I was thinking of re-contracting my plan with Starhub since it was expiring. Furthermore, Starhub gave me a voucher for any handset purchase if I sign-up with them again. I was intending to get a smartphone, for many reasons, but just couldn’t find a relatively inexpensive and a stable one. However, I had my eyes on Samsung i780 and was prepared to get it when I re-contract.
At that point of time, it didn’t occur to me to get the HTC Touch Diamond because it was retailing at S$1098 without plan (thus, I estimated it to be around $700+ with a 2-year plan). However, I was in a shock when I saw that the HTC Touch Diamond was selling at a much cheaper price with a Singnet plan. Thus, I hurried down to the PC Show yesterday eveining, hoping that Starhub would give me a similar good deal! I didn’t see any HTC Touch Diamond in their brochures but I managed to somehow spot its display behind the throngs of visitors at the PC Show.
It was a tough decision. I wanted to get the Samsung i780 because it was the most decent looking QWERTY smartphone and one of the most stable ones too. It had many good reviews and its “real-world” performance was almost flawless. In other words, the Samsung i780 is a stable phone worth buying!
The HTC Touch Diamond on the other hand is sleek! Its applications, interface and functions matches the Samsung i780 but its GUI is several notches higher. However, there aren’t many “real-world” performance reviews on it. I was worried of the issues it would bring. Thus, I hesitated (especially with the added cost of getting the Touch Diamond) for the longest time ever.
After considering the HTC Touch Diamond’s looks, looks and looks, I decided to get it (I’m shallow, wth). Well, it wasn’t just the looks. It had all the functions and softwares of the i780 pre-installed (minus the GPS Maps). Thus, I paid a hundred dollars more for the Touch Diamond!
The Touch Diamond is uber sweet. The only qualm I have now is that it’s GUI is kinda slow. It has this split-second lag which is quite noticeable. Well, I’m just hoping that after long hours of usage (installations of programs, SMSes, etc), the phone would not loose it’s speed (oh well, if you’d use Windows for the longest time, you’d understand why).
Test now and photos later! Wooot!
5 responses so far ↓
1 gene // Jun 14, 2008 at 1:48 am
Save me !!! Hows the diamond ??? i also have the same conideration as u … haha … was considering i780 then diamond came out … now i really don knw which phone shld i get … diamond looks nice but i don knw if its good to use and all .. =) Also currenly i have starhib voucher as well
2 firdooze // Jun 14, 2008 at 2:35 am
Haha.. So I wasn’t the only one in this dilemma of choosing between the i780 vs the touch diamond.
i did try the i780 JUST before i bought the touch diamond. it’s stable, very stable. it’s quite sleek. but if you compare side by side with a diamond, the i780 just looks dull. haha..
i just wrote a short review on my touch diamond experience. shall post it tmr when i’m done editing. do visit again!
Cheers!
3 firdooze // Jun 14, 2008 at 2:36 am
anyway the starhub voucher does not last very long. mine was going to expire 3 weeks after I got it. gaaah!
4 motd // Jun 14, 2008 at 10:27 am
Reviews Reviews!
How much is Starhub selling at the diamond at the show anyway?
You guys are so lucky. I have never receive any vouchers from Starhub before.
5 Stinkray // Jun 19, 2008 at 2:40 am
Don’t worry about the voucher expiry. I’ve checked with Starhub, their feedback is they would renew your voucher if expire.
Anyway I’m also considering bout the Diamond which I’d made reservation, however the Omnia is also tempting, processor is faster then the Diamond with an advantage of external mem card. I’m all ear for comment on Omnia.
Cheers
Leave a Comment