I am considering a smartphone myself.... it'd be my first cell phone. Can I hijack this thread for advice?
If not, then a mod can perhaps split my post into a new thread (and I apologize), but I think that's still on-topic. Sorry if I'm wrong.
Basically, I want a smartphone, but I have some specific needs. Here are my criteria:
- It cannot be an iPhone. That's because I want to be able to test some apps and games on it and I already have access to an iPod Touch, so I want something else. So I'm going for Android unless there's an obvious rival I'm unaware of...
- If I'm to get a smartphone, I might as well get the most hi-tech one available with all the bells and whistles, right? I'm guessing that's a Samsung Galaxy 3 or a Nexus 4?
- Ironically enough, I would not be using it often. I have little use for a cell phone... except that there are cases where I could have really used one, and had problems due to not having one, so I'm making the jump.
- I don't need that many minutes per month. I think 100 or even 50 is plenty. I wouldn't talk much on it. I might text more.
- I
do want to be able to use GPS, Google maps and the Internet, so I need a data-compatible plan. But it doesn't have to be a monthly plan; a per-use plan would work, since I'd use it occasionally.
- I'd mostly use it when going out of town, to look up stuff on maps or GPS, and to meet up with people from outside. So roaming, at least for for texting, is a must. I don't leave town often though but when I do, a smartphone would be immensely useful.
- Being able to store music is nice, but not a must (since I can borrow my bf's iPod as a last resort). So aiming at maybe 16 gigs.
- Camera quality is entirely optional. I don't care much for that, and any pics taken would be more of the "oh lookie here something funny" *click* kind of thing. I have a digital camera after all.
- Video quality is slightly more important, as I don't have a video camera. I sometimes take short videos (5 min long at the most) with the iPod (quality is surprisingly decent, 720p), so that'd be nice if the videos looked decent.
Right now Radioshack is having some promotion where if you get a smartphone (a limited selection) and a 3-year contract (ugh) with Virgin Mobile, the phone is "free" (I was told it's actually just paid for by being spread across those 3 years... lol), and they give a $100 store credit. It's not that bad of a deal, but the 3 year contract bothers me, and they seem to only support lower-end phones, or at least I think that's what they are based on reviews, such as the HTC Desire C or the Motorola Razr V. Am I wrong or are those phones probably not worth it?
So I'm guessing, if I'm to get a better phone, might as well forget that store credit thing, go with a Galaxy III, and go with
Virgin's $20/mo or $25/mo plan.
But, who knows, maybe there are other phones/plans out there better suited to what I want? I'm a total noob when it comes to cell phones.
I was told that the pre-paid model of the past (where unused minutes would roll over the next month instead of expire) does not exist anymore, which is too bad cause I think it'd really suit me.
I live in Montreal, FWIW, so if anyone has suggestions I'm all ears.
Something to do with speed or performance, I take it?
