iPhones

[TI double-GUH ER]

Anyone have one of the newer ones? I'm thinking about upgrading, but haven't ever had a smartphone before, so I'm not sure if it's a good investment for me. I am looking into different deals, and can get the 3 for free if I re-up my contract, and can get the 4 or 4s for $299 or $399 respectively.
Is it really worth it to spend the extra $?

 

[rcraw45425]

What memory size are you talking about? I paid $299 for the 4S with a 32gb memory (the mid sized memory option), I old get the 4S with 16gb for $199. This is through Sprint, but I think ts the same for Verizon as well. The 4 is $99.

ETA. Yes, the 4S is a great phone. I went from a 4G EVO and am very happy!

 

[DawnM]

I LOVE my new iphone. I went from no smart phone to an iphone as my first smartphone.

I got the 4s with 16gb for $199 from Sprint.

Dawn

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

$199? That's a much better deal than what I was quoted!! Maybe I need to do a little more looking around!

Dawn - do you find yourself using the extras enough to justify the purchase, or do you just use it as a phone? Is that siri thing really useful? If you don't mind me asking, what made you decide to upgrade to a smartphone?

 

[DawnM]

Well, for several years now I have had a dirt cheap Sprint plan. It included talk only. I had no texting or data.

I am finding that more and more people (friends) prefer texting but at .20 per minute I just wasn't willing to do much of it.

I have a teenager. Now, he doesn't text or talk on the phone much, but he does some. He was asking for texting.

I knew at some point I needed to enter the 21st Century and I had held off for a LONG time compared to many.

I needed a new phone, mine was dying. I got another non-smart phone and HATED it from the time I picked it up in the store. They just don't have many phones that are just phones anymore! I had 14 days to return it before I was doomed to keep it for 2 years, so on day 13 I called and asked if they had any iphones in. THEY DID! They had just gotten them that morning! I asking him to slap my name on one and I would be right in!

So far I have sent and received 425 text messages, used over 2GB of data, and used it as a phone. It does everything I want and more. My only gripe is the small screen. I would like a larger screen. Other than that, I love it.

I did tell Siri to take a hike today and told her she was an idiot. However, usually she is great. I can just say things like, "call Terry" and she will dial for me.

There is also a microphone feature for texting! I just discovered it yesterday (duh!) I don't have to type, I just hit the microphone, say what I want to text, and it types it for me and I hit send! It is awesome!

I have my ical calendar on it, my address book, my grocery list, my music downloads, apps for games, internet, really all I could want.

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

are you on ATT? It lists the same phone for $199 here:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/iphone-packages.jsp

Same price as Sprint.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I recently got a 4S 32gb for $299 on Verizon with a new two year contract.

Siri is neat, but not absolutely necessary. You can press the button and say something like "Take a note". Then it asks what you want the note to say. You tell it the note, it writes it down and saves it in the notes. It can also send texts, call people, etc.

I decided to pay the price and get the 4s (I had to pay a $35 restocking fee to give back the 4 I had just gotten the week before). The camera is better, Siri is neat and it has all the features currently available. The difference between the 4 and 4s is $4.16 a month over the course of the 24 month contract, so it wouldn't be worth it to me to miss the cool new features for that amount. You may need to wait a little while and order the phone since they are having trouble keeping them in stock.

I would not get the 3GS since it is pretty old technology and you will be stuck with it for two years (and giving up your opportunity for the reduction on the much newer phones). I haven't met anyone who misses their 3GS when they went to a 4 or 4s.

 

[DISdreamin']

I would not, under any circumstances, commit to a 3G or 3GS for two years. Not a chance! I had a 3G and went to the 4S and there is a significant difference. The pages load so much faster when you are browsing, apps open quicker, etc. My old phone was just so frustrating.

I do have a friend with a 4 and she and her boss basically tried to benchmark it against his 4S and, as long as they are both running the same OS, there isn't much of a difference (small enough that it wouldn't have mattered to her, from what she said). You can check online for similar benchmark testing done formally, and it basically backs up what my friend observed.

So do yourself a favor and shop around a bit. And FWIW, I'm not a big music and movie kind of gal. I got the 16gig and don't think I'll run into an issue with it. I had the 8 gig 3G and never even came close to filling that one. IMHO, unless you strongly suspect you'll need the storage, I'd save the money. I know others feel exactly the opposite, but that is my $0.02.

ETA: There are some useful things about Siri, but I have used it more as a toy/entertainment device so far than in any serious capacity.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I recently got a 4S 32gb for $299 on Verizon with a new two year contract.

Siri is neat, but not absolutely necessary. You can press the button and say something like "Take a note". Then it asks what you want the note to say. You tell it the note, it writes it down and saves it in the notes. It can also send texts, call people, etc.

I decided to pay the price and get the 4s (I had to pay a $35 restocking fee to give back the 4 I had just gotten the week before). The camera is better, Siri is neat and it has all the features currently available. The difference between the 4 and 4s is $4.16 a month over the course of the 24 month contract, so it wouldn't be worth it to me to miss the cool new features for that amount. You may need to wait a little while and order the phone since they are having trouble keeping them in stock.

I would not get the 3GS since it is pretty old technology and you will be stuck with it for two years (and giving up your opportunity for the reduction on the much newer phones). I haven't met anyone who misses their 3GS when they went to a 4 or 4s.

I had no idea they were having trouble keeping them in stock. Now you've got me worried This will hopefully be dd's big gift this year (she isn't asking for much else). We aren't eligible for an upgrade until the 16th. I didn't even think of the possibility of not being able to get it for Christmas! Yikes!

I can't wait, though. I'm also upgrading to the 4s at the same time!

