College Setup

[A895]

Unlike everyone saying Nexus 5, I'm going to assume you will be buying your phone on contract like most Americans.

In my opinion, if you aren't interested in using your tablet to take notes (I personally prefer digital notes because I'm less likely to lose them and they are easier for me to keep organized), then there isn't a whole lot of benefit to having a tablet while you are in college, so I'd focus the budget elsewhere.

If you want a phablet, I'd get either a LG G2 or a LG G Pro (if your on AT&T) as both are $100 or less on contract (if you can get a Note II on your carrier for under $100, that is a good option too), which will leave most of your budget for you laptop, which is where you really want to spend it. You don't want a crap computer in college. You want something fast, semi-powerful, reliable, and with a good keyboard. If you are a Mac person, get the best MacBook Air your budget allows (they start at $900 through Apple's college purchase program). If you want Windows, this Asus VivoBook looks like a good value. That combo would fit your $700 price range too. Now, if you manage to save up $1000, I'd spend $200 on a Tegra Note because it is a good little 7" tablet for playing games with the option to take notes on it should you choose. Then spend the remaining $100 to get a slightly better laptop (maybe something with an i7 or 6 GB of RAM) or to get a different phone, like the Note II. Or skip the Tegra Note and get a Note III and a better PC with your $1000.

For sure, dedinitely and with absolute certainty am not getting a mac. They are very limiting in functionality if I ever want to like move files from my phone to my computer then transfer to a microsd card. (Tried it on an iMac wouldn't work had to use my aunts windows laptop.). I found a laptop for sub $500 that has good user reviews and at least a core i5. That's plenty of power for school.

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[A895]

With your budget youre STUCK with a Nexus 5, because for school, a laptop is far more important.

Here's my setup, Im a student as well (I also took all my lecture notes with paper and pen).

Phone (BBZ10), Tablet (Nexus 7), Laptop (Macbook).

FYI, I the nexus 7 is the least used of all

I am not struck with a nexus 5. I'm on Verizon, I should have mentioned that and I want to stay on Verizon so any phone suggestions has to be phones on Verizon. Also, how is the BB Z10? I have been looking at the Q10 as well, I miss using a keyboard. Virtual keyboards suck.

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[A895]

Back when I was at university in 1989 pen and paper was THE choice I had. At least now you have options.

Does not mean they are good options. Not to say any suggestions given are bad just not something I would do personally.

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[Ya_Bish]

Hey I go to school at a major university here in the U.S. The first 2 things I would recommend are a smart phone and about a 14" laptop. That size is perfect cause you don't want to carry around something big everywhere you go. I have a a 15.6" Asus, it's not bad, but it's the biggest I would ever go. Tablet would be nice ( I have one) but it is not NEEDED like the other two.

 

[JRDroid]

I am not struck with a nexus 5. I'm on Verizon, I should have mentioned that and I want to stay on Verizon so any phone suggestions has to be phones on Verizon. Also, how is the BB Z10? I have been looking at the Q10 as well, I miss using a keyboard. Virtual keyboards suck.

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All Android fanboyism aside, you really don't want a blackberry right now. The company is circling the drain and likely will not be around in a year, let alone 2 years, to support your device. Developers aren't supporting the platform so the app selection is poor as well. The virtual keyboards on some phones can be quite good. And there are always alternatives like swype or swiftkey. If I were on Verizon, I'd get a Droid Ultral, Droid Maxx, LG G2, Moto X, Note 2, or Note 3 depending on budget and desired features. I'd love me a red Droid Ultra or the massive battery of the Droid Maxx

 

[A895]

All Android fanboyism aside, you really don't want a blackberry right now. The company is circling the drain and likely will not be around in a year, let alone 2 years, to support your device. Developers aren't supporting the platform so the app selection is poor as well. The virtual keyboards on some phones can be quite good. And there are always alternatives like swype or swiftkey. If I were on Verizon, I'd get a Droid Ultral, Droid Maxx, LG G2, Moto X, Note 2, or Note 3 depending on budget and desired features. I'd love me a red Droid Ultra or the massive battery of the Droid Maxx

I'm pretty sure they have no debt and a couple billion in cash. I'm buying stuff based on what it can do now and not later. Android is moving towards no microsd cards and moving towards the cloud. I cant move to the cloud right now. I don't want a massive phone like I thought either. I want something that is compact like my RAZR M, yet has some up to date specs and has a keyboard. I know there are some good android keyboards, but I am tired of typing on glass. I owned several keyboard messaging phones before I got my first android smartphone and missed the keyboard. The Q10 is being considered because frankly it is a good phone. The app situation does not worry me that much considering I only have less than 20 apps downloaded on my phone now. All I do now is web browse and check my news feeds, write small notes on keep, and all of that can be done on the Q10. I see they recently got flipboard, which is awesome because I have a flipboard account. If anything I'll miss Netflix, which I do use. Though I can maybe but a tablet. (This is just speculation and I'm not dead set on what I'm going to get yet. Please continue to give more suggestions.)

