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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNeed 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....
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)most economical and built in South Korea not China at Foxxcon Slave Labor Camps...
LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)is there much of a difference? I think not.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Are they packed in like cordwood...are there suicide nets around the buildings? Is there barbed wire on the fences to keep them in? Do they live in dorms of 10 to 12 to a room with 100 to a bathroom?
Bay Boy
(1,689 posts)the debate is done, now go buy one.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)No problems with it and it does what I need it to do. Call, text, gps, audiobooks in the car, internet ( if I have to look something up when away from home and occasionally facebook.
Iphones are over priced and the windows phone I could see being good if you used it for business, IMHO.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)I have seen a Nokia that I can get for less than $100 but I'm unsure since they keep trying to upsell me at the ATT store.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)My son has an older galaxy S
MH1
(18,184 posts)Samsung came out with the S4 recently so the S3 has dropped a lot in price but it is a great phone. I got it recently for this reason and am very happy with it. Just replaced my work blackberry with an S3, also.
Actually it will probably do WAY more than you need, from the sound of your post, but if you are looking in the $100 range anyway, you should consider the S3. Then you may be pleasantly surprised with all you can do and how easy it is to use.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)like having a computer everywhere I go....I even got myself an android smart stick to use the android operating system on my television! Hands down a winner!
I have had a lot of phones over the years and the S3 is my very favorite ever. No iPhone, would not have one. Had a Mac for as long as I could stand it. Samsung makes great products.
Response to MH1 (Reply #34)
Name removed Message auto-removed
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)It was added to my son's account & only costs me $28 a month including insurance.. See if a family member has "space" to add you on.. I just paid our son a year's worth of my share and in a year I'll do the same..
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)newfie11
(8,159 posts)Mine is a 4S IPhone. Had it for several years. Had a droid and a blackberry but will never go back.
I love the iPhone.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)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.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)Why are you on your 3rd iPhone? Did the first 2 iPhones breakdown, or did you simply upgrade to newer models?
I use an iPod Touch and a flip phone. I have no desire for a smart phone.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)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.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)I can see where you would need to upgrade your phones and iPads. I mostly don't wish to pay the big bucks for a huge data plan every month. I also don't do all that much traveling for work so I get by with just a phone.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)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.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)before wireless computer technology I had to print a document for a client at our state capitol. There was no compatible printer in sight but there were phone jacks so I faxed the document to a fax machine in the office. Damn, that was close to 20 years ago now. Like I said, I'm lucky to do most of my work in an office or meeting with clients. I do remember sending a lot of faxes with that Powerbook 540 though.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)I had a job in NYC and moved back to the west coast in 1987.
The NY boss wanted to keep me so bought me a 486-33 top of line (at the time) PC and a fax machine, and I telecommuted industrial design work that way for about seven years.
Occasionally I'd fly out there for a meeting but otherwise FedEx sent prototype models and outgoing docs went by fax.
Dot matrix printers were the rule of the day and nobody had the Internet, at least I didn't, until a couple years later.
Amazing how spoiled we're becoming, and the things we have were truly unimaginable then.
Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,586 posts)And I confess I'm biased, but the Moto X is a nice entry smartphone. And it's assembled in the USA.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)I will look into that one.
Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,586 posts)But if you're on AT&T you can totally customize the phone's colors. And it'll get shipped to you in 6 days or so.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,586 posts)There's plenty of good phones out there: iPhone, Android, and even Windows 8 phones are coming into their own.
Sharp_stick's post below hits all the good points.
MuseRider
(34,381 posts)I still like my galaxy 3 better but Motorola makes a really good phone.
sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)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.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,586 posts)Good post.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I'm partial to Android, but others are worth looking into. I had a Windows phone and despised it, so I'm probably highly biased against them.
demwing
(16,916 posts)for each. The truth is they are very similar when comparing features offered.
Start looking at prices, plans, and network. If you already have a plan, you may have to buy a phone that is supported, and so your choice may have already been (mostly) made for you.
