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How do you justify buying a smartphone?

I'm one of those few people who want a phone and PDA/PIM combined, don't really need the data plan. I use the calendar mainly. My previous phone I was on the pay as you go plan and just blocked data and used wifi but they don't allow that anymore.
 
There's a few reasons why I wanted an Android:

I design a lot of posters for local rock/metal bands and having a phone attached to the internet makes it a whole load easier to keep track of concerts while I'm out and about plus I can store my archived posters on my MicroSD to show to potential customers. All without lugging my laptop with me everyday.
 
my buddy and I merged our contracts and having a smartphone is about 20 dollars cheaper for me comparing to what i was paying for a dumb phone with unlimited texting
 
I get a free contract upgrade in a few weeks so it was either a Nexus One or a Blackberry...pretty easy choice :p It also paid me to get the Nexus One and flog the Blackberry :)
 
I wanted it and I can afford it. I like the ability to do Damn near anything on a phone that I could do on a computer at home.
 
Jon Nale said:
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)
Click to expand...

I am the same way. I have had a Nokia 1100 which is now ANCIENT for about 7 years. Everyone made fun of the Tech guy having such an old piece of technology. Like you I'm an I.T. guy and deal with computers every day / all day. I finally saw something the filled a lot of other needs besides the internet part which I didn't really need.

First off, it has a nice camera that can GEOTAG the photos. It also does video and with the full integration with Picasa and Youtube for photo and video I just loved it.

I travel overseas once every 2 months or so so I wanted a phone that had GPS built in. The Nexus had an actual GPS chip unlike most A-GPS phones that don't work once you get outside cell coverage area (think Africa). I loaded MAPDROYD on my phone and can now use it for a GPS anywhere in the world.

The integration with Google voice/calendar/gmail/youtube/picasa. The GPS, the ability to pop a foreign sim card in this totally unlocked phone made it great for travel. I just couldn't pass up something THIS useful. The Nexus one has really been great for the month I've had it. The Wifi is great too while outside cell service areas for sending Txt and stuff via google voice and using VOIP back to the USA to make free overseas phone calls.

While in the USA I have the "even more plus" plan with 500 talk minutes/unlimited text/unlimited data for 59$ a month. Well worth the added expense

From one computer guy to another... I say "GET IT". If you don't like the added expense, then go voice only and use WIFI for the data. An unlocked phone lets you use it any way you like.
 
What I find funny is all these "IT Guys" Who are in it for the money and not the love of tech.
 
The reality is that most people don't NEED a smartphone. It's a convenience item, and life for most of us would go on just fine without it. If you can afford it, and justify it to yourself, then go for it. If the cons outweigh the pros, then hold off on it. I didn't make the jump to a smartphone until I found one I liked and had the disposable income to pay for the device at full price so I didn't have to commit to a 2 year contract. If it feels right, then go for it. If you're apprehensive, then wait. They're likely to get less expensive the longer you wait.
 
I'm a tech junkie and there was finally one worth having, Moto Droid. Screen size and resolution makes browsing realistic. Open platform and no heavy-handed carrier (Verizon, who'da thought) means real options for content and apps.

Have to say it's the most powerful and useful tool Ive ever owned, short of a pocket knife...
 
dbs said:
I'm a tech junkie and there was finally one worth having, Moto Droid. Screen size and resolution makes browsing realistic. Open platform and no heavy-handed carrier (Verizon, who'da thought) means real options for content and apps.

Have to say it's the most powerful and useful tool Ive ever owned, short of a pocket knife...
Click to expand...

Verizon is quite heavy handed on their phone policies. They still lock down MOST of their phones, and are over priced. And resolution on other modern devices is much better on other smart phones =)
 
A gift card for Xmas and low priced Smartphones is what justified my purchase. We were with a regional carrier that was bought by AT&T. On the old plan before AT&T we were paying $130 for calls and unlimited text (no pics though:(). After shopping around we found the Hero and Moment for $100 each at The Shack, combine that with $130 unlimited everything plan from Sprint and we were in!!! I woulda been leery of using Sprint but alot of our family had switched to them over the last year and they were getting great coverage. Now I have a smartphone for the same price I was paying for basic services a few months ago.
 
