A mobile phone gift to dad

devarshi84 · 29th September 2006, 10:11

Hi,

I am considering gifting a mobile phone to my dad.

High on style and status is what I am looking for. He prefers a simple candybar phone with good batterylife and lightweight which is better if it is a phone only. Hence he has been using a sonyericsson t630 for a looooooong time.

I have the following in Mind. metal phones being the in thing on style today.

1. Nokia 8801 black/ sirocco is more on brand image in India.

2. benq-siemens EF81 is high on features

Costs

1. Nokia 8800 series would be

sirocco- $900 (Slightly out of budget but dont mind)
8800 - $557
8801- $329

2. Benq-siemens Ef81 would be $500

Any more suggestions are welcome. I have started a separate thread bcoz I need some serious opinions on this one. But If mods feel, they can merge the thread.

karthik247 · 29th September 2006, 10:17

Nokia 8800 is definately exclusive, but don't think its worth the money cuz i 'think' u don't get a MMC for it which means u hardly get enough storage space for anything. If ur dad just uses it to make calls, then its a very cool phone.

BTW, how much does it cost these days? When it was lauched it was insanely priced na?

devarshi84 · 29th September 2006, 10:22

I get it here from my own store pretty cheap. I have mentioned the MRP's though.
And here are the reviews from www.gsmarena.com

http://www.gsmarena.com/benq_siemens_ef81-review-85.php

http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_8800-review-48.php

I am not mentioning www.mobile-review.com because they are pro Samsung and Sonyericsson.

any other phone suggestions are welcome too.

devarshi84 · 29th September 2006, 10:56

Also Added to the list in contrast to nokia 8800 black is benq-siemens E71 in Black. comes with a QVGA Display and metallic black Body and keypad. the Best part is itt weighs only 80grams.

Costs me $300

khanak · 29th September 2006, 11:34

If you can afford the sirocco get it. whats yor dad like? most people that age dont really use all the features. I guess the sirocco is a good balance between features and exclusivity. the sirocco looks wicked. especially in black. uhhm whats the difference between 8800 nd 8801 ?

devarshi84 · 29th September 2006, 18:53

he usually likes simple, lightweight phones with good batterylife. features dont matter.

supremeBaleno · 29th September 2006, 19:02

The best gift is the one bought after understanding the recipient's needs.

You could gift him a 900$ phone, but if it does not match his needs/likes, it does not make a good fit. Also the extra dough you forked out for the features that he will never use, is actually money down the drain.

Vid6639 · 29th September 2006, 19:04

if you are looking for a simple phone try the nokia 6233 its got good features and has good battery life. isnt very expensive either.

you can also try the nokia business phones E50 and E60 they offer amazing battery life and are true business phones rather than style phones.

i personally dont like the symbian OS as it works more like a pda than a phone. i like the simple nokia series S40 OS. ive had a nokia 6230i and its just great. im planning on giving that to my dad and getting the 6233 for myself.

devarshi84 · 29th September 2006, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

The best gift is the one bought after understanding the recipient's needs.

I have mentioned his needs in the first post itself. And any suggestion from you is welcome too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

if you are looking for a simple phone try the nokia 6233 its got good features and has good battery life. isnt very expensive either.

you can also try the nokia business phones E50 and E60 they offer amazing battery life and are true business phones rather than style phones.

i personally dont like the symbian OS as it works more like a pda than a phone. i like the simple nokia series S40 OS. ive had a nokia 6230i and its just great. im planning on giving that to my dad and getting the 6233 for myself.

I dont like 6233 much and business phone isnt really gonna be used that way. No symbian either. All he does is take and receive calls and maybe send 4-5 sms per month.

The only requirement is a stylish phone with Good batterylife. Style is what I want in his phone and battery life is what he wants from his phone.

supremeBaleno · 29th September 2006, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by devarshi84

I have mentioned his needs in the first post itself. And any suggestion from you is welcome too.

You sure did that. But from your posts, I got the feeling that you were planning to buy something exactly the opposite (complex, feature rich phone). Hence that line.

Just get him a simple, lightweight phone with proven long battery life. The dough you save could be used to buy him some other thing that would be useful for him.

mohit · 29th September 2006, 22:21

Well your choice is a little easier now-
BENQ Siemens just filed for bankruptcy

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...440049,00.html

devarshi84 · 29th September 2006, 23:10

Its not the company but the German manufacturing unit. It was benq's way of getting the siemens brand name and market share and also fire the German HIghly paid workforce.

The company is still up and running good.

@SUPREMENBALENO: accepted your suggestion. What would you recommend instead?

Sahil · 1st October 2006, 13:27

Does the 8801 work on all India networks? I belive Hutch (mumbai) runs on 900mhz...where as the 8801 is 850/1800/1900. The 8800 is 900/1800/1900.

