vB Easy Archive - Looking for a phone with keyboard/wifi/3.5mm audio jack

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Looking for a phone with keyboard/wifi/3.5mm audio jack
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Posted by: deviantmotoSE

I'm in the market for a new phone yet again.

In the last six months, I have gone through 2 Blackberry Curves (8300 and 8310) due to rollerball errors. I am completely sick of that even though I find the RIM interface to be simple and excellent.

The problem is that the jeans I wear have a slim fit to it, causing phones to literally "crush" between the pants and my thighs. I dislike carrying a holster or case because I do not want my phone to be exposed or anything. Just a personal preference. In fact, my 8310 "crushed", causing the left side rubber "bumper" or trim piece to come out.

I have been looking at a ton of phones and I cannot make up my decision.

My next phone must have:
- keyboard, prefer exposed, but slide out is OK
- Wi-fi
- Good camera/video
- 3.5 audio jack (my iPod just died so I'm planning to combine some features here)
- Touchscreen (not totally necessary, but cool to have)
- Thin profile
- Under $500

My top choices so far are the iPhone and the Nokia N95-4. Of course the N95 is a brick and it totally goes against my choices, but the feature list amazes me. The iPhone looks a bit fragile, but I guess I can just use a hard case or something. Also, I do not think I can pay $20 a month for internet services, which will render my iPhone almost useless.

The Samsung Blackjack II does look pretty good, but I'm open to any other options.

Posted by: Konceptz

Seems like $500 is going to limit you more than anything else.

Xperia will meet all of your requirements.
N95 will meet these with a bluetooth keyboard. (works like it should).
Iphone meets it.

I think your limiting factor is a 3.5mm jack, I'm assuming you have a pair of nice earbuds that you want to use? Keep in mind that bluetooth stereo headsets are getting better every month.

Best of luck, I'd go with the N95 and get a keyboard. Or wait for the xperia.

Posted by: deviantmotoSE

Thanks. Is the Xperia out yet? Sounds like it'll be ridiculously expensive.

I would get the N95, but the only drawback is that I frequently text alot. With the phone I have now (Moto V3xx), it's annoying to use a keypad to type as I'm used to a QWERTY keyboard because I've had an 8525 and 2 BB Curves in the past.

The iPhone sounds great, but again, there are multiple drawbacks. One is the service fee ($20/month), which I cannot afford to pay for right now. The other is the on screen keyboard which I do not think I will like. Other factors include non-customization and fragile-ness.

I'm actually thinking about picking up a used ATT 8525 for around $250 because I loved my old one, but again, it's a huge brick.

Posted by: Konceptz

I'd say go with a used Kaiser or Mogul and save for the Xperia, it's going to make waves if it's executed anything like it's spec'd for.

The N95 with T9 is just as fast as a qwerty that I used on my 6700. This applies to texting and emails. I had to buy a bluetooth keyboard when I started doing more SSH/Telnet stuff.