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ChrisTX

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Dec 30, 2009
2,689
55
Texas
What do your non tech friends think about you upgrading so often? More of a "for fun" thread but I'm just interested in the responses here. My peers think I'm crazy for upgrading often, and buying off contract phones.
 
My wife thinks I'm nuts because I've had five phones in the past year - iPhone 4, GS3, Nexus 4, Moto X, HTC One - but that's not typical as I usually only upgrade every 1-2 years. Most of my friends are non-techies so they don't notice. One of my colleagues has been through twice as many phones as I have, though.
 
People regularly roll their eyes at me when I waltz in with a new gadget.

I do get asked a lot for advice on what to get for people because of my regular phone swapping. :D
 
People regularly roll their eyes at me when I waltz in with a new gadget.

I do get asked a lot for advice on what to get for people because of my regular phone swapping. :D

Yeah, most of my family and friends playfully roll their eyes every time they see me with a new gadget but same as you, I'm also their first phone call when they have questions. My wife thinks I'm nuts but tolerates it as I'm usually able to sell them for close to what I paid, if not more.
 
My phone obsession has come with quite the price .....

1. My wife won't let me touch her HTC One in fear I might mod it.

2. Peers think I'm crazy because sometimes I'll use 2 different phones at the same time. They just don't get it.

3. Since selling my 4s I only have 2 android devices in rotation and I feel incomplete without having an ios device readily available. Can't wait for the 5s and Note 3, they will be in the rotation soon.

4. My obsession now has dug me into 2 carrier contracts with 4 lines and I'm thinking about adding a 5th one.
 
Past year phones I have had are ip5, note 2, s4, s4 active, nexus 4, HTC one, lg g2 and I am using the HTC now.
My wife don't understand at all my coworkers think am nuts.
Now I want the MX and trying to stay away from ip5s.
 
I'm the butt of a lot of jokes because of my phone swapping, the latest one was a rumor that I go home after work and perform autoerotic asphyxiation on myself with all my phone chargers I must have.

Despite the fact I sell the chargers with the phone when I move onto a new one :cool:
 
My phone obsession has come with quite the price .....

1. My wife won't let me touch her HTC One in fear I might mod it.

2. Peers think I'm crazy because sometimes I'll use 2 different phones at the same time. They just don't get it.

3. Since selling my 4s I only have 2 android devices in rotation and I feel incomplete without having an ios device readily available. Can't wait for the 5s and Note 3, they will be in the rotation soon.

4. My obsession now has dug me into 2 carrier contracts with 4 lines and I'm thinking about adding a 5th one.

Awesome Avatar, Go Houston Texans, and JJ WATT!!!

Back on topic, do you guys buy them all off contract? Seems expensive, but I'll be buying the Note 3 off contract so it's all good! Love the responses here, as I usually get the same reaction. I work in a non tech related field, but even some of my customers will call me at work, or on my cell with tech related questions. I advice many with their smartphone, pc, and tablet voices. I don't upgrade as often as others, but bring on the Note 3!!!
 
What do your non tech friends think about you upgrading so often? More of a "for fun" thread but I'm just interested in the responses here. My peers think I'm crazy for upgrading often, and buying off contract phones.

well if you can afford it....i think its a waste of money to upgrade often paying full price. I will probably get the Jump plan from T-Mobile but i usually keep my phones a while. Have had my GS3 since July 1st 2012 and i can upgrade at anytime i want being on their value plan. Im just not really feeling the need to get the GS4. Now im thinking either the Nexus 5 or LG G2. Ill get one of the two pending reviews of the N5.

So your answer your question...i dont upgrade so often.

----------

My wife thinks I'm nuts because I've had five phones in the past year - iPhone 4, GS3, Nexus 4, Moto X, HTC One - but that's not typical as I usually only upgrade every 1-2 years. Most of my friends are non-techies so they don't notice. One of my colleagues has been through twice as many phones as I have, though.

LOL, yeah i agree. That is nuts. Its just a phone and i dont like wasting money. I see some big obsessions in here with peoples responses. To each their own i always say.
 
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My family just rolls their eyes every time I get a new phone. My coworkers give me crap every time. But neither of them will think twice about asking me for help, or advice.
 
My family just rolls their eyes every time I get a new phone. My coworkers give me crap every time. But neither of them will think twice about asking me for help, or advice.

Well yeah, but it has nothing to do with how often you switch your phones and everything to do with who is the person who can help you. They know who the tech geek is, lol. Its not a bad thing.
 