Well, you're on the right track by thinking about what you need it for.

The one big difference between a smart phone and a 'regular' phone is what the possibilities are. Since you work with computers you'll find it easy to add on to the basic functionality of the Droid.

So you'll be able to add functions (software) when you need them. I've added everything from IP cam checkers to GPS mapping at different times because I needed that ability. When I didn't need it anymore I uninstalled the apps.

It really doesn't have to take one killer app to sell you on a smart phone, what you'll probably find are a lot of separate apps that will make your life easier.

Also I'm going to have to recommend ShopSavy because BestBuy will match prices. So if you buy any equipment it should save you the cost of the phone easily.
 
If you are having a hard time justifying the purchase of a smartphone, then maybe you don't need it.

For me, I'm looking for a mobile computing replacement. Meaning that if I'm on the road, or just outside, I know I can depend on my smartphone for anything from communications to directions, to light office work. One definite advantage of a smartphone is that whatever you need in such a device, you can probably get an app for it. Whether a PDA, communications, navigation, media player as well as a portable gaming device. :)
 
I am glad to see this post is still going strong.

I just wanted to note that I got a Droid on Day 1 and it has been such a useful tool to me.

I find that in my free time (when I am not by a computer), I don't feel the need to check my e-mail as frequently because I get a notification on my phone. I used to check my e-mail every day before I go to bed, and now I don't need to because if I had any, it would come up on my phone.

It is also really nice having a physical device to debug software on. I am a software developer and I develop for Android, so it is nice to have something to run the code on just to be certain that it works.

When I am at work or at home on my computer, I don't use my phone at all because I don't need to, so there still is a lot of time when I have no need to use my phone.

I am not sure that justifies how much I am spending on my phone plan, but it is a nice convenience that (in my opinion) is worth paying for.
 
Contact & calendar sync
email
facebook
music (spotify) on the move
good web browser. (when looking up bus times, unknown numbers, football scores, news, and other information you need right there and then.)

I could never use a "normal" phone ever again without feeling gimped.
Got an iPhone 3G atm (waiting for my Desire to arrive), that I've had since it first came out. Before that I had the Sony Ericsson K610....slight difference ;)
 
its the condensing of everything into one place which u can use pretty much anywhere.

-internet
-email
-sms
-google maps
-google nav
-calandar
-facebook
-note pad
-yelp style (places to eat, drink etc)

etc

theres just so much on one thing, i guess its like mobile phones when they first came out... how did ppl survive without them? give it 5 years and ppl will wonder how we lived without smart phones!
 
First smartphone I ever had was a Palm Centro (got it as a gift) which I got in early 2008. Lost it in a party couple of months later. I was using a WinMo device before this, an HTC Faraday/Cingular 2125 from 2005. Got it last November for free through my dads work (refurbished). It had no 3G or WiFi so I rarely ever browsed the internet. I did upgrade from 5.0 to 6.5 through hacking it but that was shortly before getting my Liquid. Features like an easily syncable calendar, access to e-mail, etc is what made me enjoy using smartphones.

My buddy and I turned $20 into a couple of thousand dollars playing online poker. We each withdrew $400 (while keeping the rest in our account to continue playing). Since I was okay financially, I decided to put it towards an Android device (GPS, internet wherever I go, AIM wherever I go, calendar to keep me more organized and all the reasons stated above). Originally my plan was to put $170 of my own money plus the $400 towards a Nexus (price+tax), then I found this Liquid for $360 and as amazing as the N1 is, I did not feel that it was worth $210 more than the Liquid. Got the Liquid 3 weeks ago, and so far in love with it.
 
My Droid Incredible was a college graduation present to myself. That's how I justified it to everyone (and in my own mind too). I figured I went crazy for four years and graduated near the top of my class so I deserved it.

Of course I probably would have bought it regardless...

So instead of buying myself a new laptop for grad school I got an android phone :D
 
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