Small laptop/notebook OR nice media phone

[Ele'ill]

So my living situation is dodgy. I don't pay rent so I technically have the money to drop on a media device of some sort. I am tired of relying on specific hours with a specific cut-off at the library to get access to news, reading material, etc.. it really causes problems such as not being able to get emails and other messages in a timely manner.

I have heard that a lot of phones can do a lot of awesome things, take HD pictures, are big enough to technically read shorter texts, they can obviously browse the web, play videos, music playlists on pandora/last.fm etc.. and they're a phone. Smaller than a notebook, easier to keep in a pocket.

If there are really nice $200-$300 phones that are no contract I wouldn't mind paying monthly service charges.


Should I do this? It would help me out in a lot of ways, anything I'm not thinking of?

[Remus Bleys]

I prefer my phone over a laptop. Though I use Android because I can't stand the rest, as a consequence no flash player. Which you can kinda do without but it can get frustrating.

[Ele'ill]

what can't you stand about the rest?

[Ele'ill]

Forgive me I haven't owned a nice phone ever. So looking at t-mobile's site, their 'individual phone plan' is separate from their 'mobile internet' plan, right? If I'm going to view websites and post and watch videos and use it for music on websites like last.fm/pandora, and read texts and stuff I should not get an individual phone plan I should get the mobile internet plan of some type. I would then just keep my other phone for when I need to make phone calls(?)

[Os Cangaceiros]

Get a nice phone.

[Remus Bleys]

what can't you stand about the rest?

I can't stand apples general pretentious farting around with shitty phone interaction and limited buttons because that makes it somehow better. I'm okayish with Windows phones but they are just a hassle. To each their own though, I would mess around with everything available and not take the word of some dude online but I think android is clearly superior.

[consuming negativity]

If you get a notebook, you're getting a lot more bang for your buck (especially considering once you buy it, it's done and you don't have to pay for data), but at the cost of not being able to make phone calls. If you get a phone, you're getting significantly more portability, as well as 3/4G access (which can be very useful, although data plans are capped very low and many areas don't have good coverage). I would advise you strongly to spend the extra money, if you can, on a screen protector and a better battery. Smartphones are incredibly fragile (almost entirely because of the screen) and have shit for battery life if you're actually using it and not just letting it idle in your pocket. The other thing to keep in mind is the reality that most site's apps fucking suck and many sites don't have mobile versions that are worth a damn unless you're browsing like Wikipedia or the BBC. That said, the email apps are pretty fantastic and Revleft works great using Tapatalk.

[Prometeo liberado]

I don't know if they have a Metro PCS where you live but I've had them for years and pay just $55 a month for unlimited data. Overage charges from the other companies will sneak up on you.

[adipocere]

Mari3l - you might consider straight talk. I never refer people to walmart but you can't really be ethical with telecoms so take a look (http://www.straighttalkspecialoffers.com/?utm_source=IMM&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=MID&utm_keyword={keyword})

[Red Economist]

Should I do this? It would help me out in a lot of ways, anything I'm not thinking of?I'm sure the NSA will happily ring you to tell you the content of your e-mails in advance and provide a back-up password service too. They're so helpful whilst being so intrusive. :grin:

[I typed this on a laptop connected to an Iphone, so they already know I've said this many time before elsewhere. AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR IT....you bastards...:glare:]

stick with the laptop. your more likely to use it for something you need to do, than constantly be bombarded by e-mails or advertising you don't want.

[khad]

I would look into a tablet with phone functionality. A 7 inch phone would fit in a large pocket, though a 10 incher might be tricky.

[Prometeo liberado]

I would look into a tablet with phone functionality. A 7 inch phone would fit in a large pocket, though a 10 incher might be tricky.

PHRASING! Are we still doing phrasing?

[Loony Le Fist]

...
I have heard that a lot of phones can do a lot of awesome things, take HD pictures, are big enough to technically read shorter texts, they can obviously browse the web, play videos, music playlists on pandora/last.fm etc.. and they're a phone. Smaller than a notebook, easier to keep in a pocket.

If there are really nice $200-$300 phones that are no contract I wouldn't mind paying monthly service charges.


Should I do this? It would help me out in a lot of ways, anything I'm not thinking of?

I would go with a Nexus myself. Anything good that runs Android. If you ever choose to root it, and take control (instead of letting the carrier control your phone) it's the way to go. Buy a google Nexus 4/5 or a Sammy Galaxy. Definitely go with no contract. Prepaid is way better and the future of mobile.


I prefer my phone over a laptop. Though I use Android because I can't stand the rest, as a consequence no flash player. Which you can kinda do without but it can get frustrating.

Android is worth it. Easier to root. And you can custom OS's on them too. Of course I wouldn't get into that unless you know what your doing. But I'm with on you that. Android is the way to go. Linux based.


If you get a notebook, you're getting a lot more bang for your buck (especially considering once you buy it, it's done and you don't have to pay for data), but at the cost of not being able to make phone calls. If you get a phone, you're getting significantly more portability, as well as 3/4G access (which can be very useful, although data plans are capped very low and many areas don't have good coverage). I would advise you strongly to spend the extra money...

Yea. Notebooks and laptops have more speed and computing power overall. But modern phones are catching up and can do more with less energy. You got some really good Li-polymer batteries that are working wonders for power on mobile platforms. And ARM can deliver comparable performance to Intel for half or even 1/4 of the power consumption.

[Taters]

Get you a tablet. An android one. I got a b&n nook hd+ for 120 bux and put cyanogenmod on it. Can't hardly put it down.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Samsung Galaxy. Runs Android, and it's big enough that you can run videos off of it without your eyes exploding.

As an alternative, have you considered combining a cheap phone and an iPad? Even an old Samsung Galaxy which still has good functionality in terms of internet & media can be gotten for £50, whatever that is in American: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1578081.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

[Decolonize The Left]

Alright, I did a little research on this question and I think the most cost-effective option would be:
- MetroPCS at $40-$60/month depending upon amount of data needed to stream and at what speed.
- The cheapest 4G LTE phones they have are LC Optimus F3 ($100) and the Nokia Lumia 521 ($50). But those are only the ones offered by MetroPCS.
- If you buy off of Swappa.com you can get a Nexus 5 for as cheap as $285 or a Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE for $385.
-If you're going to use the phone for everything from streaming to browsing to whatever then I'd probably opt for the 60/month plan from MPCS which is unlimited data as opposed to be knocked down to 3G after a certain point.

So a used Nexus 5 and a year of unlimited data MPCS would run you: $285+($60*12)=$1,005.

[Ele'ill]

The question I was asked today is that if I am already doing a lot of reading and enjoying it why would I get a media blackhole where the possibility of me just shitting around on it increases greatly.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

I'd say get a nice phone. If your living situation is dodgy, then a phone is easier to keep track of than a laptop or a netbook. Android is a sure bet.

Have you looked at Republic Wireless (https://republicwireless.com/plans)? They're on Sprint towers, so if you have good Sprint reception in your area it's worth looking at I guess. Caveat is you HAVE to use their phone. Don't know much about the two phones they offer. Look nice at a glance, though.

[Sea]

Consider a phablet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phablet).