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November 13, 2007
Basic Cell Phone or Smart Phone?
OK, my contract is up with my current carrier. My phone is two years old and the battery doesn't last nearly as long as it used to. Usually when my contract is up there is a new phone that I really want. This time around, nothing is really jumping out, at least to me, as a 'must have' new phone. The IPhone is very cool, but I am too cheap to spend $399, or more, on a cell phone.
Actually the real dilemma for me is whether to get a smart phone, or stick with a basic phone. I really like the idea of checking email, etc. anywhere. I already spend more than enough time in front of a computer screen. If I got a smart phone, I would probably spend even more time being 'connected'.
Blackberry, and other smart phone owners, have you become addicted to your phone? Any thoughts about going back to a more basic phone?
And what is your favorite phone feature - push to talk, camera, blue tooth, etc.? And what do you consider the most useless feature(s) on your phone?
Posted by Bob Gatton at November 13, 2007 7:43 AM
Comments
I'm still trying to decide on a first phone that will let me run my mouth for the longest time for the cheapest amount of money.
Since I moved Altell isn't in Missouri.
Posted by: Cris at November 13, 2007 9:39 PM
The thing to think about is what YOU are going to use your phone for. E-mail, voice, and an occasional text message? Do you need (or want) music videos and downloadable ring tones? Probably not.
Everything has bluetooth and a camera. Push to Talk only works with other phones on the same carrier. So those are all non-issues.
I used a Blackberry 7130 (with Verizon service) and found out a few things:
I loved it for voice quality and signal capture, which are absolutely the most important features of a phone. Who gives a damn what else it does if you can't make a phone call? That thing could find a signal anywhere.
I sent way more text messages than I thought I would, and they were all for business (not personal). That actually reduced the number of e-mails I had waiting for me at the end of the day, since I could resolve most things on the spot with a text message.
The phone was as close to indestructible as it gets. Period. Dropped, thrown (yes, thrown), kicked, didn't matter. It was rock solid.
A caveat is that it does not have a camera and it had a steep learning curve. But once I could use it, I never let it out of my sight.
At $150, I can highly recommend a Blackberry 7130. Other models have various prices, but one thing is for sure: once you get used to it, there is no going back.
Posted by: Jeff R at November 13, 2007 10:17 PM
I'm in exactly the same position, and I'm going back to a basic phone--no camera, no nothing, just a phone.
Posted by: Walt at November 13, 2007 10:29 PM
To be truthful all I want is a good PHONE nothing else
Posted by: Tina at November 14, 2007 5:28 AM
The other thing missing on most phones is the larger font capability. I can't always read the numbers or the text on some phones and appreciate the ones that let you change to a larger font, especially when it is bright outside. Other than calling and possibly sending a few text messages the rest of the bells and whistles are just that....useless to me, especially if I can't get a signal or read what comes up.
Posted by: Deb at November 14, 2007 8:22 AM
If your phone doesn't work, what good is a camera or any other feature! Just give me a phone that is durable, doesn't drop calls and gets a signal more often than not, and is relatively easy to use and program.
Posted by: Todd at November 14, 2007 9:35 PM
I liked the comment from Chis on the Blackberry, can you go to map quest to get directions?
Posted by: scott at November 15, 2007 9:56 AM
VERY VERY important to remember that with a PDA phone is that your carrier is extremely interested in making an xtra $20/mo on the internet connection. Cheapest is Sprint @ $15, but I think it has to be bundled with something else, raising the monthly cost. Some companies won't even let you get the smartphone without the connection (or may charge you more for the phone if you cancel the connection) Am I saying don't get one? NO WAY, I love my phone/calendar/reminder/alarm/Playstation/camera/ipod/spreadsheet/document creator, but I got my Treo used off eBay so I wasn't forced into the $20 high-speed connection, and I don't miss it from when I had it before.
Posted by: btaz at November 16, 2007 3:57 PM
I want just a phone. Presently I have a LG with AT&T and they drop my calls all the time. Difficult when you use the cell phone for business. I have exchanged phones, new sim cards with no luck and AT&T will not let me out of my contract (9 months to go)
Posted by: Mel Staudmyer at November 17, 2007 10:55 AM
I too had a terrible time with AT&T, Cingular or whatever they are calling themselves at this point in time. It seemed to me that I dropped way too many calls and I really feel they keep changing their name to try to confuse any potential new customers and outrun their bad reputation. I just went with Verizon and the difference is like night and day. The reception and operation of the cell is so much better and I have only had a very few lost calls.
Posted by: BILL at November 17, 2007 5:58 PM
Connectivity is the upmost important item to have with cellphones. Clearity is another!! It serves no purpose to have a cell phone if the calls are constantly being dropped.
Posted by: Mary at November 18, 2007 9:45 AM
I have a motorola Razor v3xx. Can anyone tell me how to down load the pictures I have in this cell phone onto my PC? I have XP on one computer and Vista on the other one. I have tried to install them using a motorola disk but had no luck. Should I use the Xp computer or the Vista Premuim one?
Thanks.
lindacabler@charter.net
Posted by: linda cabler at April 5, 2008 8:36 PM
Posted by: Marc at April 6, 2008 8:33 AM
