BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

My wife and Mom are looking into smartphones. I'm researching how much I would use one. How do you use your smartphone, and is it worth the cost (phone and plan)?

A little about my current situation.

Likely would not use the smartphone if I could do it on my laptop, and my laptop and possibly WIFI connection is handy.

Already have a Canon Powershot as my take with me everywhere camera, although will admit a smartphone camera would be more convenient, as I would have to carry a phone anyway.

I already have a Garmin GPS.

I currently have a pre-paid plan for my "dumb" phone (~ $10 / month). I rarely use my cell phone, and haven't come close to exceeding my monthly limit.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Brett, my smartphone (iPhone 5) other than being used as a phone is my go everywhere always with me P&S camera and it does a remarkably good job and that is reason enough for me. ;)

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I use my smartphone (iPhone 6) ALL the time. In fact, I don't send or receive hardly any phone calls.
Mainly, I check emails (Yahoo & private accounts,) get my news, read my UHH newsletter, and play my spider solitaire, and send & receive many text messages. Fact of the matter is, I prefer email or text communication to phone calls.
I also send & receive photographs ( of my granddaughter. )
I can take decent photographs (still prefer my DSLR or bridge) with a variety of modes and take video in slo-mo, or super speed. I can also take panoramas and with an App I really like; Cycloramic, I can set my phone on the table and let the phone take a 360° panorama which includes myself.
I have photo apps, weather apps, health apps, astronomy apps, and games for my granddaughter to play when she's bored.
I can make reminders, take a note, or make a list.
Yes, it costs me more, but it's worth every penny.
Oh, yes, I can also make and receive phone calls, and ask Siri to send a text to my wife or anyone, or create a reminder while I'm driving, and ask her for GPS directions, even walking directions. It's not quite as good a GPS as my Garmins, but I'm not buying any more portable GPS units.
I plan on going to Italy next year and I'll have a GPS, language translator and currency converter.
'Nuff said?

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

I use my smart phone (Samsung S4) to:
Read email;
Make calls and text;
look up stuff on the web;
get directions
use various apps
listen to Pandora in my car;
when traveling, look for gas, food, lodging, banks, what's around, etc.;
take pictures and probably a few more things. I find it worthwhile and handy. Glad i have it.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Thanks so far.

I think the kicker is going to be, what you do with the smartphone away from home? I can use my laptop at home. Or, what can the smartphone do that my laptop can't or do easier or cheaper, other than make phone calls? :-)

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

I use my smart phone a lot! No need for a Garmin, I always have a current GPS on my iPhone 5. Can look up address of business when we are out, get restaurant menus to decide where to eat, look up ratings and reviews of products while in the store. Always have a camera in my purse. Recently took photos of area rugs we were considering. They automatically went to my iPad and we were able to look at them while sitting in the room needing the rug.

I could go on and on. I have apps for many, many things. Have books and magazines to read while waiting at dr. office, etc.

My husband was slow to get on board with a smart phone and just got one last Christmas. He has now agreed it is useful.

I tried several smart phones and found the iPhones are very easy to use. Much easier than the first Samsung phone I tried. My husband was 74 when he got his first iPhone and has no problems using it after a short learning period.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

If you look into an iPhone 6+, or equivalent, you can use it almost like a laptop when you're traveling. I opted for the smaller iPhone because I didn't want to receive a call with a boom box to my head.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Seeing a lot of iPhone posts here. I was told by a techy type, with experience with iPhones and others, that the only real advantage to an iPhone is if you have other Mac stuff to connect it to.

Anybody with experience with both IPhone and others have other specifics?

MarkD Loc: NYC

As a camera a smartphone is the equivalent of a fairly low end P&S. It has a very small sensor, no optical zoom, no viewfinder, and a relatively weak flash that cannot be used for bounce flash. When used within these limits it can take fairly good photos. Personally I find them to be too limiting. I always carry either my Nikon P7800 or my Panasonic LF-1. Both have a 28-200mm lens, a 1/1.7 inch sensor, and an electronic viewfinder. The P7800 is a little big for a compact, but the LF-1 can fit in a shirt pocket.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I've had other phones, stupid and smart, but the iPhone is the easiest to learn and use. My wife's last phone was an LG. It was bought at the recommendation of my step son. What a piece of junk that was. She was always complaining about it. Now she has my old iPhone 4S, about to switch to my 5S, and she never complains about it.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Fair enough. Can you hook the iPhone to a PC, easily, to download photos?

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

I have had an iphone for a couple of years now, and as you, I do not many phone calls, I do text more than calling, but what I have learned in the last 8 months is that it is a really good tool, information, dof meter, long exposure meters, etc, for me the iphone gets smarter every week!!!! go figure!!!
"if you build it they will come" !!! "IF" you buy one you will use it!!

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Yes! You can either connect via WiFi or directly with a cord. It is advised to use an authentic Apple cord. You can set your iTunes software to automatically back up your iPhone when it connects, or you can go to Windows Explorer and grab the photos directly.

I have one complaint with the iTunes program though...it's NOT very user-friendly and sometimes confusing. This is mainly when I'm trying to upload music to my iPhone. It's not just Drag n Drop. I sometimes think that this is intentional because Apple wants you to buy music from them.
Other than that, I'm really happy with my iPhone(s,) I've had 3.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

:thumbup:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Hi Brett. We have a split household here.
My wife is Apple, Iphone 5, mostly she loves it. But the sad truth is... she fights with a TV controller. Electronically challenged. :?
I am PC. I grew out of IBM and Windoze Operating systems.
So I am an Android user. Samsung G III currently.

Like you, I had other gadgets to do GPS, Email, Web browsing, etc. etc. etc.

Once I got a stylus (Apple and Droids don't like my big dry fingers) and began downloading app's (Applications) I really began liking having the advantages of a Smarter-Than-Me-Phone.

Beyond the routine crap, my phone is my GPS and always smart (up to date and traffic wise, too.), and also a library of manuals and reading material (handy when temporarily indisposed like the bathroom or waiting somewhere).
Also there is a wealth of manufacturers sites that will connect via WiFi or direct through your data plan.

Another big plus for me about my android type phone is I could put a micro SD card in it for added storage. My little pocket miracle is capable of having 80 Gigs of combined storage in it. (16 Gigs built in, 64 Gigs of SD Card.) That's pretty huge in your pants pocket.
Apple is stuck with what is supplied, (16 Gig I believe) and their "cloud" storage. (Maybe 32 Gig on special request, I think)

But regardless of platform, the capabilities in your pocket are huge!
I was, ahem, temporarily indisposed while writing this post. So I went to the Tamron App and was watching a Sports Shooting Video by a 35 year veteran of action sports photography. Kinda cool.

A Smart phone can be a very interesting Item to have as close as your pocket. You can fill it with what interests you.
Think of it as a mini computer that goes everywhere you go.
Remember, all this capability in your pocket requires charging about once a day. Maybe more if you're a power user.

Oh, and I have an App that goes to a dropbox account (Free) and stores photos and documents online. (Think Cloud storage) ;)