Buying A Smartphone (For A Frugal Luddite)

[patongpanda]

Googled info:

Which phones are available in Thailand with prices

http://en.mirakar.com/

Phone specs

http://www.gsmarena.com/

Post paid plans

dtac

http://www.dtac.co.t...smartphone.html

AIS GSMAdvance

http://www.ais.co.th...e_Packages.aspx

TrueMove

Sod this, they don't seem to have national coverage and I can't find equivalent "Unlimited" packages.

The data calculator is cool though. http://truemove.com/...eed-net-sim.htm

Hope that info is useful, for anyone else looking for a phone. Now here's my old-fogeyish requirements:

I've had Nokia phones for the last ten years. Make calls, text, alarm clock, drink plenty of water, go to bed early.

Every time a phone gets Songkranned, I've downgraded. Now I'm on that 700 Baht phone you always see in the shops.

Good old me! I've saved myself a whole load of time and money.

Now I think I'll take those savings and splash out on a Smartphone.

Bit extravagant I know, but Smartphones ought to be dirt cheap by now

What I need is

3g in the provinces, use internet, mapping, physical keyboard

iPhone - no thanks, I'm not feeling that extravagant!

Blueberry - no thanks

Nokia - I'll consider something else, as I'm in such a frivolous mood, but 10 years of good use does make me somewhat loyal.

Samsung - So I looked into it. The geeks are all abuzz about Android and downloading apps and whatnot. Watched some reviews on Youtube and there seemed to be some issues - apps draining battery, apps using internet, updating stuff, that the reviewers had to spend time and attention on. Scared me off!

Specific models:

Why do the phone mfgs use such unmemorable naming schemes? Is it a cunning marketing strategy to stupefy customers into handing over cash?

Here's the money! Give me a s5360 N8 E72 s y duos whatever. I just can't stand reading about this anymore!

Nokia Asha 302,303

3,500 Baht, 3,750 Baht

Oh! This is super-frugal! Trouble is they don't have GPS. I'm still considering it IF triangulation works effectively - please advise!!

Nokia E5

4,300 Baht

This is quite an old phone, but well featured - frugality!

Nokia E6

6,500 Baht

This is modern. Looks quite swishy. Lack of frugality. Getting carried away.

I'll head down to the Lotus next week. Value your feedback immensely there are literally thousands and thousands of Baht at stake on this decision.

[TongueThaied]

You can't be frugal and buy a decent smart phone. It's an oxymoronic proposition, like "I'm a frugal person, so I'm going to buy a Ferrari." For a decent smart phone, you gonna shell out 15 grand or better. And by the way, a Samsung at ANY price is a bad deal. It won't hold up more than 13 months, and as soon as they discontinue the model (typically one year) they will no longer service it.

Furthermore, if you are a true Luddite, as I am, you would not be able to use it anyway.

[flying]

And by the way, a Samsung at ANY price is a bad deal. It won't hold up more than 13 months,

Tell us how you really feel

Kidding aside it sounds like you have had bad experiences with Samsung

Sorry to hear that

But many have & continue to have good experiences.

If not I doubt the company would be as prosperous as it is.

Like many things in life I guess it goes both ways.

But I have always had excellent experiences with Samsung....Not just their phones but TV, Tablets etc.

Edited April 27, 2012 by flying

[lomatopo]

What is your budget?

What do you mean by "physical keyboard", exactly? Full QWERTY?

Which service providers are you considering?

I think you need to narrow your search to a specific OS segment, then delve into specific market/product segments.

Android will generally offer the broadest array of products.

Based on my interpretation of your requirements (full QWERTY being the long pole) something like the Nokia E7-00 might work? ~ 12,500 THB.

[Gary A]

I too have a number of Samsung products. Air con, microwave, TV, computer monitors and even a couple of Samsung phones. My wife uses the Champ Duos. I have a small clam shell for a spare phone. The only fault I find is with the phones. Samsung needs to improve the audio call quality. My old ears are not that good anymore.

I also have a Motorola Defy Plus Android phone. The call properties are VERY good and it has a good camera. In addition to is being speedy, it is also water and shock resistant plus it has a Gorilla glass scratch resistant screen. No way could I ask for a better phone that suits my purposes. It seems like a real bargain for 9,500 baht when compared to the alternatives. This is the first Motorola that I have had for probably nine or ten years. I use maybe a half a dozen different Android applications that all work quite well.

[patongpanda]

Looking at getting dtac 699 postpaid contract.

I'm not encouraged by your comments so far. People are talking about 10,000 baht - 15,000 baht for a decent phone!

I can't believe it. These things are churned out in Chinese sweatshops. They give them away free in developed countries.

What's wrong with the low-budget examples I gave? Too slow?

Even primary school kids have smartphones these days, and I don't think their parents are buying expensive ones. I'll grab a phone off the next kid I see glued to Facebook and give it a quick test drive. Khor tord kiddo!

[br12stol]

Galaxy Ace/Cooper pretty good for @8500 bought one last month great little phone

[flying]

Galaxy Ace/Cooper pretty good for @8500 bought one last month great little phone

Same phone that I have had since Dec & I really like it.

Paid 8300 at Jaymart

Edited April 28, 2012 by flying

[TommoPhysicist]

Galaxy Ace/Cooper pretty good for @8500 bought one last month great little phone

Galaxy Tab 7", same price second hand everywhere. Only been out about 6 months.

[Darrel]

You can't be frugal and buy a decent smart phone. It's an oxymoronic proposition, like "I'm a frugal person, so I'm going to buy a Ferrari." For a decent smart phone, you gonna shell out 15 grand or better.

Just because most smartphones cost a bomb doesnt mean they all have to.

I bought an Orange San Francisco (aka ZTE Blade) about 18 months ago for under GBP90 in the UK without contract. It is an excellent smart phone that does everything I need and more. I installed ICS on it the other day and it all works very nicely. About the only thing it may not be able to do in Thailand is work with True's 3G, but as I dont use mobile data that doesnt worry me.

The phone is still available for around that price, and there is a new ZTE phone for a little bit more. So very suitable for anyone going to the UK/Europe soon or expecting a visitor from there who could bring one with them.