Author Topic: Talk me out of a Nexus 4  (Read 7297 times)

Jack

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Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« on: January 29, 2013, 04:51:19 PM »
... Actually, that's an inaccurate title; what I really want is for y'all to give me permission to buy one!

Here's why I think I can justify it:
  • My employer pays my monthly cellphone cost up to $40. I use my phone to receive work-related calls and check my work email
  • My current service is with Virgin Mobile, and costs $40/month. If I switch phones, I'd also switch services, but it would still be $40/month (or less). In other words, it's free after employer reimbursement either way.
  • My current phone, a Samsung Intercept, is becoming unreliable.
    • It's always had problems synchronizing email and voicemail accounts in a timely fashion -- i.e., it fails to sync automatically. Because of this, I occasionally find out about important emails or calls a day (or several days) after the fact.
    • The phone has been getting slower (in terms of app switching speed, web page rendering speed, etc.)
    • I don't have enough space on the built-in memory for my apps and data (things that can't be moved to the SD card)
    • The battery is worn out, so it has short battery life (yes, I know I can buy a new battery, but is it worth it considering the other issues?)
  • I really like having a smartphone, and would like to have a nice one instead of an obsolete Intercept

I've been wanting to replace it with a Google Nexus 4 since it came out in November, but I didn't want to spend the money at launch and since then, that phone has been out of stock. As I understand it, the sold-straight-from-Google version of the Nexus 4 is about the best value on a decent phone you can get these days (but if there's another model I should consider -- especially with a slide-out keyboard and/or expandable memory-- I'm all ears).

I'm not FI yet (or even debt free), but my highest interest rate debt is about 6% and I'm saving (or paying down debt principal with) over half my income. So, do I have a good enough excuse?

Deano

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2013, 05:00:32 PM »
Sure, just get together the money it will cost you by selling things and/or some added labour.

That's how I justify tech purchases.

Jack

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2013, 05:19:50 PM »
I'm salaried, but I've been thinking of starting a side gig making Android apps. I could tell myself that this phone was a business expense for that, but it would be sort of a lie because I could test my apps on the Nexus 7 I already have...

Selling stuff would probably take too long; by the time I sold enough to make the $300-$350 required, the Nexus 4 would probably be out of stock again!

DebtDerp

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2013, 05:23:51 PM »
Buy a phone off of ebay that is a year out of date for $50. This will save you money and still be better than the phone you currently have. The Nexus 4 is crazy expensive and requires you to sign a new contract. You could get the last gen Nexus for under $100 bucks on ebay (even new). Take your savings and keep marching towards FI.

the fixer

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2013, 05:30:12 PM »
I have a rooted Nexus One that still works reasonably well, but it also has space issues so I use some hacks to get app2sd. Even if a smartphone were a necessity, you wouldn't need the latest generation.

Deano

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2013, 05:32:27 PM »
I'm salaried, but I've been thinking of starting a side gig making Android apps. I could tell myself that this phone was a business expense for that, but it would be sort of a lie because I could test my apps on the Nexus 7 I already have...

Selling stuff would probably take too long; by the time I sold enough to make the $300-$350 required, the Nexus 4 would probably be out of stock again!

Perhaps there will be a Nexus 5 by then. You'd really come out the winner.

I want to buy a laptop (only have a work one). It's going to take me a year to save up using alternate means. That's the price I pay for truly wanting to reach FI, while still enjoying some of the wants in my life (I have no debt btw...you do, so that should factor into your decision).


DebtDerp

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2013, 05:38:41 PM »
I have a rooted Nexus One that still works reasonably well, but it also has space issues so I use some hacks to get app2sd. Even if a smartphone were a necessity, you wouldn't need the latest generation.

This is the benefits of the consumer culture for those who are more frugal minded. Once there is a newer model of something the old version becomes much less valuable whereas just a few months prior it was the greatest and newest technology you could buy. Use this to your advantage. Old technology is not bad technology.

Jack

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2013, 05:42:22 PM »
The Nexus 4 is crazy expensive and requires you to sign a new contract.

No it doesn't, it's $300 unlocked and without contract from Google. I'd use it with either a T-Mobile bring-your-own-device plan or some AT&T network MVNO.


Buy a phone off of ebay that is a year out of date for $50. This will save you money and still be better than the phone you currently have.

I don't want a phone that's "better than I have," I want a phone that's decently good (i.e. Android 4.0+, relatively fast CPU, 4G, etc.). Even used on Ebay, everything I would consider is in at least the $150+ range. Considering that a Nexus 4 would last longer before I'd start wanting to replace it again, I'm still fairly convinced it's the better value.

DebtDerp

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2013, 06:05:44 PM »
I don't want a phone that's "better than I have," I want a phone that's decently good (i.e. Android 4.0+, relatively fast CPU, 4G, etc.). Even used on Ebay, everything I would consider is in at least the $150+ range. Considering that a Nexus 4 would last longer before I'd start wanting to replace it again, I'm still fairly convinced it's the better value.

