Smartphone or basic?

[21 grams]

After about seven weeks in Korea, I'm finally in the market for a cellphone and looking forward to rejoining modern civilization.  I'll probably go with Olleh, as a number of people have recommended them.

I'd appreciate some opinions on the value of getting a smartphone over a basic call-and-texter.  Back in the U.S., I didn't use a smartphone, so it seems to be a no-brainer to go with a free or cheap phone here, especially because I assume the applications on a smartphone are going to be primarily hangul-based.  That being said, I could see how a smartphone could come in handy for a foreigner here.  Are there applications or other uses for a smartphone that justify the expense, even for someone that can't read hangul (yet)?

[toddc06]

Last year I had a regular phone with a one year contract and it worked fine for me.  No problems.

This year I got a smart phone and I love it.  You can change the language on any phone to English, and most of the apps available from wherever it is that you call home are also available here (with the exception of a few) so they won't just be in korean.

I had to get a 2 year contract and I end up paying about 100,000 won a month because I talk a lot (compared to about 30,000 a month before).  I get 200 free minutes a month and I'm not sure of the rate per minute after that.

What I like most is the fact that I can use Skype or OTO apps to call my family back home from my cell phone.  Skype just uses my Skype credit and OTO is just like making a local call in Korea, so it just uses my minutes.  Also, my brother and I text for free using the app Kakao Talk.  So that's pretty cool.  And since my girlfriend also has it, we text for free too.  That saves me a TON of money!

Also, checking facebook, playing games, reading the news, downloading music, and watching movies is now how I spend my time on the subway.

I think it's worth it!

[Davox]

You'll have no problems getting English apps; it's just that your phone may not come pre-loaded with specifically English ones.

The primary reason to not get a smartphone is cost.  You can get a cheap "dumb" phone on a bare bones plan and spend less than 20,000 a month easily, especially if you don't use much airtime.  If you really don't intend on using any of the features of a smartphone, this is a pretty significant savings.

Smartphones are awesome though.  I can check bus routes and how far away buses are from everywhere, so I know when I need to leave my apartment or school to catch the one bus I want: no more waiting 10 minutes at a stop.  I can bring up a street map from anywhere so I'm never lost.   I can look up what restaurants, bars and coffee shops are nearby to wherever I am. I have email everywhere, internet everywhere, a bunch of my music and a bunch of my movies everywhere.  I use my smartphone all the time, every day, in ways I never really expected when I got it.

It is expensive though.  I pay somewhere around 80,000-90,000 a month.  But I do get unlimited data including tethering, so that's pretty great.

[MissC]

Like the first response, I've lived in Korea with both a smart and dumb phone.

1) I'm paying about 85,000 a month on a two year contract with unlimited data for an iPhone 4. I didn't bargain at all, so you should be able to get the same deal.

2)  In Korea, when I'm lost I can't just ask for help from a random stranger (random strangers tend not to speak English).

3) I don't feel like I NEED a smart phone, but I have the money and the phone makes me happy. 

4) It does change you into a facebook-addicted zombie, so take care.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Well I'm not for or againt, but I'll play devil's advocate for ya.

You'll have no problems getting English apps; it's just that your phone may not come pre-loaded with specifically English ones.

The primary reason to not get a smartphone is cost.  You can get a cheap "dumb" phone on a bare bones plan and spend less than 20,000 a month easily, especially if you don't use much airtime.  If you really don't intend on using any of the features of a smartphone, this is a pretty significant savings.

This is true. I have a pay as you go and spend between 20 - 30 a month.

Smartphones are awesome though.  I can check bus routes and how far away buses are from everywhere, so I know when I need to leave my apartment or school to catch the one bus I want: no more waiting 10 minutes at a stop. 

You could just ask people.  I never really have problems with busses etc, I just ask people or bus drivers.  Most bus stops have a digital info display now so you can see how long you have to wait etc.

I can bring up a street map from anywhere so I'm never lost.   

You cld just ask someone how to get somewhere.

I can look up what restaurants, bars and coffee shops are nearby to wherever I am.

You'll find them anyway, or cld use the net on your home computer before you go out to find these things.  Also, lonely planet.

I have email everywhere, internet everywhere, a bunch of my music and a bunch of my movies everywhere.  I use my smartphone all the time, every day, in ways I never really expected when I got it.

Ipod.  A smart phone can entertain you on busses and subways, but so can a book.

It is expensive though.  I pay somewhere around 80,000-90,000 a month.  But I do get unlimited data including tethering, so that's pretty great.

