Need a new phone. (BlackBerry Curve vs. The Dash)

[ryushe]

I'm finally eligible for an upgrade and I want (Don't necessarily need) a new phone. I'm on T-mobile and the phone I'm currently using is a Motorola Razr V3t (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?device=294bfa11-13be-4ff3-9b0a-9f9d21723f87) and It's a pretty good phone, my only problem with it is the battery life seems to be getting worse over the year and some change of use and sometimes after about 12 hours uncharged, it's on it's a last legs.

I'm honestly not a big time phone person, since ascetics and what not don't really concern me, as long as I can take pictures/videos and make decent calls, I'm good. but since I've been working hard for a while now, I thought I'd treat myself to a new, "flashy" but still a excellent phone that can hold me for years to come. At the moment, I'm actually looking at two phones. The BlackBerry Curve (http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/rim-blackberry-curve-8320/4505-6452_7-32626250.html) and a phone I liked for quite some time now, The T-Mobile Dash (http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/t-mobile-dash-aka/4505-6452_7-32088045.html?autoplay=true&tag=coco).

For anyone one T-mobile and has one of the two phones listed, I'd like your opinion on them. You don't have to limit it to these phones either, If there's another phone you might think is better I'd like to know as well.

[Edit]
Price isn't really an issue, but I'd like to spend less than $400.

[HSaabedra]

I'd go for the Shadow over either of these. It's a slider variant of the Dash and costs the same. It's also the first to support T-Mobile's forthcoming high-speed data network.

Shadow Product Page (http://t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?tp=tb2&device=939ad8e2-fca1-4167-83f8-49cd2dad0d39)

[IsaacBrock]

I have a new sidekick and I enjoy it.

[Nakey]

Sidekick Slide sucks at surfing this webpage...

I'm using the 6120C atm, and it's not bad

[ryushe]

I'd go for the Shadow over either of these. It's a slider variant of the Dash and costs the same. It's also the first to support T-Mobile's forthcoming high-speed data network.

Shadow Product Page (http://t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?tp=tb2&device=939ad8e2-fca1-4167-83f8-49cd2dad0d39)
I was actually looking forward to your response Axl. I was even looking at the Shadow when I was in my local T-mobile store. I like it, the interface looks clean and I'm not a big fan of sliders, but this one seems kinda cool. any other features that makes this phone a seller in your opinion?

I have a question however. Are there any noticeable flaws with each of the units I've listed? and is it true the Curve doesn't have any video recording option?

[HSaabedra]

I was actually looking forward to your response Axl. I was even looking at the Shadow when I was in my local T-mobile store. I like it, the interface looks clean and I'm not a big fan of sliders, but this one seems kinda cool. any other features that makes this phone a seller in your opinion?

I have a question however. Are there any noticeable flaws with each of the units I've listed? and is it true the Curve doesn't have any video recording option?

The Shadow is meant to be an all-in one media player with Windows Media Player, stereo Bluetooth, microSD memory cards are cheap and storage is plentiful on them. The display is huge and bright, and they're genrally above average as PDAs go.

I would never recommend a BlackBerry to anyone unless they needed to email constantly. Even with the new unlimited email plan, most people don't use it enough for it to be worth the additional cost. The Curve does lack a video recording option, and I've yet to see anyone use the built-in VoIP software to make it worth the additional premium that it has.

The Dash is nice but lacks many key features that the Shadow has.

[ryushe]

Thanks. The no video recording option is really getting to me. I just don't see why I'm paying that much for a phone and can't get a common feature even older models have. Oh well, guess thats out the picture. I actually was using a friends DASH a while ago and I've got to say, It seems a bit sluggish navigating the menu. I don't know if it was just my friends phone or are all DASH's like that?

Another question I have is, I was wondering about overseas phones. Whats the deals with those? is it possible for me to get my hands on any? (For a decent price of course).

[HSaabedra]

Thanks. The no video recording option is really getting to me. I just don't see why I'm paying that much for a phone and can't get a common feature even older models have. Oh well, guess thats out the picture. I actually was using a friends DASH a while ago and I've got to say, It seems a bit sluggish navigating the menu. I don't know if it was just my friends phone or are all DASH's like that?

Another question I have is, I was wondering about overseas phones. Whats the deals with those? is it possible for me to get my hands on any? (For a decent price of course).

The Dash suffers from chronic sluggishness due to its slow processor and low memory.

T-Mobile specs out their smartphones for battery life and it shows in the complaints from users. The Shadow has a similar issue that's caused by its custom user interface but it can be turned off.

In regards to international phones, the only requirement is that it support the GSM 1900 band, although T-Mobile also supports the 850 band for in country roaming service. The only thing you need to worry about when choosing an unlocked phone is support for GSM 1900 and it'll work fine, but you have to manually set up data and MMS services and the lack of the 850 band cuts your total coverage in half.

I would not buy an unlocked phone unless you want features you normally don't find here, such as higher quality cameras, which are realistically not worth the premium and other types of smart devices which can be a pain.

[Nakey]

Overseas phones as in phones from T-mobile that work fine overseas, or phones from overseas that work fine with T-mobile?

[Fobb]

The Sidekick LX looks pretty slick.

[HSaabedra]

Overseas phones as in phones from T-mobile that work fine overseas, or phones from overseas that work fine with T-mobile?

Phones from overseas that work with T-Mobile USA. It's much easier as the majority of international models support GSM 1900, but W-CDMA 1700 (T-Mobile USA's 3G band) will be non-existent. On the other side of the coin, more and more phones are starting to support W-CDMA 850 and 1900 for Australian and North American 3G access. *drools over i-mate Ultimate 9520 with sliding VGA display and HSUPA access*

[ryushe]

Well I decided to get the T-Mobile Shadow after some research and advice (Thanks Axl X) and I must say I'm loving the phone. What I like about it is it's like a cross between a smart phone and a normal cell phone IMO. If I was to get a phone such as the CURVE, Honestly I wouldn't know what to do with all the functions it comes with but this just seems perfect....and it's purty :P The QWERTY keypad did take some getting used to, but I seem to have it semi-down packed (Thank you xt9).

(I'm actually viewing this page and writing this messages on the phone right now:D )