Need some technological advice.
Ok, I will admit my limitations I know NOTHING about smart phones. My cell died and I am looking for a new one. My former students say I need a "windows compatible" phone, others say an I phone or a "droid". Help!
I use my phone quite a bit but am not attached to it at the hip, in fact I turn it off from time to time. I would like gps for trips home and would like a few apps.
i am so confused, it is like buying a car....
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Response to MH1 (Reply #34)
The issues I've had are that if your settings aren't right, the battery doesn't last as long as many other phones.
Once you have the settings right, it's not a problem for me.
I do keep it plugged in and charging while driving distances and plugged in every night.
Only rarely do I need a mid-day charge, but never do I go several days without a charge.
The customer service can not be beat, I've had two replacements given to me after warranty expired.
That's how they roll at the genius bar.
The iPad 3 4G gets better reception than the iPhone 5, which surprised me, and the battery life is fantastic on iPads.
For me, the smart phone and Internet capability are really useful. I have Internet anywhere without paying-- many hotels charge, I hate that.
Also, mapping, finding services, etc., while out of town and out of state are so easy to do with a smart phone.
Of course they're not for everyone.
My bachelor degree is Architecture.
I need these tools because my employer is out of state and my job is largely web-based.
I travel to provide give presentations, to visit schools and gov agencies and NGOs, etc., and fuss about with email all day long since my territory includes Hawaii and Alaska and my office is in the Washington DC area.
There have been times when someone needed something and I've pulled off the side of the road, opened my laptop, and edited a document or spreadsheet and sent it off.
Having to wait until I got to a conventional Internet spot, hotel, cafe, starbucks etc., would be frustrating, even though we all had to do that five years ago.
You're about to be swarmed by Apple fanboys and Android nuts who smell blood in the water.
Before you get consumed by them take a few minutes and figure out what you need and what you want. When you're looking at apps try to find some that you like and see where you can find them. Some apps are specific for a specific system only but in general the big ones are available for all.
Windows, iPhone and Android simply refer to the operating system of the phone and any of them will provide you with phone service, a GPS service and some apps.
Windows phones seem to be trailing the Apple (iPhone) and Android but all three are easy to find.
IMO your first visit should be to your current providers website or store where you can take a quick look at what's available. Most of the big providers (Verizon, ATT etc.) offer all or most of the phones. If you go into the store you can usually handle the phones and play with them a bit too. Just don't fall for the upsell...you know the "Sure the Samsung Galaxy 3 is available for only $49.00 but if you drop $200 you get an extra 1/8" of screen space. 
If you don't like your provider check with some others. Check out a mall kiosk or Costco if you're a member - some pretty good prices there.
Good luck, and for what it's worth I just upgraded to the HTC One (android) last month and I love it, but if all you want is something basic you can do it for a lot less money. For what you mentioned in your OP you could probably do very well with a lot of the "no charge" smartphones. A quick look at my Verizon page shows 8 basic smart phones for less than $10 for the phone itself.
I have the HTC One on Verizon, it's a recent Android phone and it's absolutely beautiful but it's $200 down with a two year contract.
Have fun.
First question, do you really need a smartphone?
What you described sounded like your're just a regular, you know, CALLER.
You did say you'd like "some apps and GPS". Like, yes, but need? Non-smart phones have a couple apps (like a calendar & some games) on them as well. Will you really use the GPS? Don't you have one on your car?
Keep in mind that a smartphone is mainly used by the people that have to facebook whilst on the toilet or send pictures while sitting in a bar etc (sorry, I'm being a bit black & white 
). So maybe you're like me and very happy with the most basic of phones that gives you zero fumble and, you know, CALLS. You can get that for 40 bucks, make it 60 with internet capability.
Second point, privacy. A smartphone should rightly be called a spyhone, as you know if you've kept up a bit with the NSA revelations. If you care about that, stay away from the iPhone and the Microsoft ones. And in any case be aware that apps very often send home a lot of personal information, sometimes with and sometimes without consent.
Last point, you mention you look at it as a 5 year investment. I like that thinking. But it's no secret that you could drive a truck over a Nokia of 10 years ago, and now it's all built to fail soon.
If you still stick to having a smartphone, have a look at the Fairphone!
When it dies (or I lose it) I'll replace it with the next "free" model.
Doesn't matter much to me which phone I have. I don't turn it on when I don't want to talk to anyone. If this is an emergency, call 911.
For computing I might carry my beat-up old Pentium III laptop with me. Mostly I carry a paper notebook and an old camera.
Old school.
LG800G - Java -Lite, no Android, IOS or Windows. Has touchscreen, so-so camera, can store tunes, and technically can access the Net but the browsers are too cheesy to consider it. No plan, it's a TracPhone pay as you go, which for folks like me who simply don't use many minutes can save quite a bit. No user-accessible GPS, however, and virtually no apps worth downloading.
