Smart Phone Help

[JoeRedskin]

So, I went with the Bionic. Looking around, it seemed to be the best bang for the buck. Verizon has good coverage and, well, it just seemed like 4G was the way to go even if it isn't that big a deal RIGHT now. I'm gonna have the phone for the next 2 years so, given technology, it'll be outmoded fast enough.

The kids will just have to wear the same shoes for an extra couple of months.

Thanks for all the help everyone. It really is great to get advice from the wide range of users on the forum. I mean, you have the folks who really know their sh** and are heavy users all the way down to firstdown (who is booting up his IBM PS/2 as we speak). I got a pretty good idea of where I fit in on the spectrum and what made sense for me (I'm not a complete dinosaur, more of a neolithic/bronze age user).

[Daseal]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Problem with waiting is:
IF you are a Geek then the next one is ALWAYS around the corner (Android 5.0 is going to rock your world)

If you are NOT a geek then the upgrades in the next cycle aren't going to mean as much as having a good phone now.

As is most 4g phones now and some 3g are going to go to ice cream sandwich by end of year.

Its the difference between always buying a new off the lot car or one that is a year old. The new may be great but the 1 year old will take you to the store also.


Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2

Software and hardware are two different beasts. Typically, I avoid many of the first gen OSes and let them get a bit stable. That said, any reasonable device can handle an updated OS. If you root/etc ROMS like CM that are built from the ground up will give you those new OSes.

The phones I'm talking about are hardware based. None of the individual technologies are that much different. They're bringing together a lot of components. Quick processors, quite a bit more RAM, beautiful displays -- but most importantly, they're improving battery life and unlocking bootloaders (well, not unlocking, but making it trivial).

Typically I say buy something established, but these are known technologies so they've hit their bumps, but they're coming together in a single device.

If battery life is the most important to you, I'd suggest staying away from 4G. It's a drain. I have a 4G phone and toggle it off a majority of the time.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Software and hardware are two different beasts. Typically, I avoid many of the first gen OSes and let them get a bit stable. That said, any reasonable device can handle an updated OS. If you root/etc ROMS like CM that are built from the ground up will give you those new OSes.

The phones I'm talking about are hardware based. None of the individual technologies are that much different. They're bringing together a lot of components. Quick processors, quite a bit more RAM, beautiful displays -- but most importantly, they're improving battery life and unlocking bootloaders (well, not unlocking, but making it trivial).

Typically I say buy something established, but these are known technologies so they've hit their bumps, but they're coming together in a single device.

If battery life is the most important to you, I'd suggest staying away from 4G. It's a drain. I have a 4G phone and toggle it off a majority of the time.

Which seems to point me back to the Droid Razr Maxx. Out of several reviews I've read on this phone and some of the others, the DRM seems to have outstanding battery life even with the 4G. But aside from that, I love the idea of being able to hook the thing up to my TV, stream stuff to the computer, basically have all the tablet features I'd need all rolled up in a smartphone. The BIGGEST thing I haven't heard yet is the how the clarity of the phone conversations are. When I had my Blackberry Curve, I could barely hear people at times, and at times, people couldn't hear me at all. I am hoping that was just a fluke problem with the Blackberry and not smartphone wide.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Which seems to point me back to the Droid Razr Maxx. Out of several reviews I've read on this phone and some of the others, the DRM seems to have outstanding battery life even with the 4G. But aside from that, I love the idea of being able to hook the thing up to my TV, stream stuff to the computer, basically have all the tablet features I'd need all rolled up in a smartphone. The BIGGEST thing I haven't heard yet is the how the clarity of the phone conversations are. When I had my Blackberry Curve, I could barely hear people at times, and at times, people couldn't hear me at all. I am hoping that was just a fluke problem with the Blackberry and not smartphone wide.

Bionic can do all that as well and you can remove the battery

[los panda]

i'll soon be making the jump from barbaric flip phone to smart phone. i usually use about 200 minutes/month, text a lot, and plan to use a lot of data. anyone know of any good plans? i'm looking for something cheaper/better than:

$35/month for 300min, unlimited text, unlimited data

[FRPLG]

Better than that? Hmm. I think that is pretty good.

[los panda]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Better than that? Hmm. I think that is pretty good.

that's where i'm leaning

htc one v for $160
and that plan $35/month

exactly $1,000 over 24 months, but no contract

[mooby]

Originally Posted by los panda

that's where i'm leaning

htc one v for $160
and that plan $35/month

exactly $1,000 over 24 months, but no contract

Which company is that? Next year my contract is up, and since Verizon is about to give up unlimited plans for those of us that were grandfathered in, I am thinking about switching once my contract's over. I currently pay about 110 a month for my Iphone 4. Sounds like we use our phones similarly (I don't use a lot of minutes but I text a lot.)

[los panda]

Originally Posted by mooby

Which company is that? Next year my contract is up, and since Verizon is about to give up unlimited plans for those of us that were grandfathered in, I am thinking about switching once my contract's over. I currently pay about 110 a month for my Iphone 4. Sounds like we use our phones similarly (I don't use a lot of minutes but I text a lot.)

virgin mobile.

their iphone 4 goes for $550 (4s $650), but if you can jailbreak yours, i think you could use it w this plan. the next step up is 1200min + unlimited text + unlimited data for $45. the top tier is unlimited everything for $55.

[los panda]

ordered the htc one v from amazon for $150.

anyone have an experience w screen protectors? the phone doesn't have gorilla glass, so i think i'm going to get a protector. hoping someone can speak on one that they have used, good news or bad.

[MTK]

I ride buck naked with my phone, no screen protector and no case. That's just me though, I'm pretty careful with my stuff.

[jamf]

WTF, I pay $98 a month...

How is the service with Virgin?

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mattyk

i ride buck naked with my phone, no screen protector and no case. That's just me though, i'm pretty careful with my stuff.

tmi!

[los panda]

Originally Posted by jamf

WTF, I pay $98 a month...

How is the service with Virgin?

i don't know yet, phone hasn't arrived/haven't started service yet. the reviews were all over the place. but the consensus was that it was decent (a lot of users cited the fact that it shares sprint's network).

i'm rarely going to use this thing outside of the los angeles area, and there were no complaints about coverage in this area. my coverage areas checklist included:
howard county, md
ocean city, md
los angeles, ca
las vegas, nv

works great in those areas, i feel confident. but it's probably not the carrier for someone who may do a lot of traveling. i'll report on my experience as soon as i can.

[los panda]

anyone use a screen protector?