Read everything and more confused than when started

[twinsmom]

I'm NOT the most tech savy person, but I try to keep up the best I can. Its time for a new phone and thinking about getting an android phone.

Where we live, there is only US Cellular (cdma) and a local service that is pretty much only for use in the county. IPads only work at 32kp (when they work), and FloTV gets nothing here. My options are really limited. Right now I've got an old LG from two years ago, so It wouldn't take much to be an upgrade.

They have Samsung Caliber, which is not an android, but is internet capable. Then in July, the guy told me they are getting the Samsung Acclaim and the HTC Desire, which are androids. If I got one, I'd probably go with the Acclaim for my husband, who rarely turns his phone on and likes to have a physical keyboard, but is willing to go touchscreen. I could go with either one.

What I'm trying to figure out is this: Do we need (or should we really want) and android phone as opposed to just getting the Caliber (and spending the difference in price on the kids)? I call and text. I'd like to be able to do some things on the internet. Don't care if it has a camera and video recorder or not. I'd like to be able to either stream kids' shows or play them off a memory card so I don't have to schlep the video player everywhere I go. If I can load ring tones and photos off a card to use as screens, I'm okay. I 'd like to be able to write to my Facebook account on the road and maybe emails. Nothing with attachments. YouTube I do from the computer and don't see that changing anytime soon. Games would be good to keep the munckins happy and give me something to do during dance, soccer and karate classes. GPS or a map would be fantastic.

My husband is happy as long as I'm happy.

I THINK the Caliber would probably suffice, but I don't know enough about all this to understand if it would really do everything I need/want. I see everyone talking about "apps" and that some are "free operating systems" and some are not. I have NO idea what that means. I know the caliber can get some apps from the site, but I'm guessing the Acclaim and HTC would get more. Is that a good thing? Are they things I'd need or want, or are they just extra stuff I would probably never use? Am I just over my head and should stick with two cans and a piece of string?

Please be kind. I'm not trying to be ignorant, I've just read so much I can't keep it all straight.

 

[t-readyroc]

Firstly, you'll invariably discover that if you go with a smartphone (e.g. Desire), you're inevitably going to end up wondering how you ever survived w/o it (& all of the associated features).

Secondly, as has been repeated a billion times in these forums & elsewhere, you're going to have to actually get to the store & play around with the phones you have in mind before you can make an informed decision based on your personal prefs.

HTH.

 

[maxtenn]

T-ready roc is absolutely right. I would go to the store. You are talking about upping your bill by 19.95 for the caliber. Blackberry or andriod is approximately 24.95 for data packages. This doen't sound like a phone for your husband. If he likes to text try the samsung freeform/ lg banter these are not touch If he wants touch screens try the samsung messenger/ moto crush or Lg mystique. These phones donot require data package for the life of the phone. By life I mean how long the phone is on acccount. Talk to your local store or try the customer service associates. You can reach them by calling 611 from you phone. I hope this helps

 

[mkeath]

T-ready roc is absolutely right. I would go to the store. You are talking about upping your bill by 19.95 for the caliber. Blackberry or andriod is approximately 24.95 for data packages. This doen't sound like a phone for your husband. If he likes to text try the samsung freeform/ lg banter these are not touch If he wants touch screens try the samsung messenger/ moto crush or Lg mystique. These phones donot require data package for the life of the phone. By life I mean how long the phone is on acccount. Talk to your local store or try the customer service associates. You can reach them by calling 611 from you phone. I hope this helps

Just a warning about touch screens. If you're going to get a dumbphone or feature phone with a touch screen make sure it is capacitive and not resistive. Resistive touch screens are an absolute mess and, unfortunately, are still around despite the fact that capacitive touch screens are really cheap.