No, what you are really saying is that you want the newest greatest technology. Decently good does not equal the Nexus 4. You could get a HTC EVO 4G on T-Mobile with Android 4.0 for under $100. Heck, my two year old phone meets all of you spec requirements except Android 4.0 (HTC Thunderbolt). If you are comfortable rooting your device you can make all the modifications to the phone you want and be happy with what you have for years to come.

matt_g

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2013, 06:20:26 PM »
1. How long have you owned your current phone?
2. How long do you plan on owning this new phone?

NumberJohnny5

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2013, 06:35:31 PM »
Ok, I looked up the specs of the Samsung Intercept...yeah, bit outdated.  Not horribly bad either though.  Saw a blurb that said there was an unofficial ROM you could install that'd get you 4.0 ICS; not sure how fast/slow that'd be, but it's an option.

Problem getting emails...is there an exchange server in the picture?  It used to be hard to get android to play well with exchange.  Perhaps installing a newer version of the software, or trying a different email client would be beneficial.

If you're looking to go to T-Mobile or AT&T (gsm providers), perhaps the Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S made for AT&T).  Unlocked would be great, locked is fine too (there's a program you can run to unlock it...may need root).  See it listed on Craigslist from $120-$200 (when I bought it about 1.5 years ago, I remember it was under $150).  Gingerbread (2.3 something) is the latest officially available software, but my wife's is running an unofficial 4.2 Jellybean (CM 10.1 to be exact).  It's a bit slower than my Galaxy S2, but it's more than capable.

Oh, and as for the apps you can't move to the SD card...perhaps they'll let you if you upgrade the OS.  If not...are you technologically inclined enough to "root" your phone?  Look into Titanium Backup; it'll force apps onto the sd card even if they refuse; I've had to do this for my son's LG Optimus Spirit (very low end phone); so far haven't run into an issue.

Jack

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2013, 07:16:50 PM »
  • How long have you owned your current phone?
  • How long do you plan on owning this new phone?
  • I've had it since October 2010 (I bought it right when it came out as the first Android phone available with prepaid service)
  • If I were to buy a Nexus 4, I anticipate it would last me at least 3 years, probably longer.
Problem getting emails...is there an exchange server in the picture?  It used to be hard to get android to play well with exchange.  Perhaps installing a newer version of the software, or trying a different email client would be beneficial.

No Exchange server involved; in fact, even my Gmail fails to sync automatically.

If you're looking to go to T-Mobile or AT&T (gsm providers), perhaps the Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S made for AT&T).  Unlocked would be great, locked is fine too (there's a program you can run to unlock it...may need root).  See it listed on Craigslist from $120-$200 (when I bought it about 1.5 years ago, I remember it was under $150).  Gingerbread (2.3 something) is the latest officially available software, but my wife's is running an unofficial 4.2 Jellybean (CM 10.1 to be exact).  It's a bit slower than my Galaxy S2, but it's more than capable.

My wife has a Captivate (she's still on her parents' family plan); it's not a bad option, but I haven't been impressed with the data connection she gets (from AT&T). Also, we charge our phones in the same place, so if we had the same model we might get them mixed up (only a minor concern, of course).

Ok, I looked up the specs of the Samsung Intercept...yeah, bit outdated.  Not horribly bad either though.  Saw a blurb that said there was an unofficial ROM you could install that'd get you 4.0 ICS; not sure how fast/slow that'd be, but it's an option.

Oh, and as for the apps you can't move to the SD card...perhaps they'll let you if you upgrade the OS.  If not...are you technologically inclined enough to "root" your phone?  Look into Titanium Backup; it'll force apps onto the sd card even if they refuse; I've had to do this for my son's LG Optimus Spirit (very low end phone); so far haven't run into an issue.

I've been resisting the idea of rooting or modding my phone because of the risk that if something went wrong, I'd have no use of the phone until I figured out how to fix it. I guess I need to suck it up and take a shot at it before resorting to spending money, though!

Daley

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2013, 07:37:02 PM »
Jack, as a fellow Intercept owner, definitely try to rehabilitate the thing first. Sounds like the biggest thing you need to do is to do a factory wipe and reset. It sounds odd, but the thing behaves like a Windows OS with bitrot after a while and a purge, reset, and repair seems to make it right as rain when it gets twitchy. If you want to upgrade the firmware, XDA Developers is a good place to start. Personally, I'm running stock Sprint Android 2.2.3 with DL05 baseband, CrappyKernel 1.5, and Zeam Launcher 3.1.10. I'd tried a few additional apps early on in an effort to extend battery life and convenience, but I eventually just stripped them out as they were less help than advantage. (Original post here.) The only thing I really don't like and never got around to getting to the bottom of is Joseph Mother's Crappy Kernel's permarooted, so it can be a security issue if you're not careful, and there's no support for SD card swap partitions either. Battery life, performance and stability are good, though. Even after I retire it here with the P'tel GSM switch, and being thoroughly underwhelmed with Android on a whole, I still plan to keep it around for odd jobs as an XBMC remote, for Kik/Nimbuzz and e-mail at home, and as a VoIP handset or other stupid smartphone tricks.

