My relationship with my mobile is on the rocks. I don't know how I know this. Perhaps it's the precocious way it keeps shutting itself off, or the beligerant refusal to charge when required to do so. Either way, it's clear that the relationship is over and it's time to move on.
I found these in the personals:
Bangkok tech tips: Four sweet smartphones for under 10,000 baht
For those who don't think spending a month's salary on a phone is all that 'smart', here are some cheaper alternatives
Just like the rest of the world, smartphones are a must-have icon in Bangkok. It isn’t just about fashion though. It’s about feeding addictions.
Whether it be Twitter-ittus, Facebook-fever, a yearning for YouTube or other social media syndromes, smartphones are keeping Bangkokians connected to their close pals and brightening moments of boredom, such as those long traffic-riddled commutes into work.
While top of the line smartphones cost substantially more than the average Thai’s monthly salary, fortunately the smartphone revolution has trickled down. This means there is decent technology to be had at modest prices, with some devices an absolute steal.
Here are four touchscreen devices that are yours for less than 10,000 baht.
Samsung Candy
The hook: A device aimed at the teen market, endorsed by sweetly named Thai celeb Pancake Khemanit.
The goods: Although it doesn’t rival the big names when it comes to looks, the Candy has a decent touchscreen interface with a reasonable quality two megapixel camera. Beyond the cheap-looking plastic casing, which is color customized for those who like coordination, it's what’s inside that counts and its widgets connect with the usual social networking suspects including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and MySpace. (Though we’re not sure if anyone is still using that last one.)
Worth noting: Lacks support for Thailand favorite MSN Messenger but is WiFi compatible and comes with a 2GB memory card to boot.
Price: 5,990 baht.
Shame factor: 8/10. “I’m just borrowing it while my iPhone is fixed ... honest.”
iMobile 8500
The hook: All the benefits of Google’s outstanding Android system at an affordable price.
The goods: Renowned for producing uber-cheap lookalike devices, iMobile’s 8500 runs the brilliant Android operating system. The brains match the external looks with a pleasant layout, easy navigation and access to the full set of goodies at the Android app store. Its five-megapixel camera can stand in for your regular snapper on nights out or on those forgetful days, while GPS support is invaluable for mastering the art of accurate Foursquare check-ins.
Worth noting: The huge, high-resolution screen is impressive.
Price: 8,500 baht.
Shame factor: 4/10. “How did that iMobile logo get there?!”
Nokia 5530 XpressMusic
The hook: The youngest sibling of the XpressMusic series is packed full of usual Nokia multimedia goodness.
The goods: Those used to the usual Nokia layout are on familiar ground with the petite 5530. The web browsing experience is reasonable but the 3.2 megapixel camera lacks the zing of Nokia’s Carl Zeiss optics, which are needed to capture those outrageous, nocturnal Bangkok katoeys on location. Best stick to self portraits and twitpic-ing your lunch.
Multimedia is where this device comes into its own. If you’re a music and film junkie Nokia’s XpressMusic system, two video players and games are just what the doctor ordered alongside the usual high quality Nokia applications and services.
Worth noting: Despite its multimedia creds, the tiny internal memory means memory cards are a must, with a 4GB card included with the phone.
Price: 8,100 baht.
Shame factor: 6/10. “Who needs TV anyway?”
HTC Tattoo
The hook: Rising star HTC’s budget Android offering has all the bells and whistles and more.
The goods: “The first phone that can be customized inside and out” according to HTC, the Tattoo is an aesthetically pleasing little thing. The fully customisable homescreen means anything can go anywhere; great fun for everyone but best avoided by obsessive-compulsives types.
The usual Android mix of innovative and simplicity are here in abundance alongside GPS, a 3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi and full access to the Android app store -- all the ingredients for serious social networkers on the go. The Internal memory is huge and further expanded to house movies, music and photos collections with a memory card.
Worth noting: The touchscreen interface is not quite as intuitive as the HTC Hero but little things like the animated weather forecast widget give this phone a touch of class that belies its price.
Price: 8,100 baht.
Shame factor: 2/10. “I’m a unique individual...Apple and BlackBerry are way too popular (and expensive).”
Any other tips you guys would care to share?
I need one with a camera and an alarm and not much else.
Not an iPhone, Blackberry or any of those other expensive hi-so bimbettes.
Thanks in advance.
---Update---
Okay, the pics didn't show. Here's a linky-link:
Bangkok tech tips: Four sweet smartphones for under 10,000 baht | CNNGo.com
There are few problems in life that cannot be solved with toast.
One of them, however, is opening a can of corned beef with that stupid key. This cannot easily be done at the best of times, and toast is of surprisingly little use in resolving the issue.
I relied on a second-hand store in Rayong for all my mobile needs. Never paid more than 1,000 baht for a phone. I hate the fucking things.
me tooOriginally Posted by cluezo
id go samsung. i got a 10000 baht htc and daily must prevent myself from throwing it into the street so i can with satisfaction watch it get destroyed by a passing bus.
Noting good comes out of them ...
My phone is a Nokia.
It's good for phone calls.
Text messages.
And waking me up in the morning.
Everything I want in a phone.
I think it cost 900b about 3 years ago.
Guy Manpoof sux nuts for $$.
Tomcat trained. Satisfaction guaranteed.
E-63 Nokia. Awesome phone, querty keyboard, and a huge 1,500 Ma battery. Decent camera and mini USB for data/picture DL/UL's and less than ฿6,000 now. Also internet able and user friendly, which is key for me.
Frederick Douglass: Find out just what any people will quietly submit to
and you have found out the exact measure of injustice
and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these
will continue till they are resisted with either
words or blows, or with both.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn;
“Don’t believe them, don’t fear them, don’t ask
anything of them.”
Perfect for the uell-dressed-dyslexic-about-toun.
Well, if one texts (and knows how to type) the qwerty (^oops) is a godsend. The e-63 also has a decent speaker phone so one doesn't need it glued to one's ear.
I was going to suggest Nokia too. I've always had Nokia until a couple of years ago when hubby got me a nice Samsung with a great camera. I don't mind the Samsung but after having both, if I were to get e new phone it would be Nokia. As THX said, to to those places that sell the phones second hand.
i just got a sony xperia u last month, it fucking rocks. plus it's very nice to look at. about 10k baht/6.2 million vnd/320usd
I'm sure the inside of my trouser pocket will appreciate that.
I'm looking at these Samsung Galaxy things online. Anyone got one?
More importantly, anyone bought a modern phone second-hand? Any traps?
The prices of Blackberry telephones start at 4,950 THB.
tohome.com: Blackberry
I've always had Nokia telephones. I think I bought the first one in 1990. My last Nokia phones were the N95-8Gb and the E71. Before deciding for an iPhone I wanted to buy the Nokia 700 or 701.
tohome.com: Nokia 700
Here's a review of the 701.
Nokia 701 Review
Good luck and let us know what you bought.
Yes, for a model with no flash on the camera. Call me old Mr Picky, but...
The battery. Almost always needs a new one. After market batteries are shit for the most part, IME. And at ฿2,000 for a new factory one, ouch.
By the way; at less than ฿6,000 for the e-63 is for a new one; 24 months ago they were over ฿10,000.
I'd go for the E-72 now if I was looking, which I'm not. I use phones until they are shot and in spite of all the goodies; I only ever use it for call, texting and an occasional picture AND very rarely the inet. Cheers.
---Update---
My first "cell" phone was the classic Motorola grey flip phone back in '93; then went to Nokia in '97, and then in '02 went with a Sony-Erickson. Hated it. Back to Nokia in '03 and still like them the best. Cheers Nat.
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