Finding Internet Access

[C_Fresh]

So I've solved my internet problem, at least for now. Rather than start another thread I figured I'd just tack on to this one.

I've been wanting to get a smartphone because of being able to use apps and all the fancy stuff that comes with it. My big problem is that I don't see it worth being the extra $30/mo for mandatory data plans. It occurred to me today that I could essentially do the same thing by getting an iTouch or similar device and just keep my current phone/plan. I went to amazon to take a look at iPhones and they had a top-rated section which was featuring the Samsung Galaxy 4.0 which is an MP3 Player with most smartphone features (including Android app store). So an Android equivalent of an iTouch.

The Galaxy 4.0 is the same price as an 8GB iTouch and has the advantage of a larger screen, miniSD slot (supports up to 32gb), built-in GPS, and probably some other features. So I'm thinking about getting it and was wondering if any other techies have input.

I've never owned an Apple product and its almost a point of pride at this point. I think they make a very slick product and definitely have a good following but my libertarian views make me loathe to surrender my digital freedom for their walled garden. I value the ability to be able to drag/drop stuff onto a device without having to go through proprietary software and file formats. I also dislike how fanatically loyal Apple people seem to be about their devices. It disturbs me to be honest.

So in summary, it looks like I could get a device that works almost exactly like a smartphone for the same price as buying one but still be able to keep out of a data plan. So saving $360 a year! Also starting to think about going to a pay-as-you-go cell plan since I don't actually use my phone much. I text a fair amount but still usually less than 300 texts a month. Seems like I should be able to find something that costs me less than the $50/mo I'm paying now.

[dthatcher]

I cannot justify paying for a data plan. I see lower-income families toting around iPhones and I think, WHY??? It isn't the price of the iPhone that's a problem, it's the monthly upkeep... I am very much a techie and I would LOVE to have an iPhone but can I afford it? NO. I live paycheck to paycheck... half the time I don't even make it to the next paycheck... I struggle with the $46/mo I pay for cable internet (I do online classes and hulu/netflix takes the place of cable TV which I don't subscribe to).
I'm with you... go with a non-cellular smart device. You'll only get connectivity where you can find a free wifi network, of course.
As far as pay as you go, check out Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Cricket Wireless.

[bean]

I think back to the days of no cell phones. And it WASN'T that long ago. No one had one when I was in high school in the 80s. No one. Very few had them in the early 90s. Of course, now every kid in creation thinks they need the best iphone or droid to be in constant contact.
I pay 200 a month for 5 lines, including a small data plan for me and my env3 (which is internet capable)..and my son's droid. He pays the data plan back to me.
I see no reason to have a droid or a smart phone. If it can't wait until i get on a computer, text or call me. If they don't have my cell, it can't possibly be important enough for me to worry about.

[JoeR]

I refuse to pay the money for a data plan. I still have a boring basic cell phone. I just upgraded my wife's cell phone to. . .another basic phone.

Don't get me wrong, I would probably be one of the millions of people with my face in front of the phone while in public, ignoring everyone around me (or pretending to be doing something important just to avoid people), but it is important to me NOT to be that person. Eventually, I will have one, but it won't be for a while.

[C_Fresh]

Thought I'd post an update on this. I've been able to use the unsecured wireless up until last week. Now can't connect to the network and I suspect they may have added MAC Address filtering. Looks like I'll be shopping for internet again. Reread the previous posts and have a good starting point now. Partially hoping to find a neighbor willing to let me access their secured network if I slip them some money every month.

The more interesting news is that I have slashed my cell bill. I did research into prepaid phones and found that T-Mobile has one that is currently costing me about $10/mo. I paid $20 to port my old cell number to Google Voice since I've given that number out for years. Bought a $30 prepaid phone and $100 for 1,000 minutes card that is good for a year. Six months later I still have ~860 minutes left. The fun part is that the $100 card made me a gold member so that future minutes purchased will also extend the expiration date for 1 year. From what I've been reading on various forums, this means that I can buy a $10 card to extend my expiration and essentially pay less than $1 per month for next year. Even if it isn't true, I'm quite happy with paying for another $100 card.

This method might not work for everyone but it made sense for me since I don't make many phone calls. Texting costs 10 cents a message but I can handle texting through google voice for free. People call my old number and it forwards it to my prepaid phone. Only complaint I have is that someone who used to have the prepaid number owes money to people. I keep getting calls with numbers that have been linked to collection agencies. So I just ignore them and they have become less frequent over time it seems. Google voice can also be used to make free calls in US and I think Canada. Any long calls I make from my computer using Voice or I can also use Skype which is free between Skype users.

I bought the Samsung Galaxy 5.0 Media Player and have been using it as an improvised 'smart phone' since it can do everything except make cell calls. It even has built-in GPS! The Google Voice app lets me use it for texting but so far not for voice calls. It means carrying 2 devices (and the Galaxy has a massive screen) but it saves a nice bit of money. The 5.0 cost me about $240 plus a screen protector and case but saves the need to get a monthly data plan. Now instead of paying $50/mo for cell I'm paying ~$10. That's $480/yr actual savings and prevention of another $360/yr in potential expenses (data plan).