Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Five rules to buy smartphones


"I think I am not smart enough for a smart enough," moaned a friend who mailed me at the weekend. She has a budget of 20,000 and is looking to buy a good handset. Like many, many buyers these days, she is confused as hell despite the sound budget.

I don't blame her. Advertisements are supposed to help you make choices, but in a hyper - competitive market noise is distracting more then enlightening.

Here is what I told my friend: 1) Choose a reasonable brand if you don't want to gamble. 2) Look for the must-have features on your wishlist 3) Choose the cheapest three models fitting these features. 4) Go for the one among these that gives you the best look and feel.

That is Smartphone 101. In the business of buying these gadgets, you can end up buying stuff you don't need and paying a lot for it, or it, or worse, not make use of useful features. So, let me add five things you must do as a smartphone customer.

1. Make a list of the apps you want: "Apps" or applications are what the smartphone experience is all about. Whether you need Facebook or Twitter or stock market news, list the things you love so you get what you want.

2. Keep visiting the Web to look for new apps. Interesting apps are coming in all the time and it pays to discover interesting stuff.

3. Don't change it too often: Smartphones are like computers. You need to learn how to get the most of it and enjoy it. Spend time with it, as if it was your spouse/friend/kid.

4. Sync it with your PC: Smarphones store data, including contacts and messages. Connecting it with your PC with the right software (comes with the handset) can help you back up vital data and load in stuff as well.

5. Listen to your own self: it is your brain and your fingers that use the smartphone. Pick yours based on your needs.

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