Should I get a Smart phone??

The_stingemeister

The likes of the highly praised HTC Desire look like beautiful pieces of technology but do I really need one?
The plus and minus points (I think) I will set-out below, but bear in mind I have never owned one so please advise/correct me.


MINUS

Initially they seem incredibly expensive.

The biggest draw for me to them is the internet access on them when abroad (sending/receiving e-mails and finding out useful info on local stuff) HOWEVER it sounds as 'though the charges for this are astromical? So it almost rules out the use of that facility when away?

I have a basic PAYG phone and a laptop, with still 1 year to go on a broadband contract . So why do I need the extra expense of a Smart phone?

I have no interest at all in Facebook, Twitter or the likes.


PLUS

A fairly decent camera always at the ready, with the phone (no carting around an extra item).

The internet usage 'on tap'.

Use as an mp3 player (my current one has a 1GB capacity and is full-up).

Watching video downloads.



Anything I've missed?

darich

I have an iphone and think it's great.
I'd argue that the camera isn't "fairly decent" on any phone - they're add ons that take basic snapshots without any great quality.....but since I take photos as a hobby I'm perhaps a bit more demanding.

Internet usage no tap is something to be wary of - many tariffs now have a limit on data, typically 500mb or 750mb and it's surprisingly easy to use that up. Data usage abroad can be, and probably is, prohibitively expensive.

There are many phones that will play mp3 files without being smartphones.

Going by your post and what you need, I don't think a smartphoine is for you but it's something only you can decide on

bonzer

I've been mulling over the same thing. I've concluded I don't need one at all - it's just a toy purchase.

Possibly missed plus point is many phones now have a GPS for street mapping.

Am looking at the HTC Wildfire Android phone, quite a bit cheaper than the Desire, £230 'ish sim free/unlocked:

http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/4-/15279083/HTC-Wildfire-Android-Sim-Free-Unlocked-5-0-Megapixel-Touch-Screen-Mobile-Phone/Product.html

boliston

mapping is the thing i use most on a smartphone. If I'm in a strange city it's handy to be able to fire up google maps anywhere in the world and track my position to within about 10 feet. The iphone has a useful "compass" feature which will align the map with the actual orientation of the street you are on. The built in cameras on most smartphones will not produce pictures of great quality when you consider the size of the imaging chip, and the lenses in most phones are tiny, so however many "megapixels" they quote you will never get much quality compared even with a cheap point and shoot cam.

hoyles10

I almost got an Iphone when I was upgrading a few months ago but I decided i've got a 16gb ipod that's still got some space on it so instead I got a Sony Ericsson Satio and I love it. I've got a fair few songs on it anyway but what drew me to it is the 12.1mp camera. I was going to get a new camera anyway but as I got the phone with such a good camera I decided against it. I have to say that i've had a lot of phones in the past and the Satio is the best i've had by far. I don't think i'd get enough use out of a smart phone and I don't get emails so important that I need to get them whilst i'm out and about.

boliston

mapping is the thing i use most on a smartphone. If I'm in a strange city it's handy to be able to fire up google maps anywhere in the world and track my position to within about 10 feet. The iphone has a useful "compass" feature which will align the map with the actual orientation of the street you are on. The built in cameras on most smartphones will not produce pictures of great quality when you consider the size of the imaging chip, and the lenses in most phones are tiny, so however many "megapixels" they quote you will never get much quality compared even with a cheap point and shoot cam.

buglawton

Before being suck(er)ed into an expensive contract, consider the T-Mobile Pulse on pay as you go.
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/pay-as-you-go/t-mobile-pulse-payg/
with Android 2.1 - £150 with 6 months free internet. It was even around at £99 at one point.
It will do everything an iPhone can (and a lot more), just not in quite in the same style.

Dreamnine

The T-Mobile Pulse mini is £100 at Argos.

With 6 months free internet it's a good buy.

RobertoMoir

I think that a smartphone is worthwhile IF you are going to use enough of the features to make it worthwhile.

I love my iphone, and I use it a lot so I regard the money I've spent on it as money very well spent.
However, if you don't know why you need a smartphone, the chances are that you probably do not.

The_Grandmaster

If you don't want to invest hugely but want a smartphone I would personally look at nokia. Apps to download are free and good on the whole.

Smartphones have wi-fi which would be useful as that may be free internet access abroad.