Looking for a new Android device

[dgriffiths]

Hi everyone.

I'm looking to buy a new phone for my girlfriend and I've been able to show her how awesome Android is (I have a HTC Magic). So she wants an Android device, but she also wants a real keyboard (she's over touch screen keyboards).

I've only found two somewhat recent releases that fit this category, the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro and the Motorola Milestone. We've had a look at demo model of the Milestone, and a working copy of the X10 Mini Pro.

The Milestone is very nice, but maybe too masculine, and being for a girl you know the phone has to feel right too. ;P

I gotta tell ya, I don't like what Sony Ericsson has done to the Android OS on the X10 Mini Pro. It seems to have far less customisableness. Something my girlfriend loves about my Android device is the fact it's so customisable.

Rooting the device isn't something my girlfriend will be keen to do either.

Oh and also, we live in Australia, so the phone needs to be usable here (GMS).

So can anyone suggestion any other options?

 

[ianr]

The HTC Blaze is coming soon-ish, it appears to be more or less an HTC Desire with a hardware slide-out keyboard for use in landscape mode. I'm not sure if I'll like a keyboard but the only way to really find out is to get one and use it daily for a few months so given I tend to replace my phone every 6-8 months I'm going to have a crack. I'm not too keen on the droid's look and size either, the Blaze looks a bit less agricultural from what I've seen so far.

 

[dgriffiths]

Thanks for the advice! I'm trying get her to go with the Motorola Milestone, but failing that we might just wait and I'll get her the phone for xmas when there will be more choices. And maybe that HTC Blaze will be out by then, if we're lucky.

 

[HustlinDaily]

Blaze is also known as the G2 which will be hitting the States with T-Mobile USA 3G bands (rumored for September 29th).

Whether or not they will release a version which works with Aussie 3G, I do not know (I know the Vibrant on T-Mobile has the 1900MHz band and works with AT&T 3G, meaning it would work with Telstra 3G. Don't know if this phone will follow that same model).

I personally think it looks pretty cool:

It is also rumored to have a vanilla version of Android 2.2 FroYo with some Sense widgets. As well as an upgraded version of the Snapdragon processor built for better 3D/graphic capabilities.

 

[dgriffiths]

I agree, it looks killer! Thanks for the pics!