I've read people complaining about a lack of decent tablet camera power, but then saying that the tablet shape and size is going to prevent them from using it to take pictures (because they'd look silly, which..Gizmodo, really? But a lot of their commenters agreed). The front camera, I assume, is for video chatting and self portraits--1.2 there seems a common enough standard. I'm just wondering if 5MP for the rear camera is OTT, or it's the new normal.

My phone is only an efficient laptop replacement for a few hours. If I hadn't had to plug directly into a router on my Christmas vacation, I'd have been okay with a tablet instead of a laptop (and as it was, I just borrowed) for the week and a half. I'd have gone *nuts* or into some sort of withdrawal on a phone for that long. I need my connection, and, I need my ability to compose longer pieces of text.

I am pretty cheap.

No way I've spent more than $20 in the two years I've had my phone (and three or four that I've had my iPad.) I spent $.99 on one game because a friend way gleeful about being able to end the world with pathogens. And just ponied $5.99 for Wonders of the Universe. I know I spent a couple of dollars on a nutrition app that I don't currently use and $.99 on a alarm that I hated.

So maybe $10 lifetime.

Frankly, give me a try before you buy and I'd increase that by a lot. But if I can't find out if I like it, I pass generally. I download too many free apps, try and them and delete. I'm willing to pay money for things but I want to know I like it or that if I don't like it after a week, I can "return it."

the tablet shape and size is going to prevent them from using it to take pictures (because they'd look silly

We've been using the iPad to have FaceTime chats with directors in which certain scenes are "acted out" to demonstrate how they should be shot. (If that sounds hilarious to you...you are not wrong.) As the "cameraperson" on one of these demonstrations, I found my arms got tired pretty quickly using the iPad. It feels a lot more awkward than holding my phone.

I’m imagining Kristen doing kick-ass Maggie Q moves right now, while holding her iPhone.

Whenever I'm anywhere touristy, I'm amazed at the number of people who walk around holding their iPads up to take video. I suppose it's no odder than holding up your phone, but it looks about a thousand times awkwarder.

"The best camera is the one that's with you."

eta: source uncertain

Even if you don't have a Virgin Mobile store, you can see available phones in other stores. I pretty much narrowed it down to two or three and then irritated other stores by going in, touching the phones, and not buying them.

That's actually how I ended up with Virgin. My favorite phone at the AT&T store was the Blackberry (and I still prefer having an actual keyboard) that turned out to be one of the Virgin options. Since Virgin was so much cheaper, even with buying the phone, there was no contest.

Of course, I've never cared to explore apps and pretty much only use the phone for email, texting, and facebook/twitter. The only thing I don't like about my phone is the camera, but that's a BlackBerry issue, not Virgin.

Also, I'll note that the Virgin plans don't have the same crazy taxes that contract plans seem to have (except sales tax, I think) so my $35 plan is only $37 or so.

My phone camera is super crappy even though it's supposed to be good. I just take a million pics and hope one ends up in focus.

I use a lot of apps for work so I've probably got at least $500 spent on apps and I wouldn't be surprised to find out its even more. Some of the audio apps can be quite expensive.

Oh, ND! So we have an awesome donor who totally just converted us to ProTools. I foresee the big giant learning curve approaching rapidly. Would you be open to some questions from the SO and I as we get settled in?