Getting a cell phone

“I’m looking into getting a cell phone but I have no idea which one to get. Can you help me out at all?”

– John M. Odessa TX

Like most technology purchases today you need to take a look at what you are buying and why. Because you are buying a cell phone your first priority is for the device to be able to make and receive phone calls.

The first thing you want to take into consideration is the amount of time you plan on using the device. If you plan on using it extensively than comfort will override all other factors. No one wants to sit around with an uncomfortable cell phone up against their head. The use of Bluetooth wireless devices that attach to your ear can help here but they also make you look like an idiot. Unless you are at a Star Trek convention, then you will fit right in!

After you take care of the comfort question you need to make a short list of what other features you want your phone to have. Do you need a web browser? What about text messaging? Do you want it to play MP3 files?

Every item you add to the list will both add to the price and reduce battery life. Do you already have an MP3 player? If so why bother getting an MP3 player cell phone?

I subscribe to the rule of “unless you have to have a professional piece of equipment buy the cheapest thing that does the job.” Now, that does not mean you should buy a piece of crap unless the job only needs crap. No, the device has to be able to do the job.

What phone do I use? I use the free one given to me by my cell carrier when I first signed up with a two year contract. That contract expired a while back and my cell phone provider now calls me several times a month to see if I want a free phone upgrade and a new contract. I always say no and they always call back.

I’m not going to recommend a particular cell phone because I can’t. You have to make a list of what you need the phone to do and go from there.

Don’t fall for advertising gimmicks either. Girls are not going to fall all over you because of the phone you use. If they do than they are likely to be gold diggers and not worthy of your attention.

You also need to be sure that the phone has a battery that you can replace and does not cost a fortune. Batteries only last a year or so before they no longer carry enough charge to work properly. If the battery is not user-serviceable than you will have to send the phone away to have the battery replaced. Do you really want to be without your phone for a week waiting for a new battery to be installed?

You also want a phone than is as unlocked as possible. There is no reason you should have to pay to put ring tones on your phone unless the ring tone is based on licensed music. Same thing with wallpapers and what not.

Lastly you need to make sure you can either connect your computer to your phone or it has a removable SIM card. You need a way to get your address book on and off of the phone. If you can connect the phone to your computer you can download or upload the information while a SIM card can be moved from phone to phone.

Have a question for dad? Send it in!

Mikes Mobile Phone used under Creative Commons License from flickr user Mike Licht