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How do you justify buying a smartphone?

I can afford it and wanted a new toy. That's all the justification I need. Basically I went into a Verizon store after the contract on my EnV expired with the intention of upgrading to an EnV Touch or at least an EnV 2. The only caveat I have when buying a new phone is that it's an improvement over my last, since I always keep my phone for the full two year contract. So the Verizon rep tells me I have to take a $10 data plan on either of those phones, which I wasn't happy about. I had tried the mobile web browser on my EnV and thought it sucked. I saw the $10 as a waste of money since I wouldn't use the features needing data.

I went home and thought about it and decided to just upgrade to a Droid and pay the $30 for data. I'd rather pay $30 more and use it (while having all the features of a smartphone) than flush $10 down the toilet every month. I thought the phones that didn't need a data plan were a downgrade from the EnV. I saw the Incredible on Verizon's website and decided to wait for it. I picked it up on launch and haven't looked back.
 
Let see:

1) HTC Incredible & Motorola - > Software development
2) iPhone / iPad - > Sysadmin,corporate email, calendaring, real work stuff.
3) 3G Wifi portable router -> Just because I need to access the internet from anywhere.
 
I like having my,

email
android forums (recent)
facebook
texts
updates (sports, facebook,engadget)
calendar
notes

all in one place and in my hand...Could I live without it??..Yes... Do I want to??...NO!!!
 
How else would I look up answers while in school?

Plus the random things you see throughout the day that you are curious about. For example, I saw someone with a bumper sticker that said "26.2" and also one that said "I dream of being a Kenyan." I had no idea what this was referring to so I did a quick google of "26.2" and found out that that is how many miles a marathon is. That made the Kenyan bumper stick make sense as well.

Plus, Shazam. I could not live without it.
 
How I justified my Incredible purchase.

I was spending $110/month for my feature phone... 900 min, unlimited texts, navigation, web, vcast, email, etc.

I wasn't using more than 450 minutes, so I dropped those. A lot of my texts were weather, sports, news updates, so dropped those (now have apps). Also dropped everything else, since it's included. Now I spend $85/month with the Incredible, which VZW let me upgrade early with discount, in order to get that data plan money out of me.

I spent $200 on the Incredible, saves $25/month on my plan, which comes out to $300/year. I am $100 richer.
 
I justified my dinc purchase because I needed 24hr access to the internet for my job. I am able to work from anywhere with this phone. Just solved a few issues, coddled my boss and set up an interview while three beers deep at the local bar. I really have no reason to go in to the office anymore.
 
Where do I start?

I was one of those people that was convinced that I didn't need all the stuff in a smartphone.

It was only 2 months ago when I bought my first one and I cannot imagine not having it. I tremble if its more than 3 feet away.

I'm actually mad at myself for not converting over earlier.
 
My justification was that my field of work requires constant travel. At the time, I was working far enough away from home that I couldn't keep up with everything and didn't have a computer. My first reason was to have something that can connect to the internet no matter where I am. Secondly, it's real nice to be able to take a picture of something and send it to my boss without the need of going to a computer first. However I know few of these reasons may apply to you. I got the droid and I must say I'm very happy with it.
 
I always wanted a phone that would do pretty much everything a computer does, but wouldn't touch one till the android ones had been out for a while.
After all before android they were unreliable (symbian, Windows) or extremely overpriced (Apple)
 
Jon Nale said:
I am a college student, a system administrator, a software developer, etc. In order words, most of the day I am surrounded by computers. (note: these aren't full time jobs, just stuff I do around campus when I am not in class)

Unlike some people in the computing field, I need time away from computers. I cannot spend ALL freaking day sitting in front of a monitor. It would seriously drive me insane.

So, as a tech geek, I really want a smartphone. However, for reasons listed above, I have a hard time justifying my purchase of a smartphone. The big thing is, most of the time when I need something that requires internet access, there is usually a computer nearby.

The only thing I can think of when I consider 'reasons I need a smartphone', is the fact that I put EVERYTHING on my google calendar, so having that with me at all times would be awesome. The only other thing I can think of is maybe learning the android sdk and making some apps (not that this requires the phone, but having a phone helps). Maybe there is more I will use my phone for, but when I am not by a computer, I am usually glad I am not by a computer haha.

So I am just curious, how do you justify your smartphone? I am hoping I can relate to someone out there haha.

(note: I do in fact need a cellphone, but smartphone plans are more expensive [obviously])

(note2: I am planning on buying the Droid)
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I justify it because I want one :) I get therm because I keep my life organized with the pda part and since I want a phone for other things it just makes sense to have one thing that does everything.
 
FireRunner said:
My phone is my ability to not have to be in front of a computer. Since smart phones really came into play I rarely check my email on a computer. And, most emails I compose aren't long enough for me to need a full keyboard.

I also use my phone for Twitter and oddly enough I communicate through that more than my messages sometimes. And, with an iPhone I can browse most pages just fine for general surfing.
Click to expand...

I really just wanted to compliment your choice of avatars (that's what I call the UM guy you have). I happen to be a Michigan fan myself.
 
If I need to justify a new purchase, its usually using a simple list - it essentially comes down to the fact I work all year, nearly all my cash goes to the house, or a new project the missus has in mind to improve the house.

I then spend all my bonus on this new project, she then gets a huge guilt thing going, then pretty much pushes me to get a new phone - of course this benefits me because she then gets my old handset.

Case in point, just waiting for my Desire to arrive, and she inherits my 3Gs. And she also has 2K spent on the garden in landscaping.

Could have got a hell of a PC for that!

I'm screwed either way, the least I can get is a new shiny toy.
 
I guess I justified it the same way I justified buying my 2'nd laptop, my netbook, my iPod (yes I know) and the three other music players I have... I wanted it because I like tech-toys :)
 
When I first heard about the Droid, I wasn't clear on just what a smartphone was, exactly. I didn't know there was a diff between them and the phone I was currently on (at the time, an LG Dare). What I saw was everything I had wanted my Dare to be when I first got it. So when the Droid launched, I had to have it.

It's opened so many doors for me. The amount of knowledge I have now compared to then (and thanks in no small part to Android Forums) is astonishing.
 
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