Lets talk phones

[puddle jumper]

So I am in a the market for a new cell phone. Now I am not the most teckie kinda guy which phone is the one worth having.
Every one keeps saying the iphone is the way to go but what about the Android or the Black Berry. I would like to some internet usage with some of the apps that are out there. Mostly the phone will be used for trips we take down island and keeping in the now with the kids.


Any help would be nice because it,s a little over whelming

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Lets talk phones

Just to add some thing some one told me that if you put a SD card in you can use a low GB phone and turn it into a faster phone. This will drop the price big time from a 32GB to a 8GB with the same speed. One catch is you cant do it with the iphone.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Lets talk phones

No, putting an SD card in does not make it a faster phone. It just gives you more storage space.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Lets talk phones

No, putting an SD card in does not make it a faster phone. It just gives you more storage space.

OK one myth dispelled. thanks

 

[sschefer]

Re: Lets talk phones

I finally gave in and bought an iPhone 4.. I kick myself for not doing it sooner. I've had Windows Mobile phones and Droid phones and they don't hold a candle to the iPhone 4. I have the option to upgrade to the 4S but don't see any reason to. I can't believe how many great working apps there are for these things. Sure some of them are junk apps but they're so cheap you just delete them and move on. I have the Lowrance SonicHub on my HDS-8 and the iPhone plugs right into it. I also plug it into my MP3 port on my truck and I use it for GPS in the truck too. I have Verizon and my account runs me 160.00 a month with unlimited data access. I've even used it to remotely work on servers and avoided having to go into work.

I highly recommend the iPhone 4.

Also, 3g and 4g refer to cell tower bandwidth and your phones ability to communicate with it via it's network interface. It's still all about bandwidth consumption at the tower so in a heavily populated area 4g will give more bandwith to the same number of users but 3g will give you the same and often better performance in sparsely populated areas. If you live in a heavily populated area with 4g available definitely get a phone with 4g capability. If not then a 3g phone will do quite nicely.

For example, I live in Santa Rosa, Ca. which by San Francisco standards is sparsely populated. San Francisco has 4g but Santa Rosa only has 3g. My phone is actually slower when I'm working in S.F. and on the 4g network.

P.S. Please don't take the time to try to technically explain this to me. I'm a Network/Systems Engineer and have been one for 30 years. I'm trying to keep it simple for the OP who probably doesn't give a rats patootey either.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lets talk phones

My phone is actually slower when I'm working in S.F. and on the 4g network.

An iphone doesn't have 4G(LTE) capability so that's impossible.

Apple may be getting a true 4G with the iPhone5 which may be out later this year. The average joe won't notice any difference between a 3G and 4G phone unless you are streaming a lot of data which most people don't currently do. I can guarantee that Port McNeil won't have a 4G network for a long while!

Android phones are good but I prefer the iphone. I have mine jailbreaked so I can add other apps that aren't provided by the AppStore.

 

[dockwrecker]

iPhone hands down. I have a Crapberry as a co. Work phone and I'm plotting it's demise. Hate it! No wonder they're going broke, PoS! The androids are nowhere near as seamless in function to the iPhone.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Lets talk phones

I love my iphone. I've found it to be very intuitive, and so far it's been extremely reliable and surprisingly durable, and I'm pretty hard on stuff. I take it on multi-day float trips (kept in a Pelican box when not in use of course), bump it around all the time, etc. etc. etc., and so far so good. Word of wisdom, though. Even in an otter box it will not survive an encounter with an eighteen wheeler. (Don't ask me how I know.:facepalm

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Lets talk phones

Here is something that I suggest to anyone who will listen regarding making cell phone choices.

Do you have a land-line phone with an answering machine that records a good clean message?

If so....ask to try out the phone that you are interested in and send yourself a message. Speak clearly and talk long enough to be meaningful.

Do that with several phones and I guarantee that you will be amazed at how crappy the voice quality is on many of the popular phones. Especially a lot of the "smart-phones".....and very much in particular the i-phone.

A lot of the "smart-phones" are great with the gadgets...but lousy as a phone.

Of course; to have the most significance...the test should be done from an area that you would typically receive calls from....and once you narrow down the choices to one or two phones...I would do the test from several locations in order to judge not only the voice quality...but the radio reception as well.

Cell phones are just little radios; and some can receive and transmit a whole lot better than others.

Chuck

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lets talk phones

Do that with several phones and I guarantee that you will be amazed at how crappy the voice quality is on many of the popular phones. Especially a lot of the "smart-phones".....and very much in particular the i-phone.

I would tend to agree with that as my ATT iPhone is probably the worst "phone" that I have had but I believe a lot of the fault belongs with ATT. If I had the choice at the time I started using an iPhone, I would have gone with Verizon.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: Lets talk phones

I have an older Droid X with Verizon and love it. Its screen is much larger then either of my parent's Iphones, and can get all the same apps. I also found Android phones to be much cheaper, less hype I guess. I would highly recommend the Android system!

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Lets talk phones

I finally gave in and bought an iPhone 4.. I have Verizon and my account runs me 160.00 a month with unlimited data access.

OUCH! OUCH!! OUCH!!!! $160.00 Per Month? Really? Wow; I'm sure you must use it for business and feel that it's worth every penny.....but OUCH!!!!