If you have no calling plan and are shopping for a new service, ask yourself what you can afford each month, then compare plans in your $ range, and let your plan choices guide your hardware decision.
I keep a phone for infrequent calling, use only a very few apps, including a dumb game, GPS and other related services. My phone (Kyocera Hydro running Android 4.0.4) was $100, has camera and video functions, a decent (but not top line) processor, and runs on Sprint's 3G network. My Carrier is Boost Mobile, and I have a prepaid "Unlimited" plan. I started paying $55 per month, but Boost reduces your monthly fee by $5 for each 6 months you're on time. I'm now down to $45 per month, and am eligible for another, final $5 discount before I max out on that benefit.
alc
(1,151 posts)Do you use it mostly as a phone or for other things? As a phone, you don't need much.
I recently got a $150 no contract android. I can talk on it all day - battery lasts and great quality even with no signal bars. GPS/maps works great locally but won't last an 8 hour trip without a car charger. I can browse any web site, but not as snappy as more expensive phones and I can't have lots of tabs open at once - checking scores is no problem.
Most games work just as well as more expensive phones. Same with bluetooth, networking, calendar, email, camera, video, music, and many other things. I don't do much with facebook but do notice it's not as nice as with better phones. I can use it to manage servers I'm responsible for (check status as well as running a terminal to look at logs when I need).
I can't have lots of background tasks notifying me of weather, sports, etc. Just run email, sms, and calendar notifications in the background and the battery lasts all day. Facebook notifications drains the battery (even though I don't get many if any each day)
quinnox
(20,600 posts)Sorry, but not interested in them.
FreeState
(10,692 posts)BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)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!
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)Pick one that suits you.
I do not recommend windows phones, because I hate what Microsoft has done to every technology they ever touched: Make it more difficult to interface with.
I do not recommend the iPhone, because there is one and only one manufacturer. Same for blackberry (even though I did own and like one a few years ago)
That leaves android as an operating system for your phone. It works pretty well and many manufacturers make android phones. It is a well supported platform and many apps are available.
One thing I will say is you want to be able to turn up the brightness on the screen so you can see it in sunlight or other harsh lighting. My current phone is lousy in sunlight and it is a pain in the ass to read outdoors.
I tend to buy the latest fastest processor because it will be able to keep up with new releases to the platform. I got a platform update last year and it felt like I was given a new phone.
I've been shopping for a new phone and the LG G2 is leading the results for me, but I'm a developer.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Windows phones are crap. iPhones are good, too, but come at a premium. But no Windows phones. I had one and despised it. Others may love them, but it was a battery hog and has few app options.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Nokia HERE Drive + has US maps installed on the phone, so the GPS directions work without using your data quota.
Contacts sync with Outlook Express on my PC automatically via hotmail.
I'm not a big user of games or apps, so the fact that it has several tens of thousands fewer apps than iPhone or Android doesn't matter.
I haven't used the others, but from experience and from reviews, the actual phone, mail and texting functions are among the easiest to use.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Android or Apple have a plethora of apps.
My Windows phone ate up the battery like a starving elephant, too.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)So long as there are the few dozen that most people use.
Battery life has not been a problem for me. Of course, if you download some app that continually keeps the radio on, that might be a problem.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I just didn't like mine LOL. Maybe it had a defect.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)There may be an easier way, but that is how I keep my apps from running in the background.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Keeps apps from running in the background.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)I use the task manager regularly. Sometimes I do let things run in the background like Yahoo Sports or My Radar.
You can select which apps to stop but if you just want to save battery life you hit "stop all".
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)Had a droid, got it wet at the pool (my fault) best deal we could get was an iphone 3 a couple years ago, lost that one, got a Samsung Galaxy 4 this summer and LOVE it.
I'm hanging on to this one for dear life....plus my husband has had it.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)If you were an apple person you would not even be asking.
As was stated in a previous post, that is the operating system. If you just need some basics anything running 4.0 or higher will be more than you need.
When comparing phones, do it like a laptop computer. Processor, memory and battery life. Also they vary in size so if you want a larger screen go that way. If you want a smaller phone that is easier to carry around then go that way. There is a trade off no matter which way you go.
