Do people really upgrade their phones for things they wanted to do but couldn't before? I really don't remember the last time I upgraded my phone for the reason that the new phone was going to allow me to do so many more things I wanted than before. I think most people upgrade for the latest hardware and new features that they may not use much but are nice to have. That being said, I agree - if there is nothing you desire our there, it makes little sense to reset your contract but upgrading to a phone that doesn't really add much to what you do now.
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Is it really worth upgrading?
- Thread starter partridge
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- htc desire
I do, but that probably explains why I upgrade much more rarely than many.
Seriously, after buying my first phone in '94 my upgrades were motivated as follows:
* upgrade single band -> dual band
* upgrade dual band -> tri band (and better reliability!)
* upgrade to bluetooth, WAP, auto-switching tri band
* upgrade forced by water damage (and adding quad band)
* upgrade dumbphone to smartphone (replacing PDA at same time).
Guess that wanting a reason other than "this year's model" makes me a bad member of the consumer society, but I can live with that
partridge
Android Enthusiast
I think it's now about waiting to see what the next "paradigm shift" in smartphones is going to be. Currently they all do much the same thing, it's a pretty level playing field regardless of which OS you go with.
Spec wise, smartphones do as much as they can be expected to do. Let's assume NFC takes off then that becomes the next thing to become a standard feature, otherwise it's just tweaking stuff that's already there, better camera, better video, faster browser, better battery, etc.
Size wise they are not going to get much bigger, the screen might soon be edge to edge but if they get much slimmer they'll end up snapping in your pocket! They need to have a certain weight and thickness to feel comfortable in the hand.
I don't think we'll see a flexi-screen phone for a while yet, so what else is there to change or add? I can't think of much, so waiting for an ICS device seems like the best thing to do to ensure a bit of future proofing.
Spec wise, smartphones do as much as they can be expected to do. Let's assume NFC takes off then that becomes the next thing to become a standard feature, otherwise it's just tweaking stuff that's already there, better camera, better video, faster browser, better battery, etc.
Size wise they are not going to get much bigger, the screen might soon be edge to edge but if they get much slimmer they'll end up snapping in your pocket! They need to have a certain weight and thickness to feel comfortable in the hand.
I don't think we'll see a flexi-screen phone for a while yet, so what else is there to change or add? I can't think of much, so waiting for an ICS device seems like the best thing to do to ensure a bit of future proofing.
I agree partridge, we have reached a point in development where the increases in technology aren't really changing anything, only making it better and faster. Most computers now don't perform any significantly different tasks than they did five years ago. Sure, the computer today is better, but it's just better at doing essentially the same things. Mobile devices are rapidly reaching the same plateau where it's more of refinements than revolutionary changes. I think it will be another five or more years before we see the next revolution.
SUroot
Extreme Android User
Going by the bigger, better, faster argument - home computers haven't changed at all in at least 20 years. OS's have but besides WiFi and flash drives, its pretty much the same thing
partridge
Android Enthusiast
Which historically is where MS have pushed the minimum spec of a PC forward by releasing a new, even more bloaty, Windows OS that needs more power to run it, even though it's just doing the same old thing. I realise certain kinds of software need that power, but the average user doesn't.
MS and their hardware partners are looking at a bleak future as speedy, efficient mobile O/S steal their thunder. lol, I never though I'd use the words speedy and efficient in the same sentence as MS!
MS and their hardware partners are looking at a bleak future as speedy, efficient mobile O/S steal their thunder. lol, I never though I'd use the words speedy and efficient in the same sentence as MS!
SUroot
Extreme Android User
Due to certain projects, my laptop has abandoned Windows all together for Ubuntu. My missus still not too sure
partridge
Android Enthusiast
I have a spare hard drive so I have Vista on one and Ubuntu on the other, Ubuntu is so much better than Vista in many ways, but sadly some stuff only works on Vista so I have that ready, just in case.
MS need to look at just how quickly Ubuntu loads up and how well managed its updates are. MS are dinosaurs who have somehow managed to keep going; if it weren't for their licensing business model for Office and Windows, they'd be on the extinction list.
MS need to look at just how quickly Ubuntu loads up and how well managed its updates are. MS are dinosaurs who have somehow managed to keep going; if it weren't for their licensing business model for Office and Windows, they'd be on the extinction list.
i too will be able to upgrade soon, and up until yesterday was perfectly happy with my desire. until i saw may mates samsung. he said it was just galaxy s, but the screen was bigger than desire and it didnt seem to have a plasticy back, so wndered whether it was actually the s2? but it was nice 
the only reason i would change phone would be larger screen for reading office files/web pages, the ability to maybe edit spreadsheets (so better apps?), and definitely need something with better battery life! it puts me off using it sometimes as i know itll need charging before the days out if i do.
interested in this giffgaff thing too. never heard of it before. would maybe suit the kids who are on
the only reason i would change phone would be larger screen for reading office files/web pages, the ability to maybe edit spreadsheets (so better apps?), and definitely need something with better battery life! it puts me off using it sometimes as i know itll need charging before the days out if i do.
interested in this giffgaff thing too. never heard of it before. would maybe suit the kids who are on
M
Member 116750
Guest
I'll be able to upgrade next April, and it will take a very special phone to make me bother. There is probably a phone out there (or will be in April) that can browse the internet faster, but it's already fast enough for me. Memory could be better, but it's not a massive problem. Power management is easy enough too. If it gets to the point that there's just no memory left in the phone or the battery is lasting absolutely no time at all, then I'll upgrade. But unlike every other phone I've ever had, I just see no need to upgrade just for the sake of it. It does everything I need it to, and it does it well.
I only upgraded to Windows 7 because I was reliably informed by a work colleague (a software developer) that the usual massive loading times were a thing of the past, after I had been boasting about Ubuntu allowing me to get from turning the laptop on to actually using the interent in under 2 minutes.
It was okay for a while, but less than a year later, Windows went back to its usual self, and now takes an age to fully load up once I switch it on. Ubuntu, on the other hand, is still lightning fast.
I only upgraded to Windows 7 because I was reliably informed by a work colleague (a software developer) that the usual massive loading times were a thing of the past, after I had been boasting about Ubuntu allowing me to get from turning the laptop on to actually using the interent in under 2 minutes.
It was okay for a while, but less than a year later, Windows went back to its usual self, and now takes an age to fully load up once I switch it on. Ubuntu, on the other hand, is still lightning fast.
I used to just buy a phone when I fancied a new one, but that was when a fairly top end phone would set you back
If the battery life drops that much a new battery will be about 30 times cheaper than a new phone