 

[DawnM]

Call and reserve TODAY or at least ask when they can expect them, explain your situation (can't upgrade until the 16th, which is my middle son's birthday by the way!) and if there is a 3 week wait, ask that they hold two for you and call you when they come in.

Sprint says there is a 2-3 week wait, but as I mentioned, the day I called they just happened to have gotten a shipment in an hour or so before I called. He said they didn't even know when they were coming in so he was as surpassed as I was that I could go in and pick one up the same day I asked.

Dawn

I had no idea they were having trouble keeping them in stock. Now you've got me worried This will hopefully be dd's big gift this year (she isn't asking for much else). We aren't eligible for an upgrade until the 16th. I didn't even think of the possibility of not being able to get it for Christmas! Yikes!

I can't wait, though. I'm also upgrading to the 4s at the same time!

 

[ICF]

I just got the 4S from AT&T (upgraded from the 3GS) for $199 -- as so far so good. You could get the iPhone 4 for $99 (I think).

 

[puffkin]

I had a 3GS and upgraded to the 4S (for $199 on ATT). Huge difference in speed and camera. Siri is fun, but not a neccessity.

My DH had an old Razr that just had calling features. He upgraded to the iPhone4 ($99). It is very similar to my 4S. I am glad we saved the $100 because he really wouldn't use the extra features on the 4S and it is a HUGE upgrade for him from what he had.

 

[racechick8293]

I switched from an Android phone to the iPhone 4S.

The 4S is AMAZING! It's a better phone and operating system. I wish I had made the switch years ago!

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

Wow! I really came to the right place!! Thanks for all the great input!!

So based on what everyone has said, I've ruled out the 3G, and am leaning toward the 4S.
The debate now is how much memory is needed/ how much $ I am willing to shell out. (This is a big step for me - I've never actually spent $ on a cell phone before, just took the freebie)

Also how did you decide what data plan to get? I'm not sure how much I would use- but I'm guessing I wouldn't be using it all that much, and I know I'm not in to downloading movies or a lot of games.

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[ttfn3]

New IPhone 4s owner here - as of Sunday. I got a 32g Iphone - for Verizon. My old phone (LG env3) was dying, and I only had texting and phone service on it. I debated for months with myself if I really wanted to get a phone with a data package. I have a computer at work, a computer at home, and Ipod Touch - why do I need a data package. Well, I decided since I work, and can afford it - to take the plunge. After traveling for fall sports, I could also see the value in having internet access when I'm not near a computer or wireless network. DH told me to count it as my Christmas present - which makes me happy 'cause I don't really need anything else.

I actually got my phone from Best Buy. I was in the store with DS last Sunday. While he was looking for a video game, I stepped into the phone section of our local Best Buy to look at the phones. And - must be fate - they had a lot of the 32g and 64g versions. I went home, and debated with myself - then went back to the store later to take the plunge. I was able to keep our old phone service plan, and just needed to add a data package.

I LOVE my new phone. I'm still discovering things that it can do. One of the tips I learned is, that you can switch your phone over to a local wireless network (if available) to save on your data usage. When I'm at home & work, I use the wireless access. I can also download the apps I bought for my Ipod Touch to my Iphone. Since I paid for it once, I don't need to pay for it again. It's a great phone!!

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Wow! I really came to the right place!! Thanks for all the great input!!

So based on what everyone has said, I've ruled out the 3G, and am leaning toward the 4S.
The debate now is how much memory is needed/ how much $ I am willing to shell out. (This is a big step for me - I've never actually spent $ on a cell phone before, just took the freebie)

Also how did you decide what data plan to get? I'm not sure how much I would use- but I'm guessing I wouldn't be using it all that much, and I know I'm not in to downloading movies or a lot of games.

Thanks!!!!!!

I have the 16 gb, and have been happy with that amount of memory so far. I guess if you wanted to keep tons of movies on it, you would need more. I've got 2 movies, a decent amount of music, and a bunch of apps, and still have plenty of room.

As far as data, here is a website to help you determine how much you will use. It's At&t, but it will give you an idea to go by. I have the $25/month plan, and have only gone over when we were traveling. They do send you a text when you are getting close to your limit. Dh and dd both have the $15/month limit. Dh has never gone over, but he very rarely uses the Internet and e-mail (which is why he's happy with the cheap 3G). Just remember to use wifi when you are near a network. That will save a lot of your data.

http://www.att.com/standalone/data-...1-004VP2-0-1&WT.svl=calltoaction&showNav=true

Once you get it, you will wonder how you survived without it! I LOVE my iphone 4, but am looking forward to my upgrade.

 

[Plumeria9]

I got a 4S and it's my first smartphone. I have been w/ Verizon Wireless forever, and have been trying to figure out for most of this year who to go w/ when the new phone finally came out. I decided against moving to AT&T because it would have cost me more per month, and to switch. I have a family plan w/ DH and he wanted the most basic phone I would let him get. I wanted him to get texting capability.

Anyhow, to further explain, I am a fully immersed Apple/Macintosh person, Macbooks, iPod, etc. so it just made sense for me to get an iPhone. When my iPhone showed up on Friday, October 14th I just plugged it into my Macbook and all of my contacts from the Address book appeared on the phone, I didn't have to add that by hand. Also I use the iCal, so that syncs too. I love it! The camera is so good, I don't even use my regular point & shoot that much. My old school DH still tries to take pictures w/ it, but really, the iPhone is about the same and the access to the pictures is easier because I don't have to sync the camera separately. You can backup things on the phone w/ iCloud, which is new, so things that you download on the phone appear on the computer and vice versa. It's like magic. Everything on this phone is easier than my old phone (LG Dare, hated it!). Setting it up was super easy. Good luck!!!