Smartphones - how are they worth it?

Out of curiosity today I looked at what it would cost to have an iPhone 4S with Verizon. It's a minimum of $90 per month with bare bones service including a crappy 2GB data limit and 450 voice minutes. Better plans go into the $100+ range. This is on a contract and there's an upfront cost for the phone as well of course.

I know a couple of people who own high-end Android phones and they don't really seem to use them other than while I'm driving or something. Even then, it's for games or music. I could see getting one if it served a practical business purpose, but more basic phones seem to cover then need to occasionally text while away from a computer.

I feel like current smartphones are not really advanced enough to be used for anything but entertainment purposes. Sure they have GPS, but a perfectly capable GPS can be had for like $70 and never costs a penny more.

For people who own smartphones, what makes it worth the cost for you?

I do not like seeing jand as last person posting ITT and then arriving to find no so such post :xrawsavon

I use my phone for calling and texting only, and my bill doesn't really go above $15/month. I'm curious to know if people think it's worth it too.

They're worth nothing... but stil I owuld really like an iPhone (for the simple fact that it's a combination between an iPod and mobile).

my mom uses hers to check her email through 3G anywhere she goes. It helps her be even more highly valued at her job than she already is.

Outside of that you can you applications like gas buddy to help save money, urban spoon to find a place to eat, and so on and so forth.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]I do not like seeing jand as last person posting ITT and then arriving to find no so such post :xJandurin

Same reason why a fully loaded Lexus might be worth it to one person while his buddy is perfectly happy getting a base model Corolla, personal prefence. The base reason for the cars is to go from point A to point B but the first person may want to do it in luxury while the second person is just happy his car keeps the rain out.

With a phone the base purpose is to talk but the extra goodies may be worth to one person and not another. A big factor is what you're willing to spend. If you're making $8 an hour at McDonald's I doubt you're in the same position to get a huge data plan as somebody with a degree making over $50,000 a year.

I actually use mine primarily for business purposes from email, managing servers, remote desktop clients etc etc. Now I do question why at times a 13 year old might need a smartphone when all they are going to do is text probably. xXDrPainXx

for the sake of our flagging economy, I try to dispose of it.xaos

Same reason why a fully loaded Lexus might be worth it to one person while his buddy is perfectly happy getting a base model Corolla, personal prefence. The base reason for the cars is to go from point A to point B but the first person may want to do it in luxury while the second person is just happy his car keeps the rain out.

With a phone the base purpose is to talk but the extra goodies may be worth to one person and not another. A big factor is what you're willing to spend. If you're making $8 an hour at McDonald's I doubt you're in the same position to get a huge data plan as somebody with a degree making over $50,000 a year.

ad1x2

Even at $50,000 per year owning that iPhone is going to be a bit over 2% of their annual income. That's a very large percentage for a phone when most people probably put away 5% or even less for retirement every year.

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

Same reason why a fully loaded Lexus might be worth it to one person while his buddy is perfectly happy getting a base model Corolla, personal prefence. The base reason for the cars is to go from point A to point B but the first person may want to do it in luxury while the second person is just happy his car keeps the rain out.

With a phone the base purpose is to talk but the extra goodies may be worth to one person and not another. A big factor is what you're willing to spend. If you're making $8 an hour at McDonald's I doubt you're in the same position to get a huge data plan as somebody with a degree making over $50,000 a year.

superfluidity

Even at $50,000 per year owning that iPhone is going to be a bit over 2% of their annual income. That's a very large percentage for a phone when most people probably put away 5% or even less for retirement every year.

when most people probably put away 5% or even less for retirement every year.

superfluidity

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

Same reason why a fully loaded Lexus might be worth it to one person while his buddy is perfectly happy getting a base model Corolla, personal prefence. The base reason for the cars is to go from point A to point B but the first person may want to do it in luxury while the second person is just happy his car keeps the rain out.

With a phone the base purpose is to talk but the extra goodies may be worth to one person and not another. A big factor is what you're willing to spend. If you're making $8 an hour at McDonald's I doubt you're in the same position to get a huge data plan as somebody with a degree making over $50,000 a year.

superfluidity

Even at $50,000 per year owning that iPhone is going to be a bit over 2% of their annual income. That's a very large percentage for a phone when most people probably put away 5% or even less for retirement every year.

