Thread: How can anyone justify Smartphones?

I pre-ordered the first iPhone and have used one ever since. The biggest thing I have noticed: I use my home computer maybe about once every 2 months! Sure, you can buy a netbook for 2-400 bucks, but you basically have a computer that runs on a cell phone chip. With a smartphone, you have a computer that runs on a cellphone chip, that fits in your pocket. You can even use a bluetooth keyboard for most of them if that makes you happy!

Here are the daily or near daily things I use my iphone for:
-RunKeeper: Tracks the stats of all my runs ($100 bucks to buy a Garmin)
-Google Maps: Lifesaver. I don't know how you drive in a large city without (Another couple hundred bucks to get a sort of comparable gps unit)
-iPod, Napster, Pandora: Powerful music and internet radio capabilities. Hooks into the aux jack in my car ($200 bucks for iPod, I'll compare this to Sat Radio, so another 15 bucks a month
-Golf GPS:I don't play golf every day, but when I do, this keeps my score and gives me my approach distance ($200+ for a comparable golf toy)
-Mobile Office apps: view PDFs from an internet account like Dropbox, edit word docs, excel sheets, powerpoint presentations.
-Kindle ebook reader
-Ebay, Amazon both have amazing mobile apps. I can take pics on my phone and make a listing, or browse, bid, and pay for things.
-"Gas Cubby": tracks my fuel consumption and car service dates
-Camera: The iPhone takes 5mp pictures and 720p video. I don't own a point and shoot, just the iPhone and a DSLR ($200 for another camera)
-Find iPhone: Also not an everyday thing, but if it is ever lost, i can get on my wife's iphone and track it down, send it messages, or wipe the data.
-Word Lens: not everyday usage, but it uses the camera to translate spanish text to english in real time! It is amazing.
-Epicurious: Cookbook app. Amazing!
-The Internet: Weather(including satellite views), buying movie tickets, everything, just everything. (Priceless)


I can even VNC to my office computer and control it remotely! It easily replaces over a thousand dollars in equipment. After 4 years, I couldn't live without this thing.

It's all a matter of what you need your phone to do. For those that just need a means to make phone calls, a simple cell phone meets their needs. For others, there's a need for the functions of a smartphone. I stay pretty busy with my son's baseball league and am also in the US Coast Guard Reserve. Because of this, the e-mail and scheduling functions of my BlackBerry are paramount. We just did a refinance on the house and having quick access to email was very helpful when our mortgage broker needed something.

I also use BB's internet connection for work (and also for going on SRP and following my White Sox). There will be times I'll be in the field, tracking down a hard to locate witness on one of my cases and I can access certain databases right there, rather than having to wait til I get back to the office.

It all comes down to whether or not you need the extra lights and sirens on your phone. If you truly don't need the extra functions, then I think it would be hard to justify.

I had to upgrade my dying old flip Phone. The guys at Verizon were on me like jackels to upgrade me to a smart phone. I didn't bite. I really don't like to see people more engrossed in a device than learning and trying to communicate with real live people. Besides, I leave my cell in the truck, or behind at home as much as possible. But don't take my word for it Dylan, I won't wear a wristwatch, and avoid looking at clocks as much as I can in this life.

I started thinking about the evolution of phones and thought that there are a lot of similarities to the razor.

A straight razor is a basic simple tool that does its purpose well and nothing more. Early phones made phone calls, they didn't give you directions to your freinds house. You probably knew the directions already but if you didn't you gave him a call and he told you.

Early phones had party lines, everyone heard and knew what was going on in the neighborhood. Men used to go to the barber shop to get a shave catch up on the gossip and know what is going on in the neighborhood.

You had to learn how to take care of your razor and it took a little effort but it would take care of you the rest of your life. Your phone took a little more work also. You had to remember the number and dial it yourself. The phone couldn't do it for you. Your phone would last you 30 years. If you moved, died, or lightning struck it would be the only reasons you had to change.


The razor and phone manufactureres didn't like this as things are lasting to long so they said, "Lets make a cheap handles for the blades/phones and make them buy the disposable blades/programs and we will make lots more money.

These things did no better of a job than the origionals and maybe even worse. So the manufacturers got their marketing people involved. Lets put 2 edges on a razor, They can only use one at a time but they are to dumb to realize that. Or lets add text messaging, its slower and easier to miscommunicate but we will convince them its cool.

