@ starkers

Yes the Lumia 820 is also a formidable device.  I have to say I do like the fact that having a removable backplate unlike the 920 it is in fact able to take advantage of expandable (via removable) storage.

I agree it does seem strange that people would be telling you the processors are different when it really is everything but the processor that are different. 

The screen on the 920 is a 1280x768 IPS LCD while on the 820 it is an 800x480 AMOLED display (althought both phones have "clear-black" technology, AMOLED displays tend to display deeper blacks while IPS displays tend to be somewhat crisper in terms of text so personal preference plays a role here).

The camera is also different with a .2 fstop difference between the two (also the 'floating lens' tech in the 920 allows for even better night-time pics) but then that never mattered to me personally as I'm not young enough to be taking night-time pics anymore anyway.....hehe.

I believe you can purchase a back/shell for the 820's that also enables wireless charging just like in the 920, but I have no idea where to purchase same or for how much.

I completely agree starkers, the 820 is just as much phone as the 920, just in some slightly different ways.......most of which are just up to personal preference anyway.  To be completely honest I think I probably would have gone with the 820 over the 920 if my carrier would have carried it.  As it is, my carrier only has the Lumia 920, HTC 8x or the Samsung Ativ S (which seems like just a Galaxy S3 in windows-mode) as windows phone options, and between those 3 even the exclusive Nokia apps are enough to tip the scales the 920's way.

Glad to hear you're a happy new windows phone user!      If you haven't yet......give that PhotoBeamer app (free from Nokia) a go.  You'll love it I'm sure.....

EDIT:

Also, I'd be interested in knowing what you think of the "family rooms" feature on windows phone.   I have tried to get my wife to use it more but then my wife doesn't take to change as well or as freely as I do so it might take me some time to get some real feedback......

EDIT EDIT:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!   May you all get the new tech this christmas your hearts desire (you too kona....I totally see you using/loving a WINDOWS phone!...hehe).

Yeah I probably would use one if I could afford it.

Yeah, the entire process is designed to needlessly cost me more than I should have to pay.  No matter which way I go to obtain valid photo ID, it's going to cost me between $400 and $500.... which would make it one almighty expensive phone... because anything I do, or am likely to want to do, does not/would not require me to have photo ID.  Due to health issues I will not be travelling anywhere by air, so unless that changes I have no need of photo ID.

Now the really stupid thing about the entire thing, this supposed increased internal security, that may or may not prevent terrorists obtaining mobile phones to assist in their plans of whatever, is that I now, and quite legally, have a working mobile phone in my possession.  It's ridiculously stupid because the telcos computers [supposedly] will not allow me to be the owner of a mobile phone without the required documentation being scanned and entered into the system, yet those same computers allowed me [the exact same me who can't purchase a mobile phone] to be entered as the legitimate second user of a dual phone plan.  So, given this circumstance, how the hell does all this increased security/ID requirement prevent terrorists or other criminal elements?

Like I said, it's all about revenue raising by government, being the only accepted form of ID must be issued by government. What annoys me is that I have a photo ID card issued by a club which required 2 respected community members to verify my identity [a police officer, bank manager] then signed by me in front of Justice of the Peace, an officer of the court, yet it is still unacceptable, despite my ability to reproduce that signature precisely and a photo which unmistakingly is me, 

What's mostly annoying, the department that's now refusing me a proof of ID card should have my identity on record through an old drivers license that I allowed to elapse due to injury, but no, they don't keep records over 20 years old, despite the police department being required by the very same government to retain one's criminal record indefinitely, even after death.

Anyway, time to move on... I'm not going to change the bastards.

Yeah, I took a look at the specs of both phones and figured it doesn't pay to listen too closely to what salespeople say.  I understood that the 820 has a smaller screen with a lower resolution, but I was prepared to accept that after the salesperson gave us the opportunity to experience both phones in-store and not really noticing a greal deal of difference quality-wise.  Perhaps somebody with sharper vision than I might notice, but the 820's screen is quite good enough for me, and that's what's important.

We've taken a few pics and they seem to be of quite reasonable quality, particularly for a phone camera... and like you, I/we are not likely to be needing to take night shots anyhow.  Besides, if we need to take high quality or night pics, we have a digital SLR for that.

Yes, and much to my/our delight, the spare back panel that came bundled with the phone allows for this.  All we need is the optional pad or stand to complete the process. The store where we bought the phones carries all the accessories, so tha's easy When the time comes.  I wasn't aware until now, though, that the 920 doesn't have a removable back, which sort of seems strange to me... for additional storage, etc.  I currently have a 32gb card in mine, but the 820 is capable of accepting cards up to 64gb, should I ever require that much

We were also shown a HTC W8 phone, and it was of similar ability, but the Nokia Lumia seemed the better option given the info people such as yourself have provided here.... and like you said, the Nokia apps were enough to tip the decision the 820's way.  Besides, not knowing anything about the HTC, I didn't want to dive in and find out later it wasn't what we wanted. As for the Samsung Ativ S, so far the only W8 phones available here in Australia are Lumias and HTC's, though I imagine others will appear soon enough.

