Smartphone for my Wife

[ClockerXP]

My wife can get any of the phones below paid for by her work but I can't decide what to tell her to get. It will get very light use. Any advantages of ATT vs. T-Mobile? Zip codes of use are primarily 48314 & 48226 . Differences in coverage?

Any help you guys can provide is appreciated.

By clockerxp at 2012-03-12

 

[vshah]

check coverage maps on both att and tmobile websites. att usually has better signal penetration into buildings, and better coverage outside the major metros.

 

[ClockerXP]

Yeah...I looked at the coverage maps but they didn't seem to be too different. I figure they are both overly optimistic.

 

[ponyo]

If work is paying for it and the coverage map is showing similar coverage, I would go with AT&T. And out of the 5 phones in your picture, I would definitely pick the Samsung Galaxy S2.

 

[Pliablemoose]

AT&T, Samsung Galaxy SII

Or if she can put it off a few months, an SIII

 

[3chordcharlie]

What's her usage like?
If 'general use - emphasis on web browsing and graphics' SGS2 is really nice. If I was leaving BB today, this is probably what I'd get.

If 'Communication' (phone, email, etc) the BB9900 is fantastic w/keyboard, and 9860 is pretty awesome (but BB without keyboard seems pointless). OS6/7 web browser is nothing at all like your old ~8530, is decently fast, has tabs, touch screen works well, etc

 

[Pliablemoose]

If her employer is offering an Android super phone, for gods sake don't get a BlackBerry.

She'll be able to get a ton of accessories for the SSG II, and if she likes touchscreen phones, she'll love it.

Might be worth a trip to the ATT store to try them out.

 

[3chordcharlie]

If her employer is offering an Android super phone, for gods sake don't get a BlackBerry.

She'll be able to get a ton of accessories for the SSG II, and if she likes touchscreen phones, she'll love it.

Might be worth a trip to the ATT store to try them out.

I expect that's probably the best choice.

But, have you actually used a current blackberry? The browser caught up with iOS for compliance, speed and features more than 2 years ago.

This is OT, but I saw last week their #1 selling device is from 2009 (it's actually the last thing they made that does not support a decent browser). All of a sudden, I understand some of the super-negativity about them.

 

[MrX8503]

AT&T SGS2 hands down.

 

[zerocool84]

If her employer is offering an Android super phone, for gods sake don't get a BlackBerry.

She'll be able to get a ton of accessories for the SSG II, and if she likes touchscreen phones, she'll love it.

Might be worth a trip to the ATT store to try them out.

This, GSII is the only one out of those that are good.

 

[ClockerXP]

Also just found out that iPhone is an option.

Any major advantage of T-Mobile vs. ATT? I know iPhone is not on T-Mobile...

I think she wants a physical keyboard because of her nails. She's on the edge about that. She's nervous about a touch screen. If she wants a keyboard I guess the BB Bold 9900 is the one to get.

 

[kyrax12]

Also just found out that iPhone is an option.

Any major advantage of T-Mobile vs. ATT? I know iPhone is not on T-Mobile...

I think she wants a physical keyboard because of her nails. She's on the edge about that. She's nervous about a touch screen. If she wants a keyboard I guess the BB Bold 9900 is the one to get.

If she is not into media.. EX: pictures, videos, gaming.. then BB bold isn't that bad.

 

[Deeko]

If she is not into media.. EX: pictures, videos, gaming.. then BB bold isn't that bad.

I have the Bold. As a messaging device, its fantastic. Hands down the best keyboard I've ever used on a phone. It also will likely get better battery life than the phones listed there, particularly under light use.

In terms of raw capabilities, the SGS II is the best of that list, but it really depends on what she wants. She might not want a touch screen, she might not want something that big, etc.

I'm surprised there's no Windows Phones on that list, since they're in the same price class as the ones listed. They're generally pretty easy to use for non-smartphone users.

 

[alent1234]

If she's is going to access ms exchange email then get the iphone. Best activesync client

 

[3chordcharlie]

If she's is going to access ms exchange email then get the iphone. Best activesync client

If corporate (BES), then no, iPhone is not the best for Exchange.

 

[AFurryReptile]

I think she wants a physical keyboard because of her nails. She's on the edge about that. She's nervous about a touch screen. If she wants a keyboard I guess the BB Bold 9900 is the one to get.

My mother wanted the same thing. She got used to it without one, and loves her iPhone now.

 

[sgrinavi]

Also just found out that iPhone is an option.

Any major advantage of T-Mobile vs. ATT? I know iPhone is not on T-Mobile...

I think she wants a physical keyboard because of her nails. She's on the edge about that. She's nervous about a touch screen. If she wants a keyboard I guess the BB Bold 9900 is the one to get.

My wife keeps her nails fairly long and has no problems with her ip4s. IMO its a great choice for someone that just wants a smartphone with few hassles.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[T_Yamamoto]

My wife keeps her nails fairly long and has no problems with her ip4s. IMO its a great choice for someone that just wants a smartphone with few hassles.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

:thumbsup:

 

[Deeko]

edit: oops, wrong thread

 

[dagamer34]

Also just found out that iPhone is an option.

Any major advantage of T-Mobile vs. ATT? I know iPhone is not on T-Mobile...

I think she wants a physical keyboard because of her nails. She's on the edge about that. She's nervous about a touch screen. If she wants a keyboard I guess the BB Bold 9900 is the one to get.

Get her an iPhone assuming the coverage is the same. Best thing is that you no longer have to play tech support should something crazy happen, she can take it to an Apple store and they are usually kind about replacing some minor components. Also, there's a lot more apps she might find useful.

I'd ask her to take a look at apps in both the App Store and Android Market (or Google Play as it's known now) and see what she likes. 2 years is a long time.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Ok, changing my vote to the iPhone.

 

[smartpatrol]

No husband has ever incurred his wife's anger by recommending an iPhone.

 

[Dulanic]

No husband has ever incurred his wife's anger by recommending an iPhone.

Wrong My wife loves her SGSII and she hates the iPhone.

I believe the AT&T SGSII had a slide out keyboard too but I could be wrong. I thought it was the only US carrier to have the keyboard.

 

[zsdersw]

I believe the AT&T SGSII had a slide out keyboard too but I could be wrong.

It does not.

 

[zsdersw]

If she's is going to access ms exchange email then get the iphone. Best activesync client

Why, exactly, is it the best? I've set up our Exchange email at work on other people's iPhones... and I find nothing special or better about how the iPhone handles Exchange active sync compared to Android (or BES, for that matter).