This has evolved into razors with 5 blades that don't do a better job than with one and cell phones that can tell you how much tea is in China when you don't drink tea anyway. These modern versions don't last more than a year and are obsolete when you buy them. Don't worry though, just toss them in the trash and spend a lot of money on a new one.

I can think of many more examples but I am off to hone my new straight.


Tim

I got one for business about six months ago and I've found it to be indispensable. All the functions I've needed for work for a long time now in one handheld device: GPS, Digital Camera, Email, Phone, Tape Recorder, Calculator. Internet is nice too.

For personal use, to me it's like all other similar related technology: Once you get it and use it regularly, you think you can't live without it. But, of course you can. The internal fight is whether or not you want to live without being plugged in constantly.

My one fight I'm still winning is that I have yet to start a Facebook account for myself. M'eh.

Chris L

I would like to find a $70 per mos plan...Verizon is $130 plus taxes in DC area for unlimited voice and data for iPhone

I just got an IPhone and use it to stay in touch with my kids. Dylan, if I told you my cell phone bill you would......well crap yourself. I do every time I see it. My kids do over 10,000 text messages a month!!

Originally Posted by Birnando

Yup, that is one of the uses I value as well
Nothing like a little SRP on Tapatalk while having a lathing session in there

I have Taptalk and the coolest FARTING app I use to annoy my wife while in a restaurant. My favorite is "I'm Fartacus."

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've yet to own a cell phone, smart or otherwise. Thinking about it but the trusty old landline, at home, is hard to give up.

Still have my land line, required by the job.

I got rid of my land line and switched to a Cell phone just because I was so busy at the time and didn't want to miss calls or have to call people back at midnight all the time. Also due to my wife and daughter's health conditions it also makes it more of a necessity than just wanting to have.

I tried the Iphone about 2 years ago and it was Ehh.. all the apps that would have helped me cost to buy as well as monthly fees after that. I switched to an Android based phone and have not looked back.

The problem here in the US is that even if you pay retail for the smartphone the companies use the ESN numbers to flag the account with a data plan. Since all the smart phones are always connected and transferring data I can understand to a point but I did a test where I only used the data pieces of my phone over wireless for a month to see how much data transfer I had.. it was less than 5 MB. The only way around this is to modify the phone ie.. buy a T-Mobile phone that allows the use on an AT&T network ( like the original G1 ) where you can use it for calls but must use Wireless to do anything else that requires data transfer ( until the merger is finalized at least ).

The other nice thing I can do is since I have modified my android phone I can use it as a Wireless hotspot.. so instead of paying for a DSL line or cable I just plug my phone in and turn on the hotspot and then connect my laptop to it through Wireless.

The only other option here is to go to someplace like Metro PCS or a similar provider that offers a flat rate no contract service that you buy the phone and then just pay your bill. I know here it is 40 bucks a month for unlimited talk, text, and web (taxes and fees not included) usage on their smartphones though they do not have a large variety of them currently.

I cut the cable TV and the home phone.
We only run broadband at home and 2 iPhones.
I use my laptop about 50% less since I got my Smartphone.

With my phone, Daily I:

Control my work computer and handle customer calls(remotely)
control all my computers at home (remotely)
Post things like "HI IM on SRP right Now" from my backyard
Instant Messaging
Email work and personal
Find locations with GPS
Surf Yelp for great local food options
Take Photos of jerky fans
do video calls with my wife and talk to my son from anywhere
Play chess and words with friends with about 14 people
read some comments on Lamebook
check my orders for the jerky
use paypal to by shaving gear
use netflix so my son can watch thomas the tank engine
razor pr0n
Actually make phone calls (if AT&T lets me )

yes i seriously use my smart phone all the time and get my money's worth.

I could not justify paying $60+ for cable TV which I dont watch.

Smartphones are brilliant, they keep everything at hand so you can really stay connected to the fast paced lifestyle that makes you forget what's really important in life.

Anyways, for those who find that smartphones are expensive, just wait until the marketing departments find something bigger & better. Then smartphones will be obsolete and a smartphone plan will cost you peanuts.

In the mean time, enjoy the freedom you have when you can just walk down the street with nothing in you pocket except enough loose change to walk into the next pub you cross & enjoy a cool beer.