Cellphone Upgrade - Samsung Instinct or Other?

[kidstechno]

I've had service with Sprint for a number of years now. I'm not a cell-phone nut but I do like gadgets and ability to do a lot of stuff with them is where I'm going. I currently have the Sprint Katana which has been decent but I'm looking more of a touch-phone but not as advanced as a Blackberry or along those lines.

My 2yr contract ends in October (37-40$ plan w/ discount, 300min, 300txts) and I was wondering what are some other really good phones yet not expensive as crap with expensive plans?

I'm a college student so I'm somewhat money-tight at the moment but I graduate next May.
I get a discount through Sprint and am able to get a discount through Verizon/T-Mobile as well if those are possible choices. I've seen the Dare from Verizon and was not impressed, and haven't seen anything fancy/eye-catching from T-Mobile.

So I'm leaning towards the Instinct but have heard mixed reviews of it. The GPS feature would be great since I am absolutely horrible with finding my way, so GPS would be a plus too.

I'm also thinking about the iPhone but am not really a fan of Mac and heard the AT&T plans are expensive and don't offer as much as other plans for cheaper.

tl;dr version: Need a cheap but cool phone/plan for when contract is up in October.

 

[yang88she]

check out:

www.pdaphonehome.com
www.howardforums.com

from what I've read about the instinct, it's a great smart phone w/ gps capabilities...but it falls short of being in the same category as the iphone imho.

 

[Vengance_01]

Do you really want to spend 70$+ per month just to use a damn cell phone? I can't really recommend either IMO.

 

[kidstechno]

So it's true you have to upgrade to the $70 plan to just get the Instinct?

 

[Albanu1800]

Where I live in the northeast the plan is $99 a month but it includes everything.