To get anything decent I have to spend $400 for last years technology and $600 or more for something recent. People actually buy these things?
I've been shopping for a smart phone
- Thread starter oc_in_fw
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I get a contract, but I have an HTC Amaze from November of 2011, pretty good phone and I really like the android system. Though if you don't want a smart phone, they still make flip phones.
iPhone, nothing else. Worth it.
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T-Mobile has almost nothing anymore that isn't a smart phone. I can get a deal on a Galaxy S4 through AT&T, but they get you with the contract costs (which are more than T-Mobile). I think I need to call T-Mobile and give them hell- I have been with them for 8 years, surely they can give me a break on the phone, which they want $600 for. iPhone is $50 more, but at least I can see why when I visit the Apple store (the unlocked phones are expensive).
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I have a hard time buying a phone that costs more than an iPad- $648 for an unlocked (not linked to AT&T) 16gig iPhone.
My mothers contract was up recently, she had an iphone. We went to AT&T looking for anything non-smart phone to avoid the extra $15 (at least) data plan that is mandatory on all smart phones. They had about 900 phones in the store and only TWO non-smart phones. We ended up getting another iphone just because that's what she was used to, rather than having to learn a whole new phone.
If you trying to buy anything without a contract you are going to pay dearly for it. if you are trying to buy anything unlocked.....you are going to pay dearly for it.
I haven't paid anything out of pocket for a phone since 2007 when I got the first iphone. I've waited to upgrade until my contract was up that way I can get another iphone for $199....then I sell my old phone for at least the same price and sometimes more. so it works out to a free upgrade every time.
If you trying to buy anything without a contract you are going to pay dearly for it. if you are trying to buy anything unlocked.....you are going to pay dearly for it.
I haven't paid anything out of pocket for a phone since 2007 when I got the first iphone. I've waited to upgrade until my contract was up that way I can get another iphone for $199....then I sell my old phone for at least the same price and sometimes more. so it works out to a free upgrade every time.
I held out forever. I finally got an iPhone 5 (or whatever was the newest one) in April and I love it. I've turned into one of those knuckleheads who walks down the street and wanders into people because he's looking at his phone. Totally worth it. That said, mine was a birthday gift, so I didn't spend the money.
I've gone the other direction. Ditched the smart phone for a regular phone. Huge cost savings. I no longer feel like a slave to the device.
Yeah, I can see that. I love it, but I'm on it so much that I annoy myself. A couple of weeks ago, I found myself checking my E-mail while on a date and it was like, "Oh no! What's happening to me?"
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Could have got a good deal through AT&T- then I started looking at what their text and data plans cost- wow. Guess I will just stick with T Mobile, as it won't cost anymore once you factor the plans in. I am torn between the S4 and iPhone, mainly because I have two iMacs and an iPad at home already.
Check your local WalMart to see if they offer Straight Talk service (most do). Find an unlocked phone from AT&T or T Mobile, get a straight talk sim card and the straight talk unlimited plan.
For $45 / month, I have unlimited talk, text, and up to 5GB of data or something like that. The data is advertised as unlimited, but it's rumored they threaten to cancel your service if you go over.
I previously had AT&T, and my "unlimited" plan is now $15 less / month than I was paying for just talk/text with AT&T. Since November, I've been using Straight Talk with no contract, and have had better service than AT&T. It's a pre-paid plan, but you can just enroll in auto pay online, and don't have to hassle with remembering to re-up every month.
As is common with anything related to Walmart, customer service is horrid. For $45 / month, I can deal with that, though.
People look at me like I'm crazy when I say I don't have one of the big name providers, but I've recommended it to everyone who will listen.
For $45 / month, I have unlimited talk, text, and up to 5GB of data or something like that. The data is advertised as unlimited, but it's rumored they threaten to cancel your service if you go over.
I previously had AT&T, and my "unlimited" plan is now $15 less / month than I was paying for just talk/text with AT&T. Since November, I've been using Straight Talk with no contract, and have had better service than AT&T. It's a pre-paid plan, but you can just enroll in auto pay online, and don't have to hassle with remembering to re-up every month.
As is common with anything related to Walmart, customer service is horrid. For $45 / month, I can deal with that, though.
People look at me like I'm crazy when I say I don't have one of the big name providers, but I've recommended it to everyone who will listen.
That's not a tough choice at all for me
. if you already have apple products you might as well get an iphone. they will all sync together flawlessly. The only thing that annoyed me was iMessage. Anytime someone sent me a text I would get an alert on my phone, then one on my iPad, then one on my Mac Mini. After the first few texts I said "aww heck naw!!" and quit using iMessage. and yes, their text and data plans are ridiculous!
Get an iPhone.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
I won't have a locked phone. Mainly because I travel and I need to be able to just pop a local sim card in the phone and have data and voice. I hate contracts too. In the states I use tmobile. $2/day only on days I use it so if I am out of the country for a few months I pay zero. Nada. Nothing. You pay just as much for the contract phone you just pay over two years of monthly bills instead of up front.
I have no use for a droid that is not rooted or an iPhone not jailbroken. It's my phone and I should be able to use it as I wish not as Apple wishes.
I am liking the Samsung droid lineup. Very flexible even not rooted. The android operating system is much more open and versatile. Still have my iPhone 4s tho and in fact I am typing this post on it now.
I have no use for a droid that is not rooted or an iPhone not jailbroken. It's my phone and I should be able to use it as I wish not as Apple wishes.
I am liking the Samsung droid lineup. Very flexible even not rooted. The android operating system is much more open and versatile. Still have my iPhone 4s tho and in fact I am typing this post on it now.
When you think about the parts and engineering that goes into packing all that capability into a small package, the price doesn't seem quite as bad. If you are not anti-google the nexus 4 is still very attractive IMO, especially if you want something unlocked and off contract. There is no LTE/4G support, but the performance is pretty good. I have not looked at the new Moto X (aka google) phone or into when the LG version of the current nexus 4 will get updated. Of course you could hold out for the upcoming iPhone 5s/6, but it may be relatively expensive.
I cannot speak for other smart phones, but the iPhone is a one-time investment. When you decide to upgrade, there are many people on eBay who would happily purchase your older phone for what it costs you to upgrade. You only pay those $200 (or whatever the iPhone with a contract costs) once.
well put. I haven't "paid for" an iPhone since 2007
But you are paying for those iPhones, Galaxy S3/4, etc. monthly through contract and carrier lock-in. Or paying it all upfront to avoid the carrier lock and get lower non-contract monthly plans. It is all a tradeoff, I don't think there is any free lunch either way.
My "smartphone" is a plain old LG clamshell + a 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. The tablet isn't as portable as a phone, but I'm never without my backpack and, in a pinch, it fits in a pants pocket. I tried an iPhone but found the screen tiny and hard to type on. The 7" screen is much better for reading, browsing, etc., and the data plan for the tablet is only $25/month on top of the regular cell plan (Verizon). If I were in the market for a phone, I'd seriously consider a Samsung based on my experience with the Tab. The Tab 2 is great -- nice display and long battery life; I hardly ever reach for my Kindle these days.
Been a Verizon customer for ten years and never a problem. I have the droid razor(what else would I have) shaves horribly but a great phone.
