It was time for a new phone. And it was time for me to blindly upgrade to the newest Apple I-phone. But I remembered overhearing a conversation a few weeks ago between two cell phone employees.
“People are dumb for buying an I phone. There are others that are better.”
I have always had success with the I-phone except when I drop it in water or shatter the glass after fumbling it to the ground. So why would I switch?
I go into the center and tell them I want an I-phone. The man and woman behind the counter basically repeat the conversation I heard in another store a few weeks ago.
“Apple does not have the best product,” the guy told me. “They have the best marketing.”
I still wanted the I-phone I said. But I felt kind of dumb. Three industry people told me there was a better product. The woman brings out an I-phone and I ask “what is better.”
The guy points me toward the Samsung Galaxy S III. He said it is faster, better looking and with better graphics. He said I won’t have to chase technology because it is upgradeable. But what about the aps, I ask?
It has more, he says.
I bite and I change phones.
Was I one of these blind Apple people? I have an I-pad and the kids have I Touches. Or was I falling for a sales pitch because Samsung is pushing people to push its product? I really don’t know but I did trust these strangers. They both had my new phone so why would they have something they did not like?
When I got home the kids all wanted to see the new phone.
“You didn’t get an I-phone,” Little B said in protest. “Dad.”
I explained to him what went behind my decision. He looked at me like I was nuts and did not want to touch the new phone. He and my daughter Celine always love to play with my I-phone. Now this new thing may as well have been one of those cell phones people used to carry around in huge cases. They wanted no part of it.
That’s actually good news because I am tired of hunting for my phone after the kids steal it.
Anyway I do not know if I have a better phone or not. I have had it for just a day. It makes calls. I can text with it and I can take photos. It has neat new gadgets I do not understand just yet. I sort of feel like a sucker right now but we shall see.
Author Terry Foster an American sports columnist and radio personality in Detroit. He co-hosts Valenti & Foster on WXYT-FM The Ticket, a sports radio station, with Mike Valenti. It can be listened to worldwide on WXYT-FM 97.1 The Ticket's website. Foster recently wrote a book called... 
July 25, 2012 at 2:18 pm
you’ll have to update us on how you like this new phone. I have an iPhone that I dropped and the screen cracked, but I am eligible for an upgrade very soon and was just going to get another iPhone, but maybe I will try something different.
July 25, 2012 at 2:24 pm
The main reason the salespeople love the galaxy is the $50-100 they make for selling each one. I would say that the only true statement was that it is faster. 4g service is faster than 3G. If you ate on Verizon. If you are on AT&T then that is a lie also since there is no 4g lte on AT&T in Detroit.
Upgradable? How? Ask the people that bought the galaxy s II a month ago how upgradable that phone is. Hopefully you can figure out how much you will hate the android phone before the return period is over.
July 27, 2012 at 3:27 pm
I work no commissioned cell phone sales, & the s3 or the HTC one series are both more phone for less money than the 4s. Throw in the ease of flashing a new Rom & all the free apps & backup capabilities & the google maps feature & the droid blows away the iPhone 4s. & please note that the s2 has had the latest os pushed to it. Educate yourself before you appear as a fool.
July 25, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Terry,
ATT and Verizon pay more $ to Apple to subsidize the iPhone vs a Droid so the sales people will push non-iphones. This information is evident in all the quarterly financial releases by the big cell carriers. ATT and Vz in the past week.
My personal opinion is that you should have waited 2 or 3 months and just gotten the iPhone 5 which will have the upgrades you were looking for. The estimated release date is September/October.
Luckily, contractual law says you can back out within 3 days of signing that contract (if you so choose).
July 25, 2012 at 2:44 pm
I have the galaxy II. It is simply the best phone I have ever had. Simple to user and also upgradable. You will be very happy with your phon. When it comes to “I” anything, I just follow Public Enemys Motto: DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE
July 25, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I like that. Don’t believe the hype. So far I like the new phone. I am still trying to figure it out like any phone
July 25, 2012 at 7:20 pm
It’s all preference. Yes apple is the marketing king that’s why we all buy music from iTunes and have iPhones and think MACs are for cool kids. Really we are just drones. Every new major droid phone is the best ever just like the galaxy S is now. My blackberry could txt, take pics and funny enough call peoe on the same 3G network we are using today with our fancy new smartphones. I have an iPhone 4 and it works perfectly fine.
Huh interesting word “better” to whom? It’s a new phone saying one is better than the other is like saying Brooklyn decker is hotter than Kate upton. Their both ridiculous get over it.
July 25, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Soon you will see once you get a hand on the different O.S. android is much better and you will be able to upgrade every few months or so android updates your phone to the newest version out there no having to buy new phones. Plus all your info is constantly backed up by Google so you never loose any contacts or anything
July 25, 2012 at 9:04 pm
The iphone is simple. Its for people high on fasion and low on technology IQ. I do like the iphone minus the small screen, but what really bugs me about it is the lack of customization and the small amount of free apps. Android is not without its problems either. Since android is so customizable, it may take a little playing around with it to get what you want out of it, hence why its better for tech minded people. The galaxy s3 is a better phone hands down, but if your not willing to put the time in to really set it up then you will never be as happy with it as you were with the iphone. That being said I love, absolutely love my galaxy s2, the earlier version of what you got. I have widgets set up on the home screen to make things like weather, calender notes, and gps all one touch affairs. If you can get it figured out or get one of the sales guys to help you with it, you’ll never go back to the iphone. if not and you just want the status quo than get that iphone back.
July 26, 2012 at 12:22 am
Good choice,
Explore adding widgets to your screen, they are something apple hasn’t touched yet. The 4G and also future software updates are additional bonuses to android. I’m sure its probably a bit over your head for a new user, but if you have an office techie nerd to help you, there is the ability to install custom modified operating systems that are even faster… Enjoy the phone and maybe save that for another day.
July 26, 2012 at 10:02 am
I love my android, never had a iPhone. I think Samsung 3 is faster and more free apps.