The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: seeker_two on November 17, 2010, 06:32:22 PM
-
Well, it's time to renew my AT&T contract and retire my Rugby for a smartphone. My wife is set on getting a iPhone, but Apple-smug is a deal-killer for me....and I want a slider with real QWERTY keys, not the "virtual" crud. I'm looking hard at the Motorola Flipside with Android 2.2 with the Blackberry Torch a distant second. However, the new Windows 7 phones (esp. the LG Quantum) intrigues me.
Anyone have any experience with these phones or OS's? What's your preference? Is Windows 7 worth the extra $50 over the Android?
Thanks in advance...... ;D
-
Go for the Android systems brother. I've got a Motorola Droid on Verizon, slider, on screen and physical keyboard. My experiences with Windows phones hasn't been great, but I've not used the new one. Yeah though, Apples are for jive self important...oh that's right the wife's getting one, never mind. The iPhone isn't a bad phone though. I switched from AT&T to Verizon and much happier with the service, if your contracts up you can switch to any other provider at no cost and keep you number.
-
The Droid 2 has a slide out keyboard and a nice big touchscreen. I wanted to get one but decided to go for the Samsung Fascinate instead. It's also Android OS, but doesn't have a keyboard. What I like about it is the huge screen which is great for GPS. I'm getting used to the touchscreen keyboard. The best thing about the phone is that it was buy one get one free at the Verizon store, so my wife and I each got one.
-
My idea of a smart phone? No cell at all. And no answering machines either. If I'm home, you can talk to me. If not, call back. If I want to talk to you, I'll call. I remember when unreachable meant unreachable. I'm not the damn President or a heart surgeon. Why should I be avaiable 24-7? Thats the way it was, and we liked it!
FQ13 who isn't even remotely kidding about this post either. I swear I'm one inch away from sitting on the front porch with my Parker and daring the next "young whippersnapper" to shove another piece of progress down my throat. If you want to to talk to me? Write a damned letter. So there! ;)
-
My idea of a smart phone? No cell at all. And no answering machines either. If I'm home, you can talk to me. If not, call back. If I want to talk to you, I'll call. I remember when unreachable meant unreachable. I'm not the damn President or a heart surgeon. Why should I be avaiable 24-7? Thats the way it was, and we liked it!
FQ13 who isn't even remotely kidding about this post either. I swear I'm one inch away from sitting on the front porch with my Parker and daring the next "young whippersnapper" to shove another piece of progress down my throat. If you want to to talk to me? Write a damned letter. So there! ;)
I'm pretty sure Seeker's post wasn't about you. ;)
-
I'm with FQ.....I carry a phone so I know who's trying to reach me. I answer it one out of ten times it vibro-ring-wails...
Once and a while I'll take a picture of a particular decent turd or two to send to friends!
-
Have the Moto with keyboard that I hardly ever use. Then I only send maybe 5 texts a month. And those are usually pretty short. Been beta testing "Swype" which lets you "glide" around on the screen keyboard and it smartly figures out what word you were trying to "type".
I left So Bell/ATT 10 years ago and haven't regretted it once. In the Atlanta area the ATT coverage was pretty spotty. I drove a delivery truck for a month with equivalent ATT and Verizon phones side by side. Always more bars with V. YMMV of course.
Here's my advice. If iTunes is highly important to you in your life style. If you can't live with out today's latest download from Apple then by all means get an iPhone. Otherwise go with the company whose cell service you like best.
-
Have the Moto with keyboard that I hardly ever use. Then I only send maybe 5 texts a month. And those are usually pretty short. Been beta testing "Swype" which lets you "glide" around on the screen keyboard and it smartly figures out what word you were trying to "type".
I left So Bell/ATT 10 years ago and haven't regretted it once. In the Atlanta area the ATT coverage was pretty spotty. I drove a delivery truck for a month with equivalent ATT and Verizon phones side by side. Always more bars with V. YMMV of course.
