I would appreciate any enlightenment anyone can shed upon me. I hope this post is appropriate and in the right place.
I had a revelation today that made me quite upset. After waiting for my free phone credit from Verizon and anticipating for months getting my hands on a Droid I found I am going to get charged out of the wazoo just for having it. A Droid carries with it a $29.95 monthly data fee. I did not know this before today.
Now most reading this (as I have found in other forums) will say that if I want the tech toys I have to pay the tech prices. But I would disagree with that to a point. Yes I have to pay for the hardware, I get that. But phones these days are imbued with multiple functions, some that supersede the original functions. Case in point is Wi-Fi that allows one to get their data without having to use the carrier's network.
In addition, Droid is supposed to be from the technology savior Google's benevolent hands. Compare their app store philosophy to Apples and you will see quickly that OPEN is the word of the day.
Now when some hear OPEN they assume I mean FREE...or worse STOLEN! Not true. I don't want anything I am not due by standard methods. I am not trying to get apps I am supposed to be charged for without paying for them. What I want is to be able to get them via a network that I can access with a function built into the phone. But to my detriment, I am charged a $29.95 fee regardless of whether or not I use their network. Does anyone else agree with how WRONG that seems? I feel like I am buying a Jeep and I am being charged some kind of off-road fee even if I am using it solely as a commuter vehicle.
Now it may be that this is the way it is and there is no changing. I would disagree and consider this criminal. I am really disappointed that I am being charged $360 a year just to use a device when I don't intend to use the service I am being charged for.
What I really want is a phone-sized laptop that makes calls. The Droid seems to have come the closest. It has a browser, qwerty keyboard, mp3 player with headphone jack, bash shell, apps, gps, and it just happens to make calls and text. I really wanted this phone but the cost is much more than I can take on. Am I lost on this cause? Is there a way I can avoid the data charge? Is there a way I can "jailbreak" the phone and do as I wish with it? Is there an alternative phone that will fit my needs? Am I the only one complaining about how that required data charge is immoral and criminal?
Please move this to another forum if required. I am just SUPER distraught about this discovery as I have built myself up for months to lead to this disappointment. Thanks in advance for your input.
(And please leave the iPhone off the list of alternatives.)
