There's a few nice-looking budget phones coming out this year

[mattm19]

I don't know which one to go for.

The ZTE Skate, Samsung Galaxy Mini, HTC Wildfire S are the ones I'm most interested in.

Which would you go for and why?

 

[Guamguy]

You don't like the Cha Cha and the Salsa?

 

[mattm19]

You don't like the Cha Cha and the Salsa?

The Salsa looks really good but I loathe Facebook and since it's so deeply integrated into the phone, I don't think I would be able to remove it. Plus the big Facebook button makes it look a bit cheap. If HTC released a non-Facebook version I would probably want it.

 

[Usta]

The Salsa looks really good but I loathe Facebook and since it's so deeply integrated into the phone, I don't think I would be able to remove it. Plus the big Facebook button makes it look a bit cheap. If HTC released a non-Facebook version I would probably want it.

I agree!
It's like a carrier branded phone from the beginning. I hate it.

HTC Wildfire S looks quite good on the other hand, with the improved screen resolution. Hopefully the price is also right.

 

[Guamguy]

The Salsa looks really good but I loathe Facebook and since it's so deeply integrated into the phone, I don't think I would be able to remove it. Plus the big Facebook button makes it look a bit cheap. If HTC released a non-Facebook version I would probably want it.

It looks to me the so called "Facebook Integration" is nothing more than a button shortcut to launch Friend Stream. I don't even think it would launch the official Facebook for Android app, which I believe many would prefer over the UI Facebook integration. I don't see any more "specials" in these phones vs. you standard HTC Sense phone. I believe it can be used without Facebook/Friendstream. Simply by not entering your Facebook login to Friend Stream and keeping it deactivated. You can delete Friend Stream widget off your home screen. You get a standard HTC Sense phone. You just have to live with that button being there and unused, and I don't think that's hard.

 

[mattm19]

It looks to me the so called "Facebook Integration" is nothing more than a button shortcut to launch Friend Stream. I don't even think it would launch the official Facebook for Android app, which I believe many would prefer over the UI Facebook integration. I don't see any more "specials" in these phones vs. you standard HTC Sense phone. I believe it can be used without Facebook/Friendstream. Simply by not entering your Facebook login to Friend Stream and keeping it deactivated. You can delete Friend Stream widget off your home screen. You get a standard HTC Sense phone. You just have to live with that button being there and unused, and I don't think that's hard.

I'm creeped out by anything to do with Facebook. I guess I could stick something over the Facebook button but that would look a bit untidy.