You also have to look at other things when it comes to what they are doing. If they're living in some cheap apartment and are driving a small car they have more disposable income. Also, what other bills they pay matter. Plus, you have to look at other factors. In my case, I make around $70,000 but I don't pay for medical insurance, I get cheaper food on base, and only 2/3s of my income is taxed since I'm in the military. I can afford to do that and still put extra money away for final retirement. I say final because the first retirement is at 38 with a pension but I'll still get another job. Plus, my wife works too.

. In my case, I make around $70,000 but I don't pay for medical insurance, I get cheaper food on base, and only 2/3s of my income is taxed since I'm in the military. I can afford to do that and still put extra money away for final retirement. I say final because the first retirement is at 38 with a pension but I'll still get another job. Plus, my wife works too.

ad1x2

You also have to look at other things when it comes to what they are doing. If they're living in some cheap apartment and are driving a small car they have more disposable income. Also, what other bills they pay matter. Plus, you have to look at other factors. In my case, I make around $70,000 but I don't pay for medical insurance, I get cheaper food on base, and only 2/3s of my income is taxed since I'm in the military. I can afford to do that and still put extra money away for final retirement. I say final because the first retirement is at 38 with a pension but I'll still get another job. Plus, my wife works too.

ad1x2

I agree that many people can feasibly afford it. What I don't understand is how it provides enough value to be prioritized financially given that most people seem to just play games or post on Facebook while they're waiting in line somewhere.

At a certain income level cost becomes irrelevant (as with anything), but let's not pretend that the majority of smartphone owners are in that boat.

Out of curiosity today I looked at what it would cost to have an iPhone 4S with Verizon. It's a minimum of $90 per month with bare bones service including a crappy 2GB data limit and 450 voice minutes. Better plans go into the $100+ range. This is on a contract and there's an upfront cost for the phone as well of course.

I know a couple of people who own high-end Android phones and they don't really seem to use them other than while I'm driving or something. Even then, it's for games or music. I could see getting one if it served a practical business purpose, but more basic phones seem to cover then need to occasionally text while away from a computer.

I feel like current smartphones are not really advanced enough to be used for anything but entertainment purposes. Sure they have GPS, but a perfectly capable GPS can be had for like $70 and never costs a penny more.

For people who own smartphones, what makes it worth the cost for you?

superfluidity

it has all but replaced my computer.AmazonTreeBoa

Personally I just don't need all the extra crap. I have an iPod touch that I use on the go and a laptop at my house. Why the f*** do I need MORE Internet accessDocDelicious

For people who own smartphones, what makes it worth the cost for you?

superfluidity

I can search the Internet for "What makes smartphones worth it?" while I'm on the go.

They're definitely more a computer than a phone now-a-days. I basically do everything on my phone now and only really turn on my main computer if I need to do lots of typing or play PC games. If it ran steam, I'd probably use that on my phone too (with HDMI out to tv or something). So for me it's worth it because it's replaced many other things you would normally have to buy to do the same thing (music player, gps, the many many diff apps available)xsynth

Even for general home use you prefer a smartphone to a PC?

For home use, PC web browsing seems vastly superior to smartphone browsing, and I can't play SSFIV or Shogun 2 (for example) on a smartphone at all. Even if I somehow could, I would have to plug in peripherals or something to get past the control limitations of a touchscreen and it would basically become a PC.

Even for general home use you prefer a smartphone to a PC?

For home use, PC web browsing seems vastly superior to smartphone browsing, and I can't play SSFIV or Shogun 2 (for example) on a smartphone at all. Even if I somehow could, I would have to plug in peripherals or something to get past the control limitations of a touchscreen and it would basically become a PC.

superfluidity

iPhone with Verizon.

superfluidity

There's your problem.

I have unlimited data on my sprint plan, and routinely go over 20 gigs a month with my android.

[QUOTE="superfluidity"]

Even for general home use you prefer a smartphone to a PC?

