST (those full size PDA style units that require a belt holster are obnoxious)
5.) USB (2.0?) - Bluetooth might be nice, but not necesary .. IR is
6.) $300 or under (I know, I'm a dreamer)

The main carriers around here are T-Mobile, AT&T, SprintPCS, Verizon

Any ideas?

 

Get the Moto E398
In all seriousness, I would get the Samsung X427M, samsungs are very easy to use and are great for a basic user. Sure you might not have all the fancy bells and whistles, but it gets the job done.

 

vRelson, have you checked out the Nokia 7610? I believe it fulfills everything on your list.

1. 1MP Camera
2. RealPlayer built in - although the quality isn't the greatest. It uses an smaller MMC memory slot.
3. PDA - Symbian Series 60 - Samsung, Nokia, Siemens, and a couple other companies use it. There is a lot of software support.
4. It's actually a lot smaller in person than the pictures make it out to be. I can take a pic of it if you'd like.
5. Comes with USB cord and has Bluetooth
6. You'll be able to get it for that price if you find the right dealer, especially with a new contract.

 

Check out wirefly.com. Usually, they'd want you to change your carrier (you can keep your number). It may interest you because you can get $200 back for signing up (plus a free phone) or a camera phone, color, with MP3 ringtones and $100 back. The prices change all the time so it may be different this week. All phones are crazy discounted there on all/most carriers.

 

is it really necessary having a camera phone? or having a phone with a great camera attached to it? i would think if i wanted to have such a great camera, i would go buy the camera separate.

Just remember, the smaller the size, if you want all that stuff, will cost you something, and usually it is reception or battery life that goes first.