I see smartphones as a good and smaller alternative to a tab.  If they were cheaper I'd go for one, but I personally can't justify paying up to or greater than a million won a year in montly fees for one.  My friend has a galaxy s 2 or something.  It has been useful.  When we go to the cinema he looks up reviews of movies we don't know about on it and it helps us make good choices.  Let's face it, most of us don't walk round carrying a lonely planet and his phone has also helped us find things to do etc in cities when we go on weekend trips.  Personally for long train rides etc, I prefer to bring a book or my laptop and watch a movie, I'd find the screen to small to enjoy downloaded books or movies on a smartphone or even an i-pad.  I don't hardly ever listen to music, so that makes no difference to me.  I'd say the major benefit of one is having the internet wherever you go without having to duck into a pc room for a quick pre cinema movie review or to find out what tourist attractions / nightlife is on offer and the directions to them when in a new city (all other features cld be replaced by a book, laptop, i-pod for me.  it is addmitedly a hinderance to carry a laptop around.)

[taeyang]

Well I'm not for or againt, but I'll play devil's advocate for ya.

You'll have no problems getting English apps; it's just that your phone may not come pre-loaded with specifically English ones.

The primary reason to not get a smartphone is cost.  You can get a cheap "dumb" phone on a bare bones plan and spend less than 20,000 a month easily, especially if you don't use much airtime.  If you really don't intend on using any of the features of a smartphone, this is a pretty significant savings.

This is true. I have a pay as you go and spend between 20 - 30 a month.

Smartphones are awesome though.  I can check bus routes and how far away buses are from everywhere, so I know when I need to leave my apartment or school to catch the one bus I want: no more waiting 10 minutes at a stop. 

You could just ask people.  I never really have problems with busses etc, I just ask people or bus drivers.  Most bus stops have a digital info display now so you can see how long you have to wait etc.

I can bring up a street map from anywhere so I'm never lost.   

You cld just ask someone how to get somewhere.

I can look up what restaurants, bars and coffee shops are nearby to wherever I am.

You'll find them anyway, or cld use the net on your home computer before you go out to find these things.  Also, lonely planet.

I have email everywhere, internet everywhere, a bunch of my music and a bunch of my movies everywhere.  I use my smartphone all the time, every day, in ways I never really expected when I got it.

Ipod.  A smart phone can entertain you on busses and subways, but so can a book.

It is expensive though.  I pay somewhere around 80,000-90,000 a month.  But I do get unlimited data including tethering, so that's pretty great.

I see smartphones as a good and smaller alternative to a tab.  If they were cheaper I'd go for one, but I personally can't justify paying up to or greater than a million won a year in montly fees for one.  My friend has a galaxy s 2 or something.  It has been useful.  When we go to the cinema he looks up reviews of movies we don't know about on it and it helps us make good choices.  Let's face it, most of us don't walk round carrying a lonely planet and his phone has also helped us find things to do etc in cities when we go on weekend trips.  Personally for long train rides etc, I prefer to bring a book or my laptop and watch a movie, I'd find the screen to small to enjoy downloaded books or movies on a smartphone or even an i-pad.  I don't hardly ever listen to music, so that makes no difference to me.  I'd say the major benefit of one is having the internet wherever you go without having to duck into a pc room for a quick pre cinema movie review or to find out what tourist attractions / nightlife is on offer and the directions to them when in a new city (all other features cld be replaced by a book, laptop, i-pod for me.  it is addmitedly a hinderance to carry a laptop around.)

all your reasons in bold are superfluous though. one could argue that all progress and all technology is pretty much pointless, especially if the thing it's replacing is doing a stand-up job already. phones, before the iphone, worked. but now phones are more than phones, and that's just the way things are.

i have so many people (read: luddites) in my ear who harp on about the detriment that smart phones and the internet have on us as a society and i just have to quietly roll my eyes or else i will explode in a psychotic rant. "if you hate technology so much, why are you ranting to me via text message?" 

to the OP:
i love my iphone, through and through. the two weeks i spent at home this summer were slightly miserable because i was without a constant 3G connection... i felt cut off.

i think i pay 80,000 a month, which is very reasonable for me. the unlimited data makes skype calls with home easy, as well as searching for anything online quick and painless. i like to be connected, and i like having this technology in my pocket. i don't think that should reflect on any person's ideologies.

sure a book is better... but having 6000 books in my pocket is 6000 time better, if you ask me.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

1.  Explain how they are superfluous.  That is a grand statememnt to make, but I can't see  the argument for it.  Explain how not spending 100k a month is superfluous.  Explain how carrying a book on a bus ride instead of paying money to use the internet or make calls etc is superfluous.  Taeyang, you need to back claims like that up, don't just post sweeping statements.