For home use, PC web browsing seems vastly superior to smartphone browsing, and I can't play SSFIV or Shogun 2 (for example) on a smartphone at all. Even if I somehow could, I would have to plug in peripherals or something to get past the control limitations of a touchscreen and it would basically become a PC.

xsynth

Well beyond Flash a PC browser can have a multitude of tabs with complex pages open at once, many times more info on the screen at once, and basically instant load times.

Also, why turn the PC off at all? I move the mouse and it comes out of sleep mode in about 3 seconds.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]I do not like seeing jand as last person posting ITT and then arriving to find no so such post :xJandurin

Well beyond Flash a PC browser can have a multitude of tabs with complex pages open at once, many times more info on the screen at once, and basically instant load times.

Also, why turn the PC off at all? I move the mouse and it comes out of sleep mode in about 3 seconds.

superfluidity

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

You also have to look at other things when it comes to what they are doing. If they're living in some cheap apartment and are driving a small car they have more disposable income. Also, what other bills they pay matter. Plus, you have to look at other factors. In my case, I make around $70,000 but I don't pay for medical insurance, I get cheaper food on base, and only 2/3s of my income is taxed since I'm in the military. I can afford to do that and still put extra money away for final retirement. I say final because the first retirement is at 38 with a pension but I'll still get another job. Plus, my wife works too.

superfluidity

I agree that many people can feasibly afford it. What I don't understand is how it provides enough value to be prioritized financially given that most people seem to just play games or post on Facebook while they're waiting in line somewhere.

At a certain income level cost becomes irrelevant (as with anything), but let's not pretend that the majority of smartphone owners are in that boat.

Different people have different priorities. If I'm away all day I can surf the net during times I got nothing else to do, something I couldn't do several years ago. Yeah, my phone has spoiled the hell out of me. Also, if I'm away from home for a few days but have my laptop I can connect my phone to a USB port for Internet on my laptop and then use the hotspot option to teether Internet access to my Xbox if the place I'm at makes me pay for their Internet. I'm still grandfathered into an unlimited data plan and I just use the cheapest talk and text plan since I don't talk that much.

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]it has all but replaced my computer.rawsavon

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]it has all but replaced my computer.AmazonTreeBoa

that you have a device that has almost replaced your pc b/c it can do almost everything a pc can?
...so you still need both...so it hasn't replaced anything, right?

I think I got it, thanks for clearing it up though :)

I can see how they would be. Definitely not for me though. My phone was free and I don't use any data.

I'm a little pissed that all of the companies are basically shoving them down our throats though.

the costs can be really low if you want, making it easily worth it. i got a semi-low budget unit without a plan and mostly just let myself be surprised by the availability or absence of a wifi network whenever i get an urge to do something that needs online connectivity. i'm not important enough to require all-day-every-day access to e-mail and the likes, nor do i care enough about social networking enough to get the most out of my smartphone, but it is convenient to be able to read the headlines, put on some internet radio or even work on some office documents in places where you normally can't.

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"][QUOTE="rawsavon"] so then it hasn't replaced anything and is just a companion device :? (has not replaced computer...replaced landline I guess???)rawsavon

that you have a device that has almost replaced your pc b/c it can do almost everything a pc can?
...so you still need both...so it hasn't replaced anything, right?

I think I got it, thanks for clearing it up though :)

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"] I don't see how you misunderstood what i said, so let me reaped it. I really no longer need my pc because my smartphone can do pretty much everything my pc can do. You understanding me now?AmazonTreeBoa

that you have a device that has almost replaced your pc b/c it can do almost everything a pc can?
...so you still need both...so it hasn't replaced anything, right?

I think I got it, thanks for clearing it up though :)

Nothing has gone over my head at all.
...you still use both devices (one has not replaced the other).

Thanks for the supporting points though :)

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]

that you have a device that has almost replaced your pc b/c it can do almost everything a pc can?
...so you still need both...so it hasn't replaced anything, right?

I think I got it, thanks for clearing it up though :)

rawsavon

Nothing has gone over my head at all.
...you still use both devices (one has not replaced the other).

Thanks for the supporting points though :)