Are smartphones a waste of time and money?

[Slickster]

So a few years back I had a pretty decent cellphone which I lost. I bought another one right away and sure enough a month later I lost that one too. I was p!ssed off and actually went without a phone for a month or so but eventually caved. This time however I said "fcuk it" and I bought the cheapest flip phone I could find. Well wouldn't you know it, 3 years later I still have the stupid phone.


Anyhow I'm considering buying an iphone or something similar but the more I think about it I'm having trouble justifying it.

I search through lists of "MUST HAVE APPS!" and I think "really"??? Do people REALLY think they need this sh!t? 99% of this stuff just seems like bullshyt that I probably wouldn't even use. Even if I did I'm sure I could do it some other way that wouldn't cost me anything. Productivity apps? Ummm.... couldn't I just write a list?

Some of the games look fun but they are total time wasters unless you spend a lot of time sitting around waiting and bored.

I guess it would be nice at times to have internet access while on the go but this hardly seems like a NEED.

I'm just wondering if any of you guys can tell me how you use your phones/apps for things that are important and necessary to you.

 

[Crissco]

I wouldnt trade my smartphone for anything. It has GPS, maps, internet, apps I can use to track my workouts, they even have a PUA app on there. I mainly use it for the touchscreen, GPS, texts and internet though. Personally I love it, but all you need a phone for is to make calls and texts, everything else is just for fun.

 

[ArcBound]

It's not a need it's a luxury. Plus you also pay $15-$40 extra for the data plan.

 

[Kupid Diggs]

I'm kind of in the same boat as slickster. I have a Palm Centro (1st generation smartphone?), I've had this phone for about 3-4 years now. Everybody tells me that my phone is crap and that I need to upgrade, but I love it. The sad part is, I'm going to have to upgrade it now, because the charger broke a few days ago.


When I first got my Palm I put all sorts of neat apps and games on it. But after the "honeymoon" phase, I barely use any of that stuff. And now all I do is call, text, use the camera, and look up words on a dictionary app.

I've never used a GPS before. I already use the internet too much on my laptop, so no need there.

Which operating system is better?

Android or iOS?

 

[Vice]

They can be a waste of time and money. It depends on what the user.

My contract is expiring in a month, so my current cell phone will soon retire. I'm planning on getting an iPhone, for several reasons:

1. The GPS function combined with using the Yelp! app will help me find the cool places to go to in an unfamiliar city, as well as find new places on the fly in ones that I'm familiar with.

2. The calendar will be used extensively, to remind me of stuff that's going on (art gallery openings, weekly events, club nights, etc.).

3. I run a part time business, so there's a few apps out there that I can use to help streamline things. Also, there's an app that puts on waiting music to the person that I may be calling.

That's the main reasons for me getting a smart phone. I don't use text nearly as much as other people my age do, and I don't have a Facebook. I'm not interested in playing cute games on my phone; I'd rather be living my life. Because this is what I often see of people my own age:

1. People standing with their head slumped downward to their phone, oblivious to what's going around them. So may times I've walked by a cute girl who was oblivious to me.

2. People wasting their time playing cute little games, when they could be doing something more productive (like lavishing me with attention).

3. People narcissisticaly updating their Facebooks and Twitter accounts.

4. Grown ass men holding little pieces of plastic, twiddling their thumbs, punching out a cutesy text message that they spent a few minutes trying to "perfect".

But hey, these negative tendencies that most other people put out only make people who are aware of them and avoid them stand out. I'm not complaining about them anymore; I worry about myself, not other people.

 

[Warrior74]

I bought a iphone for 70 bucks. I'll never go back to a "dumb phone". Mainly for email, webbrowsing, gps, calender and a handful of apps for business. That made it worth it in my book.

 

[Jitterbug]

I have lots of very good use (work & hobbies related) for my Android phone, but I'm not very good at convincing old people to buy new technology. They are often convinced up front that they don't need one, and they're just looking for people to agree with them.

If you can figure out how it may improve your productivity, buy one. If you can't, don't.

 

[joverby]

They are WAY over-priced. WAY over priced. Not worth it at all IMO. They charge for things that cost them no money, i.e. texts / data etc. I used to sell cell phones for 3 years, I have some knowledge.

Want a GPS? Cool, go buy a GPS. You won't have to pay $40 a month to use it.

Want a phone? You don't need to pay an extra $40 for that, any regular plan / phone will do.

Want internet? Use a fvcking computer. You shouldn't even be paying $40 a month for that at home.

Those things being said if I had a bunch of extra disposible income, I'd probably get one. But they are a rip-off and I'd like to spend my money on more useful things.

 

[AH909]

I have a rumor2 flip with a full keyboard. It works perfect. Can call, text and get pic messages good. The keyboard is easier to type on than a touchscreen. I could use the cute little games while im bored in school but i dont care. Apps are a waste of time unless your really busy/rich.

 

[Slickster]

I have lots of very good use (work & hobbies related) for my Android phone, but I'm not very good at convincing old people to buy new technology. They are often convinced up front that they don't need one, and they're just looking for people to agree with them.

If you can figure out how it may improve your productivity, buy one. If you can't, don't.

Is this supposed to be some kind of an insult?

