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Technical News & Discussion => Mobile Devices News & Discussion => Topic started by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 12:46:57

Title: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 12:46:57
Can't do links, but anyone got any opinions on the Dell Sprint?  I know it's Andriod, but looks quite configurable, and less Googleised than some Android phones I've seen. 
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 12:49:49
You're weakening, Simon. Skip Android and go straight to an iPhone.  :evil:
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 12:54:03
I am weakening, but if I get an iPhone now, it will be out of date in a few weeks, and the iPhone4 will probably be about £600, which is more than I want to spend on a phone. 
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 13:04:23
Think of all the cheap iPhones which will shortly be appearing on eBay. ;)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 13:06:26
I've already been offered two on here!  ;D
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 13:07:57
Why am I not surprised. :)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 13:26:34
I never said it would be cheap though.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 13:28:05
;D
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Gary on Jun 09, 2010, 13:32:08
Quote from: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 12:54:03
I am weakening, but if I get an iPhone now, it will be out of date in a few weeks, and the iPhone4 will probably be about £600, which is more than I want to spend on a phone. 
iPhone 3GS will run the new 4OS operating system Simon, so it wont be out of date really.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Gary on Jun 09, 2010, 13:36:27
Quote from: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 13:26:34
I never said it would be cheap though.
American prices are cheaper than UK, $299 for the 32GB model. But Apple may drop the price slightly to get Market share and lots of sales.

Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 13:36:41
Some of them will even come with one years AppleCare free ;D
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 14:29:47
How restricted are they to Apple software, and do they sync with Outlook?  There's a brand new one on eBay for £375, which I was looking at.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 14:39:46
I think they're restricted to iTunes, Simon, but someone else will now for sure.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 16:02:32
I gather they are restricted to iTunes, unlike the iPod you cant enable disk use and use them like a disk drive.

Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:05:52
Ah, so you can't transfer files, such as ringtones, pics, via USB from a PC?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:06:58
Yes, but through iTunes.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 16:09:13
I think you have to import the MP3s as tracks whereas on other phones it appears as a mass storage device and you just drop them into the phone's file system which I gather is what you are after Simon?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:12:44
Yes, Mitch.  Another dead end here, I fear.  I'm beginning to think there's nothing to match the BlackBerry. 
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:14:02
Apart from the fact you can't type on it ;D, what would you say it's advantages are, Simon?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 16:21:51
Quote from: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:05:52
Ah, so you can't transfer files, such as ringtones, pics, via USB from a PC?

Not used an iPhone with a PC, but I understand that in addition to music through iTunes (same as iPod) you can sync Outlook calendars. Pictures officially through Photoshop elements 3 but I think there are other applications
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:30:16
Rik,

The advantages of the BlackBerry are that everything 'just works' out of the box.  There's no messing about with different apps to sync with Outlook, emails are a doddle to set up, you are not reliant on Google, iTunes, or anything else to get it to work, and it's easily upgradeable and customisable.  Of the other phones I have looked at, they all seem to have something they don't do as easily as the BB. 
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:32:41
Sounds good.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:32:42
Steve,  thanks for that.  So, basically, things are reliant ion iTunes?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:33:08
On, even.  :bawl:
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 16:33:32
Even my wife can use a blackberry which is saying something,however I don't like the keyboard and the small low resolution screen.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:35:16
You could do a lot worse, Rik. 
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 16:36:48
I did think about getting a Blackberry myself once on Orange PAYG but as I spend a good part of my day responding to e-mail at work I thought 'don't think so'

I maintain a personal e-mail address simply because you have to these days, I'm not a big fan of e-mail.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:48:26
Quote from: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:33:08
On, even.  :bawl:

Yup, the typing is still a problem.  :evil:
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:49:06
Quote from: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 16:33:32
Even my wife can use a blackberry which is saying something,however I don't like the keyboard and the small low resolution screen.

Don't like the keyboard in what way, Steve?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:50:29
Quote from: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 16:35:16
You could do a lot worse, Rik. 

I'm thinking of the next upgrade at the end of this contract term. Increasingly, I find texting difficult because of the finger tremors, so qwerty could be a big advantage for me.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:51:05
Quote from: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 16:36:48
I maintain a personal e-mail address simply because you have to these days, I'm not a big fan of e-mail.

I am, I've had an account, in one form or another, since 1984. :)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Steve on Jun 09, 2010, 16:55:32
Just find the keys too small, I think its a Curve 8520 .Mind you the virtual keyboard on the iphone is no different really but it doesn't compromise the screen size when not in use.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 16:57:33
Quote from: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 16:51:05
I am, I've had an account, in one form or another, since 1984. :)

Quite a while then.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 17:05:24
For the first year, I know no-one else with email, so it was a bit of a waste. ;D Back then, one account costs about £15pm, plus long distance phone calls, plus a data charge. Times have really changed. :)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 17:08:36
The virtual keyboard on the Storm is full QWERTY, and displays horizontally, thus with bigger keys, as with most touchscreen phones, Rik.  The difference with the BB is that you have to 'click' the keys, rather than just touching them, but whether that would help with your tremors, only you can say.  My trouble is, I try to rush it.  If I take my time, I don't make so many mistakes.  :)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 17:10:32
I was looking at the non-touch screen variant, Simon. If the t/s is anything like that on a Palm PDA or Satnav, I'd be in trouble.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 17:12:57
Quote from: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 17:05:24
For the first year, I know no-one else with email, so it was a bit of a waste. ;D Back then, one account costs about £15pm, plus long distance phone calls, plus a data charge. Times have really changed. :)

Long distance?

Weren't using a service in the States were you?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 17:18:55
No, but it was in the days where calls to London were quite expensive - about 10p/minute.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 09, 2010, 17:28:24
Using BT for your e-mail were you?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 17:36:04
As it happens, yes, they were the first people to offer a service in the UK afaik.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 09, 2010, 17:47:49
I don't know what the touchscreen on the Palm is like, Rik.  I think you'd need to pop into a phone shop and ask to try one.  Alternatively, you could look at something like the Nokia N900 with the slide out keyboard.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 09, 2010, 18:05:43
Thanks.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Glenn on Jun 23, 2010, 19:37:17
Dell Streak review. (http://www.reghardware.com/2010/06/23/review_phone_dell_streak_android_tablet_smartphone/)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Steve on Jun 23, 2010, 21:53:15
I think you'd be better off using it with a headset or have very big ears.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 23, 2010, 22:04:53
 ;D

Doesn't look bad though, does it?
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 23, 2010, 22:08:30
Does it come with a free forklift?

Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 23, 2010, 22:11:17
No, but I believe it runs off a car battery, which you can get a special rucksack for.  ;D
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 24, 2010, 09:44:19
Not if it's a Prius battery you can't. ;D
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 24, 2010, 12:27:10
:hehe:
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 24, 2010, 16:13:21
I hear they're working on a mini nuclear reactor.

Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Rik on Jun 24, 2010, 16:20:54
About the size of a mouse? ;)
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 24, 2010, 16:35:57
Really?  I've not heard a squeak about that.
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: pctech on Jun 24, 2010, 16:37:02
 :grn:
Title: Re: Dell Sprint
Post by: Simon on Jun 24, 2010, 16:40:19
:ithank: