My "Captain Kirk"-model of cell phone (from the last millennium, maybe?) seems to have bit the dust.
Any recommendations of a good basic (i.e. cheap) sturdy phone--that I would be using almost entirely *as a phone* (not a camera, not an Internet connection, not an alarm clock, not a reader, etc.)?
This one is pretty good:
An I-phone 7 when it is released.
notregretswiththeGOATphone wrote:
An I-phone 7 when it is released.
I'm fascinated by this choice. None of you seem to realize you are paying triple-premium prices to be beta testers.
OP needs to keep in mind the "smart phones" practically require data service your flip phone probably didn't. Put your provider on the spot. Tell them you are leaving unless they have a free phone to send you and then figure out your "data" add-on.
Samsung Androids are good enough. I have a Motorola Android that isn't great. It is a work phone so I'm not complaining. I just don't recommend them to anyone.
pop_pop! wrote:
notregretswiththeGOATphone wrote:An I-phone 7 when it is released.
I'm fascinated by this choice. None of you seem to realize you are paying triple-premium prices to be beta testers.
OP needs to keep in mind the "smart phones" practically require data service your flip phone probably didn't. Put your provider on the spot. Tell them you are leaving unless they have a free phone to send you and then figure out your "data" add-on.
Samsung Androids are good enough. I have a Motorola Android that isn't great. It is a work phone so I'm not complaining. I just don't recommend them to anyone.
iPhone is cheaper than a Samsung. You can resell iPhones for much more. They don't depreciate overnight as much like samsungs do.
Notrue..... wrote:
pop_pop! wrote:I'm fascinated by this choice. None of you seem to realize you are paying triple-premium prices to be beta testers.
OP needs to keep in mind the "smart phones" practically require data service your flip phone probably didn't. Put your provider on the spot. Tell them you are leaving unless they have a free phone to send you and then figure out your "data" add-on.
Samsung Androids are good enough. I have a Motorola Android that isn't great. It is a work phone so I'm not complaining. I just don't recommend them to anyone.
iPhone is cheaper than a Samsung. You can resell iPhones for much more. They don't depreciate overnight as much like samsungs do.
That's nice. You want the OP to beta test Samsung's product? I don't.
Lots of now low-end Androids out there that are good enough.
LG Leon. Great basic android phone now only $99.99 through T Mobile.
kibitzer wrote:
My "Captain Kirk"-model of cell phone (from the last millennium, maybe?) seems to have bit the dust.
Any recommendations of a good basic (i.e. cheap) sturdy phone--that I would be using almost entirely *as a phone* (not a camera, not an Internet connection, not an alarm clock, not a reader, etc.)?
If you don't need a smart phone, why get one? I have been using the same phone since I got my first phone in 2006 (yes, the same phone, not just the same model). The nokia 2610 has never broken and I still get 4 days of standby battery after 9 years. It is impossible to break this thing. You can pick a new one up on ebay for $10.
If you just need it for calls and you want a sturdy dependable phone, get this.
I combined this phone with a Consumer Cellular plan a few years ago. $20 a month and I get plenty of minutes and no contract. I am still befuddled by people that spend more on a cell phone than they do for food in a month.
Typical Luddite wrote:
kibitzer wrote:My "Captain Kirk"-model of cell phone (from the last millennium, maybe?) seems to have bit the dust.
Any recommendations of a good basic (i.e. cheap) sturdy phone--that I would be using almost entirely *as a phone* (not a camera, not an Internet connection, not an alarm clock, not a reader, etc.)?
If you don't need a smart phone, why get one? I have been using the same phone since I got my first phone in 2006 (yes, the same phone, not just the same model). The nokia 2610 has never broken and I still get 4 days of standby battery after 9 years. It is impossible to break this thing. You can pick a new one up on ebay for $10.
If you just need it for calls and you want a sturdy dependable phone, get this.
