Why do I need a smartphone?

I rock the antiquated unsmart Samsung Stripe with virtually no texts coming or going. If someone texts me, I call them back.

Smartphones have a lot of features that I survived 40 years of life without. I'm sure some of these features might be fun, but I can't be bothered to learn how to use, let alone pay for one.

The technology is cool, they are useful for directions/surfing the web/looking up addresses... all kinds of things.

That being said, it's not going to make you much happier and while useful, it's just a phone. I have an iphone and it's easy to use and certainly helpful and practical to have my music on there, but it hasn't made my life that much easier. On the contrary, being so available makes it hard to 'get away' at times.

I never would have gotten a smart phone if it hadn't been a gift. That said, I love being able to check my email wherever I am and it's very useful for looking up directions, mass transit schedules, and nearby stores/restaurants when you are out.

I got one as a gift too. I'm very tech savy, but not a big cell phone guy. I had a nice lightweight phone before and wasn't thrilled about switching. My current phone is like a brick. Too heavy and bulky to carry around. Only major benefit is that my phone has a GPS system in it for my car.

I'm the same. I thought about getting a smart phone, but there is very little benefit for the added cost. I'll just stick with my virtually free dumb phone, and low-cost calling plan.

For a long time, I didn't even want to get a cell phone. But my wife convinced me that it wouldn't cost much more if we got rid of the land line. So, I caved in.

they limit the data then charge a fortune in overage fees if you go over. it's a rip off. just use a dumb phone. it'll be 10 years before the US gets real (not LTE, not WiMax) LTE which has unlimited 1Gbps data.

Porn.

Depends how old you are. If you are 25, your phone is a substitute for your personality. So get a good one or everyone will know you're a loser. Notice how young people can talk for hours about their phones? Damn, it is just a phone people.

I had a smartphone. Before it got stolen, it was so great. You can use the camera to capture good moments. You can look up train schedules. You can read the news. You can check emails. I got mine in Europe and the cost was 14 euros more a month (=34 euros a month) than what I would've paid for just a normal plan and the phone was 50 euros after the rebate. It was one of the top 3 phones at the time.

Now I need to decide if I want to get a new smartphone or wait a year until I'm able to cancel the plan and then sign up for a new plan in order to get a new phone. I miss the phone. I should have got insurance.

smartphones like wrote:

Now I need to decide if I want to get a new smartphone or wait a year until I'm able to cancel the plan and then sign up for a new plan in order to get a new phone. I miss the phone. I should have got insurance.

But to buy the phone outright without a plan will cost $600. So, maybe I better wait.

The iPhone is the worst phone I've ever had. Not one in five calls goes through. I'm addicted to the screen and graphics, basically. But I will cancel at the end of my current contract. It's been a frustrating two years.

This has nothing to do with the iPhone itself, just the shitty quality of the cellular networks in the US.

smart phones are simply made from standard technology, off the shelf SoC chips and screens, available from dozens of suppliers. you now see hundreds of smart phones from different manufacturers flooding the market. prices will be $50 without contract by the end of the year.

There are many benefits; but is all in the applications you buy. I have an iphone, and have downloaded many useful Apps.

A Recorder: Useful if you want to record an argument with someone, you can then press charges and use it in court.

A Digital Camera with video recording: Capture special moments, or if someone crashes into your car. (take their license picture, a picture of them, their license plate, their insurance)

Emails: Fast and better than having to go to your computer and reply.

text and picture messaging: Why would you call someone just to say "Hi"?

Google Maps: free, fast convenient, you can zoom in into a map and find your way around, or you can search form a store by typing "name zip code" SEARCH.

Music: Pandora, AOL radio.

Social Networking: Facebook, get in touch with your kids and you lost friends, unless of course you are not very sociable.

Games: for those boring moments and you just want to kill time.

Finances: There are apps such as Quicken, Quickbooks, mortgage calculators.

Sports: Apps to log miles via satellite, or GPS, you can then upload data to your computer and review your (pace, distance, HR, map your run, etc)

News, IM. You can have all of these for 1/2 the cost of a netbook or laptop, and have it all in the palm of your hand. And yes it costs $90-$100/month but unless you have no job and live with your parents, you can afford it. Just add apps and value to it.

You can go onto the internet while you're at work.

You can post on Letsrun while sitting on the toilet.

I use my old iPhone 3G constantly. Can't wait to get my iPhone 4 (or to wait until summer and get the 5).

Ft Fun Hayseed wrote:

Smartphones have a lot of features that I survived 40 years of life without.

true but haven't survived 40 years w/o a cell phone. You survived without anti lock brakes and air bags, why not forget those.

i don't really have use for a full-out iphone, but I just bought a new Ipod touch and it is fantastic. With the apps and internet access, it's much easier to be productive away from my laptop (which it turns out is not as mobile as you might think). My next move will probably be to get the Motorola Xoom tablet (comes out Feb 17th) as a replacement for my laptop and I'll get a bluetooth keyboard for those times when i need to type on it.

I read a ton of articles/business news/science news and check my email every 5 seconds, so these types of flat devices are perfect for that.