I love the Sirocco but i dont think its worth so much more than the 8800.....do you think its possible to put the Sirocco battery into the regular 8800 to get more batt life?

speedzak · 1st October 2006, 18:07

I'll vote for a Nokia anytime. These days, Nokia is making some big goofups with N series etc.. Still, the 6233 etc.. can only be made by Nokia.

View Poll Results: Which phone for style?
NOkia 8800 black or sirocco	13	81.25%
Benq-siemens EF81	3	18.75%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

29th September 2006, 10:11	#1
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	A mobile phone gift to dad Hi, I am considering gifting a mobile phone to my dad. High on style and status is what I am looking for. He prefers a simple candybar phone with good batterylife and lightweight which is better if it is a phone only. Hence he has been using a sonyericsson t630 for a looooooong time. I have the following in Mind. metal phones being the in thing on style today. 1. Nokia 8801 black/ sirocco is more on brand image in India. 2. benq-siemens EF81 is high on features Costs 1. Nokia 8800 series would be sirocco- $900 (Slightly out of budget but dont mind) 8800 - $557 8801- $329 2. Benq-siemens Ef81 would be $500 Any more suggestions are welcome. I have started a separate thread bcoz I need some serious opinions on this one. But If mods feel, they can merge the thread. Last edited by devarshi84 : 29th September 2006 at 10:20.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 10:17	#2
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	Nokia 8800 is definately exclusive, but don't think its worth the money cuz i 'think' u don't get a MMC for it which means u hardly get enough storage space for anything. If ur dad just uses it to make calls, then its a very cool phone. BTW, how much does it cost these days? When it was lauched it was insanely priced na?
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 10:22	#3
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	I get it here from my own store pretty cheap. I have mentioned the MRP's though. And here are the reviews from www.gsmarena.com http://www.gsmarena.com/benq_siemens_ef81-review-85.php http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_8800-review-48.php I am not mentioning www.mobile-review.com because they are pro Samsung and Sonyericsson. any other phone suggestions are welcome too. Last edited by devarshi84 : 29th September 2006 at 10:25.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 10:56	#4
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	Also Added to the list in contrast to nokia 8800 black is benq-siemens E71 in Black. comes with a QVGA Display and metallic black Body and keypad. the Best part is itt weighs only 80grams. Costs me $300 Last edited by devarshi84 : 29th September 2006 at 10:59.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 11:34	#5
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,799 Thanked: 268 Times View My Garage	If you can afford the sirocco get it. whats yor dad like? most people that age dont really use all the features. I guess the sirocco is a good balance between features and exclusivity. the sirocco looks wicked. especially in black. uhhm whats the difference between 8800 nd 8801 ? Last edited by khanak : 29th September 2006 at 11:35.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 18:53	#6
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	he usually likes simple, lightweight phones with good batterylife. features dont matter. Last edited by devarshi84 : 29th September 2006 at 18:55.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 19:02	#7
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,546 Thanked: 2,699 Times View My Garage	The best gift is the one bought after understanding the recipient's needs. You could gift him a 900$ phone, but if it does not match his needs/likes, it does not make a good fit. Also the extra dough you forked out for the features that he will never use, is actually money down the drain.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 19:04	#8
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,730 Thanked: 43,483 Times View My Garage	if you are looking for a simple phone try the nokia 6233 its got good features and has good battery life. isnt very expensive either. you can also try the nokia business phones E50 and E60 they offer amazing battery life and are true business phones rather than style phones. i personally dont like the symbian OS as it works more like a pda than a phone. i like the simple nokia series S40 OS. ive had a nokia 6230i and its just great. im planning on giving that to my dad and getting the 6233 for myself.
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 22:21	#11
mohit BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto / Kurukshetra Posts: 677 Thanked: 168 Times	Well your choice is a little easier now- BENQ Siemens just filed for bankruptcy http://www.spiegel.de/international/...440049,00.html
	() Thanks

29th September 2006, 23:10	#12
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	Its not the company but the German manufacturing unit. It was benq's way of getting the siemens brand name and market share and also fire the German HIghly paid workforce. The company is still up and running good. @SUPREMENBALENO: accepted your suggestion. What would you recommend instead?
	() Thanks

1st October 2006, 13:27	#13
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,607 Times	Does the 8801 work on all India networks? I belive Hutch (mumbai) runs on 900mhz...where as the 8801 is 850/1800/1900. The 8800 is 900/1800/1900. I love the Sirocco but i dont think its worth so much more than the 8800.....do you think its possible to put the Sirocco battery into the regular 8800 to get more batt life?
	() Thanks

1st October 2006, 18:07	#14
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	I'll vote for a Nokia anytime. These days, Nokia is making some big goofups with N series etc.. Still, the 6233 etc.. can only be made by Nokia.
	() Thanks