Looking to buy my first Android < $250

I'm looking to buy an Android to replace my ****ty Nokia E61i, and my budget is around $250 so obviously I'm looking at used phones. I have AT&T now, my contract's not up until about 1 year from now so I need a GSM phone. If I could get an unlocked phone that'd be awesome but I guess unlocked phones are expensive, so I was wondering if it's possible to buy a phone that's locked with a carrier and then unlock it myself - but I have a big fat ZERO experience so comments on this would be appreciated! Phones that are easy to unlock are preferred as well.

What I'm looking for from a phone:
+ obviously touch screen - medium to large screen. Would be nice if it's good in bright light
+ full QWERTY keyboard preferred
+ strong web browsing capabilities (I guess most smartphones today do this pretty well)
+ GPS preferred
+ good battery life
+ other than that I don't have high needs for other features. I don't really care about media players/HD video/photo capabilities. Those would be nice but not decisive factors.

I currently pay $35/month for my AT&T plan, just calling and texting without data, and in the future I would like to get a data plan for up to $35/month. Again my current plan's not up until 1 year from now so I'm just planning way ahead of time, but what suggestions do you all have regarding carrier? I don't call and text a lot, and I expect to use some data for basic daily things like surfing web, not looking to watch movies/ play games online or anything like that.

Finally, suggestions on where to buy a used phone? Ebay and Craigslist are the obvious options but anywhere else?

Thanks!

---

› See More: Looking to buy my first Android < $250

Alright, first I will address your concern with the phone under 250, I just looked on Craigslist for my area, Miami, and found a LG Optimus T(T-Mobile) for 200. T-Mobile's phones can be unlocked and used on ATT, but you maybe forced to get a data plan, I am just warning you, but I don't know how ATT works with this. This is a new phone, Its Android 2.2 (the newest build I know of), and is all touch screen. I find this phone feels very good in the hand, and responds very quickly. There are some reviews on CNet, and will be some on here shortly, if there arent already so I wont bore you with a review, unless you ask.
Next, the Battery life on most (if not all) Android devices are not going to be awesome, because they are always connected to some type of data, generally. Also, all of the Android phones on the market (I believe) are GPS Enabled, and there are tons of apps for GPS and related type of resources.
Last, Craigslist is where I personally have bought many phones, and had no issues, but I always speak with the seller at length, and meet them in a safe place, and review the phone before I leave. E-Bay is a good place as well. Other websites may be available or out there, but I am not aware of them. Maybe someone else can suggest one?

Food for thought: If your looking at Value and Price, Virgin Mobile carries an Android Device with a Touch screen and QWERTY Keyboard for 250, and they have very reasonable plans for thier phones, with Sprint Network Coverage, if your in a Sprint area, and if you don't want to stay with ATT. Just throwing that out there =)

thanks! It does look pretty good to me, I'll keep an eye out for it on Cragslist and ebay.
I've heard some phones have Swype, and then there are things like SlideIT which can do pretty much the same thing. Questions about them:

1. Forgive my ignorance, what exactly are Swype and SlideIT? I know they are input methods, I've sên videos on how to use Swype, but my understanding is Swype is like a phone feature that can only be preinstalled, and cannot be added to a phone that doesn't have it preinstalled, and SlideIT is an app which can be installed into any phone. Is that correct?
2. Are those input methods really that good? Can they replace hardware keyboards? Cause if they can then I don't have to limit myself to phones with a hardware keyboard.

regarding carrier, Virgin Mobile plans are cheap but they have CDMA, and I need a GSM phone because I need to use it on my ATT contract which doesn't run out until 1 year from now, plus I'll be travelling out of the US a lot.

other phones suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I dont personally like the Swipe feature. Basically, you drag your finger across the keys, drawing a line, pausing for a second over the key your typing, then going to the next key, *****ing out the word. I have found it doesn't work well for me, and typing on the virtual keyboard is easier, and I am not a fan of Virtual keyboards either. I don't know about SlideIT, but I will look at it later and see if I can figure it out, I am at work, and not allowed to use my Cell at work.

2, Just to let you know ahead of time, these are phone's I have found that are GSM carrier, and if they aren't ATT, you will need to unlock them, or buy them unlocked.
A. Motorola Backflip (ATT) This phone is going for about 160 in my area on Craigslist, full hardware keyboard, and touch screen
B. Motorola Charm (T-Mobile) About 200 in my care, square instead of bar shaped, has Motoblur
C. T-Mobile My Touch Slide (T-Mobile) Again, about 200 bucks around here. These phones, If I am not mistaken, they are made by HTC, exclusivly for T-Mo.

Any of these phones are GSM, physical QWERTY Keyboard, and touch screen with Android. I would recomend looking at reviews on these 3 phones, and searching around you for them.
Also, look for a reputable unlocking service either local, or online, and make sure if you unlock it you will have full functionality, and not just talk and text.
Hope this helps, and keep your questions coming, should you need to!

Good one big james

ZTE Blade perhaps?

@ BigJames: thanks a lot for the detailed info. Unfortunately I've heard pretty bad things about the Backflip, and I don't like the Charm because it's square shaped.
@ rolasky: I don't think ZTE is very well known so I have some reservations, can you comment on what's good about it if you have had experience with it?

anyone can comment on the Motorola Milestone? It's a little out of my price range right now but it seems to fit the bill for me and I'm thinking about getting it some time in the future