Smart phone

[DisneyNutMic]

Talk me into or out of one. Why do you love yours?? How does it improve or change your life?? I can't seem to make up my own mind on this one (one minute I decide to bite the bullet and get one when my contract is up and the next minute I think of what I could spend that extra money on each month).

 

[idofabric]

Same boat here! My contract was up on April 1...and I still haven't made a decision!! But only on which smart phone to get...
We have S**in* and are fairly happy with the service, but they have a new phone coming out "this summer". We also have a Data package and with 3 of the 4 of us owning smart phones I decided as the Primary acct. holder I would get one also. Why?
Well I did not use a phone for any thing other then calls till about 1 1/2 years ago. Then we went some place and my old LG Lotus had Navigation, and we were lost in Hawaii and it came in handy, but is slow..
Then we were in Orlando and needed info on where to pay our Lowes bill, DH forgot it was due, so used the Google on the phone to find it, then the Navigation to get to it, BUT it was cumbersom on the old phone.
Was with one of our kids that have smart phones, and we were all looking for a place for dinner that had certain food, and wow, my phone was dead last in getting info...
Was on the Interstate, trying to get home, and traffic stopped- the nav again had info on what was the problem, but the old phone was so slow I was timed out...
I saw a friends phone with an app that allowes you to check bar codes and get the price of an item- loved it!
Read about apps that allow you to inter act with WDW! Think it was only for an iPhone? but some of the Android apps have great info, and there are rumors of a WDW app for them...
So as soon as I can afford it, and when the new HTC EVO comes out on my provider I plan on getting one!
And it will be the first time I can one-up my kids with a better phone then they have!
Cons are the cost of service and the phone, and if you are in a good location for service..

 

[Tsplaat]

I've owned an iPhone for 2 years now and love it. But, I will give you the best testimonial ever...

My wife's phone broke... I had been trying to talk her into getting an iPhone for the last year or so. She had ZERO interest in a smartphone... not technologically oriented in the least. Well... I convinced her to try the 30 day free offer. If she didn't like it after 25 or so days, we could return it for a FULL REFUND. To make a long story short... after about 5 days, she asked me why it took me so long to get an iPhone for her. LOL. She can't live without it now. Of course, she does all the usual stuff... checking email... maintaining family calendar... keeping up on Facebook. I'm sure many phones can do these things, but consider how well you want the phone to work when buying. IPhone just works.

 

[SportsChick]

I'm a smartphone girl. I started with a Motorola Q then went to the T-Mobile G1 and now have a Blackberry Bold 9700.

I love having my e-mail with me at all times, my calendar sync's and I love the data.

If you're going to go with one, play with both a tradtional qwerty keyboard and a touchscreen. Most people have a preference of one over the other. For me, I hate typing on a touchscreen (I have an iPod touch and detest having to type on it), but I know many people who love it. It really is a personal preferece

 

[DisneyNutMic]

I've owned an iPhone for 2 years now and love it. But, I will give you the best testimonial ever...

My wife's phone broke... I had been trying to talk her into getting an iPhone for the last year or so. She had ZERO interest in a smartphone... not technologically oriented in the least. Well... I convinced her to try the 30 day free offer. If she didn't like it after 25 or so days, we could return it for a FULL REFUND. To make a long story short... after about 5 days, she asked me why it took me so long to get an iPhone for her. LOL. She can't live without it now. Of course, she does all the usual stuff... checking email... maintaining family calendar... keeping up on Facebook. I'm sure many phones can do these things, but consider how well you want the phone to work when buying. IPhone just works.

I like this idea. I wouldn't have to have a new contract because my fiance has an iphone right now and is about to upgrade his so I could technically start out with his old one and see how I like it. Thanks for the idea.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I just got my first smartphone a month ago. I can't believe I waited this long!! I got a Motorola Droid and I LOVE it!!

 

[disney_mommy]

I've had a smartphone for as long as they've been out and I can't imagine going without. I recently switched from the BB Curve to the Android Cliq and I love the Android platform. I'll tell you what I told my boss when I convinced her to get a computer for her house - right now you don't think you'll use it much, but once you get it, you'll be amazed at all the things you end up using it for, and you'll wish you'd gotten one sooner.

 

[ctjsowens]

I'm definitely hooked on my new phone! After having only the basic of flip phones my oldest daughter talked me into getting the Verizon Droid. What a phone! Does anything I can think of. Theres no way I could go back to a non smart phone!

