Expert: DebiN - 11/4/2010

Question
Hello!!!!!

I am planning to replace my motorola razr (which is broken)and update to a new phone. I have a 3 year plan with rogers(canada), but i only have it 2 years,but i have permission to update it due to its breaking.

I have probably spent the last week looking at rogers phone selection. Unfortunately, i can't break my contract due to the high cancellation fees so therefore i am stuck with rogers. I am debating over a few phones:

The sony ericsson xperia x10:

http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperiax10?cc=ca&l...

The acer liquid E:

http://www.rogers.com/web/link/wirelessBuyFlow?forwardTo=PhoneThenPlan&productTy...

the acer neotouch:

http://mobile.acer.com/en/phones/neotouch/

Pleae remember that I will have this phone for the next 3 years, so it must be a sturdy, high quality phone. I need a phone with fast internet, alot of space for videos, music and pictures, a camera that can also record videos over 5.0 megapixels, and comfotable to texting. I also has to be a touch screen. If you reccomend anything, please let me know. I am in a huge dilemma because all the phones have pros and cons (ex: acer is made completely out of plastic and made from acer, a company that is completely new to phones,and it doesnt look like it will last for 3 years)
(ex:xperia x10 only has androoid 1.6, but it will be updated by 2011. It has a good 8.1 mp camera, but without flash and also lacks multitouch)

One more question: What is the difference between android 1.6 and 2.1, and what is multitouch? is it when you pinch the screen to zoom in and out?

Thanks so much for all your help. I really appreciate it!!!!


Answer
Android 2.1 is a later release of Android and whenever possible, I would go with the latest release. I personally would not even consider an Acer for the reasons you stated actually, they are brand new to phones. They make computers today, which is good, but that's very different than making and supporting phones. An 8.1 mp camera is fabulous but if the main purpose is a phone and accessing the internet, that shouldn't be as important. Three years is a long time to have a phone. Do you have to have a new 3 year agreement? I'd go with 2 if you can.

Between the phones you mentioned, the Sony is your better choice. All of these should be upgradeable to the latest Android release whenever it's available, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. And a flash on the camera is better than not. It makes a world of difference in picture taking if that is important. All Android phones will give you what you want regarding the other things you mentioned. Speed is based on the network and you are already familiar with Rogers.

I hope this helps.