Thanks for that, I sure am happy to be a Windows phone user.  I'm still finding way around the 820, and shoot, there's a heck of a lot more to take on board than my last phone, and that's before downloading any apps, but yeah, I'll take a look at Photobeamer and let you know what I think... though if it's anything like my other Lumia experiences thus far, it'll be awesome.

Oh, and merry Christmas to you and yours... to all reading this thread and WC/Stardock forums.

 I for one am glad we got Nokia and NOT the HTC , my friends mother has an HTC and says it is total crap the worst phone she has ever brought and she wont buy another one.  she is thinking of upgrading her HTC to something more suited. as for me I love my new phone, but I have 1 issue with it how the bloody hell  do you send text ? its not like the old way  where you go to your messages. what I do i punch in their number and dial it then cancel it then it gives me the option to text that person weird.... I have been a huge fan of Nokia for ages  but shhhhhhz  this is above me lol

Well that just cuts it right there. Now I don't want either phone. Looks like I'll just use my phone for phone calls and my antique Pentax and film for pictures.....and yes, I am old enough to remember when a person needed both a phone and a camera, and didn't expect either to do the others' job.

You can do any of the following:

1.  Find the person in your "people tile" tap on their name and you should be given the option to call/text/email.

2.  Tap the "messages tile" and then under "threads" tap the big + symbol at the bottom which will bring up a "TO" field.  Start typing the person's name and the phone will search your contacts for the name you are spelling.  If not in your contacts just fill in the the entire phone number in the "TO" field.

3.  From the "phone tile" tap the "search" button at the bottom right.  Start typing the person's name, if in your "history" they should show up, if not yet in your history you should see an option now on the screen "search contacts", tapping that will immediately bring up their "contact card".  When you tap on it you'll have the option to call/text/email etc.

Here's hoping you keep enjoying your Lumia mrs. starkers.  

ahh thanks for that info, 1 other question, i know I have a mobile number is there a way  to see if its on my phone? if not how/where  can i get it ?

1. Go into "settings" (I have placed a "settings" tile on my home screen since I go there so often... ) 

2.  Swipe right/left to get to "applications"

3.  Scroll down to "phone"......tap......and there you will see your own mobile number.

@ Starkers, one more question, does Oz have burner phones, i.e. disposable phones like here in the US or no. And if so, they still pose all those requirements as you listed..?

And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all...

Well that didn't work out too well... it just took us to a settings page where 'tapping' produced nothing. However, we solved the problem by texting eachother to reveal our numbers, typing them to a notepad then pinning them to our start pages.

Hmmm, well there's a lot to learn, and I don't imagine I'm going to get it all in a day... or 3, being I'm relatively new to smartphones, but it's a lot easier than the Telstra phone and a much more enjoyable experience wih the more responsive screen and smooth as silk scrolling.

I do like the idea of the 'Family Room' and see that as getting quite a bit of use... brilliant.  as for PhotoBeamer, also brilliant and another app that'll get a lot of use... like going to friends and/or relatives places... even at home here, and showing our pics on a big screen rather than having everyone crowded around the phone.... which is a good thing around a former sister-in-law of mine, who likes to grope 'things' when in close quarters. 

Fortunately, seeing her is almost as rare as rocking horse manure.

Anyway, Lumia's possibilities, they're endless.  Ain't technology grand!!!!

my oath its  grand all right gotta luv it

Hmmm....

After you go into "settings" you should notice that the 'heading' you are currently under is "system".  Swiping left/right should change that 'heading' to "applications".  Scrolling down should reveal a "phone" selection, tapping on that should show your mobile number among other info.

Also, you can pretty much "pin" anything to your start/home screens like for instance a contact card so after you find a contact in your list (ie. the better half) you can tap'n hold on the contact card and you should get the option to "pin" said contact to the home screen as a tile. 

Well no, not exactly 'burner phones'  We have dirt cheap PAYG phones for 20 bucks or so, but they're not strictly disposable.  Yeah, they might be cheap enough to throw away for some, but many at the lower end of the socio-economic scale keep topping them up with credit until they die [the phone, that is].  As for the requirements, proof of ID is essential to purchase any phone with a SIM... which to me is stupid because it can easily be gotten around with a bit of know-how and common sense, as we proved on Friday with a little help from the sales clerk, bless her cotton socks.

