[lug] smartphone question

[Glenn Murray]

Hi Steven,

I am also such an oddball but sort of a hybrid.  I have a cheap pay-as-you-go
phone and an iPod Touch.  The phone actually works well as a phone, and
the iPod can do all the apps, music, etc.  Since I am usually around wi-fi,
the lack of a phone plan on the iPod doesn't hinder me much.  Skype turns
it into a back-up phone.  Overall, I'm saving lots of money.  The iPod is a
way to get most of the advantages of the smartphone (the apps!) without
the expense.

I suppose there would be advantages to having everything in one device,
but I don't feel the pain as much when replacing one of these cheaper
devices.  It's easy to use both at once, or easy to take one and not the
other, depending on my activity.  I don't have much to sync since
I push everything to the cloud, if possible.

Perhaps the missing element is GPS,  but I also have Garmin GPS, which
of course works better as a GPS.  I have it for hiking.  I'm thinking I have
a UNIX approach to gadgets:  many small tools that do one thing well.

I also have a Wife with calendar functionality superior to any
electronic device, so I'm covered there.

Cheers,
Glenn

On Mon, Jul 4, 2011 at 6:25 PM, Steven A Hart <shart at colorado.edu> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm one of those oddballs who has resisted the lure of smartphones and
> mobile based technology.  Yes, I know, I'm crazy right?  Anyway, I started
> thinking that maybe I should start checking this stuff out and maybe even
> get a smartphone.  I'm looking for suggestions for smartphones that won't
> break the bank.  I'm OK with Apple technology but I really do not want a
> Iphone or ipad.  Ideally, I'd like something Linux based, but I'm not sure
> exactly what is out there.  Not exactly a requirement though.  I definitely
> DO NOT want anything based on Microsoft.
>
> There is just so much out there now that I'm behind and want to play a bit
> of catch up.  Oh yeah, currently I use Verizon for my cell service if that
> matters much anymore.
>
> Thanks and happy 4th!
>
> Steve
> --
> Steve Hart
> Systems Administrator
> Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research
> University of Colorado Boulder
> Steven.Hart at colorado.edu
> (303)492-8109
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