'lo all,

Just back from 2 weeks extensive firefighting sorting out care for Dad (91, peg fed x4 daily) after Mum (88) had stroke, wherein lie many v. lengthy stories about appalling disorganization of state system …

Brothers (2 Australia, 1 Ireland) have offered to buy me an iPhone as a thank you for sorting out the whole mess, hence this post asking for advice.

Never had a mobile and hate the damn things, so don't know where to start looking for a suitable device that takes pics and sends emails as well as being a 'phone.

Your suggestions re best/cheapest start point v. gratefully received,

ta muchly, robin

Well an iPhone is probably "easisest" if you've never had a smart phone. But by a very small margin these days. It's certainly not cheapest.

My first "smart" phone, was (and still is an Android) and I'm very happy with it. But I got it for a specific purpose and it does that well. If you just want to make calls, take pics and send emails, just about anything with a screen will do it these days. Stick to Samsung and HTC for Android, as they are a little more beginner friendly than other brands. Or, as I said, the iPhone itself is very easy to use.

Cheers mate, have been a Mac person for 20 years now so v. familiar with the Apple way of doing things - seriously uncomfortable with Windows methodology etc.

Basically looking to buy a phone outright and use top up as and when needed, but don't have a clue where to start!

(I know, I'm SO last century )

IIRC You can still get the iPhone 3GS, should be pretty cheap by now. Will still run the latest software, admittedly not all that quickly but it will.

Yes, I was going to suggest this too.

if your brothers have offered to buy you one get at least an iPhone 4. With the upcoming release (rumoured) of the iPhone5 the 3GS will soon be an obselete (in Apples eyes) phone.

If your thinking of any other phone get a Samsung Galaxy S2 (or really go for it and get a S3), as your a mac user, according to Apple they are so similair you will never know the difference


Though IMHO the S3 totaly p*sses over the iPhone 4 ( I dont know about the 4S as I never owned that model)

You missed the whole 'cheapest' thing, right?

Gordon Bennet (he said mildly) so many companies want my dosh!

http://www.majordeal.co.uk/apple-iphone ... -unlocked/
anyone's thoughts/experience with this outfit or 2nd hand phones? Should I not even think about 2nd hand? Is a 4 vastly different from a 3?

How do I get the thing working if bought? Does the amount of Gb make a huge difference?

Just discovered there's an Apple store in Reading, so will visit tomorrow to try and get my ancient head around it all.

Thanks folks for your input.

Then he shouldn't be looking at an iPhone
Though what defines cheap depends on the budget the brothers or robin is thinking of plus what deals are out there.

+1

Christ, that doesn't bode well. I couldn't work out how to install anything on Dad's HTC. Horrible thing.

But you're a Mac user, Al. And a nerdy one at that. These things are designed for people less clever than you.

Personally, I chose Samsung because I prefer their UI. However, either of the big two make Android far nicer than the others, who either use a vanilla version of Android or their own customized crap.

As I said before iPhones are expensive, but as a Mac user, they make sense. Honestly though, the most obvious suggestion in this thread for cheapness is a Galaxy S2. It's very capable and I have a 50yr old friend who hates computers and has zero nerd in him, but it was his first touch-screen phone and he can happily send texts/emails (with his glasses on!), take photos and make calls. So that's an endorsement as far as I'm concerned. It's also heavily discounted these days due to the S3, which would almost certainly overwhelm you to begin with.

Pay as you go, the iPhone 3GS is actually cheaper than the Galaxy SII. They're both free on even a relatively small contract. The SII is a better phone than the 3GS but as Robin's a Mac user, the extra convenience outweighs the higher spec, IMO.

However the Galaxy Ace is way cheaper than both on Pay As You Go and fine for light use I'd say.

A mac user should go for the iPhone and they are now free on the cheaper contracts. I wouldn't go for a second hand unlocked one. Just saying.

I think the older HTC's were easier to add things to. The newer ones don't have the "add button" on the bottom right of the home screen, they have the "select scene" botton instead.