2.  I was not in anyway espousing a luddite pov.  Every one of the points I made was simply an alternative viewpoint.  You play with your phone on the subway and use it to find where a starbucks is; I read a book on the subway, and ask someone where a starbucks is.  You pay 70k a month or 800k a year extra for the privelage, if you really want to get into what I was saying.

Technology is awesome, I was just (like the post said quite clearly in the first line) playing devil's advocate and explaining cheaper alternatives and how your life really wont be much different without a smartphone IF you don't want one.

I can see how it would be very useful for a very busy person, like my friend in Seoul who is on the road 50 hrs a week sorting out visas and apts, schools etc for expats.

[Damien]

There are three of us in our group. I got the smart phone and my friends got the normal cells. One later swapped to an iphone. I love my smart phone and i shopped around. The third wants to get one now too.

I got an htc evo for 55k a month, for two years. i get 200 texts, 300 minutes, and unlimited 3g. I got the insurance too. I use it all the time. I got kakaotalk and message friends at will and my sis back home got it too. i use it as a wifi hotspot and during downtime. Right now i am waiting at an office building lol.

It is worth it imo. I have never read the news this much. I check it all the time and keep in touch more tham before i had a smart phone.

[taeyang]

1.  Explain how they are superfluous.  That is a grand statememnt to make, but I can't see  the argument for it.  Explain how not spending 100k a month is superfluous.  Explain how carrying a book on a bus ride instead of paying money to use the internet or make calls etc is superfluous.  Taeyang, you need to back claims like that up, don't just post sweeping statements.

2.  I was not in anyway espousing a luddite pov.  Every one of the points I made was simply an alternative viewpoint.  You play with your phone on the subway and use it to find where a starbucks is; I read a book on the subway, and ask someone where a starbucks is.  You pay 70k a month or 800k a year extra for the privelage, if you really want to get into what I was saying.

Technology is awesome, I was just (like the post said quite clearly in the first line) playing devil's advocate and explaining cheaper alternatives and how your life really wont be much different without a smartphone IF you don't want one.

I can see how it would be very useful for a very busy person, like my friend in Seoul who is on the road 50 hrs a week sorting out visas and apts, schools etc for expats.

i wasn't trying to illicit a personal attack. i know you weren't purporting a luddite pov, and i apologise for that.

and i don't think my comment was "sweeping". i outlined my own beliefs with examples from crazy people i know. i just, unfortunately, buried them with your own opinions. for that, i apologise because it wasn't fair to you - i meant nothing personal.

technology is awesome . we can agree on that.

[justanotherwaygook]

I had a regular phone for 2 and a half years.  The only thing I insisted to get with it besides basic functionality was a Korean-English dictionary.  Lots of 'dumb' phones have these and it's a lifesaver.  Lots of 'dumb' phones also have interactive subway maps which are nice.

I was perfectly content with that.  Recently, I had an iphone given to me.  It was my girlfriend's old one, as she was upgrading to a new galaxy smartphone whatever.  I got a plan for 45,000/month since I didn't have to pay for the phone itself.  I get ample talk time and text messages plus 500mb for internet.  I don't really talk a lot, and text message a moderate amount.

It's a mixed blessing.  I love the convenience of things.  I like the bus app.  Not all bus stops have signs with arrival times.

However, it also makes me feel more connected than I want to be.  I'm not complaining, but it feels a little excessive.

[21 grams]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.  While I certainly agree that a smartphone is somewhat superfluous, at least from a social connectivity standpoint (people that use their smartphones as instruments to project a live stream of narcissistic consciousness onto FB should be subjected to some sort of prolonged torture involving Tyler Perry's "comedic" work), I think the convenience of having the Internet with me at all times may justify the expense.

KakaoTalk sounds like a nice app.  If I understand it correctly, you can send texts that don't actually register as texts on your network?  Does this apply to international messages as well?  I looked it up on Wikipedia, and it wasn't clear.

[toddc06]

Yeah, Kakaotalk messages don't count as text messages and if you have unlimited data you can send unlimited messages, pictures, and short videos (internationally and domestically) without any extra charge.  It also won't count towards your monthly text message allowance.  I've heard that there are a few more similar apps that may even work better than kakaotalk.