Personally I buy LG brand phones. They are made in South Korea, unlike many phones that are made in China.
I have a Motion, which was down to $99.00 last time I checked. A friend of mine just got a Viper, it is very similar but a little nicer.
One thing I did differently this time that you might want to consider. I bought my phone at Best Buy and sprung for the two year warranty. It cost me more out of pocket but if I break the phone, or if it just stops working right, I get a replacement without cost. Or if they can't replace the exact phone I get full purchase price credit towards a new phone. I am pretty tough on phones so I am betting it works out for me. It may not be for you but I think it is worth considering.
Good luck, and don't sweat it to much. Whatever you get will work.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)Those can vary quite a bit - I'm probably only slightly less clueless than you about contemporary smartphones, but I'm very comfortable around desktop computers, for instance.
That can affect the answer some - someone who's a power user with computers would probably enjoy an Android phone more than an iPhone or the other options, for instance, if just because it's easier to get under the hood with those, so to speak.
haele
(13,559 posts)Laz and I have the Galaxy Nexus (Andriod) phones with the battery upgrade.
Each phone lasts a good 24 hours until the next recharge under full use: calls, lots of texts, twitter feed (Laz loves his twitter), music (doubles as an ipod), "kindle/blog" reading, playing music, camera use, and the occasional game, checking e-mail, or internet upload/download, as well as a few RSS apps like weather, traffic, meds schedules etc, that are on 24/7 in the background.
What's nice about the Android phones for Google is that they don't come with a proprietary overlay and I've been able to access pretty much any internet site on normal view using the latest Android Google as a browser; which saved my ass big time when I had to get onto Turbo-Tax (Hint - not everyone is on IE 10 or the latest and greatest of everything else!) and download/e-mail a pdf of my 2012 tax return on very short notice. There have been times I've done classwork (Windows Compatible!) and run Powerpoint presentations from my smart-phone, when my personal laptop couldn't connect to the local server, so there is a lot that is possible.
However, many mobile "apps" or mobile views for business websites from service provider app stores suck major ass if you want to do something your phone service consider "not normal for mobile", so you need to make sure you do have the ability to view web pages in normal mode (even if they do become teeny, tiny pages and they're a bit out of proportion).
Best thing to do is read some reviews - both positive and negative on both the phone and the service you want to subscribe to. Many of the negative and "meh" reviews will show you where the pitfalls an average user can trip over, while many of the positive reviews are made by professional techies who know what they're doing discussing what the phone is capable of doing, so it's best to try and balance the reviews that describe actual functions and how the phone works over various providers and plans as opposed to the reviews of "it's great/it's a piece of crap/I hate Sprint/I hate Verison".
You need to figure out what you will be doing with your smart-phone, and do your homework on which is the most capable phone and service for your needs.
If you go to a phone retailer, ask to see the personal phone the salesman or the manager is using. Yeah, they're going to try and sell you the most expensive, but they've probably went ahead and ordered the phone they felt was the best.
Haele
Waiting For Everyman
(9,385 posts)I ruled out Apple because I don't like contracts. (Windows and Blackberry are too marginal.) My carrier is Virgin Mobile, which is pay-as-you-go and Android. Virgin doesn't support every Android phone but has a lot of good choices, and good customer service in my experience. I got the Motorola Triumph, which has a big screen and a lot of features while being pretty easy to use.
Smartphones are very handy but have a steep learning curve. It isn't too bad just getting started, but to get them to do what you want does take some research. There is lots of info on the net though, at all different knowledge levels.
One thing I would suggest, is getting a warranty. Smartphones can crash irreparably, and in that event you want it replaced.
Suggestion two, keep another copy of your contacts elsewhere than on your phone, and get an app that backs them up. (I have the Norton Mobile app which does this, and backs up texts as well.)
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Sounds silly, but I take mine (an android cheaper end) to emergency scenes. It works ok, a tad slow for web searches, but...I take mine to fairly hostile environments. Got armor for it, as in a nice hard case.
