MexicanDragon

Crap, check out the t-mo Value Plans. Look at the 2GB and the Unlimited (on phone) 4G Nationwide data plans. 50$ for 500 min/unl text/2GB data, 60$ for unl talk and text/2GB data. 10$/mo more for unlimited data. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Packages/ValuePackages.aspx For frequent travelers/people who like to repeat things, it's a PITA to not have extra storage. My 16GB Note 2 only had about 11-12 gigs available out of the box. I couldn't imagine doing an 8GB phone these days. The Optimus G may have similar internals, but I'm seeing the build quality isn't close. I would be VERY tempted in the 16GB version, but my last phone was an LG, with stock Android, and it has just been a PITA. It was the first Tegra 2 phone, and there were some growing pains, sure, but it was just super painful. I don't know if I'm willing to give LG a shot again so soon. (I'm coming back to Samsung after saying "NEVER AGAIN!" about 3 years ago, largely because of Al.) As far as the cloud goes I <3 the cloud, but there are places I don't get signal, places I only get EDGE or GASP! GPRS! Sadly, I've found too many of those places when traveling a little outside my home network. I have 58GB of Dropbox and I think 13,000 songs uploaded to Google Music, along with a bit on Amazon as well. I really do like "The Cloud", but 8GB on a phone this high end? Even at this price -- which really is fantastic -- just isn't going to cut it for most of "us." Crap, the 8GB and a small plan will probably be fine for her. Oh, whatever you do, do NOT buy the Nex4 through TMO. Bastards are charging 199$ + 15$/mo for 20 months. It's looking like it's the 16GB version, but still. Well, now that I think about it, they're financing 200$ for a 50$ fee for a little under 2 years. It's not horrible, but you'd be in a contract. Extra 100$ up front = no contract + 8GB, extra 150$ for the 16GB. For that little cash, I wouldn't want the contract and financing of it. For 300-400$, though... it takes the sting out. **BRENT**

Best fucking kid's halloween costume I've ever seen. Can we embed wimp.com stuff? The name of it if the link is parsed is "Wheelchair Costume." http://www.wimp.com/wheelchaircostume/ **BRENT**

Glad I could help. Tnkgrl at Engadget loves the N4. engadget.com/2012/10/29/google-nexus-4-hands-on/ No microSD. Make sure you get the 16 gig one! **BRENT**

Dammit! If I coulda just won! **BRENT**

Yeah, you'd want a "PAYG" think over there. It has a TON of frequencies, so I think you'll be covered most anywhere you go. Unlimited HSPA+ for 25USD is fantastic. **BRENT**

Dusty, you should be able to save albums in "Offline Mode" over wifi at home/work/coffee shop/Colin's apartment. I think it will also integrate with music on-device from other sources, no? I believe Google Music and Amazon MP3 already do that. There are ways with each of those to show only "on device" music. **BRENT**

Oh, if you're thinking about a Galaxy Note 2, check out this review. I posted it on FB so some of you saw it, but: http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57540240-85/screens-test-part-2-galaxy-note-2-vs-apple-iphone-5/ Screen test of GN2 vs iP5. Stock, iP5 blows it out of the water, for accuracy. They found that with a certain setting, it comes damn close to iP5, and beats it in some respects. It looks like T-Mobile will have the Nexus 7 data plans, and it mentions it along with the phones having an unlimited option. Looking around, looks like you can get "just a SIM card" and then 55$ gets you true unlimited, contract free. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Packages/ValuePackages.aspx Technically that's a phone plan, but I THINK it may work in a tablet? 45$ for 2GB before throttle, so I'd just do the unlimited and set it up to watch Netflix all day. You should be able to just grab a SIM somewhere over then pond and pop that in, from my understanding. It's looking like it's unlocked straight from Google. **BRENT**

You're lucky. Google doesn't like LTE or Verizon. (Well, CDMA). The Note II comes out soon on VZW. Go for it. I think you'd get by just fine with maybe 2-4 gigs of data. You can snag a 32GB microSD card and throw some music on it to supplement Spotify. Would you have to give up unlimited data if you bought a phone outright? **BRENT**

AMOLED vs IPS. If you're waiting for a new phone, you're going to be be happy to know (if you didn't already) there are some 1080p phones coming down the pipeline. With me, it's more cost vs longetivity of the device. Either of these is going to last a while. T-Mobile doesn't have LTE yet. It's not slated to roll out til late 2013. If you look at the price of the Note 2 vs the Nexus 4, you could have an N4 now, and if there is say, an N5 out at the same price, you could have two phones, including an updated one a year down the road. I figure quad core 2+ghz + possibly LTE. Just a thought. Also, I'm getting 15Mbps down/1.6-2.7Mbps for the first 3 speed tests over the first two days I had the phone, over HSPA+ 42. It actually fared well against LTE to date. It's plenty fast enough for me for mobile use. Oh, if I didn't mention it, I switched from 5GB with tethering (25$/mo) to Unlimited with (legit) tethering (25$/mo). That data plan isn't supposed to exist. The 10GB + tethering plan is 30$ more. I don't know how it happened, but I'm pretty happy about it. I'm gonna work on taxing the system at work this week. Oh, I got 26 hours of battery life after my first 0%-100%-0% rundown. Not too shabby, but I was hearing better. We'll see in the coming days. **BRENT**

50$ restocking fee I think. Not sure if I like that or note better. LTE is not a big deal for me since T Mobile doesn't have it yet but the Galaxy Note 2 does have LTE built in. Loving the note so far though.

