Smart Phones... what pushed you over the edge?

[patbarton]

I have been debating with myself for almost a year about getting a smart phone. My nephew Dave and his wife constantly brag about theirs and show me their favorite apps whenever I see them. The other night Dave held his phone over his head and showed me the stars in the sky and the constellations on his phone.

Have any of you resisted the urge to buy a smart phone, only to throw in the towel and buy one (or two)? If so, what was the "last straw" that drove you to the Apple store?

I still remember with great fondness my first "car" phone. It was from Radio Shack and consisted of a huge metal box that I had to bolt to the floor, and a nuclear blast-protected handset that was suitable for beating someone to death.

[BB_TX]

Still holding out. I have a fairly basic phone. And often, I don't even turn it on unless I want to use it right then or am expecting the DW to call me.
It does have a camera that I have taken maybe a half dozen pictures. And I think I remember sending a text message on it once.
DW has an iphone4. She is definitely a gadget person.

[adelmoll]

Being able to have my computer with me at all times is what did it for me... Don't know how I ever got along without it now..

Helen

[Ishler]

Being able to use it as a WiFi hotspot for my laptop and being able to locate satellites for dish setup, did it for me. That and it's cost of $49 with a 2yr commitment. I have an HTC Inspire from ATT.

[pbahlin]

Everything Mike said...only my HTC Inspire was $19.95 with 2 yr contract, and my IPhone was not good.....had a 3G. I really needed to
upgrade to the latest IPhone....but didn't want to spend the $200.00 for the previlege.


Recommendation....don't go to the Apple store......way too much money IMHO, my DH and I both dropped our IPhones for the Inspire way more applications including the star finder and the satellite finder as well......

Betty

[mhs4771]

Still holding out here, but will probably have to go that route, need some way to keep track of upcomming trips and appointments along with Names, addresses, and phone numbers of friends

[Ozz]

I don't even know how to use any of the features my old one .....

[Lee F.]

quote:Originally posted by Ozz

I don't even know how to use any of the features my old one .....

+1

[bigmurf]

My DriodX2 has a app that allows me to enter a number and call someone.

[Red939]

I don't want or need a "smart phone." I need a "phone," you know, one on which you make and receive phone calls...that's it.

[Trailer Trash 2]

I've been holding out for one, I want one that conects with my computer like my Blackberry, so I can use, MS Office programs, Outlook Calinder, Outlook Express for mail, Excell, Power point, and Word, it seems that the new smart phones are geared for children for games, movies, and music which I'm not interrested in, most of the "Apps" are gimics or eye candy to play with when your not texting, LOL. I find it easier to push a number a call the person its, safer, and bit more personal.
They say you can buy apps for these things I want but if you read the reviews of the owners of these phones you will get your answer about the phone of your choise, read the ones with 1 or 2 stars those are the ones with the information.
Good luck.

[Bill-N-Donna]

I like new things and gadgets but when it comes to cell phones I don’t need an up-grade. I have a cell phone that doesn’t even have a camera. I have the texting blocked, why do I need that? If I want to contact someone I’ll call them. I do pay for other phones on a family pack but it’s not for me yet!

[washley1]

After DW begged for one for a couple of years, I finally broke down and got one...for myself! (DW will be ready for an upgrade in Jan, and she will get one then!!) I agree most apps seem to be child related, but the ones I have are good ones. Weather, stocks, RV parks, my bank, etc, and I do like the ability to do e-mail and surf the net on the go, if needed.

[exav8tr]

I have resisted this technology also. I only use my phone,(an LG VX8300 Flip phone), as, go figure, A PHONE. It has a camera and I use that on very rare occasion as wife carries a Panasonic Luminix camera in her purse at all times. I suppose at some point I will have to upgrade it. I went looking for a new belt carrier for it and made the mistake of going into a Verizon store. The nice lady referred to my phone as a dumb phone, as opposed to a "Smart" phone. I told her when the smart phones can make me a cup of joe I might invest in one. Our biggest use of the phone is when we are shopping, like Walmart, and DW is lost and I need to find her, of course you must take the phone with you AND make sure it is turned on.

In the park we are living in, they give us "in park service" free. But, people can phone us on this phone fromm outside the park, so we have given this number to our friends and family. Works great for us.

I hear a person can spend alot of money on the apps that are not free. No thanks!!!!

I have had my flipper for three years and have dropped it numerous times and, like the Timex watch, it just keeps on ticking...

I personally think the texting thing is just a way to avoid talking to people, or to use it in a school setting......Neither I am fond of.

[LonnieB]

The need to have access to my business at all times, without lugging around mt laptop, from wherever I may be, was the deciding factor for me. I have the HTC Evo 4G and so far I am extremely pleased with it. It does pretty much anything my laptop will do, and it fits in my shirt pocket. The screen is almost twice the size of my wife's iPhone and easy to see. The only complaint I have, is the sensitivity of the touch screen. You have to be careful when using it or you find yourself navigated away from what you were doing.

[oldelmer1]

Pat,

We bought a Motorola DROID X2, its great, we can do anything with it that we could do with our laptop. Lots of apps for doing anything, including turning on the flash to use it as a flashlight.

We also use PDANET(costs $16.00) and you can connect your phone to your laptop and the phone becomes a modem. Speed is very good, as long as you have a good signal from Verizon.

If your into gadgets, I'd say, GET ONE!!! )

[PowellsMonty]

If you are a gadget Queen, get one. Then you will find out you don't need one if you have a laptop near by. You won't like the office programs unless your laptop breaks. We have a condo that we rent in SC and as soon as that sells, back to motorola flip for me. Phone to call people, desk top & laptop for internet & Business.

[snfexpress]

I carry a whole bunch of telephone line, but it works as well as the new ones...Kat is getting a little testy though hanging off the rear ladder spooling out the wire.

[WeBeFulltime]

I, too, tried a "smart" phone and then went back to my "dumb" phone. Happy now.

[sfish]

I love my HTC Evo 4g It gives me a lot of freedom from having to check in with my laptop when I want to check on something. The apps are amazing! The solar system is just the start to what cool apps are out there. I bought four of them for DW and the kids that are not living at home anymore. The kids are showing us some great apps as well. I am hooked.