Opinions wanted: Palm Pixi Plus or LG Ally?

[Scabbard]

Hi -

I would like the forum's help with a choosing a phone for Page Plus. I have up to $80.00 to spend on a phone. I am using PP now, with an older Verizon flip, and I really like the service.

So, it looks like the Palm Pixie Plus and the LG Ally are both in my price range.

I want a physical keyboard. I have big hands and thumbs, looks like the Ally probably wins in the keyboard department.

I would like to be able to check email occasionally, and wifi would be nice, which both of these have. I am looking for a phone to dink around with to see what I like.

Both of these are upgrades to what I am using - which one would you pick? Is one of these way better than the other?

Or is there something else in this price range with a physical keyboard and wifi that would be a better choice?

Also, I do do a little MMS, which I understand means the data needs to be turned on in order to send the MMS, but can't I turn it on then turn it off right away after I send, and skip the apps to control it?

Thanks.

[Fishx65]

$80.00 will get you a nice used Moto Droid 1 or 2 all day long. Yes, you can turn data on and off whenever you want.

[Boz1]

Palm Pixi Plus is available brand new from $35 to $43, depending on timing, from Amazon. Used Allys are available from around $35 on eBay.

[punisherbv]

I don't know how much the Ally's do cost. From my experience it runs slow because of the processor and the amt of int memory it has so if you do get it, prepare for a windows 98 experience kinda sorta lol. But its up to you though.

[Steveanderson13]

Well, your demands aren't high but here's my notes. No experience on Ally.

Palm--high grade phone, obsolete, ran well, no problems, rubber/plastic which encloses backside kinda softened after a year so it lost its grip on sides in few spots. Small but I was amazed how easy to use.

Ally, low grade but current, android, apps. Sold a lot. You could read experiences here.

Can you hand-test first?

[Scabbard]

$80.00 will get you a nice used Moto Droid 1 or 2 all day long. Yes, you can turn data on and off whenever you want.

Is the Droid 1 or 2 an improvement over the Ally?

[Scabbard]

Well, your demands aren't high but here's my notes. No experience on Ally.

Palm--high grade phone, obsolete, ran well, no problems, rubber/plastic which encloses backside kinda softened after a year so it lost its grip on sides in few spots. Small but I was amazed how easy to use.

Ally, low grade but current, android, apps. Sold a lot. You could read experiences here.

Can you hand-test first?

Don't think I can get a hand test of either....but thanks for relating your experience with the Palm, Steve.

[Scabbard]

Palm Pixi Plus is available brand new from $35 to $43, depending on timing, from Amazon. Used Allys are available from around $35 on eBay.

Hmmm....maybe an upgrade to something a little better is possible.

[Steveanderson13]

Don't think I can get a hand test of either....but thanks for relating your experience with the Palm, Steve.

Can you return it trouble-free at low cost?

[Steveanderson13]

Since $80 is in your price range, I'd go 1. Droid 2, 2. Palm Pixi Plus. 3. LG Ally.

Droid 2 and Palm are about the same age. Since Droid 2 is not obsolete, you'd have a lot more fun with apps (I'm assuming you'll be on wifi) and overall I'd think you'd get a lot more use out of it. Again you have to take into account any return policy. Even if used, it should work properly and be warrantied. Check all that out and dont get screwed. I'm not experienced at that.

Oh, I had a Droid 1.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using HowardForums

[Scabbard]

[QUOTE=Steveanderson13;14819954]Since $80 is in your price range, I'd go 1. Droid 2, 2. Palm Pixi Plus. 3. LG Ally.

I think that makes sense, Steve - I am going to see if I can find a Droid 2 for $80.00.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[ngnetzky]

In My Humble Opinion, This is what I would try

1) Droid 1 or 2 (if you're going this route try to get the Droid 2)
2) LG Ally (No experience, but being semi-current, outweighs the cons)
3) Palm Pixi Plus (I love this phone, but it's not a "smartphone" anymore)

[OneFore9]

If you go with the Ally, rooting and a custom ROM make it function much better. I just retired my Ally as it was showing its age. The digitizer was getting worse and worse. Battery life was pretty good, but I used the phone sparingly. Just moved to a Droid 3, which have been selling on Craigslist for as low as $100 lately. Ally's list for as little as $30. I would probably pass on the Ally and go Droid 2 or Droid 1. Both are readily available in your price range used.

[Scabbard]

Well, looks like the Droids have it - I am in a rural area, and what I see on Craig's list is usually overpriced. But, there is always Ebay.

So, with all your input, I am going to go for a Droid 2.

Thanks to you all!

[spdracer5g]

Well, looks like the Droids have it - I am in a rural area, and what I see on Craig's list is usually overpriced. But, there is always Ebay.

So, with all your input, I am going to go for a Droid 2.

Thanks to you all!

Good call on the Droid. I used a Palm Pixi Plus on Page Plus for a year or so, and my experience is exactly the same as the earlier post, a very nice phone, when it was current the OS was the best of all the Smart Phone OS choices, the OS is now basically unsupported and the apps just never came for it. After a year or so the rear cover needed replaced because it was starting to come loose here and there.

My sons both use Droid 2 hand sets, and they are very nice even now, they have been out for a couple of years, but they high end phones when new, so they still hold their own well, and will still destroy a lot of the low end phones currently being sold on contracts.

The LG Ally isn't a bad choice, but for such a small amount more you can do so much better. My current Page Plus phone is a Cricket branded ZTE Score, which has better specs than the Ally, and it can't hold a candle to my sons Droid 2's.