 

[aggielawyer]

I had a basic phone until last September. When I renewed my contract with Verizon, I was able to get a Blackberry Storm for a free upgrade. I agree with those that say I don't know how I lived without it before. I keep my calendar on it and sync it on my laptop, get both my personal and business email directly to my phone, keep up with FB and Twitter, and check the weather. I doubt I'll every go back to a regular phone.

 

[DisneyNutMic]

Thank you all so much. I appreciate your input. I still have some time to consider but I'm not known for making snap decisions.

 

[MNT568]

I am thinking of upgrading to a smartphone as well. I don't think I want a touch screen, I was thinking of getting a blackberry curve 8530. Any opinions on that phone?

 

[sydneysmom]

when our contract w/ TMobile was up we switched carriers and got the HTC Hero Android. I LOVE that phone!!! it's so much fun. I don't think it has as many apps as the IPhone yet, but it's getting there. Honestly, and I know this is going to sound stupid, I don't know how we lived without them. We've got the standard 2gb mini sd card in the phone now and I loaded 6 movies on my phone. ( I can load, I think, up to 10 w/ that card). It's awesome because we don't have to bring the mini dvd player everywhere....my DD watches movies on the phone. You can put it on "airplane mode" so when you're flying you can watch movies on the plane. (once they let you use electronics)

It's just a wealth of information at your fingertips at all times. (how silly does that sound??) but even the camera is better than our old phone. (we had the RAZR) LOVE IT !!!!

 

[disney_mommy]

I also wanted an actual keyboard for my phone which is why I went for the Cliq - it has a touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Talk me into or out of one. Why do you love yours?? How does it improve or change your life?? I can't seem to make up my own mind on this one (one minute I decide to bite the bullet and get one when my contract is up and the next minute I think of what I could spend that extra money on each month).

I love my Blackberry Bold (AT&T). It does cost more because of the $30 media package (for unlimited text, Internet, etc.) and $15 "push" fee (so that I can get my email from my office) per month.

For me, it's worth it. DS16 actually talked me out of the iPhone because of the keyboard. I just wish the Blackberry apps would keep up with the iPhone ones.....

 

[sunnyday123]

for everyone that has a Droid, do they have any Disney apps?

 

[sydneysmom]

for everyone that has a Droid, do they have any Disney apps?

the only ones I've found so far is:
"Princess Cam"....it's hilarious. You can insert someone's face on a princess body. Then you can save the pic and email it to yourself of someone else. There's tons of Princesses in different poses.
There's also a Jack Sparrow app for those of us that need a Captain Jack Sparrow fix. ( you can play different sayings from the movie....it makes my DH insane)
There's a Disney wallpaper app.....awesome ! I've got Dory and Nemo now. There's also a Toy Story App for Toy Story wallpaper...that one is fantastic.
All of those were free. I haven't found an actual Disney ride time app yet though. Hopefully one will be available before Sept!!

 

[disney_mommy]

I used Lines for my trip in March and I loved it. Very accurate.

 

[lucigo]

I have been looking at the iPhone, but when playing with it in the store I hated the touchscreen keyboard. Who knew I had fat fingers??? I currently have a blackberry with no internet service (I got it before it was mandatory). I turned it off because I look at my computer enough at home (I work at home) and I found it really wasn't worth the $30 a month for me. I also considered that if I got an iPhone my kids would have it all the time and I wouldn't be able to make calls! I think the solution for me is going to be to get an Itouch, that way the kids can also play with it, I can check the internet from wifi locations, and still have my blackberry for phone calls and texts.

We have 5 phones and our bill is already $175 a month without internet...its no wonder it takes 2 incomes to stay in the green these days.

 

[richmo]

I'd say go for it. The main expense, of course, is that adding a data plan usually runs $20-$30 a month, which really adds up. But, its nice to have the capabilities a smartphone provides. I don't spend a lot of time running apps or hitting the internet, but here's a few instances of when its been nice: You're at Disney World, and need to check in for your flight 24 hours early -- very easy with the smartphone. Also on your departure day, its very easy to take a minute and see what your flight status is.... Again Disney, you can check on wait times at all the parks. Verizon has an app for that, but if you're on another carrier, m.disneyworld.go.com provides the same information (although less specific). If you're outside somewhere and the weather starts looking shaky, you can pull up a radar map and figure out if its going to miss you or you need to really find shelter quick... Great for checking sports scores, if you're into that... A lot of the newer smartphones also have GPS capabilities, which can be useful... The list goes on and on...good luck!