Help with choosing a phone (thinking a X10 Mini or Mini Pro)

[Vogon Poet]

Hey guys,
I am thinking of getting a new phone I want to go onto a plan. I would like to be on a plan of about $30 a month.
I noticed the Xperia Mini Pro on the Vodafone website has a $30 a month plan. Would this mean you pay $30 a month and nothing extra for the actual phone? And what would you get with that plan (how many messages, talk time etc)? I've never had a smart phone before so is 1 gb per month enough? Are there any other small smart phones available on $30 plans? I figure if you can get them for this price I may as well upgrade to one.

Also I was thinking of getting this phone because I would like a smart phone but I want one that isn't too big that will easily fit in my pockets. Are there any other options available for small smart phones? Would people with the mini and the mini pro recommend them? I think I am more interested in the pro because you have the option of either typing a message with one thumb on the on screen one or using the qwerty keyboard. But I think just the mini would be good as I am used to the old style keypad anyway. So i'm not really sold on any phone yet and i'm also not entirely sold on the mini pro over the mini - although I suppose it would be easier to write emails and long messges with. However, I did notice that the reviews on this site weren't exactly gushing with praise in regards to either of them. Also the x10 mini isn't on the Vodafone site as a plan anyway. Also do you lose too much functionality with the smaller screen? I'm not too worried about this though.

Also I was wondering how does this phone sort messages? Is it like the iphone in that it sorts messages into contacts?
Any why did they only upgrade this phone to Android 2.1? Do the phones come with 2.1 or come with 1.6 and require an upgrade? I know very little about phone OS' so does it really matter that it is only version 2.1? Will it be upgraded to 2.2?

Also what is the community like? Are there lots of aps available? Are many available for free?

Appreciate any help. Apologies for having so many questions. Cheers.

[Billypop]

G'day Vogon Poet,
I will try to answer as many of your questions as I can,
As far as cost per month, I think you will need to ask your local rep as to the actual cost (making sure there are not any hidden costs in the contract). I am with Optus and the monthly fee ($49) includes the handset repayment, but I know Telstra do it differently so you should check with your local Vodaphone rep.
I think I have like 250mb worth of data on my plan and I have not exceeded that in the 4 months or so of having the phone.
This includes regularly installing apps, web browsing and the usual SMS and MMS as well as some excel documents in emails.

The X10 mini and mini pro are, to my knowledge, the smallest androids available, which was the reason I bought one. Working in the conditions I do anything larger just wont survive (new water/dust resistant models might).
Others on the forum may have some other suggestions but the HTC wildfire would be the next nearest off the top of my head.
I have the mini pro and the keyboard comes in very handy but I generally use the on screen one for most things.
I have updated mine to 2.1 but I do not know if they are shipped (selling them in the shops) with 2.1 already installed. The small screen size has its inherent limitations but I have not had any problems because of it.
If this is your first smart phone then I would suggest that the android version is not that important, even an older android version will still be big step up from a non smart phone and will have a lot more options and apps.
One of the main concerns some people have had about the small screen size is that it will not be able to run some apps on it. I have not yet found an app that i wanted, but couldn't have, because of the screen size.
The phone sorts messages into contacts, like a conversation history and NOT into "Inbox" "sent items" etc.
At first this was a bit of a shock having come from the inbox/outbox type system but you very quickly get used to it and I wouldn't go back to the old system now.
Are there many apps? ........ YES!!
and LOTS and LOTS of free ones.
I think that has answered most of your questions as best i can,
In conclusion - having had this phone for a while now, there is only one negative comment I have and that is the lack of multi touch - however this is not a HUGE negative and I think the best way to tell what i think about this phone is to say that if I had to go and buy a new phone tomorrow, I would buy the X10 mini pro without hesitating, because it does everything I need it to do and it does it in a such a small package.

Hope all that helps,

Billypop

[Vogon Poet]

Cool thanks mate.
Does the Mini Pro come with the different backs?
Also is the keyboard back lit? Can you read the keys in the dark?
Also can you say download say a different email ap because I see the one that comes with it only allows 2 accounts?

[Billypop]

(12-08-2010 04:25 PM)Vogon Poet Wrote:  Cool thanks mate.
Does the Mini Pro come with the different backs?
Also is the keyboard back lit?Can you read the keys in the dark?

No it doesn't come with the different colour backs (like the mini) but I have seen white backs for the mini pro on ebay, if/when mine gets all scratched up or damaged I will be getting one of them.
Yes the keyboard is back lit, automatically lit when dark.

[Vogon Poet]

Thanks. Also in regards to aps can you say download a less limited internet browser or something like that? Thanks for helping.
Does anyone else on these forums use this phone btw or not too many?
How often do you have to charge it?

Also is it mac compatible? I have a mac.

Sorry for so many questions.

[Billypop]

(12-08-2010 04:55 PM)Vogon Poet Wrote:  Thanks. Also in regards to aps can you say download a less limited internet browser or something like that? Thanks for helping.
Does anyone else on these forums use this phone btw or not too many?
How often do you have to charge it?

Also is it mac compatible? I have a mac.

Sorry for so many questions.

I have opera mini browser installed, but use the pre installed one more, I charge the phone every night so probably get 24hrs from it.
dont know about mac compatability but ya could try their website.
I think there area couple of other users that have the x10 mini pro but dont know how often they check in

billypop

[Vogon Poet]

Okay thanks mate!
I am someone worried about Mac compatibility so i'll check out some websites.
Some people also seem to have quite a lot of trouble with freezing etc although you don't seem to.
Sorry one more question, do you use the facebook ap? How do you find it?

[Billypop]

(12-09-2010 01:37 PM)Vogon Poet Wrote:  Okay thanks mate!
I am someone worried about Mac compatibility so i'll check out some websites.
Some people also seem to have quite a lot of trouble with freezing etc although you don't seem to.
Sorry one more question, do you use the facebook ap? How do you find it?

No I haven't had a problem with it freezing/locking up.
Just a point which may or may not make a difference, I bought mine outright from allphones, which apart from anything else meant I got the 2.1 update about week earlier than other Optus handsets in Australia. This was because mine is apparently the "world" version of the firmware (or something), which may also account for why I have not had some the software related issues others seem to have had in Aus.
I dont use the Facebook app, but being an android app it will be the same on all androids, (not specifically different in the XPmini pro).
So some research on what the facebook app for android is like will probably answer your question, I am sure there will be some others on this forum that regularly use it on their android devices though???
below is a link to an article on the app when it got revised earlier this year.

http://mashable.com/2010/08/03/facebook-...d-upgrade/



Billypop

[Javlin]

Ya the above said phone is good and even the sony experia is a really good phone why don't you try this.

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