Upgrading to the smartphone era...

[gamerxavier]

I've always had simple phones over the years, never needed much more. But, my nerd instincts have kicked in and despite my belief that I'd be better off carrying a laptop with me over a phone like this if I actually needed these tools. I'd like to get a smartphone.

Requirements:
Touchscreen
Full qwerty keyboard slide out
Android
Capable of being unlocked, I'd use it with Straight talk, no reason to pay Verizon or other companies when straight talk has the service I'd need.
Memory expansion as much as possible.
Best calender/scheduler I can get, synced with google's calender? With a notes section perhaps per each schedule etc...

Questions:
How well does Android work with Google docs and other related services?

If I got an older phone as I would plan too to save some money, would I run into issues updating it into newer versions of Android or Applications not being supported?

I want to use this phone to record things like my schedule as I press into college more I'll need to start keeping a schedule a lot more between work, college, the gf, and other events and side jobs.

Phones I've looked to in the past
Droid
Droid 2
Droid 3
I've always liked the style of these phones. I've found the droid 2 on ebay for $60. I'm curious what it would take too unlock for use under straight talk.

Other suggestions to a phone for this purpose. I don't plan to use it for a lot, but as this will be my first true venture into the smartphone era I may surprise myself. Especially with tools that help me sync my data between my computer and phone, inviting me to the cloud storage more than I've been.

Where is a good place to buy or look at older model refurbished phones like this?
I'd love to hunt down a Droid 3 or Droid 4.

 

[ur6beersaway]

How well does Android work with Google docs and other related services?
Perfectly, as google created android (and then released all the source code to the general public). Here :http/forum.xda-developers.com/sitesearch.php?q=droid%202%20xda
You can root the phone, flash custom ROM's and a ton of other mods.
It's a lot of fun...welcome

 

[gamerxavier]

Sounds amusing xD. Now too determine which phone to go for. If the Droid 3 can update to newer versions of android I'll probably go with that one, as it seems the droid 4 has an all in one battery, which doesn't really seem like a good idea.

 

[miha2]

It's a tough question, actually. If all you want to do is to record the calendar events, any Android based phone can do it. Now, if you really want a lot more, it gets more and more interesting. If you want to have a small laptop, go for Samsung Galaxy Note, I or II. II is newer, and so is much more expensive. You can find a lot of reviews of almost any phone on Youtube, just search for it and you'll receive lots of reviews there. Now, imagine you want Droid. What is the reason it interested you? I mean, it's a rhetorical question, but I'd really like to note that the first smartphone shouldn't be big and bulky, so go for 4-4.3". Then, you'll see how Samsung Galaxy Note II is wonderful, and you'll understand that there is no better phone as of the moment. I had HTC phone, and I don't really know why, but after using it for about 1.5 years, it started to restart every month or two. I used it a lot, but I'm not going to buy the HTC again. I'm not saying they're bad, I'm just saying they're not for me. Basically, go to your local network operator's store, and ask what they'll recommend. Go play with it all by yourself, then ask the salespersons any questions you'll have, then play with it once again, and if you don't like it, just ask to show you another phone. I mentioned your name to be gamerxavier, and so you might like gaming on your future smartphone, and so go for the latest technology then. I'll recommend Samsungs with their Mali (400 or better) graphics, and so, games are all yours. Also, the newer the smartphone is, the easier it is to root. I don't really know a lot about unlocking it, but Samsung Galaxy Note II is a "universal" phone, so if you're on Verizon, for example, and you want to switch to AT&T, all you have to do is to put the Sim card in the slot, and you're ready to go. Hope that helped, and once again, it's all up to you to decide, and the best solution would be to go to the store and ask questions until you'll find your best phone.

Try Newegg, Amazon, Bestbuy (not sure though if it's the right place to search for refurbished cell phones).

 

[gamerxavier]

It's a tough question, actually. If all you want to do is to record the calendar events, any Android based phone can do it. Now, if you really want a lot more, it gets more and more interesting. If you want to have a small laptop, go for Samsung Galaxy Note, I or II. II is newer, and so is much more expensive. You can find a lot of reviews of almost any phone on Youtube, just search for it and you'll receive lots of reviews there. Now, imagine you want Droid. What is the reason it interested you? I mean, it's a rhetorical question, but I'd really like to note that the first smartphone shouldn't be big and bulky, so go for 4-4.3". Then, you'll see how Samsung Galaxy Note II is wonderful, and you'll understand that there is no better phone as of the moment. I had HTC phone, and I don't really know why, but after using it for about 1.5 years, it started to restart every month or two. I used it a lot, but I'm not going to buy the HTC again. I'm not saying they're bad, I'm just saying they're not for me. Basically, go to your local network operator's store, and ask what they'll recommend. Go play with it all by yourself, then ask the salespersons any questions you'll have, then play with it once again, and if you don't like it, just ask to show you another phone. I mentioned your name to be gamerxavier, and so you might like gaming on your future smartphone, and so go for the latest technology then. I'll recommend Samsungs with their Mali (400 or better) graphics, and so, games are all yours. Also, the newer the smartphone is, the easier it is to root. I don't really know a lot about unlocking it, but Samsung Galaxy Note II is a "universal" phone, so if you're on Verizon, for example, and you want to switch to AT&T, all you have to do is to put the Sim card in the slot, and you're ready to go. Hope that helped, and once again, it's all up to you to decide, and the best solution would be to go to the store and ask questions until you'll find your best phone.

Try Newegg, Amazon, Bestbuy (not sure though if it's the right place to search for refurbished cell phones).

I love gaming on my PC on occasion. I never play games like FB games or phone games on any phone I ever had other than snake. I want the droid 3 because it's a removable battery thus I can purchase a back-up or an extended battery for it, also it has the full physical keyboard. I don't like typing on touch screen myself, at least not yet. The reason I'd like to go for a smartphone is basically I do not know how far I'll go. So, I'll start with one with a cheaper unit such as the Droid 3 that covers what I do know I'll want.
The only thing I am in question is where to find older model refurbished/new phones for a realistic price.

 

[ur6beersaway]

@ $ 180=http/www.bing.com/shopping/motorola-droid-3-android-smartphone/p/70BE261A012F6F0C5020?q=droid+3&lpq=droid%203&FORM=HURE