Okay, so I've gone back there and I get a phone settings page with various options for default voicemail caller ID and call forwarding, etc, but tapping anywhere on this page produces nothing.  There is a box where a phone number could go, but '121' is all that's in it and nothing is or can be added.  Not to worry, though.  We have our numbers on a note pad page for now, and they're easy enough to access until we can locate them otherwise.

I see, thanks for the clarification starkers.  I appears that that particular field must be "carrier-controlled" and as such my carrier has obviously put my mobile there where as yours has a '121' in it.   My apologies for not understanding your earlier post.

Yeah, it possibly is carrier controlled, but it's not a problem now we have easy access to our numbers.  Anyway, no need to apologise, it's not like you could see what is on my screen.

I don't know about you, but I tend to remember numbers I call better than my own.  It's a number I have little or no reason to call, so until I've had it a while and have it committed to memory, I'll just keep it pinned via note to my start page for those times when various forms I need to fill out ask for it, or if/when somebody just wants to jot it down for later.

Anyway, I am still navigating my way round this wondrous device and it never ceases to amaze me.  I mean, who ever imagined so much stuff could be crammed into such a small space, and then I turn around and discover even more stuff: "Like WTF, I'm never gonna need all this stuff.", but then I recall not needing a mobile phone, much less a 'smart' one... and this little beauty is going to do it all so much better than past devices I've owned... moreso now my PC is Win 8 as well.

there sure is a learning curve coming from an iphone to this rascal but i'm enjoying it quite a bit. taking the first one back after only 2 or 3 days wasn't one of my more brainy moves.

the 920 cost me $135 (including the $35 restocking fee for returning the first one) and i sold my iphone 4S for $400. i came out ahead in the deal no matter how you look at it. i have a superb phone AND more cash in my pocket. i may throw another $100 or so on top of the $400 and get a Surface. i'll then have a Lenovo android tablet that i never use (it's well built but android sux), an ipad which is used A LOT, and a surface.

At last you had to buy your birthday present yourself?   Nice choice I haven't seen it yet but from reviews, it seems to be the best smartphone in market.

since Dec. 26th, my ex, my daughter and son-in-law, and my younger brother have all purchased 920s. the ex actually got a red one. it seems the rochester store had one left and she drove up there to get it. my daughter picked a white one while the son-in-law went with a black one. i think my brother got a black one too, but i'm not sure. all changed from iphones except one, who switched from a galaxy II s.

That seems a common occurrence these days... the iPhone getting ditched for something better.

My niece, who was into i-everything until a while ago, now wants to ditch her iPhone for a W8 phone after seeing our Lumia 820's and how easy they are to operate.  We also showed her the 920 at the Nokia site, but for now it seems the 820 is her better option, due to price and availability.  The 920 is not available in Oz as a PAYG as yet, and she cannot afford the 2 year contract terms with either of the 2 carriers who currently have it.

Anyway, while that was getting away from the point a bit, it shows that iPhone users will switch if they see something that offers them a better user experience, and according to my niece, the Nokia Lumia 820 does.... and through her singing its praises to her friends at uni, it seems as though several of her [iphone/iPad loving] friends are also going to look into it. As it is she has already gotten a quite a few to trade in their iPads for an Android equivalent because of USB connectivity and greater storage, etc.  Yeah, I think it's pretty amazing how the changes and/or preferences in our little family can and have influenced so many people outside of it... suck eggs, Apple.

Since Shaunna and I got ours, several people we know have seen it and said something like: "OMG, this has just got to be my next phone... it's totally amazing.", or words to that effect.  Yes, I believe MS and Nokia are on a winner with this W8 and Lumia pairing, and while they may not have cornered a large share of the market as yet, it's only a matter of time.  Several people have told me that IOS and the latest offerings from Apple have been disappointing to say the least, and that a change is in the air.  Now while some are talking Samsung and Android, there's a considerable few also talking about buying W8 phones, though currently HTC and Nokia are the only ones available here in Oz at present.  That, however, will change when other manufacturers see the potential and team with MS to produce W8 phones of their own.

It's too bad the Nokia 920 is not offered as a prepaid airtime phone. My credit is no where good enough to get a phone with any carrier here.

If only that were my main problem... I could get around that with a couple of stat decs and a reference or three.

Not so with my proof of ID dilemma... the bastards thwart me at every turn, and for no valid reason, just revenue raising.

one of them was replaced today. it seems the camera on my daughter's phone decided to take nothing but pitch black pictures. since she is the mother of the most beautiful, almost three month little girl, you can see how the lack of a correctly operating camera wouldn't be a good thing. for some reason, the local store had a red one but no white ones in stock so she now owns a pretty fire engine red phone. that was her first choice all along so she's a very happy camper now.

Found this while browsing today... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrpBgleZiZg&feature=youtu.be

...couldn't help myself.....hehe