talkmagic.co.uk

If we look at the history/popularity of phone design, we went through a phase of making our phones smaller and smaller. Dinky sizedd, but slowly becoming unusable and what we got in lack of size and bulk, we lost in other ways. Now its turned on its head. Phones are getting bigger. Screens are the most important thing now rather than size. The bricks we laughed at when the first pay-as-you-go phones came out.

They are fairly small in comparison to some newer phones. Albeit in a different way. I find phone shapes these days, well, i understand WHY they are that shape. But ergonomically and being true to the human hand. They are a little at odds with one another. Though interestingly, the golden ratio has played its part once again in phone proportions.

I find Apple design to be quite sterile and bland.

There was a time when talk time and standby time were the big ideals. I used to have a phone where the standby time was supposedly close on two weeks - great feature as long as I didn't actually use it One thing it wasn't was waterproof which I found out after I dropped it down the loo (don't ask!).....

I'm not really a fan of magic apps because the specs will probably suspect some sort of electronic trickery no matter how good the effect may be. The only phone effect I'd really like to do is where some nattering idiot is annoying the hell out of everyone on the bus or train with their loud and inane chatter. Oh to be able to take a glass bottle and slam their phone inside it for real so we all get some respite!

Most people I know who have apps on their smart-phones; they tend to use a core set of them. Around 5-12 of them. I know its fun to download some. But they have a shelf life of around a week to a month and then get deleted or ignored.

Recently, I wanted an ebook reader. I didnt buy anything other than a generic 7" touch screen tablet for less than a hundred pounds. It runs android2.1. I can get on the internet with it, quick bit of shopping, read my ebooks, kindle etc. It even outputs hdmi, lets me read and answer emails, play a few games. It can't do all the things an ipad does. But it suits my needs. Pointless having something that does x,y,z when you want a,b,c.

Make a list of what functions you'd like, and then root around for reviews.

I much prefer the creative zen x-fi2 to ipods for example. Better sound, looks smarter, and has an expandable memory.

This is the age old argument of Apple vs Rest of the World.

People who are happy to pay Steve Tax have their iObjects. They do the job, and do it well. Others, less disposed to spending over the odds, can get Android devices (or others, but that's the discussion here). They do the job, and do it well.

I have an Android phone, and an Android tablet. They look similar to the iEquivalents, and have similar performance figures. I've done several comparisons with friends' iObjects, and the bottom line is that there is a lot that my phone and tablet can do that the Apples cannot, but there is nothing that the Apples can do that the Androids cannot. And they were at least 50% cheaper)

When you take away the personal preference (which is a huge factor in this debate) Android devices do more for less money. The iFans will dispute this, but these are objective facts, not subjective opinions...

Take care, Ian

On the flip side of the coin, I got an Android device to replace my 2+year old iPhone that I broke

The biggest complaint with my iPhone was that it was running a tad slow. I've had my Android device for a few months now and already the screen is all scratched and the black plastic coating is already coming off the edge of the phone (which I hadn't treated any better or worse than my iPhone)

So in my opinion, when you buy Apple products you're paying for good quality that lasts a long time (my old iPhone would probably still work in 5 years time if only I hadn't been stupid enough to damage it)

But that's just opinion - Android phones are still pretty damn good (Android tablets, however, are another story...)

Mandrake wrote:There was a time when talk time and standby time were the big ideals.

I'm on your side here mandrake, I'm part of the industry responsible for these new whizz bang smartphones and I can't stand the things. It's the touch screens I hate most, what's wrong with buttons?

I'm slightly worried that when my current phone needs replacing I'm not going to be able to find one to replace it.

- Stacy

Android tablets, however, are another story...

Not all. I've got an Advent Vega, with a Modaco rom. It's PC architecture, so it runs very quickly (for a 1Ghz processor, I believe), and keeping things on 2.2 it's also nice and stable.

TV catch up sites like iPlayer (the web version, not the app), 4OD and Demand5 work perfectly, and full HD playback on a 10" screen is a joy. Angry Birds or stupid zombies are way too much fun.

The lack of 3G doesn't bother me, because my Galaxy S has WiFi tethering built in, so I just connect to it as a hotspot. I took it round to a friend's house a few months ago - James is an iFan - and we did a side by side comparison with his iPad. I concede that the viewing angles on the iPad screen are better, but that's it; there was nothing the much hyped Apple tablet could do that I could not on my 100 pound device.

My phone, however, is still in perfect condition. I've seen some pretty battered iPhones as well...

I think the main difference between Apple and other stuff is their design and ideas. "Canny beat it."

iPhones are fashion over hardware (in my opinion).

If you want to be fashionable Apple is the way to go and Apple fans will defend them to the death (if you do not believe me go in to an Apply store and make a negative observation of something, customers, yes customers not staff, will immediately jump to their defence!).

If you want to get something really suitable for your needs, do as others have suggested and make a list of what you want and find what best suits your needs.

But then I have a Nokia 1661 so what do I know .

EDIT: On a side note is Ubuntu available on tablets yet?