Ugh...I'm joining the ranks of smartphone addicts as well.
Yes, I've bitched about such devices here and elsewhere, questioning their usefulness and bemoaning the cost. We've used pre-paid phones on PagePlus (uses Verizon network) for the last couple of years, and our total monthly cost has been under $50 for 2 phones - one of which, has unlimited talk/text. Simple, cheap/dumb phones w/battery life that lasts for days, in form factors that can be tossed about with little care.
Why the switch? I'm blaming my wife and her girlfriends. We recently attended a party, and she and the other gals got off into a corner discussing their wonderful toys. Hey, hey - I'm referring to the texting/dialing type, git your minds outta the gutter!
Anyway, she came away completely humiliated with her little flip phone, with grand thoughts of doing all of her rescue stuff from anywhere - having access to all of her online tools. My arm was twisted for most of the drive home.
OK, OK...the above is really a bunch of misogynistic BS. Once I got home and looked into it a bit, I realized the correct course of action was to suck up some pride, quit being such a tightwad, give up the bashing of such devices as "toys", and make my lovely wife happy. That, and for a few extra $$ per month, I could get one myself on Verizon's Family Plan.
Signed up via Amazon, who had a recent priced drop to $30 for the Droid X - so we've both got one coming. Couldn't bring myself to do an iPhone - much as I love my Macs, they have sufficient openness to address my tinkering need. No way I was going to have a phone that was locked down and under Apple's iron fisted control...I've tethering/rooting/alternative ROM plans already in the process. Also, both of us are heavily invested in numerous Google apps, all of which have very tight integration with Android - with certainly more to come.
Toughest part for us was deciding between the HTC Incredible and Droid X. The form factor, interface, smoothness and gorgeous screen of the Incredible was tempting. But, the screen only looked better indoors - once outside, the X was far better in direct sunlight. The slightly larger screen of the X was easier on aging eyes, without adding much to the bulk. This also had a noticeable impact on typing accuracy with the virtual keyboard.
And lastly...there's near universal agreement that the X cleans the Incredible's clock when it comes to battery life. I already hate the concept of daily charging for these things, but many Incredible users can't even make it through the day without plugging in at some point.
So, who knows...now that there's a little more incentive on my part, perhaps I'll look into some tweaks to make this place a little better for mobile users. That should go a little ways, towards making up for all the ridicule I've given y'all for being so giddy over these gadgets.
Yes, I've bitched about such devices here and elsewhere, questioning their usefulness and bemoaning the cost. We've used pre-paid phones on PagePlus (uses Verizon network) for the last couple of years, and our total monthly cost has been under $50 for 2 phones - one of which, has unlimited talk/text. Simple, cheap/dumb phones w/battery life that lasts for days, in form factors that can be tossed about with little care.
Why the switch? I'm blaming my wife and her girlfriends. We recently attended a party, and she and the other gals got off into a corner discussing their wonderful toys. Hey, hey - I'm referring to the texting/dialing type, git your minds outta the gutter!
Anyway, she came away completely humiliated with her little flip phone, with grand thoughts of doing all of her rescue stuff from anywhere - having access to all of her online tools. My arm was twisted for most of the drive home.
OK, OK...the above is really a bunch of misogynistic BS. Once I got home and looked into it a bit, I realized the correct course of action was to suck up some pride, quit being such a tightwad, give up the bashing of such devices as "toys", and make my lovely wife happy. That, and for a few extra $$ per month, I could get one myself on Verizon's Family Plan.
Signed up via Amazon, who had a recent priced drop to $30 for the Droid X - so we've both got one coming. Couldn't bring myself to do an iPhone - much as I love my Macs, they have sufficient openness to address my tinkering need. No way I was going to have a phone that was locked down and under Apple's iron fisted control...I've tethering/rooting/alternative ROM plans already in the process. Also, both of us are heavily invested in numerous Google apps, all of which have very tight integration with Android - with certainly more to come.
Toughest part for us was deciding between the HTC Incredible and Droid X. The form factor, interface, smoothness and gorgeous screen of the Incredible was tempting. But, the screen only looked better indoors - once outside, the X was far better in direct sunlight. The slightly larger screen of the X was easier on aging eyes, without adding much to the bulk. This also had a noticeable impact on typing accuracy with the virtual keyboard.
And lastly...there's near universal agreement that the X cleans the Incredible's clock when it comes to battery life. I already hate the concept of daily charging for these things, but many Incredible users can't even make it through the day without plugging in at some point.
So, who knows...now that there's a little more incentive on my part, perhaps I'll look into some tweaks to make this place a little better for mobile users. That should go a little ways, towards making up for all the ridicule I've given y'all for being so giddy over these gadgets.