If I did not take it to things like that, I would have considered spending a little more money.
Regardless of operating system, buy the fastest processor you can afford. At the time I even considered am apple IOs device, but if it should die in a rock slide, yes it happens where I tae mine, it is cheaper to replace.
So consider the use you are going to put yours through.
(I need to get an extra battery btw)
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And if you go to rural areas, we do, it really matters little what carrier. We have AT&T, and coverage in the country side is spotty, so is for everybody else.
But what you are buying is a computer. So processor speed matters for long term use.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)darkangel218
(13,985 posts)WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Tien1985
(920 posts)Since your contract is up for renewal. If you are planning an getting another contract, consider going to somewhere like radio shack and getting a refurbished phone. I got an iPhone 4, for free, because I was going to get a contract anyway. I've had it for almost 3 yrs now, and it works well for my needs.
Soundman
(297 posts)I have owned at least half a dozen android phones a Samsung galaxy, HtC One, Lg touch, a pantec that I really liked . They all had one thing in common. They were unreliable, and the android market has some very peculiar terms of use that you must agree to, to use them. One big data mining network if you ask me. I also always felt like I was nothing but a beta tester. After a short period android phones are hard to give away, as they hold no value.
I have ended up going back to an iPhone. I sold my almost four year old iPhone original for 175 bucks. I call that holding value. The thing to remember with an iPhone is Apple controls the hardware, and the software. They are one cohesive piece of equipment. Meaning there are very few problems.
Android is an open market and the hardware varies from manufacture to manufacture phone to phone. A lot of androids I owned were not upgradeable. And in closing do you really think an operating system that is based on candy names is really serious.
I wish I had more time to offer some more info/opinion here but I have to run.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)A Little Weird
(1,754 posts)I'll bet your friends would let you take a look at their phones to get a feel for them. Nothing like getting a first hand look.
Smartphones plans are crazy expensive! If you're not really that big of a phone user and are not really into the apps then you might be better off to get a dumb phone and a Garmin GPS for your car. For a long time, I had a dumb phone and an iPod Touch. The Touch could run most of the iPhone apps but I could only use it with wifi. I did eventually get an android smartphone but I still sometimes (every month when I pay the bill) think it was a mistake to go that route.
If you want to go for the smartphone - I've tried the iPhone and it is pretty cool - easy to use app store with huge selection. But I absolutely despise the on-screen keyboard and the autocorrect. I decided to go for an android phone with a slide out keyboard (Samsung Captivate Glide). It is much easier for me to type on. It still has good apps, it just might take a little more research to figure out which ones to get.
Good luck!
bhikkhu
(10,758 posts)unlimited texting and data for $35 a month, no contract, and its a really nice phone. She's pretty picky, at a highly phone-dependent age, and subject to much peer-pressure, but she really likes it. Near-new on ebay for $60 or so isn't hard to find. I still just use an $8 tracphone myself...
hunter
(38,971 posts)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.
Koko Ware
(107 posts)Looks like one.
hunter
(38,971 posts)Someone gonna die? No? I'll call you back in the morning.
Koko Ware
(107 posts)My phone is a S3 and I really like it. I would recommend it to anyone who asks me about it - someone who has experienced all three. Even my own Dad who's a Microsoftphile admitted that the Windows phone suck, even after using iPhone4, then going to Android and loves it. He is using a ATT's brand of Samsung Infuse, which IMHO is woefully underpowered, and I have used Blackberry Curve, then Epic 4g now Samsung S3 owner, I'm happy with the technology, and will look into S4 when my contract is up next year. Or they'll have something with fancy new toys. Who knows.
Somebody has to start sometime, and I've seen all kinds of phone, but the "Obamaphone" thing also riles me up. There is NO such thing.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)IDemo
(16,926 posts)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.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)Purrfessor
(1,190 posts)still looks and works great. Never any problems with it.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)i bought an Iphone 4 (not the new one). I am getting used to it going from a razor to this is quite a jump but I am learning....