I am due an upgrade very shortly now on Vodafone. At first I decided on an N8 but it has had so many poor reviews on this forum that I am put off. i presently have an Express Music 5800 which i still love so thought the N8 would be a good replacement. I mainly use voice calls, podcasting, games, text. i don't use much data.
The only reason i might go over to Android is Google maps as I find the Ovi maps un-user friendly. Also I geocache and the Andoid app is better.
If i go to Android it will be the HTC desire or the SE X10 Mini.
I don't know what to do, please help me choose!

google maps is not as good as ovi maps. especially 3.06. obviously it's a slightly subjective issue. but ovi maps on the n8 is a full on sat nav.

really the choice is yours. but the n8 is a very good phone. i actually haven't seen particularly bad reviews of it on here.

Obvious bit of advice really, but think twice on getting SEX10 Mini if you intend to surf / use Maps. Screen estate is far too small for anything other than quick internet look ups. Younger brother just ditched his for an HTC Wildfire, saying the Mini ended up giving him headaches.

The Desire is probably the safer option. But surely the N8 gives you the option of both proprietary Ovi Maps and Google Maps via normal internet?

I didn't think of that! Do Ovi maps use data all the time? I've got them on my 5800 and it is so difficult to get a position via the gps that I just don't bother.

Never had problems with getting a quick lock with either the 5230 (basically a cheaper 5800) or the N8.

Ovi maps can use data all the time, it just depends on whether you have the maps loaded locally on the device.

But if the maps are on-device, it only uses a tiny amount of data for the AGPS functionality.

yeah ovi allows you to download tha maps via your computer, or on the go.

you also have additional options such as syncing your favourite locations with the internet, downloading traffic updates at specific intervals. but it will function perfectly well without a sim card.

the GPS is very fast. much better than the N97.

If you like Symbian, and have no problems with it, get the N8. It's a fantastic piece of hardware. The only complaints I've seen from pretty much anywhere have been against Symbian, from people in love with iOS or Android. Personally, I like the flexibility and stability of the OS, but am tied into an iPhone contract for the time being.

A question please to N8 owners - is there a built in podcasting app as there is on the 5800? Having googled it i think not and it appears to be a clunky and drawn-out process to download them. This would be a decider between the N8 and the Desire for me as I am an avid podcast listener.

N8 don't have built in but you can install app for podcasting.
here is link to app for N8 and u need Symbian 3 SIS for N8.
https://projects.forum.nokia.com/podcatcher

Unfortuntly Nokia can't and won't support the original Podcast client any more. However installing 'Podcatcher ' for S^3 is very easy even though its not in the ovi store yet. You would either download it on your computer and transfer it to the phone or just by going to the link by SadmeHappy above on the phone's web browser click Symbian 3 SIS and it will install there and then, the file is not that big so I installed it straight from my phone via 3g.