I assume so, because judging from your words you have no other reason to respond otherwise.

???

 

[FairShake]

I'm a nurse and we get them for work. A sh!tton of useful apps for my line of work. Work provides them though, I can't imagine paying for all this myself.

All I really need a phone for is talking and texting. I know Philadelphia, New York, Atlantic City, and DC pretty well and those are the only 4 cities I spend alot of time in. I guess better photos might be cool but I am a man for the most part and we don't usually go in for documenting every single thing we do with our camera phone.

 

[Bible_Belt]

It's not a need it's a luxury. Plus you also pay $15-$40 extra for the data plan.

That's why the cel companies are phasing out stupid phones. They make more money off smart phones. Eventually, everyone will have to have a smart phone.

 

[metoo]

I've never text'd and never will, most likely. When it was free and there was no such thing as "unlimited" calls for $50 a month, it made a bit of sense, but now it's just for hiding your commo from the teacher at school. I have no need to do that. I'm very interested in watching video on the smart phone, tho, so I can monitor my porno girls, see if they are making as much money as possible for me.

 

[Slickster]

That's why the cel companies are phasing out stupid phones. They make more money off smart phones. Eventually, everyone will have to have a smart phone.

Really? I was thinking that dumb phones still had a future. There must be millions of unfortunate people (especially 3rd world countries) who would love a dumb phone

 

[Slickster]

I'm a nurse and we get them for work. A sh!tton of useful apps for my line of work. Work provides them though, I can't imagine paying for all this myself.

All I really need a phone for is talking and texting. I know Philadelphia, New York, Atlantic City, and DC pretty well and those are the only 4 cities I spend alot of time in. I guess better photos might be cool but I am a man for the most part and we don't usually go in for documenting every single thing we do with our camera phone.

Yeah I can understand using for work if it had some kind of function there and as you say it's paid for.

Using a smart phone while travelling does seem to be a good use.

 

[user43770]

I carry the internet around in my pocket. It's fvcking awesome.

 

[Alle_Gory]

I search through lists of "MUST HAVE APPS!" and I think "really"??? Do people REALLY think they need this sh!t? 99% of this stuff just seems like bullshyt that I probably wouldn't even use. Even if I did I'm sure I could do it some other way that wouldn't cost me anything. Productivity apps? Ummm.... couldn't I just write a list?

My apps are:

Weather (I use once in awhile)
Business calculator (for when I need to calculate interest and payment periods)
World Time (for when I need to adjust time for different timezones, rarely)
Flixter (for when I want to know what's playing in theatres and where)

And that's about it. I use texting and phone features and the calendar application to organize my week. It's awesome since it syncs with my computer, One Note as well so I can write or dictate a note to myself for later and I see it on my computer when I get home. It also helps to have e-mail and the internet in your pocket. I've used it on ocassion if I'm waiting for a contact to e-mail me or when I'm shopping and I want to know what I am buying is a good price.

Also this thing ****ing translates text and can figure out what song I am listening to. I take a picture of some text in a foreign language and it translates for me. I make it listen to some music and it figures it out. ****ing amazing.

I am using Windows Phone 7. Every other smartphone (except Blackberry, because LOL) can do what I am describing if you look around for some apps.

Some of the games look fun but they are total time wasters unless you spend a lot of time sitting around waiting and bored.

Yeah I agree, smartphone games are ****. They also kill battery life. It's a phone, if the battery is dead it's useless.

Overall I think smartphones are a very powerful and a very useful tool but most people don't know how to make use of them. First few weeks I was using my phone I was on it every day for hours. It's easy to get absorbed, now that I know the ins and outs I use it maybe 10 minutes everyday.

 

[Alle_Gory]

Plus you also pay $15-$40 extra for the data plan.

Not if you use data infrequently and you're a cheap mother****er. $15 for a data plan? **** that.

They are WAY over-priced. WAY over priced. Not worth it at all IMO.

The phones are priced very well. Do you realize the technology in that little thing you are holding? It's close to magic.

What kills you with a smartphone is the service. Greedy leeched like AT&T and Verizon will suck your wallet dry. And don't get me started on the carriers we have here in Canada. Worse than what you guys have.

 

[ArcBound]

Not if you use data infrequently and you're a cheap mother****er. $15 for a data plan? **** that.

I don't know where you are from, but in America almost all the major cellphone companies require you to have a data plan when you sign a new contract or upgrade your cell phone.

I know at least AT&T and Verizon both do. Even if you say you will only use the WiFi feature, they will still charge you a data plan. So the majority of people walking around with smartphones are indeed paying $15-40 regardless if they used their internet connection all the time or none at all.

 

[L B]

It's worth it if you have a use for them. I use my smart phone from 2 years ago. I use the calendar/task function, gps, calculator, multiple alarm setup (very loud speakers), internet, camera, pic message, text. I can tether the internet to my laptop and others within range. My girl has the same exact phone with the same exact setup I have for her. We are on a grandfather plan that is very affordable. Would I pay the current monthly service prices for these phones now, probably not unless I can get in on some 20-25% company discount and have multiple lines to lower the monthly payment.

If I were single, the smart phone is a hell of a tool for spinning plates.