Great Googly Moogly is all I have to say. I just returned from the front of the great smartphone war of 2012 and my damn head is spinning.
The fine folks at the front known as “The store” stuffed my head full of old wives tales, rumors, lies and blatant propaganda whose sole intent is to spread fear and uncertainty.
Ok, now that we have gotten the hyperbole out of our system let’s talk turkey.
I Need A New Phone
I have a Droid X that I use for both business and personal use. I have five different email addresses connected to it, surf the net, edit documents and use a million other features besides.
There was a time I loved my phone but that was then and this is now. Back then I wasn’t bothered by lag time, speed or some of the other issues that irk me now because it was among the fastest out there.
Let’s ignore the time factor here and the bitter reality that “back then” is less than two years.
The world has changed and more importantly, my needs have changed.
Mobility and Productivity
My phone isn’t just a gadget to play with. It is main purpose isn’t for it to be used as an entertainment hub for myself or my children. It is for business first and everything else second.
Mobility and productivity are key issues and elements I am concerned about. I would prefer not to drag around a laptop everywhere I go and though I want a tablet I have budget limitations. At this time I have chosen not to purchase phone and tablet.
Smartphones aren’t cheap and neither are the monthly service fees/contracts that come with them so it is important to try and make a “smart” choice because whatever we select is something we are going to have to live with.
Samsung/Motorola/Apple
During the past three months I have found reason to purchase models made by all of the manufacturers listed above. Online reviews, references from friends and gut feelings have all pushed me towards one model or another, but I have held off making a decision.
It is not because I am indecisive but because I have been waiting to see what they do with the holiday season, not to mention I have been curious to see what new phones would be introduced.
That particular siren song has been one I have been careful not to pay attention to. The speed of technological advances guarantees obsolescence comes two days after release. All I have to do is look at my current phone and it is clear that I need to pick a model that will be good for the next 18 months, if not more.
It is Crazy Making
It is crazy making trying to figure out which one is going to be best. The iPhone is out of the running. It looks good and there are things I like about it, but I like a big screen and haven’t any interest in going back to something small like the iPhone.
Motorola makes a solid phone and there is a good chance I might choose something like the Razr Maxx. Friends and family have nothing but good things to say about it.
Still my head is leaning toward the Samsung Galaxy Note II. It is a large phone that will just barely fit in my pocket, but it appears to be the unit that is large enough to make the phone a better tool for working on documents and browsing the net.
At least that is what I am thinking now, a new release can always impact that particular choice and who knows what can happen.
What about you? Do you have a smartphone and if so, would you recommend it?
The Technology Wars are heating up! Apple vs Google VS Amazon VS Samsung VS Microsoft…..who will come out on top?
Hi Josh, You knew you would get me over here with that title. right?
I have another idea for you, if you like to muddy the waters. You could get a non-smartphone (gasp!) and then get a smaller tablet like the iPad Mini with a data plan. You would the have connectivity everywhere and wouldn’t have to worry about getting a smartphone.
Okay, if you don’t want to carry two devices, you could go with a phablet (phone+tablet) like the Galaxy Note II for size of the screen, but the iPhone 5 will be faster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9uJKD2ETlA&ytsession=7Wn1NXK4LDq83pB0x3yg5xfgb0pwP0ASSSIPWGfNZ0qRIzZ7FLHC5mEjj7ZwgWDbWMJuB7-_bciMV12_oyZMbf5SAUlJz7AEPt_HLqrCWbffAzjsaK34h1jghc-3a2BkR2dPW2IODut25ry4nV9rag5FEb2MNwkT0-PCtgp5cWeWJEUCC85H2wlKy3Asp-4pMoEK-4I225n2MbeFLjSPQm_8i0olyLwf0yEROsOHdaBCXaBJNzljBTPlXEPxLSAl__4X–ubA9d5SkOowrHFIb1IhAna0BYALX3G2o2PbakpIoVOVv-bPcpLaeoeW7tUhIgYe_Di1-T88xNUiUbfZJZC7GGfGFNIkEVb9dL54SM7pm0gAAg4Ra4ysapwV5LTeAziMv_qLKNA1iHQ-5u-p8PmE5GB-Yddt1ADkDqKGIphcFR-h5w2WhpkEKEBgr8zNB44yMj1G3cEXBzU47lMv-nirLcmAmKD8J9BRHMWgHL7Yz-c0_4YYDbtyQWYSNupdKvxEAZ_wcn26ycs7g_4guV6_MVUtp8Dj93sksihjVdnvtfTCUg-GLkIP8hU0sxshkFuiTuyfOSD5HcCggIDMGMMFeeVainEgyqbkp8ssTjboBxXF9gS28P4PbXreELdVrGZrhWlk7aFNBRAuhtAh56KGQwV31M2EjAhZ4sk5l9edTu_xV4e5X6jL5u_ZUv-FywIRcZIwXM
Hi Carolyn,
We sort of covered this on Twitter but I still wanted to say thank you for the links. They were quite useful.
I love my iPhone 5, but I’m not one of those zealots who thinks it is the best phone ever. I’m pretty sure I’d like the Galaxy III just as much.
I was on the cusp of being in the same quandary as you were, but then I realized something. There is a point, where a group of phones (or anything of quality) gets so good and so useful that they are all good choices. The people who fight the wars are, in my opinion, doing it out of either vanity or insecurity. They fear that theirs might NOT be the best, or worse, that someone else will think they don’t have the coolest gadget.
There is a commercial for the Galaxy III phones that mocks iPhone 5 and it is fantastic. My self-worth is not tied to my phone. The choice I made has served me well and that is all the validation I need.
Hi Brian,
Agreed. I am certain most of the smartphones out there will meet my needs and do so in a fashion that makes me happy.
But I figure there has got to be one or more than will make me “happier” and since I have to live with them for a while I might as well take advantage of it.
I’m thinking my next purchase will be an Ultrabook. Doesn’t solve the phone issue, but the computer/tablet piece will be well in hand. Oh yeah, I have the Galaxy s2 (not the note). Good phone, Sprint service can be spotty in places out here but the phone’s pretty cool. The email/exchange sync kinda sucks though; so you’ll need to buy K9 or some other program for email – unless that’s just a Sprint thing, I have no idea. Good luck Josh!
Hi Gary,
An ultrabook would be nice. Most of the time I love my laptop but it is a 17″ beast that doesn’t play nicely on the airlines.
If I had some cash and could afford biz class it might not be such a deal, but…
I am Verizon and have been for about 7 years now. Overall I like it.
I have been finding the right phone for the past 3 years! But seems like I never end up making the choice and my current phone is working too well (4 year and many accidents later, it still is all right). Though I wouldn’t recommend it.
Decisions are tough. Especially when you have three million and thirty five choices!
Hi Hajra,
Three million and thirty five choices isn’t as big an exaggeration as we might like. 😉
Four years for a phone is a good thing. They should last.
Part of my challenge is due to the lag time and slow speed. I just can’t have that.