What phone now?

**PowderHorse** · 03-11-2016, 02:43 PM

Don't let your self debate become like the Republican debates... Hopefully you have fewer than 16 selves...

Thankfully I don't have TV so I don't watch that nonsense! I'm a Gemini, so should only be 2 of me.

They always have been.

I guess I got my last one for really cheap? I need a new computer too and it's almost the same price as the damn phone!

**riser4** · 03-11-2016, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by PowderHorse

Thankfully I don't have TV so I don't watch that nonsense!

Oh, but you still can. Forever. And ever. Youtube.

**Dantheman** · 03-11-2016, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by PowderHorse

I guess I got my last one for really cheap?

Subsidized price with contract renewal? Bought used? MSRPs on new late model phones have always been high, people are just more aware of it now in the post-contract era. The original iPhone was $600 and it was positively quaint by current standards. Even high-end flip phones used to have MSRPs of several hundred dollars. Remember the RAZR? MSRP on that thing was $600, for a flip phone with a 640x480 VGA camera. If anything nice phones are cheaper than ever.

**riser4** · 03-11-2016, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dantheman

Subsidized price with contract renewal? Bought used? MSRPs on new model phones have always been high, people are just more aware of it now in the post-contract era. The original iPhone was $600 and it was positively quaint by current standards. Even high-end flip phones used have MSRPs of several hundred dollars. Remember the RAZR? MSRP on that thing was $600, for a flip phone with a 640 x 480 VGA camera. If anything nice phones are cheaper than ever.

I miss my original RAZR. RIP.

**PowderHorse** · 03-11-2016, 06:19 PM

Subsidized price with contract renewal? Bought used? MSRPs on new late model phones have always been high, people are just more aware of it now in the post-contract era. The original iPhone was $600 and it was positively quaint by current standards. Even high-end flip phones used to have MSRPs of several hundred dollars. Remember the RAZR? MSRP on that thing was $600, for a flip phone with a 640x480 VGA camera. If anything nice phones are cheaper than ever.

Yea, just emerging from the contract haze of paying high monthly fees and thinking I got a deal on my phone! I've been with Verizon since the mid-90s, feels weird to be letting them go (more loyalty to VZ than 2 marriages, ha!).

I'll get a much better deal with Fi at $30/month vs VZ at $50/mo for identical packages. Guessing Fi will run well in Boulder since Google is taking over.

**Danno** · 03-11-2016, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by PowderHorse

Guessing Fi will run well in Boulder since Google is taking over.

I have Sprint, which Fi uses, and there are places in North Boulder where the service is shit. But that might change once some google exec moves into his pimpy house on Norwood.

**PowderHorse** · 03-11-2016, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

I have Sprint, which Fi uses, and there are places in North Boulder where the service is shit. But that might change once some google exec moves into his pimpy house on Norwood.

Hmmm good to know. I thought Fi changed towers to get best service in each particular area? VZ can suck sometimes at my office downtown, especially windy days but usually fine going North.

I mostly love the Moto X but need more GB, I use it way more now than 2 years ago and it's just dying a slow death.

Android over iOS for me after sub par iPhone experience.

**Danno** · 03-12-2016, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by PowderHorse

Hmmm good to know. I thought Fi changed towers to get best service in each particular area? VZ can suck sometimes at my office downtown, especially windy days but usually fine going North.

I mostly love the Moto X but need more GB, I use it way more now than 2 years ago and it's just dying a slow death.

Android over iOS for me after sub par iPhone experience.

I believe Fi uses Sprint and T-Mobile towers, and I don't know what T-Mobile's service is like in North Boulder. I have some friends on Norwood/19th and my Sprint phone gets terrible service there.

**RShea** · 03-13-2016, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

I believe Fi uses Sprint and T-Mobile towers, and I don't know what T-Mobile's service is like in North Boulder. I have some friends on Norwood/19th and my Sprint phone gets terrible service there.

Fi does use the 2 cellular carriers, but it also is able to use any available open Wifi connection to make calls over the Wifi, which can help in a few situations, but obviously not in rural areas or secured Wifi private connections that passwords are needed.

**El Chupacabra** · 03-13-2016, 07:53 AM

I've been looking at the prepaid options. Walmart has a brochure with a list of all the plans they sell, and they have their own Straight Talk plan that works on Verizon network too. For the same $45/month as Verizon's 3gb plan, ST gives 5gb. Google says Straight Talk customer service is pretty bad, however.

Still thinking I'm going to try Google fi with a 5x, and if it sucks, just move the phone to another carrier.

**stfu&gbtw** · 03-13-2016, 02:58 PM

Just bought the z5 compact. I hate the Samsung software, so if I'm forced to flash a custom rom to resolve some stupid software issue, at least it will be on slick hardware. Got the e5823 with the fp sensor. Will post a review once I've had a chance to play with it.

**PowderHorse** · 03-13-2016, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by RShea

Fi does use the 2 cellular carriers, but it also is able to use any available open Wifi connection to make calls over the Wifi, which can help in a few situations, but obviously not in rural areas or secured Wifi private connections that passwords are needed.

This is helpful, thanks, I forgot that's half the point of Fi, duh! Means it should work great in my downtown office off the WiFi since it's a cellular hole.

Google is having a great sale as someone else mentioned. The 5X is super cheap (extra $150 discount if you commit to Fi) and 6P is down to $450.