Also, if you're dealing with mail servers that do IMAP4 push and aren't Google, K9 Mail is a far superior mail client to the Android one. If you want to pick my brain on any more technical bits, don't hesitate to ask. :)

Herr Handlebar

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2013, 09:37:31 PM »
I don't want a phone that's "better than I have," I want a phone that's decently good (i.e. Android 4.0+, relatively fast CPU, 4G, etc.).

The Nexus 4 is no panacea. My work buys my devices and I have a Nexus 4. It has been a disappointment. Bluetooth frequently stops working and requires a hard reboot. The glass back on mine is cracked and can't be replaced. I'm not even that hard on devices.

My advice? Try to rehab your phone. Can you run cyanogenmod or another alternative firmware? Hold out as long as you can. The device improvement curve is flattening out quickly and soon Nexus 4 like devices will be available in the second hand market for under $100.

jrhampt

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2013, 06:19:10 AM »
You still have high interest debt, so your hair is on fire.  Wait until you get rid of it; then buy what you want.

matt_g

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2013, 07:18:45 AM »
Jack,

Assuming you keep it 3 years.  at $299, that's $100/yr per year, for the rest of your life.  Let's assume a 4% safe width-drawl.  You'd need $2,500 in the bank to replace this habit (don't forget to save up for the PLAN too).   Ask yourself, how long do you have to work, at your current savings rate, to save $2,500?  1 week, 1 month, 3 months?  Are you willing to delay FI to own a Nexus 4, and the next new hot phone, or are you willing to take a less costly approach and retire sooner?

I'd also challenge your employer to replace your phone, if that is the route your choose.

Herbert Derp

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2013, 05:06:34 AM »
I recently bought a Nexus 4--love it! Total cost was $343, but I sold my old Galaxy Nexus for $210 so the overall cost of upgrading was $133. I have a prepaid $30/month plan. I don't see purchases like this as a big deal as long as I can maintain my 75% savings rate on net income, which is enough for now.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2013, 05:22:07 AM by Herbert Derp »

Jack

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2013, 09:40:49 AM »
I recently bought a Nexus 4--love it! Total cost was $343, but I sold my old Galaxy Nexus for $210 so the overall cost of upgrading was $133. I have a prepaid $30/month plan. I don't see purchases like this as a big deal as long as I can maintain my 75% savings rate on net income, which is enough for now.

Great, now you tell me -- after I've already committed to $500 February! ; )

So, this weekend I'm going to try factory resetting & possibly rooting my Intercept and see if the result is acceptable. If it is, I'll wait until whatever replaces the Nexus 4 comes out before upgrading.


parkersharon32

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #18 on: February 03, 2013, 11:49:52 PM »
I agree with DebtDerp & the fixer. You don’t need to spend fortune on latest generation smartphone even if its necessity.

capital

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #19 on: February 07, 2013, 03:01:54 PM »
There aren't very many unlocked smartphones for significantly less than $300, however, and the last couple of generations of Android smartphones are significantly better devices than the ones that came before. The Nexus phones are priced dramatically lower than more dated devices.

I have an unlocked Galaxy Nexus that I'm planning on keeping indefinitely. It is a purchase I'm happy with, and a big upgrade from the Motorola Triumph I had previously. The upside to having a Nexus device is that you are assured to get new versions of Android for a couple years at least, which does a lot to reduce lust for new devices.

Daley

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #20 on: February 07, 2013, 04:06:52 PM »
lust for new devices

I think this pretty well encapsulates the approach problems of people who are willing to spend so much money on these phones in the first place. If you shop for and treat these devices like a functional tool instead of a toy, you don't lust after new models, you don't itch to upgrade, you don't over-shop for what you actually need in a mobile handset, and you don't wind up dropping several hundred dollars even on a used phone unless you can justify the need for the features it uniquely provides.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2013, 04:08:41 PM by I.P. Daley »

LightTripper

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Re: Talk me out of a Nexus 4
« Reply #21 on: February 07, 2013, 05:30:21 PM »
Maybe try a factory reboot?  I have an HTC Desire, similar age.  It's been getting a little rough, apps falling over, etc and I was thinking I'd probably get a new phone in the next year.  But then last week it completely crashed (got stuck in a crash reboot loop) and I had to do a factory reset.  It's like having a new phone!!  Seem to be able to fit all the app updates i couldn't before (partly as it focused my mind on which apps i actually like enough to reload).  And most of my data was on the SD card or linked to Google accounts, so not even much of a pain to set up again. 

Couldn't hurt to try?