[KyadCK]

http://en.miui.com/


Enjoy ^_^

Don't forget Cyanogenmod too. And... uh... no, I can't name any other good ROMs off the top of my head, but there are more out there. Good news is with a rooted Android phone, if you don't like the rom you are using, just download and use another one. 

On the down side, it's distro wars moved to the phone. 

[Pred the Penguin]

Guess I'm the only one still doing just fine with a 6-year-old dumb phone.

I'm actually using a 'dumb' phone right now. I'm actually reconsidering buying a smartphone, at least until my current one dies... It's one of those  indestructible Nokias though, so who knows when that'll be... hehe.

[Actium]

Guess I'm the only one still doing just fine with a 6-year-old dumb phone.

OH well, the reasons why i got a "Smart"Phone now are:
My old Sony W810 didnt work any longer and i wanted something where i can "play" a bit with.
Seriosly: if you only need a Phone, then dont buy a Smartphone. If you want something where u can try stuff and a phone, then you are right with a smartphone.

PS: i dont know why the hell they are called smartphones, they are dumb as hell aslong you dont use em right 

[Fury]

My reasons to use a (android) smartphone:
- Gmail
- Google calendar
- Google reader
- Google maps
- Google authenticator
- Web browser
- Battle.net mobile authenticator
- Dropbox
- KeePass

Particularly the two authenticators (there are authenticators for other online apps/games too), dropbox and keepass provide me with security I can carry with me. Yet even if I lose my phone, the information is not in any immediate danger of getting compromised as keepass encrypts its database. Mobile access to mail, calendar, reader and maps can be real handy at times.

Considering getting a custom ROM when Cyanogenmod releases Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) based ROM. From what I've read, Cyanogenmod seems to have better and larger community than MIUI, which is always definite plus when development is mostly by community.

Can't really say much about 200-300 price range phones, don't have any experience of them. Samsung and HTC phones are generally the best android phones though. Of course there's also the latest Windows phones, particularly the Lumia phones from Nokia that might of interest. Unfortunately application support from smaller 3rd party companies is scarce at this time because WP7 (or WP in general even) simply isn't all that popular yet. WP7 wouldn't work for me because not all the apps I listed above are available for WP7. Black sheep of the bunch is definitely Nokia N9 running Meego. Of course it suffers from same lack of 3rd party app support like WP7 does, and it is very unlikely it'll ever get any because Meego is pretty much dead. That doesn't stop the phone from being awesome if those reviews of it are to be believed. There's also iPhone and rumors say there's going to be cheaper version of it. Knowing Apple those rumors are false though.

[The E]

PS: i dont know why the hell they are called smartphones, they are dumb as hell aslong you dont use em right 

Let's look at it, baseline specs for a smartphone are a single or dualcore CPU running at 1GHz or more, a GPU that offers functionality on par with DirectX 9.0a, a display with a resolution greater than 800x600, 256 to 512 MB of RAM, and several GB of built-in storage.

Those specs are pretty much in the range of what you'd expect from a 2003/2004 PC.

[Mongoose]

My old Sony W810 didnt work any longer and i wanted something where i can "play" a bit with.

Heh, that's actually the exact phone I have; love the little thing. It's a shame that the brand has apparently been dropped; Sony Ericssons seemed to have the best interface out of any phone brand several years ago.

[Pred the Penguin]

Looks like I'll be getting a used, but in good condition, unlocked HTC Inspire 4G for $200.
I'll tell you guys how it works out.

[KyadCK]

Looks like I'll be getting a used, but in good condition, unlocked HTC Inspire 4G for $200.
I'll tell you guys how it works out.

Enjoy the 4.3" screen, I suggest getting hacker's keyboard (just a better keyboard, supports a bunch of layouts) right away, the stock keyboard kinda sucks.

[Pred the Penguin]

Where would you get such a thing? I literally have no previous experience with smart phones. This'll be my first.

[sigtau]

Android anything.  I personally use a Droid 2 second generation, but the Droid 3 and Droid RAZR definitely trump the competition in both specifications and appearance.

[Jeff Vader]

Where would you get such a thing? I literally have no previous experience with smart phones. This'll be my first.

Android Market.

[KyadCK]

its free on the market, as are quite a lot of interesting things.

[Actium]

PS: i dont know why the hell they are called smartphones, they are dumb as hell aslong you dont use em right 

Let's look at it, baseline specs for a smartphone are a single or dualcore CPU running at 1GHz or more, a GPU that offers functionality on par with DirectX 9.0a, a display with a resolution greater than 800x600, 256 to 512 MB of RAM, and several GB of built-in storage.

Those specs are pretty much in the range of what you'd expect from a 2003/2004 PC.

you know ... a PC is dumb too:)
what i meant: without the right apps and a intelligent user, a smartphone is a dumphone, just bigger, with a shiny screen and the need to recharge it quite often 

[The E]

That goes without saying. But then, if you do not know what you're going to use your smartphone for, you should probably reevaluate whether you need one.

[Actium]

That goes without saying. But then, if you do not know what you're going to use your smartphone for, you should probably reevaluate whether you need one.

very true

[Pred the Penguin]

Well, I got my Inspire 4G. It's gonna take some getting used to considering it's my first smartphone, but no problems so far.

[KyadCK]

Well, I got my Inspire 4G. It's gonna take some getting used to considering it's my first smartphone, but no problems so far.

Just don't go stabbing the screen with your fingers, the touchscreen is extremely sensitive and not much pressure is needed. You can also use it through light gloves, which is nice with winter on the way.

[Pred the Penguin]

Hey! I'm not stupid you know. It's not the touchscreen that's bothering me it's the whole interface... now on a very small screen.
I've never had any handheld devices like Gameboys and PSPs, so this takes some getting used to.

[KyadCK]

Hey! I'm not stupid you know.

Oh trust me, its not you, its the fact that 90% of touchscreens actually require that you use your fingers like spears (my GPS being one of those...) to do anything. I don't let my cousins touch my phone anymore because they are used to such poor responding screens and I swear they'd put a finger through it after a while. If you've only ever used super-sensitive touchscreens, you've been spoiled beyond belief.

I've never had any handheld devices like Gameboys and PSPs, so this takes some getting used to.

Too early to mention you can find an RDP app or use teamviewer to control full size computers? 

[The E]

Welcome to the difference between resistive and capacitative touchscreens