Samsung or Sony Ericsson?

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

AT&T was the home of SE phones

Originally Posted by fractured

Not really. They carry few SE phones, but the fact that they're a GSM carrier means that you can always buy unlocked SE phones (that support both the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands) and use them. That said, I would take a Nokia (especially) or an SE device over a Samsung any day.

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

I'm about to switch to AT&T (from Verizon) and I had my sights set on the Samsung A717... but I had totally forgotten that AT&T was the home of SE phones - I had seen them reviewed before and was always lusting for one.

So now I don't know what to choose! Here are the features that are important to me:

- 320x240 screen (and the ability to view pics in a FULL SCEEN mode, many phones squish images down into a small window)
- At least 2mp camera (but pic quality is more important than just megapixels)
- Stereo bluethooth
- Good MP3 player (one that let you put files in multiple folders would be great)
- Memory card slot
- Snappy, fast navigation

A few people have recommended the SE w580i or k790a, neither of which I've been able to see in person.

Can anyone who has experience with the A717 and SE phones offer some comparisons?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by pje200

I currently have the a717 and w810i and had several more SE phones, and I can tell you without a doubt the a717 is alot better than all of them, the a717 is better than my unbranded and unlocked w810i in rf, screen, earpiece and speaker volume, believe it or not the camera is a little better in the a717 even though it doesnt have af,and battery is about the same,, which is a good thing, the only thing I liked better in the w810i is the ability to change themes, I also like the ui better in the a717, plus the a717 is 3g, the w810i is only edge.

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

PJE, thanks for your input! If you own all those phones, I definitely am glad you chimed in. Can you comment on the MP3 players between phones?

And to the guys who say that SE is much better than Samsung, is that based on experience? I have to admit, just LOOKING at the phones and specs online, I'd lean towards SE too, but actually LIVING with the different phones in question is another story.

I haven't looked much at Nokias yet... I'll dig around about the N75. What about it do you think is better than the Samsung and SE?

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

If anyone is considering an A717, NewEgg has a deal for free... that might be with a new contract though... check the main 717 thread.

And Amazon has it for $100. At the AT&T store they want $200, even with a new sign up!

I have to admit, with all the good reviews of the A717, even if a SE is marginally better, getting an A717 for free seems hard to pass up.

Besides, if I were to get a SE, I'd most likely go for an unlocked/unbranded one and I wouldn't get the signing discount anyway.

Originally Posted by pje200

Dont forget the a717 is 3g, there isnt any SEs that run 3g on at&t.

Originally Posted by pje200

Dont forget the a717 is 3g, there isnt any SEs that run 3g on at&t.

Originally Posted by fractured

3G has nothing to do with reception. If any, in most areas, 3G coverage is inferior to 2G coverage.

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

I'm about to switch to AT&T (from Verizon) and I had my sights set on the Samsung A717... but I had totally forgotten that AT&T was the home of SE phones - I had seen them reviewed before and was always lusting for one.

So now I don't know what to choose! Here are the features that are important to me:

- 320x240 screen (and the ability to view pics in a FULL SCEEN mode, many phones squish images down into a small window)
- At least 2mp camera (but pic quality is more important than just megapixels)
- Stereo bluethooth
- Good MP3 player (one that let you put files in multiple folders would be great)
- Memory card slot
- Snappy, fast navigation

A few people have recommended the SE w580i or k790a, neither of which I've been able to see in person.

Can anyone who has experience with the A717 and SE phones offer some comparisons?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

wrong! UMTS is a different network and you will get slightly better call quality on 3g. I use a SE k800 and will be using the ATT branded k850 when it is released. I used every samsung cingular has sold, and they all suck. dropped calls everywhere. My sony doesn't have that problem. I say sony all the way!

Originally Posted by pje200

You mean the 105x47x22mm k800 brick , as far as every samsung sucking, well I several of them and they did suck, but a717 is totally different, so either you were lying about trying all of them or lying about the a717, you must be one of those people that just say things without any actual experiance with the device, I base my views on actual owning and useing the phones, my sony phones the last year are w810i and w710, and many people consider them the best sony phones for at&t, have fun using your triband brick of a phone and tiny little 2 inch screen.

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

wrong! UMTS is a different network and you will get slightly better call quality on 3g.

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

Too bad there aren't more quadband SE's, I looked at an import site and it seems like there are only 3 or 4...

Originally Posted by Bpt_Flames

3g doesnt really improve service. The reason SE hasnt released any 3g phones for att is probly cuz they have a deal with samsung to release any POS that they put out. Its the same with nokia, they make many phones that are quad band that would work here but att doesnt pick them up

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

P.S. My brick with the tiny little screen has a 3.2 megapixel Cyber-Shot Camera, better than any samsung we've every sold. Thin and pretty are for females. Men carry bar phones that perform!

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

LOL, so wrong! I work for network services in AT&T. I test the devices for the company and once again, the samsungs constantly perform worse than the sony's. We sell samsungs because the powers that be don't care about about RF, just what sells and looks pretty. I work in a 1900MHz only market and Nokia and Sony are kings here. Samsung, Motorola, LG all have terrible RF here.

P.S. My brick with the tiny little screen has a 3.2 megapixel Cyber-Shot Camera, better than any samsung we've every sold. Thin and pretty are for females. Men carry bar phones that perform!

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

Just wait it out until AT&T launches the Z750 (clamshell) or the K850(bar), you'll have a much device.

