DarkScythe
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Messages
- 367
Hello everyone,
As the title suggests, I am currently thinking about getting my first-ever smartphone.
I am still using an old flip-phone and I have no problems with it, as currently I just make a couple calls and that's it. My friends claim once I start using one though, I will be hooked. I can't say I would agree with it, but it has gotten me thinking about it.
My contract expired back in March, so I believe I am up for pretty much anything right now, and I should have my new-every-two $100 credit. based on reviews and such, I am thinking of getting the Droid Incredible for my first smartphone. I do intend to stay with the Verizon network, as I'm in a shared family plan. However, the cost of the additional $30 data plan is pretty tough to swallow, especially since I don't even need to use it right now, so this upgrade would hinge on if I can figure out a way to lower costs. I'm not itching to upgrade, but if it works out, I might as well.
In any case, I have a couple major questions about everything, since this is my first smartphone and all.
First, with the $30/month data plan, they seem to claim unlimited usage, but is it really unlimited, or is there some hidden 5GB cap I've read for other things?
Next, I know the plan should include "mobile web" for surfing on your phone, but is there a way to allow your laptop/netbook to use it, or does that require a separate "mobile broadband" package? I'm thinking this plus the free wifi from Verizon Internet should be good internet coverage pretty much anywhere in NYC.
If the above is possible, how does it work, and how many devices can use it at once? Is it tethered to a single device at a time, or can it act as a mobile hotspot for several devices at once?
Fourth, what's the deal with all this 3G/4G business?
Finally, I've heard some people talk about ROMs and such; they sound like custom OS's or something, but wouldn't these void warranty? What exactly are these and what are their advantages/disadvantages? Do these apply to Droid devices, since they're technically open-source already?
I apologize for the rush of questions, but I feel I'm diving headfirst into this mess and I'm in way over my head now.
Thanks in advance.
As the title suggests, I am currently thinking about getting my first-ever smartphone.
I am still using an old flip-phone and I have no problems with it, as currently I just make a couple calls and that's it. My friends claim once I start using one though, I will be hooked. I can't say I would agree with it, but it has gotten me thinking about it.
My contract expired back in March, so I believe I am up for pretty much anything right now, and I should have my new-every-two $100 credit. based on reviews and such, I am thinking of getting the Droid Incredible for my first smartphone. I do intend to stay with the Verizon network, as I'm in a shared family plan. However, the cost of the additional $30 data plan is pretty tough to swallow, especially since I don't even need to use it right now, so this upgrade would hinge on if I can figure out a way to lower costs. I'm not itching to upgrade, but if it works out, I might as well.
In any case, I have a couple major questions about everything, since this is my first smartphone and all.
First, with the $30/month data plan, they seem to claim unlimited usage, but is it really unlimited, or is there some hidden 5GB cap I've read for other things?
Next, I know the plan should include "mobile web" for surfing on your phone, but is there a way to allow your laptop/netbook to use it, or does that require a separate "mobile broadband" package? I'm thinking this plus the free wifi from Verizon Internet should be good internet coverage pretty much anywhere in NYC.
If the above is possible, how does it work, and how many devices can use it at once? Is it tethered to a single device at a time, or can it act as a mobile hotspot for several devices at once?
Fourth, what's the deal with all this 3G/4G business?
Finally, I've heard some people talk about ROMs and such; they sound like custom OS's or something, but wouldn't these void warranty? What exactly are these and what are their advantages/disadvantages? Do these apply to Droid devices, since they're technically open-source already?
I apologize for the rush of questions, but I feel I'm diving headfirst into this mess and I'm in way over my head now.
Thanks in advance.