Sony Android mobile, buy or wait? Advice please
 

Hi All,

I'm looking into getting a new mobile phone mainly as a travel accessory. Besides the "normal" phone features I intend to surf the web, check webmail (POP/IMAP) and install apps useful for traveling (like a currency exchange, a PDF document viewer etc. ).

The Sony-Ericsson X10 family looks nice but SE have stated these phones won't be upgraded beyond Android 2.1.

So my question is: given that the phones won't go beyond Android 2.1 how does it affect:
- the number of apps I can install? can I install almost everything from the apps store?
- the web surfing: is the browser tightly coupled to the OS or can I just install newer versions whenever they come out? having good flash support would be nice.

Lastly, given my intended (and rather basic) use of the phone is it worth waiting for the newer model or should I buy now since I won't really benefit from a newer OS?.

TIA.

SE has a horrible history of (not) upgrading phones. The X10 was supposed to receive Froyo over a year ago.

They are good looking phones, but their limited lifespan makes them less desirable if you ask me.

A 2.1 phone will work fine, but there will be apps that simply won't work, and you won't get flash unless you are on 2.2.

Ideally, pick something from Samsung, Motorola or HTC.

Skype for instance does not work for all android 2.1 models (samsung captivate S needed 2.2) and webex doesnt work with 2.1 I am sure there are lots of others as well. 2.2 seems to run quicker to me.

If i were looking for a new Android i would wait and get one of the newer ones coming out with dual core processor and evaluate which phone companies actually release upgrades soonest. Also check forums for common issues. I have the Samsung Captivate S and Love it despite the GPS issues that i've experienced. I have a portable GPS for the car so it doesnt affect me much but others complain a lot in forums.

Thanks all for the comments ^

erenner: these links suggest skype works on Android 2.1 (available for the x10):
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=725073
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-...e-for-android/

There are a lot better Android phones out there than the SE X10. Why are you so fixated on that?

I like the compactness of the X10 mini pro but I'm open to suggestions on other similarly sized mobiles.

I have a Samsung Captivate which is very compact. It's rooted, running 2.2, and runs flawlessly. Way better than X10. Super AMOLED screen, good GPS function, good camera, internal 16GB storage, easily unlocked for international use. Just blows the X10 away in all aspects.

Thanks.

Well, I'm looking for a slider with a "real" qwerty keyboard since it seems much easier to input text (text, email, web surfing).

I used to think that way. With Swype and other alternative keyboards you don't really need a real keyboard.

I also have a Samsung Epic with a slide out keyboard. I've only used the slide out keyboard four or five times in the last year since I've owned it. I can definitely live without it, and I used to be a hardcore keyboard user on mobile phones - blackberry / treo phones.

Swype looks interesting but using it implies sacrificing ~50% of the screen to the soft keyboard.

On a compact-size mobile, which is what I'm after, this means there's isn't much usable screen real-estate left (the X10 mini pro screen is about 2.5inches).

Keyboard only pops up when needed. Your call. If you really really want the X10 go get it. I just think it's a crap phone and would much rather get something else myself.

First, thanks for your comments & for suggesting swype.

I'm not fixated on the X10 or anything else for that matter but just exploring alternatives. I've never used swype before but it seems that when surfing the web on a small screen I'll have to keep pop-up & pop-down the keyboard which is a pain. I'd rather have the full screen available for the browser. But again, just my impression from looking at swype demos online.

Trust me, it no big deal. Look at how popular touch screen only devices are. iPhones have no physical keyboard, and yet you don't hear complaints of people about the lack of a physical keyboard or how annoying the pop-up keyboard is. It is really seamless.

I also used to think I needed a physical keyboard. Then I spend a little time learning Swype, and I now can't live without it.

I agree- I got the T-Mobile G2 thinking I needed a keyboard, and ended up never using it. Sliding it open takes me more effort than typing with Swype.

Get a Motorola Atrix or HTC Inspire (assuming you are on AT&T in the US).