**Soups** · 03-13-2016, 03:43 PM

Got the s7 on Wednesday through the preorder. The Oculus Gear VR that came with it is pretty fucking cool. I thought it was going to be gimicky but its awesome. I wouldn't buy one, but since it was free its fun to mess around with.

The phone is sweet so far. I finally upgraded from my old s3 and its just slightly larger. Not enough for me to really notice. Glad they brought back the expandable storage. Its great but it sucks you cant use it for the bloatware. The battery life is just ok for a heavy user but the fast charging makes up for anything lacking in battery life. 30min and its back up to 100%, wireless too.

The camera is awesome. Great for low light.

No real complaints so far.

**capulin overdrive** · 03-13-2016, 05:00 PM

Anybody been around a TerreStar Genus yet?

Probably a bad idea since I'm in Verizon country, but been thinking about a Sat phone anyways.

**RShea** · 03-13-2016, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

I've been looking at the prepaid options. Walmart has a brochure with a list of all the plans they sell, and they have their own Straight Talk plan that works on Verizon network too. For the same $45/month as Verizon's 3gb plan, ST gives 5gb. Google says Straight Talk customer service is pretty bad, however.

Still thinking I'm going to try Google fi with a 5x, and if it sucks, just move the phone to another carrier.

The Walmart Straightalk is one of the Tracfone/Net 10 parent company offerings set up only at Walmart with off shore customer service reps. They also own Page Plus now too. There are other prepaid offerings with Verizon based towers (and using Verizon phones- just not Prepaid phones unless they are activated and used for some time. Selectel Wireless is another Prepaid company that has some unique features when in a roaming area. Their $55 per month plan is unlimited talk, text and 5 GB of data.

**RShea** · 03-13-2016, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by capulin overdrive

Anybody been around a TerreStar Genus yet?

Probably a bad idea since I'm in Verizon country, but been thinking about a Sat phone anyways.

No Sat phone expert, but any I have ever priced out for service it was expensive usually with a monthly fee and per minute usage added and hard to justify unless you really desperately needed to communicate outside of cellular networks. The phone itself is even pricey (but probably cheaper if you are only wanting to carry 1 phone that will work on AT&T when the cellular network has towers in reach) Go read the CNet write up: http://www.cnet.com/products/terrestar-genus-at-t/

**Dantheman** · 03-13-2016, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

I've been looking at the prepaid options. Walmart has a brochure with a list of all the plans they sell, and they have their own Straight Talk plan that works on Verizon network too. For the same $45/month as Verizon's 3gb plan, ST gives 5gb. Google says Straight Talk customer service is pretty bad, however.

Still thinking I'm going to try Google fi with a 5x, and if it sucks, just move the phone to another carrier.

If you're considering 5gb plans Fi may not be for you. If you use more than a couple gigs per month the other MVNO options are cheaper. Depends on how much use you'll get out of the WiFi calling too.

**highangle** · 03-13-2016, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by soups818

Got the s7 on Wednesday through the preorder. The Oculus Gear VR that came with it is pretty fucking cool. I thought it was going to be gimicky but its awesome. I wouldn't buy one, but since it was free its fun to mess around with.

The phone is sweet so far. I finally upgraded from my old s3 and its just slightly larger. Not enough for me to really notice. Glad they brought back the expandable storage. Its great but it sucks you cant use it for the bloatware. The battery life is just ok for a heavy user but the fast charging makes up for anything lacking in battery life. 30min and its back up to 100%, wireless too.

The camera is awesome. Great for low light.

No real complaints so far.

Got an S7 Edge in the mail Friday, been playing with it at odd hours all weekend and love it. Makes a flat screen phone look clunky and dated. 4K vid+ makes the VR pretty sick. Haven't gamed with a bluetooth console yet, but this VR bit is the in-flight solution so far...

Ordered a Speck CandyShell case because of how bitchin grippy & ergo buttons they are with the S6 Edges I've seen, yet still retaining the dazzlement of the Edge screen. Moreover, I'm not a Phonekiller, so knock wood. The case should be birthed along with the wireless charging pad out of the smiley square egg from the brown mother truck soon.

**riser4** · 03-15-2016, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by PowderHorse

This is helpful, thanks, I forgot that's half the point of Fi, duh! Means it should work great in my downtown office off the WiFi since it's a cellular hole.

Google is having a great sale as someone else mentioned. The 5X is super cheap (extra $150 discount if you commit to Fi) and 6P is down to $450.

Seriously considering getting a 5X and switching to Fi because of that deal.

**DBdude** · 03-15-2016, 09:55 AM

Fi is not offered in my part of of the peoples democratic republic of vermont

**Dantheman** · 03-15-2016, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by PowderHorse

Google is having a great sale as someone else mentioned. The 5X is super cheap (extra $150 discount if you commit to Fi) and 6P is down to $450.

Fucking fuckers!

**PowderHorse** · 03-15-2016, 11:51 AM

Dantheman
Fucking fuckers!

Who? Google? Sale ends on the 17th.

**Dantheman** · 03-15-2016, 12:16 PM

Yes, Google. I bought 5Xs for the wife and I and moved to Fi in January. They had finished a Black Friday/Pre-Xmas sale not long ago so I figured it would be a while before they offered another one. Could have saved a bundle, fuck!