Personally, I prefer LG branded phones over Samsung. I have an LG Optimus One (P500), rooted and with a custom ROM. Despite it being relative low-end, it's rock-solid stable hardware-wise and can stand up to a decent amount of abuse. As for your needs, it really depends on what you want the phone for. If you're the gaming type, then the Xperia line might be a good match. If you want it for business or office work, then a large screen LG or Samsung phone would be best. Social networking and picture taking is again another thing entirely. It'll help us narrow down our recommendations if you have an idea what you'll probably be using the phone for.