I combined this phone with a Consumer Cellular plan a few years ago. $20 a month and I get plenty of minutes and no contract. I am still befuddled by people that spend more on a cell phone than they do for food in a month.
What is most interesting is tracking mobile phone take-up rates in developing nations. Wireless communication runs a very close second to food and water.
If you are in the U.S. the service per dollar is actually worse than many developing nations. Some of that is due to geography, much of it due to poor communications industrial policy.
pop_pop! wrote:
notregretswiththeGOATphone wrote:An I-phone 7 when it is released.
I'm fascinated by this choice. None of you seem to realize you are paying triple-premium prices to be beta testers.
I'm fascinated you didn't notice the obvious sarcasm.
pop_pop! wrote:
I'm fascinated by this choice. None of you seem to realize you are paying triple-premium prices to be beta testers.
OP needs to keep in mind the "smart phones" practically require data service your flip phone probably didn't. Put your provider on the spot. Tell them you are leaving unless they have a free phone to send you and then figure out your "data" add-on.
I have no idea what you mean by beta testers here. But given the OP's description of their needs, your end conclusion is probably right. Try to avoid a smart phone in general though, and don't pay for data you don't need. Get a feature phone and don't pay for something you don't want.
I have an Android and I'm not a big fan. Others in my family has iPhones (two 5s and a 6). iPhone 6 will be my next phone...and soon.
OP, if you want just a phone, all you really care about is reception quality. Check around and get one of the no contract carriers and whatever flip phone they have. They're dirt cheap... $30 or so. Reception quality is more dependent on the carrier than the phone. Find out what the underlying service is for the carrier, for example, Smart Talk's carrier is Verizon. Some use AT&T, some use a combination. Find one that works well in your area and you're set.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cyclecbc wrote:
pop_pop! wrote:I'm fascinated by this choice. None of you seem to realize you are paying triple-premium prices to be beta testers.
OP needs to keep in mind the "smart phones" practically require data service your flip phone probably didn't. Put your provider on the spot. Tell them you are leaving unless they have a free phone to send you and then figure out your "data" add-on.
I have no idea what you mean by beta testers here.
Beta phase generally begins when the software is feature complete but likely to contain a number of known or unknown bugs.
When consumers buy something right after release, they buy beta-quality product. Most consumers don't seem to mind paying a premium to be beta testers.
runDirtyrun wrote:
cbc wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycleI have no idea what you mean by beta testers here.
Beta phase generally begins when the software is feature complete but likely to contain a number of known or unknown bugs.
When consumers buy something right after release, they buy beta-quality product. Most consumers don't seem to mind paying a premium to be beta testers.
I know what beta testing is. I don't think it remotely applies to the state of newly released iPhones or other premium smart phones, at this point.
cbc wrote:
runDirtyrun wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycleBeta phase generally begins when the software is feature complete but likely to contain a number of known or unknown bugs.
When consumers buy something right after release, they buy beta-quality product. Most consumers don't seem to mind paying a premium to be beta testers.
I know what beta testing is. I don't think it remotely applies to the state of newly released iPhones or other premium smart phones, at this point.
Not to mention that the definition points to software and the post was about hardware. As far as I know, Apple does not do a beta release of their hardware.
wont mention it wrote:
cbc wrote:I know what beta testing is. I don't think it remotely applies to the state of newly released iPhones or other premium smart phones, at this point.
Not to mention that the definition points to software and the post was about hardware. As far as I know, Apple does not do a beta release of their hardware.
**facepalm**
If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times: 'Go rotary or go home!!'
Thanks to all for the input. Much appreciated.
I'm not joking when I say that my phone is about 15 years old, btw. It's not charging anymore--don't know (yet) whether the charger or the phone itself is to blame, but I can't check it out using another charger--because they haven't made a charger that fits this phone for the last decade or so.
Anyway, thanks for any further recommendations. I'll probably be going in tomorrow to get a new phone.
You could probably find a used charger on e-Bay if you really want to keep the phone.