which smart phone should I get?

• abc33kr wrote on 2013-02-24 23:01
  I never really cared too much about smart phone since I always carry my laptop around, but my family decided to get a smart phone plan and are making me get a smart phone.
  
  So questions I would like to ask are
  

  
  
  • what smart phones are out there? the only ones I know are droid and iphone
    
  • do all non-apple phones share the same app store?
    
  • what OS do these phones use respectively?
    
  • are these OS interchangeable? as in installing iOS on droid.
    
  • could i install windows 8 on one of these phones?
    
  • what are some good apps you would recommend (games, neat gadget, etc)
    
  • how do I make an account for the phone. I heard I have to connect my google account?
    

  
  
  and I have Verizon
• Blassreiter wrote on 2013-02-24 23:15
  Smartphones are generally seen as phones with some capabilities that a computer can do. There are quite a lot of smartphones but the question you should be asking is "which ones are the better ones?" I had a T-Mobile Comet, it's considered a smartphone but it's very crappy as it has crappy ram, graphics, etc. Basically choosing a smartphone is like choosing a computer. Check out their specs and compare them through their capabilities and prices.
  
  But in the mainstream it's the Android and the iOS. These are basically the Operating System of the phone (i.e. Windows, Mac) , and the brand of the phone (i.e. Samsung Galaxy) is like what you would compare to Dell and Hewlett-Packard.
  
  As for personal preference and I guess advice to you, avoid iPhones. Because I don't like them. I have a Samsung Galaxy Note II and from studying the iPhone 5 it loses out in price (that is if you're just buying it without contract), graphics (at least my friend's iPhone 5's Subway Surfers looks more choppy than mine), and the inability to modify the phone(i.e. No EXTRA GB sd Cards for more memory, [S]or at least a legal way[/S])
  
  Overall the iPhone seems very restrictive for me so if anything my advice is to get an Android device. Some choices I recommend is the Samsung Galaxy series. But before anything you should see what others have to say.
• abc33kr wrote on 2013-02-24 23:37
  so galaxy or android. iPhone is out i guess.
• Claudia wrote on 2013-02-24 23:37
  Unless you like to tinker a lot, get an iPhone. It does everything you'd ever want it to do.
  
  Buy one model older, though, way cheaper.
• RicochetOrange wrote on 2013-02-24 23:49

  Quote from abc33kr;1038774:

  so galaxy or android. iPhone is out i guess.

  
  
  The Galaxy is an Android device.
  
  Also how do people afford Smartphone plans? o_O
• Eirys wrote on 2013-02-24 23:50
  iPhone if you don't want to tweak it.
  
  Galaxy is if you do.
  
  I have iPhone 5 and I love it so much.
• Yoorah wrote on 2013-02-24 23:57
  The iPhone is not bad if you don't mind installing Apple's crapware onto your computer AND someone's paying for that data plan.
  
  After doing some research and thinking about it for a while, I recently got a Nexus 4, which is arguably a superior device. It is also cheaper in the sense that it comes unlocked and I can use it on any carrier, with any plan, without contracts. It also comes directly from Google, the makers of the Android OS, so it'll get all the OS updates first.
  
  The Nokia and HTC built Windows 8 phones are decent, but they're probably not as good as the two options above. They also have less app dev support.
• Ashikoki wrote on 2013-02-25 00:13

  Quote from RicochetOrange;1038781:

  Also how do people afford Smartphone plans? o_O

  
  
  You can buy older models from walmart for like 20 dollars without a contract. Individually, the plan costs like 60 dollars a month for 2GB internet, unlimited text/call (t-mobile).
  
  Smartphone plans tend to be expensive because you're forced to lock in to an overpriced contract to avoid paying 600 dollars for the retail value of the phone. I'm kinda old fashioned so I really don't need fancy AI's to talk to, or high end gaming on my phone. This Samsung Exhibit II is the one I got. I can use most apps, it has a gps, and I can google search.
• abc33kr wrote on 2013-02-25 00:24
  so window 8 phones aren't as good as android phones?
  
  iPhone doesn't even allow a micro sd card? @_@
  I was planning on getting a 32gb micro sd card.
• December wrote on 2013-02-25 00:25
  I'm not a mindlessapple fan, I use Windows and opted PC over Mac. But I must say I do love my iPhone 4S. The 4/4S would be pretty cheap now that the 5 is out.
  
  I always thought it would be cool to have a flatedge designed iphone when the 3 came out, so of course I love the design. The camera is high quality, it's easy to use, sync music and install apps. People complain about the battery, but it's not too hard to remember to charge every second night. I do wish you could swap the battery out though, which is something most other phones allow.
  
  If you really thing you would benefit from modding and adding all these things to your phone, maybe get an android, but the iPhone already has enough functionality for me, and I havent jailbroken it or anything.
  
  Otherwise maybe check out the Nokia Lumina, I've heard good reviews about it
  
  Edit: @questionsabove.
  The iPhone doesn't have an SD reader. I believe the iPad reader isn't compatiable with iPhone either. There's probably some aftermarket reader plug-in you could use.
• Trevor wrote on 2013-02-25 00:28
  What phone service do you have?
• abc33kr wrote on 2013-02-25 00:30
  Ah I should have said in the OP, but I have Verizon.
• Trevor wrote on 2013-02-25 00:34
  Best non-apple phone on Verizon is HTC Droid DNA
• abc33kr wrote on 2013-02-25 00:38

  Quote from Trevor;1038797:

  Best non-apple phone on Verizon is HTC Droid DNA

  
  
  says no card slot. seems primitive :/
• Trevor wrote on 2013-02-25 00:40

  Quote from abc33kr;1038798:

  says no card slot. seems primitive :/

  
  
  Yeah that is the only downside to it.
  
  It has 8MP camera (standard for most smartphones) and the fastest processor on Verizon 1.5 GHz quad core. It also has wireless charging. I think it runs Jellybean 4.1 or 4.2 I forgot. Also it has a 5 inch screen.