You guys don't need to pay so much for a smartphone.

Go for one of the prepaid options, where yes, you do have to buy or bring your own phone, but you can get a good deal for about $30 a month.  Still, that's much better than paying a couple grand over two years for a contract with a phone.

I think the important question here is how do you pass time on the toilet?

I thought I was the last young holdout, getting a smartphone at the end of 2009.  For most people nice to have, but not necessary, but if you want to justify the cost, think of it like this:

I use my smartphone a lot when I’m out shopping.  At a store, should I buy this?  Let’s check the price online, or let’s read the reviews.  Saves me some money doing that for things I haven’t planned ahead for.  Now it doesn’t save me the difference in the cost of the phone, but defiantly can aide you in making quick decisions.

While a lot of apps can be a big distraction, it also makes a lot of things more efficient.  You get a quality camera/video recorder/flashlight/mp3 player/web browser/video player/gps/yellow pages all in one small device.  Just about everything you do probably has an app (except maybe Celticsblog).  Your bank, brokerage accounts, any magazines/newspapers you read, plus things like stock quotes and weather.  Having all that stuff at your fingertips can definitely save you some time.  So is the convenience worth it?  I’m pretty cheap, but I don’t think I’d go back to a non-smartphone anytime soon.  From a business perspective it helps to be able to get/send emails from anywhere at any time too.  Not that I have to be by email 24/7, but once in a while there’s an important email you want to get/send right away, but might be delayed several hours while away from a computer.

Think of it like owning a car vs a bicycle or taking the train/bus.  You might only live a few of miles from work, but most people would choose a 5-10 minute drive and the freedom to drive wherever they want whenever they want vs the 30-45 minute bike/bus ride and the lack of traveling independence.  Sure the car’s more expensive, but most people think the added convenience is worth the extra expense.  Oddly, I have a smartphone but no car, and don't live in a major city like NYC/Boston where not having a car is normal.

I find it very useful to always have an internet-enabled computer in my pocket, that also serves as my music player. I'm never lost, I always have a GPS no matter what. If I am in an unfamiliar area, I can find a good restaurant in 45 seconds. I use it to keep a grocery list, which also tracks a history of purchases and can scan barcodes. I use it to keep location-based reminders, instead of just time-based ones. Visual voicemail is nice. I check these here forums. I VNC into my home computer to control it remotely. Spotify is awesome.

No idea how I lived without it, really. You don't need to go boutique, though; there are smartphones cheaper than the iPhone, no need to pay the Hipster Tax. But FYI if you're thinking about an Apple product, wait until after the next refresh in September-ish, otherwise you will be kicking yourself later.

One of the primary reason I bought a first gen iPhone back in the day was the GPS. Google Maps on mobile is a great thing to always have handy, even if they recently made the UI more cryptic. As someone who takes the T to work, it is nice to also have all my podcasts on my phone. I have a Galaxy S3 that I pre-ordered over a year ago, before that an HTC Thunderbolt, iPhone 3g, and first gen iPhone. I think the only reason I do another upgrade is if I want a very large phone (larger than Note 2) that I can use on my Verizon unlimited data plan.

Ultimately, buying a smartphone depends upon your lifestyle.

There isn't really an "Apple tax" on phones. When they release them, they usually cost the same as top Android phones after subsidy. Apple's high iPhone margins are due to supply chain, not higher prices for the consumer.

Any existing Apple tax on phones is paid for by subsidizing carriers or by people who buy off contract.

I find it very useful to always have an internet-enabled computer in my pocket, that also serves as my music player. I'm never lost, I always have a GPS no matter what. If I am in an unfamiliar area, I can find a good restaurant in 45 seconds. I use it to keep a grocery list, which also tracks a history of purchases and can scan barcodes. I use it to keep location-based reminders, instead of just time-based ones. Visual voicemail is nice. I check these here forums. I VNC into my home computer to control it remotely. Spotify is awesome.

No idea how I lived without it, really. You don't need to go boutique, though; there are smartphones cheaper than the iPhone, no need to pay the Hipster Tax. But FYI if you're thinking about an Apple product, wait until after the next refresh in September-ish, otherwise you will be kicking yourself later.

I start a new job on September 18th and I think they are going to give me an Iphone/android/blackberry, (I guess you get to choose)  So I think im going to have to get the Iphone 5 just out of timing unfortunately.

There isn't really an "Apple tax" on phones. When they release them, they usually cost the same as top Android phones after subsidy. Apple's high iPhone margins are due to supply chain, not higher prices for the consumer.

Any existing Apple tax on phones is paid for by subsidizing carriers or by people who buy off contract.

Didn't say "Apple Tax". My point was that you don't need to buy something high-end to get into the smartphone market, there are plenty of entry-level smartphones that aren't as big of an investment.

Apple is notorious for having gigantic holes in their offerings (try to buy a mid-range desktop from them: it doesn't exist), and their phones aren't really an exception to that.

Quote from: Interceptor on August 21, 2013, 09:54:15 AM

I find it very useful to always have an internet-enabled computer in my pocket, that also serves as my music player. I'm never lost, I always have a GPS no matter what. If I am in an unfamiliar area, I can find a good restaurant in 45 seconds. I use it to keep a grocery list, which also tracks a history of purchases and can scan barcodes. I use it to keep location-based reminders, instead of just time-based ones. Visual voicemail is nice. I check these here forums. I VNC into my home computer to control it remotely. Spotify is awesome.

No idea how I lived without it, really. You don't need to go boutique, though; there are smartphones cheaper than the iPhone, no need to pay the Hipster Tax. But FYI if you're thinking about an Apple product, wait until after the next refresh in September-ish, otherwise you will be kicking yourself later.

I start a new job on September 18th and I think they are going to give me an Iphone/android/blackberry, (I guess you get to choose)  So I think im going to have to get the Iphone 5 just out of timing unfortunately.

Rondo2287, still golfing? Some GREAT golfing Apps out there, not just to GPS courses distances from any spot to any spot, but also an app that videos your swing and plays it back in slo-mo with tips. Also, course phone #s , directions and descriptions and reviews at your fingertips.

I broke down and got one a year ago so I could keep up with my 4 kids aged 22-15. Face time is great to be able to see my recent college grad who's first job is in another state and my college freshman, also in another state.

I have Sprint 3G/4G with a Samsung and I am not that happy with it. For paying for an unlimited data plan, the internet access is not always readily available and that is frustrating when I watch a basketball or baseball game on my Smartphone.