Here's my advice. If iTunes is highly important to you in your life style. If you can't live with out today's latest download from Apple then by all means get an iPhone. Otherwise go with the company whose cell service you like best.
I love swyping! Also, so many free apps for the Android.
-
Just upgraded to a Motorola, ( always had good luck with Motorola ) cliq, motoblur, still learning it, got it monday, 3g, web and email. got my email set up yesterday and it works, as far as reading it, not real sure about getting it set up to respond, Still learning all the other capabilities, I am paying for the service, so need to learn it. A smart phone could easily be smarter than you have patience for.
-
One thing I've been doing the last couple years. I shop around the internet and buy phones on the cheap that are compatible with my carrier, currently and always been Cingular/ATT. Buying from the provider is costly and not necessary!
I just managed to get a brand new Rugby II for 50 bucks and a 2 year commitment when ATT wanted 100 bucks direct.
I've only had one area here that ATT didn't have a good cell service. I've moved and I've not a problem since.
-
Seriously, old fart bitching aside, I just want a phone. Others may want or need more. Fair enough. But I do wish that the companies would offer a basic model. Its not that I'm cheap, its just that I don't want the gizmos like a camera or internet access, or texting, gps or the like and would prefer not to pay for them. I doubt I'm alone. Am I?
FQ13
-
My wife and I just got Blackberry Torches. We have been having fun with them. We have ATT which has had good coverage in all the areas we frequent -- Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New England, Wyoming, Pennsylvania. At deer camp this week ATT was the only one with coverage. The same thing happened at antelope and mulie camp in Wyoming. So, all I can say is that I like the new phones. I hated the LG phones we had before, they sucked big time.
-
Seriously, old fart bitching aside, I just want a phone. Others may want or need more. Fair enough. But I do wish that the companies would offer a basic model. Its not that I'm cheap, its just that I don't want the gizmos like a camera or internet access, or texting, gps or the like and would prefer not to pay for them. I doubt I'm alone. Am I?
FQ13
Nope, you're not alone but, the "do nothing phones" are almost always refurbs and they sucked to begin with. I bought the Rugby because my wife (and I) drop phones, get them wet, leave them in the car or otherwise abuse them. They're made to a Mil-Std and are compliant to "water resistant and drop proof" and other associated standards.
It's pretty basic but it can take pictures, text, do the internet et al.....just don't activate all the crap and work around the BS.
Guys like you could benefit from the "pay as you go" phones from Target and other unmentionable retailers.
-
I buy my phones online 'unlocked' so you don't have to use it with any one carrier. also, I just change out the SIM card when I get to a new country and I have service. I prepay as I'm only in the country for a few days at a time. a service contract makes no sense for me. as for the music etc... of iphones, my phone can do the same, without having to buy the music in any particular format. just hook it up to the computer or transfer with bluetooth and you have tunes. I'm using a Nokia music express 5800. love it. even has wifi capability so I can use Skype and talk for free. (I love free stuff) also GPS and all the other bells and whistles, for under $200.00 new.
deepwater
-
Trac phone, pay as I go,not traceable to a specific owner,and it makes phone calls, that's all I want it for.
-
Marshal and I have Blackberry Tours. Love them.. I would be lost without all my "stuff" on it.
Pictures... internet.. facebook.. emails..and
Texting? .. I only text about 800-1,000 texts a month..
Marshal texts 10-20..
:-X I don't want one single word uttered that is a smart remark.. or.. I will ban you ALL to the corner!
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/3.gif)
-
Marshal and I have Blackberry Tours. Love them.. I would be lost without all my "stuff" on it.
Pictures... internet.. facebook.. emails..and
Texting? .. I only text about 800-1,000 texts a month..
Marshal texts 10-20..
:-X I don't want one single word uttered that is a smart remark.. or.. I will ban you ALL to the corner!
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/3.gif)
No Rice Krispies remarks?
-
M'lette O'Halloway, don't ever challenge her to a thumb wrestling match. Damn those thumbs are strong! ;D
FQ13
-
My cellphone is so old it has a rotary dial on it.
