Ok, I'm looking for a new cellphone, again. What to do?
Issue: My unlocked phone of 18 months has been acting up on me over the past year - intermittently shutting down on me between calls, texts, or in standby mode. Finally it seems to have croaked now that when I turn it on, it requests that I insert a SIM card - though one is already in it. I have resigned myself that there is a 70% chance I need to replace the phone. However, I will stop by a store tonight to get a new SIM card and hope it works.
In the mean time I'm phone shopping. I'm sick of purchasing through random websites with shitty mail-in phone repair programs. So I have two options: I can buy an unlocked phone through best buy and finance it over 18 months no interest (will pay off much earlier than that) OR by a phone with an AT&T contract for much cheaper but shell out $200 up front. What to do? I have quite a few financial obligations in the next few months (trips I can't get out of, etc.) so would rather not do this, so it's within my means.
The unlocked phone - I want something with as great a camera (and flash) as possible- so I'm looking at the Nokia N82 (xenon flash, 5 megapixels, shitty numeric keypad=shitty texting) : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n82-2177.php for about $600.
OR
I can get a phone with a contract - similar criteria (great camera and flash): Sony Ericsson C905a (8 mega pixels, xenon flash, normal keypad) for about $200 but will have to drop the cash up front: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_c905-2427.php. Since I arleady use AT&T I'm not so worried about being under contract and would look forward to getting phone insurance and actually being able to replace a phone if something goes wrong. Since I don't travel soo much and hate T-Mobile the benefit of swapping SIM cards at will isn't such a big deal.
Yes, I know megapixels aren't the main feature that determines picture quality, and cell phone cameras will not compare favorably with normal digital cameras, however, I like taking candid shots and hate the idea of carrying a cellphone and digital camera with me (especially when going out at night).
Issue: My unlocked phone of 18 months has been acting up on me over the past year - intermittently shutting down on me between calls, texts, or in standby mode. Finally it seems to have croaked now that when I turn it on, it requests that I insert a SIM card - though one is already in it. I have resigned myself that there is a 70% chance I need to replace the phone. However, I will stop by a store tonight to get a new SIM card and hope it works.
In the mean time I'm phone shopping. I'm sick of purchasing through random websites with shitty mail-in phone repair programs. So I have two options: I can buy an unlocked phone through best buy and finance it over 18 months no interest (will pay off much earlier than that) OR by a phone with an AT&T contract for much cheaper but shell out $200 up front. What to do? I have quite a few financial obligations in the next few months (trips I can't get out of, etc.) so would rather not do this, so it's within my means.
The unlocked phone - I want something with as great a camera (and flash) as possible- so I'm looking at the Nokia N82 (xenon flash, 5 megapixels, shitty numeric keypad=shitty texting) : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n82-2177.php for about $600.
OR
I can get a phone with a contract - similar criteria (great camera and flash): Sony Ericsson C905a (8 mega pixels, xenon flash, normal keypad) for about $200 but will have to drop the cash up front: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_c905-2427.php. Since I arleady use AT&T I'm not so worried about being under contract and would look forward to getting phone insurance and actually being able to replace a phone if something goes wrong. Since I don't travel soo much and hate T-Mobile the benefit of swapping SIM cards at will isn't such a big deal.
Yes, I know megapixels aren't the main feature that determines picture quality, and cell phone cameras will not compare favorably with normal digital cameras, however, I like taking candid shots and hate the idea of carrying a cellphone and digital camera with me (especially when going out at night).
