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Thread: Considering a new smartphone

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    Champ Champ967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond reputeChamp967 has a reputation beyond repute Champ967's Avatar
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    Considering a new smartphone

    I've used an iPhone for 4 years. I like it as much as anyone likes an iPhone, but I'm ready to try out something else for a while. I've read a lot about people who have moved to Android - some prefer it, some don't - but what I'm really interested in learning more about is Windows Phone. The Lumia series looks pretty impressive, as does the most recent WP update (8.1).

    Has anyone had a good, bad or indifferent experience with a Windows Phone?

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    I still have an old school flip phone, but when (not if) I finally break down and get a smart phone, I think I want a Moto X.

    I like the idea of the voice commands working all the time (even when the phone is "sleeping") and the quick access to the camera. It's also pretty cool that you can customize it a little more than other phones.

    It's also made here in Fort Worth, which is cool. And I heard you can replace "OK Google Now" with "OK Jarvis" as a voice prompt.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by Champ967 View Post
    I've used an iPhone for 4 years. I like it as much as anyone likes an iPhone, but I'm ready to try out something else for a while. I've read a lot about people who have moved to Android - some prefer it, some don't - but what I'm really interested in learning more about is Windows Phone. The Lumia series looks pretty impressive, as does the most recent WP update (8.1).

    Has anyone had a good, bad or indifferent experience with a Windows Phone?
    I've never owned a Windows Phone, but I've tried them out in stores and have been reading reviews on them for several years. Based on the handful of reviewers I've tracked, I think this is the first time there has been any consensus that WP has arrived squarely into "just different" territory, rather than the focus being on what it lacks compared to iOS and Android.

    I think it's really a matter of preference. Most of the apps and software people depend on these days are highly cross-platform, so you shouldn't lose any functionality like that. I would recommend you figure out what apps you just can't live without, and look into whether and how WP can accomplish the same functions. Hardware wise, most of the current Lumias are top notch (though you definitely want to read a few reviews, as some models skimp on things like photo quality).

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Talk about timing! I am trying to figure out how to get a non-contract phone that will work on a Verizon network so I don't have to lose my unlimited data with a new contract. I've heard that you can buy a phone off of e-bay and install CyanogenMod and keep your sim card, but I'm nervous about getting a phone that works with Verizon's CDMA with the right frequency band . . . does that even make sense? I would appreciate any advice!

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by RougeDawg View Post
    Talk about timing! I am trying to figure out how to get a non-contract phone that will work on a Verizon network so I don't have to lose my unlimited data with a new contract. I've heard that you can buy a phone off of e-bay and install CyanogenMod and keep your sim card, but I'm nervous about getting a phone that works with Verizon's CDMA with the right frequency band . . . does that even make sense? I would appreciate any advice!
    Does it have the twitter and the youtubes?

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by Champ967 View Post
    Does it have the twitter and the youtubes?
    I unfriend you.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by Champ967 View Post
    I've used an iPhone for 4 years. I like it as much as anyone likes an iPhone, but I'm ready to try out something else for a while. I've read a lot about people who have moved to Android - some prefer it, some don't - but what I'm really interested in learning more about is Windows Phone. The Lumia series looks pretty impressive, as does the most recent WP update (8.1).

    Has anyone had a good, bad or indifferent experience with a Windows Phone?
    With any Windows phone, be prepared for a much smaller availability of apps. Most developers who create apps write them for iOS or Android.

    If apps, arent important to you, then I'd say go for it. I used to want to try a windows phone, but I am such a fan of the high-end Android phones, I don
    t see me ever changing.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by ITdrummer View Post
    With any Windows phone, be prepared for a much smaller availability of apps. Most developers who create apps write them for iOS or Android.

