Cellphone dilemma

dstoyo · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2011, 06:20 AM

I have a Motorola Droid at the moment with verizon but i am looking forward to buy the new iphone 4S in a couple of days.

I ve worked in West Virginia for the last couple months but i was not able to use 3g since verizon doesnt have 3g coverage in most of WV. I called verizon but they wouldnt help me out so i still had to pay my $29.99/month data charges . My bill is around $110-$120 a month and i truly believe that i am overpaying.

Here are my options:

1. Sign up with Sprint which is around $80/month but i probably wont get 3g in west virgina on but it should be fine when i go home on break.
2. Add a line on my sisters plan at att. Im not sure how much that is going to cost me.
3. Keep Verizon and just swallow my pride.

The only problem with 1 and 2 is that i have to canceled my verizon contract and that is going to cost me $350.

The 6th Wilbury · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2011, 06:08 PM

Interesting... I also have a couple of iPhone-related options available to me courtesy of my department:

1. Buy the iPhone 4S ($199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB). I purchase and own the device, my department pays for the service for two years.

2. Buy the iPhone 4 ($99 for 8GB). I purchase and own the device, my department pays the service for two years.

3. Order an iPhone 3GS 8 GB. I owe nothing. My department pays the service for two years, plus it owns the device -- I turn it in after two years are up.

4. Status quo: keep my crappy Samsung Sync, and continue to owe nothing.

I'm one of the few people in my department eligible for this, as it is only available to those who have not previously purchased or received an iPhone from the department.

If you were in my position, which option would you chose? I don't use cell phones very often -- in fact, I hate 'em. So should I take the free albeit inferior 3GS? Or is there enough bang-for-buck difference to warrant going with the 4 or 4S?

Tyresias · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2011, 07:19 PM

@6th IMO 1 or 2 are the real choices, and it really only depends on how much memory you'll want.

I use my iphone a LOT b/c I download podcasts directly to it every day (without plugging into my pc), so I like having memory. I have a 32gb 3gs that I'll upgrade to 4s at some point, and when I do will get at least the 32gb. That said, if you're alright shuffling around your music/podcasts/whatever from iphone to computer frequently, the 4 and the 4s don't seem all that different. Both will last you somewhat substantially longer than the 3gs imo.

The 6th Wilbury · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2011, 11:10 PM

Aaargh, I had a post written out and I closed the window by accident.

Ty: thanks for the input. I've done some cursory research on the iPhone 4S and at least a couple factors have me leaning that way: the improved speed, both in processing and downloading; and the improved signal reception. The most publicized upgrade is in the camera, but that's actually less important to me since I already own plenty of photography equipment.

As for the podcasts/music, I have my iPod Classic for that -- no substitute for 160GB. Still, it will be nice to be able to grab new episodes when I'm on the road or when I simply haven't updated the iPod recently.

Anyway, I appreciate the input. If anyone here has a 4S, I'd love to hear a quick review.

dstoyo, seeing how this is your thread: check the coverage maps for the alternate providers you're looking at. I had Nextel (part of Sprint) before our department entered a huge multi-year deal with AT&T. Good service overall, but I hit some serious dead zones in West Virginia, rural Virginia and southern Pennsylvania when I traveled that way. From what I see, Sprint and Nextel are almost nonexistent in WV -- so that might be a non-option for you given your new work setting.

As for AT&T, I can tell you after three years of it that I hate it. Even with a four-bar signal, I experience numerous dropped calls. And when the calls don't drop, they're still choppy and of poor quality (think of a really bad drive-thru speaker). Quite often, I see my co-workers doing what I call the AT&T Dance: wandering around erratically, twisting and turning until they find that one square foot where they get a good call. As it is, if I take a cellphone call at home, my best bet is to sit on my kitchen floor, facing the window. If I even turn my head, I risk losing the call.

However...

I see you list your home location as Pennsylvania and Michigan. I don't know about the former, but I know AT&T's signal is very strong in that Midwest part of the country, especially in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. (My phone works beautifully at O'Hare, for example.) So for at least half of your claimed homes, you might have a better experience with AT&T than I've had here in Northern California.

teetdogs · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2011, 11:52 PM

I will say as the resident tech guy (not so much as of late due to work obligations) that you will be overall happier with the Android, if you can get the Samsung Galaxy2 you will be in love, I cant imagine going back to an Iphone after having the original Galaxy, the screen seems soooo small .

With that said, if you just looking for a piece of eye candy then by all means go with the Iphone. Because thats what it is, it looks really cool and its trendy, but if your serious about your phone as an all in one type device the Android takes the cake.