Thanks for all of that information, it will be very useful. It sounds like whatever I do I shouldn't get the iphone, since I haven't used an Apple since the IIc they had at my higschool, which I only ever used in a basic programming class anyway, and when programming in basic, it doesn't really matter which kind of computer it is. I like the idea of being able to communicate between my computer and my phone, and I suspect that one of the other options will work better with non-apple computers. The only reason I don't do more with lists or scheduling is because of the inconvenience of actually turning on my computer if it is off--it takes ages and ages (well about as long as it takes to get dressed in the morning, which isn't really that long, unless you are in a hurry, which I often am).
So, tell me more about data connectivity plans. How does the cost of having your phone access the internet anywhere compare to having internet access at your house? (I don't need actual dollars--they will change from places to place, but I suspect the relative cost may be reasonably similar anywhere.) Mobile phones here in Australia charge for use only when placing calls, receiving them is free (something students rely on). I think I recall that in the US they charge for amount of time using the phone, regardless of who initiated the call, but it has been five years, so I could be mistaken on that. Is internet use on your phone totally seperate from the cost of using the phone, or do you get charged for the minutes you spend on the phone doing internet stuff? Do the plans permit unlimited access? How fast is the connection? (I'm very unhappy with the Australian standard of permitting people to have some set, small quantity of "down load and upload" time per month at broadband speeds, and if you use more than that (and you will!) they slow your connection down to very, very slow.)
How about e-mail? I've been using Eudora to download my mail onto my computer for at least 15 years now, and like the fact that this means I can read my mail and compose replies even when I don't have internet access. I have no idea how that would work with a phone though--does it download the mail, or does it only work with web-based mail? I'm guessing that when you talk of "synchronization" above that it could apply to things like downloading mail rather than reading it on line, but how does it work if you access once on one and next on the other?
You talk about each type of phone working best with a single phone company's plan. Do you have any idea how transferable they are? I'll be in Italy for 18 months, and no idea what corner of the planet I'll go to thereafter, can one take one's smart phone with one easily when moving?
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Date: 2009-05-31 03:19 pm (UTC)So, tell me more about data connectivity plans. How does the cost of having your phone access the internet anywhere compare to having internet access at your house? (I don't need actual dollars--they will change from places to place, but I suspect the relative cost may be reasonably similar anywhere.) Mobile phones here in Australia charge for use only when placing calls, receiving them is free (something students rely on). I think I recall that in the US they charge for amount of time using the phone, regardless of who initiated the call, but it has been five years, so I could be mistaken on that. Is internet use on your phone totally seperate from the cost of using the phone, or do you get charged for the minutes you spend on the phone doing internet stuff? Do the plans permit unlimited access? How fast is the connection? (I'm very unhappy with the Australian standard of permitting people to have some set, small quantity of "down load and upload" time per month at broadband speeds, and if you use more than that (and you will!) they slow your connection down to very, very slow.)
How about e-mail? I've been using Eudora to download my mail onto my computer for at least 15 years now, and like the fact that this means I can read my mail and compose replies even when I don't have internet access. I have no idea how that would work with a phone though--does it download the mail, or does it only work with web-based mail? I'm guessing that when you talk of "synchronization" above that it could apply to things like downloading mail rather than reading it on line, but how does it work if you access once on one and next on the other?
You talk about each type of phone working best with a single phone company's plan. Do you have any idea how transferable they are? I'll be in Italy for 18 months, and no idea what corner of the planet I'll go to thereafter, can one take one's smart phone with one easily when moving?