Originally Posted by pje200

well trying testing in the other 80% of at&ts network, you know the one where most people actually use. yes you do have the better (cell phone)camera, but everything else on your phone stinks and cant even compare to the a717, and for the men carry bar phones, are you kidding me?,maybe 70 year olds who cant figure out how to open a flip, dont get me wrong I like bar phones also, I currently have 2 , w810i, nokia e50, but you probably never used the a717 did you? come on tell the truth.

Originally Posted by pje200

Why? you show me one spec where the z750 is better than the a717, besides being quite fatter and uglier.

Originally Posted by fractured

Where did I say anything about call quality? And I am totally aware that 3G is a different network/technology, but again that doesn't improve reception. As to 3G quality, it really depends on location/band, and in most areas, 3G is only on the 1900MHz band. Take NYC, for example. Here at&t is both 850MHz and 1900MHz, but the 850MHz build out is much better. Given that, 3G (which is on the 1900Mhz) is far inferior to 2G. Yes, when you're on the 3G network call quality is better, but this isn't just because of the technology/network; it's also due to the fact that not that many people are on it. When GSM was first introduced here it was just as clear. Today, GSM is overloaded (or so it seems) and at&t also uses AMR-HR.

Originally Posted by aw614

haha cybershot branding...its all marketing a name to sell.

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

The US is the only place where people prefer clamshells to bar phones, lol. That's because we are so behind in technology compared to the rest of the world. Clamshells are boring and don't work as well RF wise a bar phones, (tester remember ).

Originally Posted by LaserJim

What would a form factor have to do with reception?

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

What stinks on the k800? The mp3 player is great. The UI is great. Text works great. Everything works great. Not sure what you mean by that one.

The US is the only place where people prefer clamshells to bar phones, lol. That's because we are so behind in technology compared to the rest of the world. Clamshells are boring and don't work as well RF wise a bar phones, (tester remember ).

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

With a lot of clamshell phones, the RF isn't built as strong as the bar phones. Look at Nokia, 6230 works way better than the 6102. Most OEMs build better bar handsets than clamshell, (excluding Motorola, of course,they just make garbage all the way around) because the world market doesn't buy clamshells. They buy candybar style and now sliders are gaining momentum.

Originally Posted by pje200

Why? you show me one spec where the z750 is better than the a717, besides being quite fatter and uglier.

Originally Posted by vitin

produoly onwer se w810i candybar phone rf beast blows doors clamshell phones

Originally Posted by Bpt_Flames

you can make your own mind up i used Phonescoop to compare. Although i think there is some inaccuracies with the specs of the Z750. Like the Z750 does have ringer profiles(all SE's do), It says HSDPA 1.8 but many other sites state its 3.6. Also it says that Z750 has video calling but we all know ATT will mod it so it doesn't. And the battery time might be wrong because 9Hour talk time on 3g phone is mega rare.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/co...B%5D=&id%5B%5D=

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

With a lot of clamshell phones, the RF isn't built as strong as the bar phones. Look at Nokia, 6230 works way better than the 6102. Most OEMs build better bar handsets than clamshell, (excluding Motorola, of course,they just make garbage all the way around) because the world market doesn't buy clamshells. They buy candybar style and now sliders are gaining momentum.

Originally Posted by pje200

Show me proof? you are just speculating, I go on actual useage of the phones not speculation, here is my proof , a717 own, w810i own, nokia e50 own, had se t637, had nokia 6682, had moto slv, thats 5 candy bar phones in the last two years, and my a717 and my wifes v3xx gets better reception than any of them, so unless you have any real hands on proof what you say is just speculation, heres alittle more speculation. the z750 sucks, why? I dont really know, I just speculated.

Originally Posted by pje200

Show me proof? you are just speculating, I go on actual useage of the phones not speculation, here is my proof , a717 own, w810i own, nokia e50 own, had se t637, had nokia 6682, had moto slv, thats 5 candy bar phones in the last two years, and my a717 and my wifes v3xx gets better reception than any of them, so unless you have any real hands on proof what you say is just speculation, heres alittle more speculation. the z750 sucks, why? I dont really know, I just speculated.

Originally Posted by Bpt_Flames

I dont know specifics but many people say so. I cant prove it but it makes sense, remember a time when clamshell phones needed an antenna to get better signal. Hiding it withing the phone where you hand can block singnal isnt going to do anything good for reception. Although if you live in area with good signal its not going to matter.
People need to get over their obsession with there phone and make comments objectively. I want the Z750 but you dont see me bashing every other phone just because i like the Z750. If you dont want to wait for Z750 then get the A717, its a good phone for its price. The only complaint with samsung is that everyone of there phones is exactly the same just different shell. There UI isnt that bad but some spec differential wouldnt hurt.(Im talking about ATT Samsung phones only)

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

So hostile, . What do you want me to do? Drive to you and show you what I see. I've already told you I test the handsets on the network. There is no speculation here. Just call it like I see it. I have a current a717 sitting in front of me and a k800i. The sony works better troughout the market than the samsung, period. I just gave you the same proof you gave me. If you don't like sony ericsson, fine. The guy asked for opinions, I gave mine and you gave yours. Sony Ericsson works better for me as well as bar phones. Samsung's and Motorola's drop calls more often than my Sony's or Nokia's, period! That's all the proof I need to disagree with you.

Originally Posted by pje200

Do you have the k800 without the 850 or do you have the 790? if you have the k800 how can you say it works better than the a717 when it doesnt even have at&t main band(850).I think you are full of crap. I tell you what, sense you said you have the a717, please give the software version # under phone info and harware version and I wont say another word to you.

Originally Posted by Bigbmc26

I have the k800 and I live in an 1900MHz only market, so your point is clearly moot. I don't need the 850 band here.

Samsung A717
Software Version: A717UCGD6
Hardware Version: REV0.8

Please get a life...