My Virgin Mobile account costs $43.00 per month for unlimited data, unlimited texts, and 1200 minutes of talk. Another world. Virgin uses the Sprint Network which I admit is no match for ATT or Verizon.....but I feel it is a great deal.

I have always disliked the idea of a contract and after nearly a year now; I feel that VM has been a great choice.

Plus; I have a LG Optimus V phone (which I had to purchase for $120.00) and I regularly get comments as to how clear it sounds. A friend has the i-phone with ATT and the sound quality and reception doesn't come close to my LG Droid. Just my 2 cents....

Chuck

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Lets talk phones

My opinion? Steer clear of the gimmick phones if all you need is a telephone. Some of the gimmicks are enticing but do you really want or need them? You will pay for them. I buy end run LG flip phones off of ebay and do not even have to extend my contract to get one of Verizon's low end phones for free.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Lets talk phones

iPhone - particularly if you are not a rocket scientist when it comes to technology.

I head up the technology group at work and we support Blackberries, iPhones and Androids . . . I have yet to hear anyone complain about their iPhone. One of our exec's got an android phone, then came back to me a few months later and said, get me an iPhone . . . he's been a happy camper ever since.

Blackberries are way to complicated and always seem to have troubles. I had a user that took about 1 year to learn how to use their Blackberry . . . I gave them an iPhone and said go home and use this over the weekend . . . they figured it in no time.

 

[mscher]

Re: Lets talk phones

Blackberry is pretty much done-for. Avoid.

I have a iPhone 3G. Best tech device, I have ever owned.

I might upgrade to the 4, as a truck driver, I now need the voice command tehcnology, since there is no texting and calls have to be hands-free..

Never owned an android, but those that have them, seem to like them.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Lets talk phones

OUCH! OUCH!! OUCH!!!! $160.00 Per Month? Really? Wow; I'm sure you must use it for business and feel that it's worth every penny.....but OUCH!!!!

My Virgin Mobile account costs $43.00 per month for unlimited data, unlimited texts, and 1200 minutes of talk. Another world. Virgin uses the Sprint Network which I admit is no match for ATT or Verizon.....but I feel it is a great deal.

I have always disliked the idea of a contract and after nearly a year now; I feel that VM has been a great choice.

Plus; I have a LG Optimus V phone (which I had to purchase for $120.00) and I regularly get comments as to how clear it sounds. A friend has the i-phone with ATT and the sound quality and reception doesn't come close to my LG Droid. Just my 2 cents....

Chuck

Yes I do use it for work and I am reimbursed.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Lets talk phones

iPhone - particularly if you are not a rocket scientist when it comes to technology.

I head up the technology group at work and we support Blackberries, iPhones and Androids . . . I have yet to hear anyone complain about their iPhone. One of our exec's got an android phone, then came back to me a few months later and said, get me an iPhone . . . he's been a happy camper ever since.

Blackberries are way to complicated and always seem to have troubles. I had a user that took about 1 year to learn how to use their Blackberry . . . I gave them an iPhone and said go home and use this over the weekend . . . they figured it in no time.

Same situation here. Ownership kept me really busy until I finally got them off the BB's and on iPhones. I also got rid of a server as a side benefit.

The only problem I've had is with email. Seems the folks at Apple spoofed Exchange into thinking the security certificate had been installed (droids followed suit). Microsoft sued and won. Apple and Droid sent out the fix as a software update but made it pull vs. push. Microsoft sent out an update that closed the door on them. It wasn't a huge ordeal once I weeded through all the technotes and figured out what was going on.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Lets talk phones

Well went out yesterday and spent the day in the city looking. Came home with the Iphone 4.After comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges the prices were the same as an comparable Android. I like things that just work with out hang ups.


What I did learn is that don't get the 4 on the iphone4 mixed up with the 4g network. They have two different meanings. Like Bruce said do look at your network systems and there capability. It looks like up here on the island that we are not going to get 4g service for about at least 5 years but we do have the 3g.

Thanks for your comments
Kerry

 

[NYBo]

Re: Lets talk phones

With the recent demise of my beloved Palm Treo 700P (no longer vibrates and I never use the ringer), I've been switching around from among the various cast-offs from my family. I'm slowly warming up to my Pantech Hotshot, a non-smart touch phone, after trying various phones with physical QWERTY keyboards. I think I'll adapt, and hold on to the Pantech. That being said, I still prefer the Blackberry Bold provided by my job.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Lets talk phones

I got my Daughter the iphone 4s for Christmas, it has lots of capabilities she doesn't need but I will have to say Siri is pretty cool.
If She stays on honor role at school, she can keep it and ill keep paying that ridiculous bill. Lol

As of late december of 2011 iphone did not make a 4g device, that may have changed but i doubt it.

I still use my nearly indestructible Samsung Rugby, but will probably move to an iphone next. I'm anti change and a cheapskate but business is getting tough without it. People always try to send stuff to my non smart phone and ask what am i doing without one.

To those who might know.... what is the deal with Iphones not being a "secure" device like a black berry.
My wife works in telcom at a large nationwide company that has thousands of BB and they won't allow Apple items, Phones or ipads, on their "secure network servers".