No camera, doesn't bother me with emails and I pay as I go for calls. $8.95 a month, 15 or 25 cents per call. About 5-10 cents per text. A HUGE phone bill for me is $18-20 a month. Most of the time it's about $11.
I'm retired so there is no business involved, just staying in touch to set up tee times and shooting opportunities. (and texting when in a tree stand because I can't talk)
My wife on the other hand needs a new phone as soon as they come out or as soon as her friends get one, whatever is most expensive. ::)
-
My cellphone is so old it has a rotary dial on it.
ROFL! I'm going to steal that one, or I would if I could. >:( Mine broke and I got the cheapest thing AT@T had. Sad thing? I accidently pushed a button and took a picture in the store. I ask the guy "This thing has a camera? Why didn't you mention that"? He looks at me as though he's talking to a three year old and says "They all do sir. Its standard". To quote Steve Martin, but "Excuuuuuuuse me". I didn't ask for, and don't want to pay for, this "feature". I started to explain, then just shut up and signed. I'm beaten. Still, it ain't right, I'm not THAT old! ;D
FQ!3
-
ROFL! I'm going to steal that one, or I would if I could. >:( Mine broke and I got the cheapest thing AT@T had. Sad thing? I accidently pushed a button and took a picture in the store. I ask the guy "This thing has a camera? Why didn't you mention that"? He looks at me as though he's talking to a three year old and says "They all do sir. Its standard". To quote Steve Martin, but "Excuuuuuuuse me". I didn't ask for, and don't want to pay for, this "feature". I started to explain, then just shut up and signed. I'm beaten. Still, it ain't right, I'm not THAT old! ;D
FQ!3
FQ, you can still find simple stupid phones online for good prices. just look for unlocked phones so that you don't have to change providers. even used will work if you put your sim card in it.
deepwater
-
I looked at a smartphone when I got my Gzone Ravine. I decided that I wanted a phone that will take a beating when I'm on the Maah Daah Hey trail, hunting, and is water resistant. AND I wanted a phone I could strap to my RUSH pack. I couldn't find a phone case made for a smart phone.
I never thought I would use the camera function but after the first chick that hit my pickup it really made it easy to take pics of the damage and her plate.
The thing about the Gzone it has a compass, a themetor, pedomitor. I don't know I'll ever use the the stargazer feature.
-
Amazon is usually the cheapest place online to buy a smartphone. They usually have at least several high end Android or WP7 phones (even though they just came out) for $0.01. It varies by which carrier you decide to get the phone through.
-
I'm convinced smartphones and the ppl who invented them are evil. It's also the reason I can no longer find a decent belt pouch for my i776 flip phone. all the pouches out there are either for iphones or Razrs. Got a pouch thats falling apart and can't replace the thing.
-
I'm convinced smartphones and the ppl who invented them are evil. It's also the reason I can no longer find a decent belt pouch for my i776 flip phone. all the pouches out there are either for iphones or Razrs. Got a pouch thats falling apart and can't replace the thing.
This is what I'm using for my Rugby now.....plenty of room for the phone and my other stuff (first aid, inhaler, mints/cough drops, etc.).....
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MOLLE027-1.html (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MOLLE027-1.html)
Add a metal belt clip to the back, and it makes a great phone case.... 8)
-
I'm convinced smartphones and the ppl who invented them are evil. It's also the reason I can no longer find a decent belt pouch for my i776 flip phone. all the pouches out there are either for iphones or Razrs. Got a pouch thats falling apart and can't replace the thing.
Find a small neoprene case for a point and shoot camera. I use one for my Blackberry.
-
I'm convinced smartphones and the ppl who invented them are evil. It's also the reason I can no longer find a decent belt pouch for my i776 flip phone. all the pouches out there are either for iphones or Razrs. Got a pouch thats falling apart and can't replace the thing.
5.11 has three different sizes of case that are molle compatable, but they work great for belt. The phone doesn't go anywhere