Getting RID of the Expensive Phone Data Package

I recently noted that I am going to be getting rid of the data package on my phone in an effort to reduce my monthly bills, and honestly, I just don’t want to pay for Internet on my phone anymore!

But, recently I got some bad news. My home computer is totally dead. As I don’t think I can just due without the Internet completely (how sad is that?), I have been trying to brainstorm some ways that I can knock out my $30 a month cell phone data package but still have some mobile Internet to use with my home WiFi connection. We are saving our pennies for a new computer, but that big of a purchase may have to wait a hot minute or two (plus, it won’t be very mobile, will it.) So I did what I always do, made lists!

Pros: It works off of WiFi, no packages to buy. I can store and listen to my music, email, Facebook, etc. It has video recording, games, and apps, apps, apps. I can use Facetime to chat with my family, who all have iphones or ipads. (This is especially nice since my sister will be off at college next year.) I can browse the web when a WiFi connection is near (and for places like in the car traveling on vacation I can just borrow Jeff’s iphone).

Cons: I don’t think I would have access to Word software, which means all the stuff I do for Church in regards to newsletters, handouts, etc. will still have to be done on a borrowed computer. I could maybe get an app but it’s not the same. Pros: Again, it works off WiFi, no packages to buy! It pretty much has all the benefits of an ipod touch on a bigger screen, faster, and more storage. I would be able to blog and such, do anything I wanted on the web. It has Word compatible apps that I could maybe use for church stuff. As my Dad calls them, they are the world’s most expensive scriptures.

Cons: The price. Seriously, I might as well just buy a laptop. I think they are fun, but for that much money I can think a numerous other things that I would want to buy. I keep it on the list however because I could get a refurbished one for half the costs and still get the same warranty as a new one. Even still, I wouldn’t really have Word software.

Pros: The price. I get to play on the web, keep using my beloved android apps, and I can easily store books and such. It still has Quick Office, not real word software, but I just don’t think I will get that without a real computer. It is bigger than the ipod but smaller than the ipad, used it before and I like the size. I can email, keep notes, Facebook and all.

Cons: I can’t store my itunes. This is a pretty big bummer for me. I don’t have any music from Amazon’s music shop. IT doesn't have facetime to talk to my sisters or recordings and such.

I think as of right now I am leaning towards the iPod Touch, just because of the price and the fact that it has almost everything I want. It's basically like an iPhone, just without the phone part. So I can go back to my cheap phone plan and just get all the perks for free. My younger sister just got an iPhone, so I'm trying to talk her out of her iPod Touch. (That is the kind of nice sister I am.) Plus this is very portable so I can take it anywhere.

I'd like to get an iPad, of course. Who doesn't want one of those babies, but I just can't get pasted the price. A birdie in the IT world told me that when the iPad 3 is released the iPad 2 is going to dramatically decrease in price, so maybe one day I will dole out the benjamin's for one.

* note: Jeffery, your wife is amazing and awesome. Please note that all of the above devices would make a wonderful Valentines gift. Don't you think your wife deserves nice things for ALL the things she does for you everyday? Let me tell you, she does.

* note 2: Jeffery, please do not feel guilty if you only end up giving you wife a card for Valentines day. It will still be a great gift. Maybe not as great as it could be, but great. (just kidding about that last part. Kind of.)