Clone or Legitimate - Forums at CNET UK

Snoops27
[Abacus]
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 3

20 October 2009, 04:29 pm

Hi, I'm an old, 56yr old disabled techno-wazz so need some advice from you younger folks. My wife is buying me a new phone from Santa and I'd like to know what your thought are. Choice seems to be between Samsung Tocco lite -- LG KS360 -- LG Cookie -- LG GW300 -- Sony Ericsson T715 -- Nokia 6303. The reason for choosing these is that they use the Tesco network, which all my family use + if I top up £20 I get £60 credit. The other possibility is for me to get an imported "clone". I've seen a G2 Google Android clone , quad band , 4mp camera with bluetooth, EDGE, and loads of google apps for £90 and an iphone clone, called the Sciphone i68 or i9+++ dual sim,quad band etc. etc. for £70 on this site --- http://www.digizo.co.uk/Mobile-Phones.6014056/Mobile-Phones.6014057/ .If I go for the cloned ones will I be able to download apps and where from. I have all sorts of questions I could ask but I guess I'm really asking if you would take a chance on a clone or stick to "proper" uk stuff. Thanks in advance to anyone who can make sense of this innane drivel.

weetanhops
[Moderator]
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 1,719

21 October 2009, 01:50 am

You'll probably be able to get Java apps on them, which pretty much any phone can get. You won't be able to get iPhone apps and it'll perform and look nowhere near an iPod if you ever decided to get one. Simply put clone phones are really awful, you'd be better off spending around £130 on a Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, it's probably the cheapest touchscreen smartphone going at the moment.

Snoops27
[Abacus]
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 3

21 October 2009, 02:29 pm

Thanks matey -- I've had a good look at the Nokia and it seems like it's got most of the functions I would want . The only other one I came across was the LG KF750 Secret which is a wee bit dearer at £150, but seems ok too. Any chance you could have a look at it and help me decide?? Thanks in advance. Snoops27

weetanhops
[Moderator]
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 1,719

21 October 2009, 03:29 pm

Entirely depends on what you'd like. Would you be happy using a resistive touchscreen? What was your previous handset?

Snoops27
[Abacus]
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 3

21 October 2009, 03:52 pm

Sony Ericsson W810i -- What's resistive - I take it it is not going to resist my efforts to press the damned thing. LOL

Wints
[Abacus]
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 1

21 October 2009, 08:59 pm

A Resistive Touchscreen is a normal touch screen but a use must apply a certain amount of force onto it making it bend ever so slightly backwards. (example, LG cookie)

The alternative is the capacitive touchscreen which is classified as the preferable to many people as it is totally solid and no bending at all. (example, Apple iPod touch, iPhone)

Resistive touch screens are fine as i have the LG cookie (same price range as your looking in) and an ipod touch(capacitive)), they sometimes come with a stylus which allows you to put less of a force and a smaller area which i think is more responsive.

Jason Jenkins
[Administrator]
Joined: 24 Jul 2007
Posts: 173

22 October 2009, 10:49 am

You'd be mad to buy a cloned phone, especially as branded phones have fallen in price over the last few years and there's bound to be something in your price range. Have a look at our mobile phone reviews or search the site to see what we think of each of your options.

Flora Graham
[Administrator]
Joined: 2 Mar 2009
Posts: 50

23 October 2009, 05:06 pm

I agree with Jason, stay away from the clones -- you really never know what you're going to get, and there's no support if things fall apart.

I'm not aware of the details of your disability, of course, but I would recommend you stay away from resistive touchscreens if you have trouble tapping small icons with a fingernail -- unless you don't mind using a stylus for detailed tasks like texting.

Resistive screens tend to be chosen by manufacturers for cheaper phones, while pricier phones get capacitive screens, so that may suggest how fun each type is to use.

That being said, of the phones you mentions, the Samsung Tocco Lite has one of the most responsive resistive touchscreens we've used.

In fact, if you're looking for an easy-to-use phone, you may want to avoid touchscreens altogether. A standard keypad with a navigation button can be a more accurate, straightforward way to use a phone. The Nokia 6303 is a great-looking, inexpensive phone with good-sized buttons.