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[JRDroid]

I'm pretty sure they have no debt and a couple billion in cash. I'm buying stuff based on what it can do now and not later. Android is moving towards no microsd cards and moving towards the cloud. I cant move to the cloud right now. I don't want a massive phone like I thought either. I want something that is compact like my RAZR M, yet has some up to date specs and has a keyboard. I know there are some good android keyboards, but I am tired of typing on glass. I owned several keyboard messaging phones before I got my first android smartphone and missed the keyboard. The Q10 is being considered because frankly it is a good phone. The app situation does not worry me that much considering I only have less than 20 apps downloaded on my phone now. All I do now is web browse and check my news feeds, write small notes on keep, and all of that can be done on the Q10. I see they recently got flipboard, which is awesome because I have a flipboard account. If anything I'll miss Netflix, which I do use. Though I can maybe but a tablet. (This is just speculation and I'm not dead set on what I'm going to get yet. Please continue to give more suggestions.)

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If that is how you feel, go for it. I hought the same thought when I left Android for Windows phone. Maybe it will work out for you, maybe it won't. Outside of the forums on crack eery though, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks it's a good idea to get a blackberry right now.

 

[A895]

If that is how you feel, go for it. I hought the same thought when I left Android for Windows phone. Maybe it will work out for you, maybe it won't. Outside of the forums on crack eery though, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks it's a good idea to get a blackberry right now.

What do you suggest then?

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[JRDroid]

What do you suggest then?

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I made my suggestions earlier in the thread and they haven't changed. There is not a single smartphone with a physical keyboard worth buying right now. If I were on Verizon, I would buy a Droid Ultra or Droid Maxx.

 

[Gekko]

Hey I go to school at a major university here in the U.S. The first 2 things I would recommend are a smart phone and about a 14" laptop. That size is perfect cause you don't want to carry around something big everywhere you go. I have a a 15.6" Asus, it's not bad, but it's the biggest I would ever go. Tablet would be nice ( I have one) but it is not NEEDED like the other two.

13.3" is the sweet spot between usability and portability. i have a 13.3" Samsung Ultrabook + Nexus 5 and it is so sweet. i don't need no F'ing tablet!

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What do you suggest then?

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DeVante - is that french?

 

[A895]

13.3" is the sweet spot between usability and portability. i have a 13.3" Samsung Ultrabook + Nexus 5 and it is so sweet. i don't need no F'ing tablet!

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DeVante - is that french?

Actually the name of a singer (a variation of his name) from the 90s. Aaron is too (Different singer though).

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[JRDroid]

13.3" is the sweet spot between usability and portability. i have a 13.3" Samsung Ultrabook + Nexus 5 and it is so sweet. i don't need no F'ing tablet!

I agree. 13.3" is the size to get in a laptop. 14" isn't bad either, but I love me a 13.3" screen. Apple's single greatest contribution to laptops was popularizing the 13.3" screen.

 

[A895]

I agree. 13.3" is the size to get in a laptop. 14" isn't bad either, but I love me a 13.3" screen. Apple's single greatest contribution to laptops was popularizing the 13.3" screen.

Its a shame all the good 13.3 laptops are expensive.

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[JRDroid]

Its a shame all the good 13.3 laptops are expensive.

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One piece of advice I'd give (and personally follow) is to shop Best Buy's open box and clearance section of their website. I got a $1,200 Asus G75VX gaming laptop for $816 open box and got my wife a $749 13.3" Samsung Ultrabook for $450 on clearance. You can get some seriously killer deals that will get you way, way more computer for your money. The best part about the clearance items is that they still come with the full manufacturer's warranty.
Clearance: Refurbished Electronics, Cell Phones, PCs - Best Buy

For example, these are a few laptops that are pretty good prices for their specs, all GeekSquad refurbished:
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...219060406386%26skuId%3D1687851&token=rSmU7SVF
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...218868673238%26skuId%3D8290046&token=hKr5XnfQ
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...219050752282%26skuId%3D1376054&token=9NPuaHyR
And finally the Core i5 version of my wife's computer (hers has an i3):
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...218873335162%26skuId%3D8342049&token=18GfntHA
Hers had a touchscreen issue, but it was replaced for free under warranty (90 days) and works perfectly now.

 

[Gekko]

i NEVER buy open box or refurbished electronics. i don't trust them!

 

[Haalcyon]

i NEVER buy open box or refurbished electronics. i don't trust them!

This. 100000000+ I don't want someone else's headaches, not even to save a few bucks. ...but if you find a good deal, that's great. It's just not worth it to me. I want Manufacturer sealed goods for my $$$$. If it's been touched outside of the factory it needs to be by my hands. Unfortunately, that's not the most economic way of doing things.

G Pad 8.3

 

[JRDroid]

This. 100000000+ I don't want someone else's headaches, not even to save a few bucks. ...but if you find a good deal, that's great. It's just not worth it to me. I want Manufacturer sealed goods for my $$$$. If it's been touched outside of the factory it needs to be by my hands. Unfortunately, that's not the most economic way of doing things.

G Pad 8.3

i NEVER buy open box or refurbished electronics. i don't trust them!

That is fine for you. I buy them all the time. I buy new electronics all the time too. I have never had a problem with an open box item and the only problem I have ever with a refurbished product was the non-functioning touchscreen that was replaced under warranty on my wife's laptop. I've saved thousands of dollars and been able to buy electronics I would not have been able to afford otherwise. To each their own.