Correction .... JJ SWATT but I'll let it slide this time Chris :p

But yes back on topic. I have quite a few lines so I normally have an upgrade available but I'm not opposed to buying off contract if the device is sexy enough. Most of my old phones go to friends and family and some I resell on Craigslist. My daughter has my old iPhone 4 and I'll give her the S4 when I get the Note 3. I never have more than 3 phones at one time though.

You think this is crazy, just wait until I break into the tablet game :D
 
Awesome Avatar, Go Houston Texans, and JJ WATT!!!

Back on topic, do you guys buy them all off contract? Seems expensive, but I'll be buying the Note 3 off contract so it's all good! Love the responses here, as I usually get the same reaction. I work in a non tech related field, but even some of my customers will call me at work, or on my cell with tech related questions. I advice many with their smartphone, pc, and tablet voices. I don't upgrade as often as others, but bring on the Note 3!!!

It's only expensive if you don't sell/trade them. Like I previously said, I've been able to sell all of my devices for close to what I paid, if not more. iPhones have tremendous resale value and I've sold every single one for more than what I originally paid, though I use any upgrade I have for these for that very reason. Sold my GNex for nearly same price i paid and made about $25 selling my Nexus 4. Also, most flagship devices from he same generation generally fetch close to the same value in the secondary market so trading is a great option if you want to try out different devices.
 
Well yeah, but it has nothing to do with how often you switch your phones and everything to do with who is the person who can help you. They know who the tech geek is, lol. Its not a bad thing.

Oh no it is not a bad thing. I could careless about what they think. I just find it funny that they give me a hard time, but when they need my help they have no issue asking me.

Oh and my phones in the last year. Galaxy nexus, iPhone 5, note 2, and nexus 4.
 
DD calls me a phone nomad and my friends laugh at me, but when it comes time to switch phones or they have an issue with a phone, guess who they call? :)
 
Personally, I only upgrade when I have my 2 year rebate, but people make too big of a fuss about people who upgrade every generation. It's not really a big deal. You're talking about a phone, when there's plenty of people who spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy dinner, or a weekend of golf, and other things that are brief and fleeting. A phone is an essential item that gets used daily.
 
LOL, yeah i agree. That is nuts. Its just a phone and i dont like wasting money. I see some big obsessions in here with peoples responses. To each their own i always say.
I'd agree if I was paying off-contract. With subsidy pricing, I've actually only spent a total of ~$300. Used an upgrade to purchase the S3 in November, sold it and bought a Nexus 4 earlier this year. Noticed I had another upgrade on the same line (AT&T screwed up, I guess) a few weeks ago so I used it to purchase the Moto X. Sold my Nexus 4 to a friend, then exchanged the Moto X for the HTC One.
 
I'd agree if I was paying off-contract. With subsidy pricing, I've actually only spent a total of ~$300. Used an upgrade to purchase the S3 in November, sold it and bought a Nexus 4 earlier this year. Noticed I had another upgrade on the same line (AT&T screwed up, I guess) a few weeks ago so I used it to purchase the Moto X. Sold my Nexus 4 to a friend, then exchanged the Moto X for the HTC One.

So which one between the HTC One and Moto X do you like better?
 
So which one between the HTC One and Moto X do you like better?

I'd have to say that I like the HTC One more. Moto X felt a little better in the hand (the One feels good in the hand as well, though it's a bit harder to press the buttons when using one-handed) and the near-stock Android experience was close enough to the vanilla Android I'd been using on my Nexus 4, but I ultimately couldn't get used to the AMOLED screen - colors always looked washed out. Smaller dev community and the possibility that the AT&T Moto X might not ever get its bootloader unlocked also pushed me away.
 
I always sell my old device to pay for at least a huge chunk (sometimes all) of a new one. I take meticulous care of my phones so I always can get top dollar on Craigslist or Swappa. Just sold an iPhone 5 for $589 and bought a HTC One full price for $599. Wife stays happy that way. :)
 
I'm the butt of a lot of jokes because of my phone swapping, the latest one was a rumor that I go home after work and perform autoerotic asphyxiation on myself with all my phone chargers I must have.

Despite the fact I sell the chargers with the phone when I move onto a new one :cool:

Jeez I was beginning to think i was the only one people thought that about! LOL ;)
 
personally, i only upgrade when i have my 2 year rebate, but people make too big of a fuss about people who upgrade every generation. It's not really a big deal. You're talking about a phone, when there's plenty of people who spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy dinner, or a weekend of golf, and other things that are brief and fleeting. A phone is an essential item that gets used daily.

+1
 
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