50K Before Wacken 2012

[xforeverxmetalx]

Why doesn't the perfect phone exist?

 

[Alix]

Why doesn't the perfect phone exist?

What to you is a perfect phone? Does it make you coffee too?

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

What to you is a perfect phone? Does it make you coffee too?

Nah, but almost.

 

[Alix]

Ok I think I've made enough terrible jokes for one night. I have some important things to do tomorrow including a birthday party and hopefully reloading my debit cards. I just hope our dollar is at least as strong tomorrow as it was earlier today. I couldn't believe how quickly it fluctuated against the euro and the pound! Usually that takes weeks/months.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

The major issue is carriers. There are 4 main ones in the US, and two are ruled out because they don't use GSM. One is basically ruled out because it's ridiculously expensive to have a prepaid data plan. Cheapest would be $75 a month and that's with not-unlimited talk time and only 1GB of data. The other one is perfect on price - $30 a month for 5GB of data, unlimited texting, and 100mins of talk (not a major issue, I don't call much).

But the availability of phones on that network is horrible. There are only two decent phones on it, and both have major flaws in my eyes.

 

[cetta]

I odn't wanna go to the pub, I wanna go and drink in a park or something

yeah, everywhere but with a refreshing beer!! aaah

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

Ok I think I've made enough terrible jokes for one night. I have some important things to do tomorrow. I just hope our dollar is at least as strong tomorrow as it was earlier today. I couldn't believe how quickly it fluctuated against the euro and the pound! Usually that takes weeks/months.

The euro's crashing lately. I keep an eye on it daily, and it's been hovering around 1.25 USD/EUR the past week while for months it was around 1.3. It's a pretty dramatic difference.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

But the availability of phones on that network is horrible. There are only two decent phones on it, and both have major flaws in my eyes.

One phone is great except for one thing - the durability. I've checked drop tests and it just doesn't do well. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I want the peace of mind of knowing one accidental drop won't kill it seeing I'm going to spend around $500 for a contract-less phone.

The other phone has the durability I need - at least in theory (couldn't find drop tests but it has the right kind of glass) but it's just plain ugly.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

The only other option is to get any unlocked GSM phone. That'd be great since I could have the phone that I wanted. But the downside is that I wouldn't even be able to hit 3G speeds, much less 4G, on any phone that's not designed for that cheap network.

 

[Alix]

The euro's crashing lately. I keep an eye on it daily, and it's been hovering around 1.25 USD/EUR the past week while for months it was around 1.3. It's a pretty dramatic difference.

Back in March was the best time to buy for us. The average price was .82 (so a buying price of 79c to $1AUS). It slowly started to recover until the average was down to 76c and I seriously considered buying then before it got less worth the effort but I couldn't remember how to reload my cards. Then suddenly this morning it was back up to 79. The pound got to a stage where it wasn't worth buying at all if not to save a whole pent or two for every dollar. Then the same thing happened with pound as the euro.

Every other person I know has been taking full advantage of this. May as well while it lasts hey.

 

[Alix]

Stuff about phones.

My first phone was a birthday present and I still have it. I wouldn't have a damn clue about buying a new one

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

So basically my choices:

1. A phone with questionable durability
2. An ugly but otherwise decent phone
3. A beautiful phone that'll be slow anytime I'm away from a wifi zone

I've had my eye on the third one for ages, but due to the slow speeds I've spent the past few hours exploring other options. After all that, I think the speed hit when I have to use 2G is the lesser of three evils, considering I'd probably be using it largely at work, school, and home.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

Back in March was the best time to buy for us. The average price was .82 (so a buying price of 79c to $1AUS). It slowly started to recover until the average was down to 76c and I seriously considered buying then before it got less worth the effort but I couldn't remember how to reload my cards. Then suddenly this morning it was back up to 79. The pound got to a stage where it wasn't worth buying at all if not to save a whole pent or two for every dollar. Then the same thing happened with pound as the euro.

Every other person I know has been taking full advantage of this. May as well while it lasts hey.

My first phone was a birthday present and I still have it. I wouldn't have a damn clue about buying a new one

I do, since I've wanted a smartphone for ages. I've been keeping my eye open. Also I'm an electronics nerd. I even work with electronics at a store now.

 

[agresionpower]

yeah, everywhere but with a refreshing beer!! aaah

yeah... beer is mandatory

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

I didn't know a thing about phones either until I started planning for my second Europe trip in 2010 right as my first phone was crapping out on me (useable but that was about it). Then I figured I might as well get a phone I could use in Europe, without paying insane roaming fees. That's when I did a ton of internet research because my carrier only has GSM on a very very very select amount of phones. Learned about GSM, CDMA, quad bands, SIM cards, unlocking, using foreign SIM cards, and so on.

I still have that phone. It's been great for what it is. I just want more.