J-BAR #18287 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 If I want to take a picture, I grab a camera. If I want to go on the internet, I grab a computer. If I want to make a phone call, I pick up a phone. I think these new cell phones with the touch screens and internet capability are a passing fad like smokeless powder. However, the missus wants one of these do-everything phones for Christmas. So I'm asking for guidance. Of course she will make her own choice, but I thought it best to tap the wisdom of the Wire to see which makes and models she should avoid, and which ones are likely candidates. If you have a strong feeling, based on experience, about a particular make or model of one of these gadgets I will appreciate it. We are with Sprint at the moment...I guess that could change with a good enough reason. Thanks in advance. J-Bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Hoss Fly #63711 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Dont have much 'speerence with such but I got a great deal on a IPhone 3g rite here & the wife liked it so much I had ta git her one It DO HAVE sum "hidden" cost attached tho- But only $15 xtra a month for internet access (AT&T) - it also cost a couple bucks to access & use sum fourms, I aint set that up yet I hear bad stuff bout the new 4g tho---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Emily SASS #73673 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I have a Blackberry and like it but was playing with the the Android the other day and really really wanted to get that but we are not ready for an upgrade yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie Wheelgun Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I made sure the cell phone I got for my late wife had the camera function. Great of have with you in case of an accident. You can record everything on the spot. My next smart phone will be the Android model, probably a Galaxy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 The "touch screen" models are nice, but if you think she'll use it at all while driving be sure to address that issue when selecting a model! Last summer I bought myself a "Palm "Pixi," sort of a blackberry wannabe... from the phone company's ballyhoo it seemed to be "all that AND a bag o' chips." Anyway, it does have a camera (marginal, as it turns out), can access the internet, download and play videos... but nearly impossible and VERY unsafe to use while driving - even using a bluetooth. The thing is, the "touch screens" are totally visual... you cannot dial without looking at it. Some phones have a voice recognition dialing feature that would help tremendously if you take the time to set it up. Surprisingly, the Palm did not have that feature! Consequently, it's been languishing in the glove comparment, and I bought a Sony Ericsson that is FAR more simple to use. AND has voice recognition dialing. Mind you, this isn't an endorsement for the Sony or a condemnation of the Palm, just suggesting ya consider everything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Emily SASS #73673 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 The "touch screen" models are nice, but if you think she'll use it at all while driving be sure to address that issue when selecting a model! Last summer I bought myself a "Palm "Pixi," sort of a blackberry wannabe... from the phone company's ballyhoo it seemed to be "all that AND a bag o' chips." Anyway, it does have a camera (marginal, as it turns out), can access the internet, download and play videos... but nearly impossible and VERY unsafe to use while driving - even using a bluetooth. The thing is, the "touch screens" are totally visual... you cannot dial without looking at it. Some phones have a voice recognition dialing feature that would help tremendously if you take the time to set it up. Surprisingly, the Palm did not have that feature! Consequently, it's been languishing in the glove comparment, and I bought a Sony Ericsson that is FAR more simple to use. AND has voice recognition dialing. Mind you, this isn't an endorsement for the Sony or a condemnation of the Palm, just suggesting ya consider everything... The reviews for the Palm Pixi were not good at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pay Dirt Norvelle #90056 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I have had a DroidX for a little over a month and really like it. Of course I am bit of a gadget nut, but the capabilities of the phone are something else. It has a 8mp camera and is more like a computer with a phone attached. I do agree that you should not use a cell phone while driving and if that is a possibility maybe try a Droid2 which does have a QWERTY key board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 If I want to take a picture, I grab a camera. If I want to go on the internet, I grab a computer. If I want to make a phone call, I pick up a phone. I think these new cell phones with the touch screens and internet capability are a passing fad like smokeless powder. However, the missus wants one of these do-everything phones for Christmas. So I'm asking for guidance. Of course she will make her own choice, but I thought it best to tap the wisdom of the Wire to see which makes and models she should avoid, and which ones are likely candidates. If you have a strong feeling, based on experience, about a particular make or model of one of these gadgets I will appreciate it. We are with Sprint at the moment...I guess that could change with a good enough reason. Thanks in advance. J-Bar Apple has made it very easy and almost intuitive to operate a smart phone, and their software is user-friendly - iTunes is quite good at doing what you need. The Droid phones lately have better cameras if that's really important to you. The service provider can make a difference - ATT is iffy at best, but others have their issues as well. I find most Droid computer software for synch up and e-mail address sharing, and photo editing/filing, and web browser bookmark sharing, etc. to be at best user tolerant, if not down right user hostile, so that's something to look at carefully. I'm a software engineer and manager by trade, most of these aspects are not an issue to me, whereas my wife is a novice, and intolerant of fiddly things that are difficult to make work, she's almost a Luddite at heart. She LOVES her iPhone 3G, I doubt she wants what a 4G or a Droid offers, so mama's happy - life's good. I synch her phone once a month, install more music at her request, and otherwise she just moves through life in a happy state. The phone is a phone, look at the stuff around it too - the service providers, the phone's in-hand convenience to operate, the software the PC uses to provide the backup and O/S installs, etc. . . . YMMV . . Shadow Catcher p.s. - don't use iTunes to buy music, download from other places as an MP3 or copy your music, then have iTunes convert and install, that way if you ever migrate to a different platform you can take your music with you . .. also - blackberry keyboards are going away in the next 1-2 years - too failure prone and users want bigger soft keys - the new pads, and phone are making the case . .KB's are on the way out soon . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Mo Lassess, SASS #65309L Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Being on call come the first of 2011, and needing an calendar and ability to keep some Adobe files handy and liking all the wonky stuff, I upgraded from a 8 year old phone to a HTC Incredible. And boy, is it incredible! Internet access, weather reports, Facebook, Hotmail, Gmail, 8Meg camera, voice recognition dialing, Google search using voice (neat! I can speak what I want to search and the google app types it and goes out and searches it), and 1000's of free apps. Wife is using Weight Watchers now- found an app that calculates the WW points plus. Want to find the calories of a hamburger at Wendy's? Go to the app that has 100's of chain eateries, and find out what all Wendy's menu items have for calorie counts. I rang the bell for Salvation Army today. Before heading out, found an app that showed Santa on the screen. Touch him and he shakes like a bowlful of Jello, and went Ho Ho Ho!!!. You should see the eyes of the kids when I said I had a call from Santa and showed them the phone and had him laugh and jiggle! Anything I need to do for my job can be done on the phone- what a change from the old phone that was, well, a phone. Love the Android system, the ease of use, the QWERTY touch screen. Added a Kindle app, downloaded 4 books from Amazon.com for free and can sit and read any of them while waiting for a doctor's appointment, or for my wife to get dressed, or other times when I have a LONNNNNG time to kill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Joe, SASS #24061 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Another vote for the HTC Incredible. A little price, but worth it. But check the prices for the data packages. As far as providers, I've found, making a few cross country drives, thast Verizon coverage is about the top of the line. Very rarely found anywhere I couldn't connect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Mo Lassess, SASS #65309L Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 +1 for Verizon, in my opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pay Dirt Norvelle #90056 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I forgot to say in my previous post that as far as I am concerned, Verizon is the best cell phone provider out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTH-PACIFIC,SASS #59402 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I forgot to say in my previous post that as far as I am concerned, Verizon is the best cell phone provider out there. not into all the fancy stuff but i will back verison for service the building i work in has limited axcess for all those fancy things i talk any place just went to the convention from florida no phone ploblems any place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filthy Harry, SASS #24924 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 +3 for the Incredible. Just what Maurice and Spooky Joe said. If you're like me, you like to look up things when you're out and about. It's like having a laptop in your pocket. Apps are incredible too. GPS, flashlight, Pandora radio. Every app I've gotten has been free including my Amazon Kindle. No more paperbacks in the pocket. Didn't think I'd be able to catch on to a smart phone, but Adroid Central forums has all the answers. I also get to surf the SASS Wire while at work without bothering th government computer. My wife said she didn't want a smart phone, but she keeps grabbing my phone when we're out together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apache Hawk 60642 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Hey, I have trouble wif dail-up and all dis puter thingy stuff !!! And I got a cell phone dats 12 years old !!! But I heard dat ifin' a cowpoke was to buy a new phone, and it has da "Internet" already loaded on it, Dat you could plug it into yur puter thingy and it will run yur puter thingy super fast. Anybody know ifin' dats true ? Keep in mind dat dis is comin' from a cowpoke what don't know how to program a T.V. remote !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barterin Bill Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Dont have much 'speerence with such but I got a great deal on a IPhone 3g rite here & the wife liked it so much I had ta git her one It DO HAVE sum "hidden" cost attached tho- But only $15 xtra a month for internet access (AT&T) - it also cost a couple bucks to access & use sum fourms, I aint set that up yet I hear bad stuff bout the new 4g tho---- My son got the 4G when it first came out. I had heard about problems with dropped calls and reception so I was leary. After several months My son talked me into getting one. He said he had tried and could not recreate any of the problems people were complaining about. I got mine about 6 months ago and love it. It will connect to Wifi when ever it is available to access the internet and it doesn't count towards your usage when you are on Wifi. I really like the Face to Face. We have Wifi set up at home, and I also have Wifi at work, so this is where I do most internet and Face to Face. The mapping feature is also great if you are in a 3G area. It track better than my GPS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Will Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl1xP9FT1ZY...feature=related one cell phone app that is a killer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Mo Lassess, SASS #65309L Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Hey, I have trouble wif dail-up and all dis puter thingy stuff !!! And I got a cell phone dats 12 years old !!! But I heard dat ifin' a cowpoke was to buy a new phone, and it has da "Internet" already loaded on it, Dat you could plug it into yur puter thingy and it will run yur puter thingy super fast. Anybody know ifin' dats true ? Keep in mind dat dis is comin' from a cowpoke what don't know how to program a T.V. remote !!!! All I can say is that my Incredible has the internet and I can get on to here faster on my phone than I can on my home computer. And the phone will act as a WiFi so I can use it to hook up my wife's laptop and gt the internet on that from anywhere we get WiFi, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 After consulting with a very knowledge person (my son) I went with the iPhone. Works Great 3G coverage. Allows me remote access/control of my work computer Docking station sync with my work computer CAS timer app Gunsafe app for insurance inventory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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