    If apps, arent important to you, then I'd say go for it. I used to want to try a windows phone, but I am such a fan of the high-end Android phones, I don
    t see me ever changing.
    I have dozens on my phone, but most are kids games. There are probably less than 10 I use on a weekly basis.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by Champ967 View Post
    I have dozens on my phone, but most are kids games. There are probably less than 10 I use on a weekly basis.
    I really want you to get one of these, so then you can tell me if you hate it before I buy one for myself:


  10. #10
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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by RougeDawg View Post
    Talk about timing! I am trying to figure out how to get a non-contract phone that will work on a Verizon network so I don't have to lose my unlimited data with a new contract. I've heard that you can buy a phone off of e-bay and install CyanogenMod and keep your sim card, but I'm nervous about getting a phone that works with Verizon's CDMA with the right frequency band . . . does that even make sense? I would appreciate any advice!
    I was in your situation not long ago. The trick with E-Bay phones is that many of them come with dirty EIDs, which regardless of ROM will not be able to be activated on Verizon (flagged as stolen, unpaid bill, etc.). When I did the math, though, because I was grandfathered not only into unlimited data, but a family plan they no longer support, it was still cheaper over 2 years to pay FULL RETAIL for a new phone than to switch my plan over to buy a subsidized handset. So the easiest ways to upgrade are as follows:

    1. Just buy a phone from Verizon, but pay the full retail price. They will charge you $30 to activate, but should leave your plan alone.
    2. Get someone who doesn't plan to get a new phone for 2 more years and who isn't grandfathered into an unlimited data plan to order a subsidized handset using their new every 2 upgrade. When the phone arrives, activate it on YOUR account, and while they will get billed for the phone, nothing will change on their plan.

    A version of step 2 is what I did (and it was a Verizon rep who told my wife how to do it). My wife, who is happy with her "feature" phone and has no intentions of a) getting a smartphone or b) getting any kind of new phone, ordered a smartphone using her new every 2 upgrade (I think she had to do it on the phone with a rep). The receipt showed the charge for the phone, as well as the new charges for her data plan. However, because the phone was never activated on her number, the her plan never actually changed. I then activated the phone on my line, and voila, new subsidized phone but no change in our antiquated family share plan or my unlimited data plan.

    Your mileage may vary, but it worked for us. The Verizon rep who coached my wife through this is from some "super customer service" section who calls you when your contract has expired to find out what they need to do to keep you a Verizon customer.

  11. #11
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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    After hours of research on the Internet and extensive counselling with our IT guy at work . . . I went with a Note 3 they had for 50%. I lost the unlimited data, but kind of feel like I never had it anyway since Verizon obviously starts to throttle your speed at a certain point. Pretty damn cool phone so far!

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Data limits and blocks are the worst.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by RougeDawg View Post
    After hours of research on the Internet and extensive counselling with our IT guy at work . . . I went with a Note 3 they had for 50%. I lost the unlimited data, but kind of feel like I never had it anyway since Verizon obviously starts to throttle your speed at a certain point. Pretty damn cool phone so far!
    My wife has an unlimited plan with AT&T, but as soon as her latest phone is paid off we're gone. Anytime she gets close to taking advantage of the "unlimited" data it throttles back so hard that it defeats the purpose. Our service coverage is terrible, so I think I want to switch to something like Ting. Even if our reception doesn't improve, at least we'll be paying less for the privilege of all those dropped calls and "can't connect" messages. Downside is going to be buying new phones with no subsidy.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by JuBru View Post
    Data limits and blocks are the worst.
    If Verizon could provide enough cellular data to my Roku, I would drop Cox and pay more to Verizon.

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    Re: Considering a new smartphone

    Quote Originally Posted by RougeDawg View Post
    After hours of research on the Internet and extensive counselling with our IT guy at work . . . I went with a Note 3 they had for 50%. I lost the unlimited data, but kind of feel like I never had it anyway since Verizon obviously starts to throttle your speed at a certain point. Pretty damn cool phone so far!
    That's what I got, and I've been pleased. It's been surprising all the benefits of the extra screen space (e.g., easier to read articles, easier to see what you're taking a photo of, etc.). I used the stylus a lot at first, but less and less lately.

    As for the plan, for me it was as much to do as keeping my old family share plan as anything.

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