Upgrading from the Dash - Ideal phone?

[darkfinger]

I've had my Dash for close to 2 years now and I really like it. I'm using Ricky's ROMset and found that a huge improvement.

Despite this, I feel the need to upgrade to get 3G data speed and be able to use my phone in Japan when I visit. It feels weird to be using old hardware but I've tried a bunch of new phones and always come back to the Dash. In order:

S710/Vox - didn't like the keyboard and the "cursor" was on the wrong side for me
Touch Dual - no WiFi and no full keyboard
Pantech Duo - nice enough, but no wifi and I didn't like the keyboard feel.
Nokia E71 - it surprised me after thinking WinMo was a difficult experience to go to this new Nokia phone and find the s/w to be a complete disaster! Great h/w design though - just about perfect.
Palm Pro - nice enough but I was surprised to find that WinMo Professional was a pain - much harder to use than Standard
HP iPaq 910 - just pathetic - terrible keyboard, lots of bugs, and WinMo Professional
Samsung Omnia - a disaster - terrible UI buggy hardware

I've also tried the iPhone - which is great - but I really want to stick to a device with a keyboard.

So, all of this leads me to ask about what device can possibly be an upgrade from my beloved Dash. What better place to ask but on this Forum of Excalibur lovers?

So, here's my ideal phone:

Must have:
1. Full keyboard like the Dash - no sliders
2. Quad band GSM
3. Tri-band UMTS
4. WiFi
5. Windows Mobile Standard - or at the very least a high focus on usability with one hand without resorting to the ridiculous stylus.
6. Charging and connection to PC via mini-USB, no special cables
7. GPS
8. Good camera 3M or greater
9. Display that works in bright sunlight
Nice to have
10. Scrolling dial on the side like Blackberry
11. Big battery
12. Led for camera
13. Video cam on front
14. Wifi on/off button

Does such a phone exist? I doubt it! To many companies chasing iPhone UI and doing a terrible job of it, and forgetting the basics.

Interested in your thoughts on this. BTW, I don't want to go Blackberry because key apps are not available for them.

Thanks,
D

[mjpuczko]

what about the g1? has a few of your required features.

[Billyvnilly]

possibly blackjack III (AT&T though) should be rumored to be coming out soon.

Sadly, you're asking for too robust of a machine. maybe one of the blackberrys has all that but i dont follow them.

[chefgon]

Palm Treo Pro? I'm not greatly familiar with its specs but it looks pretty solid, might be worth checking out.

[jdoggraz]

I do not recommend the G1, I prefer the dash over the G1 because its sorta boring now the G1... However, I really like the 3G feature on the G1...

[mjpuczko]

I do not recommend the G1, I prefer the dash over the G1 because its sorta boring now the G1... However, I really like the 3G feature on the G1...

i've only read/heard reviews. not actually had one in my hand. i think the potential is amazing. i'll most likely be in the market for a phone in september, hopefully there's a new version by then.

[wreiad]

Samsung Epix?

[darkfinger]

Thanks for all the replies.

Samsung Blackjack III is a WinMo Professional phone, which in my opinion is an inferior OS from the usability standpoint.

I tried the Palm Treo Pro and returned it. Nice device but WinMo professional. It had almost everything I wanted though.

G1 is a big keyboard slider and there are likely much better Android phones coming along.

Haven't heard of the Samsung Epix...will check it out (Edit: Ok, looks like this is just the Blackjack III).

I am leaning towards checking out the old HTC Cavalier too. While I ignored it because of bad review before, it turns out there is a WinMo 6.1 cooked ROM available. This will give me a Dash experience, but with tri-band 3G and a faster processor.

[jdoggraz]

Thanks for all the replies.

Samsung Blackjack III is a WinMo Professional phone, which in my opinion is an inferior OS from the usability standpoint.

I tried the Palm Treo Pro and returned it. Nice device but WinMo professional. It had almost everything I wanted though.

G1 is a big keyboard slider and there are likely much better Android phones coming along.

Haven't heard of the Samsung Epix...will check it out (Edit: Ok, looks like this is just the Blackjack III).

I am leaning towards checking out the old HTC Cavalier too. While I ignored it because of bad review before, it turns out there is a WinMo 6.1 cooked ROM available. This will give me a Dash experience, but with tri-band 3G and a faster processor.

The BlackJack 3 looks like a really sick phone, I would love to get that...

[mrnagrom]

i moved on to the iphone.. it's the best phone upgrade i've ever made.

[ehsan371]

the htc tyten2

[kr33mo]

I am waiting until Feb-March for the Android phones coming out. The G2 should be coming out around that time. It will be the HTC Touch HD w/Android. Should be sweet. IF you have a little more patience, wait for the nuvifone or nuvifone w/android :).

[pr0cl1v1ty]

I am waiting until Feb-March for the Android phones coming out. The G2 should be coming out around that time. It will be the HTC Touch HD w/Android. Should be sweet. IF you have a little more patience, wait for the nuvifone or nuvifone w/android :).

lol the g2 bro? no......

u think there actually going to come out with a g2 less then a year after the g1? there not even done updating the bugs....

I THINK you should get the HTC Fuze A.K.A. touch pro

att phone but unlockable *like mine* for tmobile

[orb3000]

Universal!!

Even is not new but can beat more of the newest devices

[MountainDrew]

Doesn't cover every one of your requirements, but the HTC S740 comes close.

http://www.htc.com/www/product/s740/overview.html

[roloracer]

Comments and rumors about a g2 already in the works a floating all over the web, the're also saying that they will be getting rid of the slide full querty key board but this was the only thing that I found with pics of an actual device called the dream/g2 phone, if it's true or not , that's up to time to say, cause eventually we'll see if an official announcement is made.

check it out. http://www.wikio.com/article/85876255

[showaco]

Comments and rumors about a g2 already in the works a floating all over the web, the're also saying that they will be getting rid of the slide full querty key board but this was the only thing that I found with pics of an actual device called the dream/g2 phone, if it's true or not , that's up to time to say, cause eventually we'll see if an official announcement is made.

check it out. http://www.wikio.com/article/85876255
lol, I don't think that will be the official g2. Looks like a chinese rip-off with android. And its absolutely nothing like the touch hd, like mentioned earlier. Nice find though:)