Comments | fullauto: Smartphones?

fullauto

Smartphones?

Jan 05, 2011 22:21

For those of you currently using smart phones, what features would you look for in a phone if you were to buy one today? Are there features you use now that you didn't think you would find useful before you got your phone? And finally, does the smart phone have enough horsepower to replace a notebook or laptop for travel? TIA...

Comments 9

evilegg January 6 2011, 03:32:49 UTC

I wouldn't take my laptop on anything less than a 2 day trip.
I use google maps frequently even though I have a gps. It searches much faster and it's easier to enter the data.

fullauto January 8 2011, 01:32:43 UTC

Thanks. :)

smjayman January 6 2011, 06:06:52 UTC

Well I don't know how to answer directly, but let me tell you what I use on the phone, and on what sort of basis:

Daily:
1. Browser
2. Email
3. Txt

Several Times/Week:
1. PDF Reader
2. Phone

Occasionally, but helpful:
1. Navigation/Maps
2. Games/Entertainment

I don't need a laptop for shorter trips, unless I need to write or seriously edit a doc or spreadsheet. 2-3 days is no sweat for a Droid.

fullauto January 8 2011, 01:38:07 UTC

Did you text a lot before you got your Droid? I never text anybody now and I don't think that will change, but email and browser... yeah, that would be handy to have at my finger tips. I know AltD had an iPhone a while back. What made you choose the Droid over the iPhone? Are you running 2.1 or Froyo on your Droid? Any desire to root it or is it good to go as is? Do you feel hampered by not having an actually keyboard at all? Thanks... :)

smjayman January 9 2011, 09:48:40 UTC

1. Yes.
2. Verizon, so no iPhone without switching.
3. Froyo.
4. Some, the verizon extra crap is annoying.
5. Nope, I like the touch screen now, and the transition wasn't too difficult. Took like half a day before I didn't care anymore.

fullauto January 9 2011, 14:24:10 UTC

Very cool-- that fills in a lot of the blanks I had that needed to be answered by a real world person. :) Thanks.

ericthemage January 10 2011, 00:07:59 UTC

I have the Samsung Code with Windows Mobile 6.5 (it came with 6.1 and I upgraded it) from Metro PCS, and have had it for about 7 months ( ... )

fullauto January 10 2011, 22:02:37 UTC

How is the reception/service area coverage with Metro PCS in the Detroit area and further out like in the UP? I haven't looked at Metro PCS because I thought they were metro areas only, but if they are partnered with one of the bigger networks I might be interested in them... $50/month is dirt cheap compared to the big 4. Since forestmaster and I are both looking at getting smart phones, our phone bill will double if we continue to use Sprint ( ... )

ericthemage January 11 2011, 15:32:23 UTC

I don't know about the UP, but there's a few areas where I've had dropped calls, typically along 13 mile near Telegraph. My TracFone also dropped calls in that area. We've been to Wisconsin with it and didn't have too many problems, though if I recall correctly we couldn't use Google Maps periodically because we didn't have internet in some areas along I-94. They have phone coverage all over the country but it's basic in some areas. The network is growing.

If you make a lot of phone calls, I probably wouldn't get MetroPCS, I've heard from others that there are too many dropped calls. I've also had complaints of people getting multiple texts from me when I sent only one.

Since there is no contract, you pay the full cost of the phone. Mine was over $300 but had a few rebates at the time to reduce it to about $275.