Not sure when I first heard the term "Smart Phone." It was sometime within the last 3 years, I think. It basically means a PDA that can place calls.

I've got friends who've signed 2-year contracts, over which they will pay $1,000-$1,300 for these things.

So, what's the deal? What's the appeal? I've played around with my friends' for a few hours, and it's still a PDA that can place calls. At best, you can shoehorn it into the place of a slow, small, and extremely hard to use netbook. Or a crappy gameboy. Any of which you can buy for half the price, or less.

I've explained my confusion well enough, I think. Someone explain this to me.

Catch]22

Sweden2683 Posts

January 14 2011 14:50 GMT

People have too much money and spare time.

calvinL

Canada416 Posts

January 14 2011 14:53 GMT

Thats the thing. Although it might not be the best at what it does, its capable of so many things inside one device. No one wants to carry a netbook AND a gameboy AND a cell phone.

BottleAbuser

Korea (South)1888 Posts

January 14 2011 14:59 GMT

I like bringing my laptop with me when I know I'll be in a particular place with not much to do for a few hours. I'd hate to try keeping myself occupied for hours with a 4-inch screen.

Come to think of it, why would anyone buy a smart phone today, when you can get a "tablet phone" or whatever they're calling those things? They've got larger screens, better processing power, probably better battery life, and they can do pretty much everything a smart phone can do, except fit in a pocket. Which the smart phones today can't do comfortably anyways, because they've grown from credit card size to index card size.

topspinserve

United States147 Posts

January 14 2011 15:00 GMT

On January 14 2011 23:53 calvinL wrote:
Thats the thing. Although it might not be the best at what it does, its capable of so many things inside one device. No one wants to carry a netbook AND a gameboy AND a cell phone.

Exactly. Internet browing + games + email + phone/texting + music/video + anything else there's an application for makes for a pretty useful device for fitting into one pocket.

EDIT: Honestly, nothing really useful has come out in the tablet space other than the iPad and the Galaxy Tab, which ~~have worse battery life~~, are more awkward to carry around, you can't hold up to your ear to use as a phone, and are more expensive.

EDIT2: Actually, you're right, tablets have pretty good battery life. Honestly, though, anything over a day is overkill, since you can just recharge at night.

Hakker

United States1360 Posts

January 14 2011 15:13 GMT

Because they're easier and more convenient to use than any of the objects you listed. Carrying around a laptop or netbook for hours is awkward. My screen on the Iphone is very easy to read and you can zoom in on practically anything if its not. And really, unless you're wearing skinny jeans I cant see how an iphone or droid cant comfortably fit in your pocket.

Amestir

Netherlands2126 Posts

January 14 2011 15:45 GMT

Not going to respond why its worth it, but the amount of money your friends pay for two years is very high. Atleast compered to my own costs. I got a Samsung Galaxy S, one of the newest phones. I got a 2 year contract with unlimited internet. My total costs for those 2 years, provided I don't go over my limit (unlikely) is 630 euro. A fair price if you ask me.

Just wondering, I know I got a relative cheap deal on my phone, but is it normal to pay as much as the OP states in other countries?

NIIINO

Slovakia1320 Posts

January 14 2011 15:50 GMT

I love my iphone cause WiFi is everywhere these days and i can be connected to TL every time im just little bit bored or have a free time. basically i use it for iterwebz.

Chill

Calgary25998 Posts

January 14 2011 16:04 GMT

I used an old Nokia phone for years.

http://z-mobilephones.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/old-nokia-phones-2.jpg

I was in a similar boat as you. I thought it was stupid that people can't walk somewhere without looking at their phone. I also was annoyed everyone in the elevator was looking at their phone. You can't go 30 seconds without checking the internet?

Now I have an iphone and I understand. It's really convenient to be able to be connected anywhere.

Chef

10810 Posts

January 14 2011 16:15 GMT

#10

I'm pretty backward so I don't even use a cellphone. I have an mp3 player that people probably think is a cell-phone though (which actually kind of bothers me but oh well).

I feel like there's a lot of times when I just don't want to be contacted. I also don't like giving people the opportunity to be flaky when they make plans with me. Cell-phones enable people to cancel/rearrange plans at the last minute for all kinds of stupid reasons. As far as smart phones go... of course there's an appeal to be able to surf the internet anywhere. I don't find that hard to understand at all, and would probably find it useful myself, but I don't really have the money to spend on that kind of luxury.

RawrAnOcean

United States359 Posts

January 14 2011 16:25 GMT

#11

I have the Samsung Epic 4G with unlimited everything. Pretty much I don't play games on it, with the occasional Angry Birds. The primary uses for it is Twitter, Camera, and MP3. If I was more into social networking like a lot of my friends 24/7 Facebook seems worth it for most of my friends. It's great that I have my music/pandora with me at all times. A GPS, a Camera which I can upload at anytime, Internet for those stupid moments.

If you think about it, all of those into 1 makes up for the cost. That is not including calling and texting which I use quite a bit. Could I of used a crappier phone with a cheaper service...yeah, but I'm happy with my phone.

Sadly I also use it to check my work email way more often and need to live on my phone so I can do my job 24/7 which has its pros and cons.

Jibba

United States22883 Posts

January 14 2011 17:01 GMT

#12

It's as simple as this: take your TL.net addiction on the go.

If you're someone that receives pertinent emails, then it would obviously be useful for that reason (I don't, but I still like reading/getting rid of emails instantly.) I really don't use most of the processing power besides web browsing, but I do a ton of web browsing. I also read most of my newspapers on the phone while I'm on the go. The GPS/mp3/video player are occasionally helpful, but really weren't a consideration.

So yeah, I like the internet. I can access it when I'm bored waiting for other things to happen.

JeeJee

Canada5652 Posts

January 14 2011 17:48 GMT

#13

for me, the main draw is having to carry one tiny device that can do anything (which for me is a nexus). here's a typical morning
going to the gym and need a stopwatch? use the stopwatch on nexus. not sure of your form on an exercise and need to film yourself? use the camera on nexus. need to take your mind off distractions? music on nexus. walking to class and need to double check your schedule? connect to internet on nexus. sitting in a lecture and prof is late? play some games on nexus. meeting up a friend for lunch after lecture? txt msg nexus.
etc etc etc

it's fairly cheap for me too, i am an RFD reader and got some tips negotiating with phone providers in canada (rogers in my case) for a significantly cheaper plan than usual