Rugged Android

[Spinal]

I've started looking at christmas presents and am thinking of buying my other half a new phone given that hers is... well... let's just say it doesn't even have T9...

Issue is, she is very much the outdoorsy type, and works as a geologist... so the standard galaxy/iphone just wont cut it. (her phone currently lives in a bag with the quickdraws when she's out... so you can immagine what it needs to put up with).

Any suggestions on a rugged iphone? I've looked at the son xperia go (cr*p resolution) and the motorola defy... but most of the phones I find onlne are only in the US or China...

Any suggestions or experience with these?

M.

 

[Truffs]

Whichever of the new style touch screen phones you get, will not be that sturdy.

I suggest the I phone and one of these Armored cases for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch | Griffin Technology

 

[Spinal]

Whichever of the new style touch screen phones you get, will not be that sturdy.

I suggest the I phone and one of these Armored cases for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch | Griffin Technology

I did look at cases - but they aren't really that sturdy tbh... not compared to rugged phones...

The case you linked to is 6ft drop & splashproof... rugged phones do 10ft drops, 1 ton crush proof, waterproof to 1m for 30 minutes (in some cases 10m).

Also, rugged cases look big/bulky and take up space... compare that to this:
[youtube]XbgYj__Ucjs[/youtube]

(that's the defy... I'm leaning towards the lenovo a660 - which has even higher ratings... but isn't out in the UK yet...)

Does anyone have a defy? Interested in knowing what it feels like day-to-day...

M

 

[bernie driscoll]

The case you linked to is 6ft drop & splashproof... rugged phones do 10ft drops, 1 ton crush proof, waterproof to 1m for 30 minutes (in some cases 10m).

But is your girlfriend going to survive 10ft drops, being crushed by 1 ton or being underwater for 1m for 30 minutes?

In which case she won't be bothered about her phone?

Buy her something she actually wants, not some gadget you fancy.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Whichever one you decide on, DO NOT BUY FROM CHINA, I've heard and seen several reports of faulty goods being supplied and it's virtually impossible to return electronic goods to China because of their strict import policies even on returned goods.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

JCB Pro Smart should do the trick.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Duplicate post!

 

[Spinal]

But is your girlfriend going to survive 10ft drops, being crushed by 1 ton or being underwater for 1m for 30 minutes?

In which case she won't be bothered about her phone?

Buy her something she actually wants, not some gadget you fancy.

No - but her bag gets thrown around all the time. It's not uncommon for her to toss her phone to (at? ) me when she realises she has it in her pocket (halfway up a wall).

I know if I get a "normal" phone it'll die within a week. I went for android as I want to install whatsapp on her phone so we can send images/video/audio for free on wifi... I don't know of any blackberry or ios rugged phones; hence android.

Next - and this may sound harsh (but it is 6 in the morning and I am grumpy) - do you really think you know what she wants better than I do from a short post?

Anyhow - I had a look at the JCB, SPX - do you have one or have you tried one? What's the camera like, and how does it feel to use?

M.

 

[Ian_Mac]

You can install whatsapp on Blackberry if that helps in your decision.

I've an iPhone and know of at least 2 people on my whatsapp list who use Blackberry without any issue.

 

[Piff]

I liiked at the Defy here
Went to the high street to see one in the flesh & couldn't find a single one in any of the phone shops. That put me off - if they are scarce in the shops, replacement/repair may be difficult.
Ended up with a Nokia Lumina 800 - gorrilla glass & rubbery case as standard

 

[Spinal]

Thanks Piff - I'm leaning heavily towards the defy at the moment. If the lenovo A660 were out, I probably would get that... but they don't have an ETA for the UK - so I'm in two minds...

May just wait a month or so, hoping that the lenovo comes out before Christmas... If not, I'll get the defy... it shouldn't take too long to order a phone... right...

M.

 

[Spinal]

Quick closure to the thread (sort of) ended up getting the Lenovo A660 from China.

After a late night (and some time today) flashing it to get an English ROM onto it - it looks quite good (though I haven't dunked it into some water yet)

I'll let you know how it's received after the 25th

M.