So Nexus 4 announced 66 hours after I get Galaxy Note II. Grrr... Any thoughts on it? Anyone gonna snag one? **BRENT**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvB3msfJYdk **BRENT**

Took everyone to my mom's for Xavier's birthday dinner (spaghetti) and cake (chocolate on chocolate, what else?) and he wound up getting some roller skates. Before dinner I went out and kicked a soccer ball around with Xavier for about 30 minutes. For the 20-30 of you who have seen me in the past year, you know that's a pretty big feat. I've tried to do that before, but after about 4-5 kicks, I'm done. I was actually able to CHASE the ball today a little. On the bad ankle, I typically can run (awkwardly) about 50-60 feet before I'm done. This is the best shape the ankle has been in since the back surgery about 14 months ago. Xavier turned 7, and I got to go out and -- other than riding bikes -- play with him for the first time since the summer of 2011. I'm pretty happy about that! **BRENT**

You wouldn't have beat me to ^ this if I wasn't doing stuff for Xavier's birthday I grabbed it earlier I figure I'll listen to it one day. Good price, though. **BRENT**

Just get the T-Mobile version. It's pretty spiffy. Anandtech confirmed (and The Verge took it a step further) that it does have LTE, and will just need a software update to work. I went to check it out in store the day before they were released. Oh, look, there's one by my laptop too. Did a quick speedtest whilst driving. On non-LTE "4G" I got 15404kbps down, 2743kbps up, while driving. Wifi speeds of 23147/15751 over a 5Ghz N network. Sadly, the S Pen doesn't have the awesome little magnetic latching that the last Note II I played with had. It's a beast, though. I need a case. I'm scared of it getting de-perfected. **BRENT**

Bah. Big long reply, then I lost it. Anyways, Scott will chime in soon re: battery, but that's the best Android phone on the market right now, and if the Note 2 is out of the picture, there's nothing better. You should be able to get through the day easily with that phone, I'd say. Everyone has gotten more efficient with their radio use since LTE has matured a little, so I wouldn't worry too much. You'll probably throw it on the charger every night, but that's something people do whether iPhone, Android, whatever. The GS3 and Note 2 are the flagship phones. Either one of them should last a while, especially for a first timer. You (he?) made a good buy. **BRENT**

It's been 3 weeks, but finally have internet again. Anyone up for a game? I'm good from 10pm - at least 1am Eastern. **BRENT**

By ten producers does he mean factories, or Dre, Lady Gaga, Diddy, etc? **BRENT**

Just not my week. **BRENT**

He can get a Chevy Volt. If he drives like Zach, he will only have to use 1-5 gallons of gasoline for the entire year! **BRENT**

FWIW, Colin can't drive a stick (sorry Steve/Fitz). I don't think he's mentioned that (on this page, at least.) **BRENT**

FWIW, Colin's commute is 1 mile. I don't think he mentioned that. **BRENT**

Nate, the e36 and e46 M3s are a bit more tame than the e30 (first gen) and e90/92/93 (last gen, but latest M3). It has flared fenders, but they're subtle. The hood bulge is subtle too. I think it's agressive but still has a bit of the e46 level of classiness to it. I don't think Colin's looking to buy a car to last him the rest of his life, I think he's looking to try out some cars to see what fits him. Fortunately for him, he has a great, big Mexican friend who's a big BMW junkie to steer him clear of Mustangs and the like. (Mustangs have their place, but not with Colin). I don't think he's going to put more than 5k miles on the car in a year, and as far as the 335d goes, it's an AMAZING car, but I don't think he's wanting to go that deep yet. He's at that "just became a grownup and wants a grownup toy" stage, I think. The e46 M3 is flashier than the e92 335d (I'm not if they're making an f30/1 335d, just the 330d at best). I think you, me, naaman (needs a new one), Dan, Mike, Colin, etc all need a 335d to keep forever, as I agree, it's a fantastic sleeper that probably isn't going to happen again, but I think Colin is looking to -- how should I say -- strut like a peacock, perhaps? The insurance is definitely going to be higher than a 330ci, so run the numbers and see what the extra 100HP + extras are worth to you. I think he should go with an e60 M5, simply because there's a *25% more horsepower* button. **BRENT**

Get the best thing they offer, otherwise you'll hate it in a year

Yeah, I can see that being great. LTE in your area should be great, with the crapload of cash they put into that market to upgrade the towers. Hope you'll have service in your office. **BRENT**