That makes no sense. First off gas and groceries are tangible things that you utilize.

Google Chat is a much better answer. It is available on basically every type of device you could want it on...opposed to iMessage which is only on Apple devices.

You're basically describing Google Chat. The only difference is that GChat is currently not built into every phone.

390 and 590 do not make any sense. 290 joins 9o to itself. It has to be even numbered. The fact that 290 goes through Chicago does not mean that it should have an odd number.

I-69 is still a north/south road even if it curves and ends up going east/west for a while.

Walter isn't totally correct. There is a system, he is just not explaining it correctly which makes it seem like it isn't being followed.

You're missing the point. Apple could put better hardware in their devices but they choose not to. They could add more RAM, better processor, HD screen....but they don't do it. Yes, their devices work fine with the mid-range hardware, but just think how good they would run with great hardware.

The point is that Apple could have put top of the line hardware into the iPhone. They could go with 2GB of RAM but they go with 1. You say that they made the hardware requirements less demanding so they don't need as much RAM. But think how fast the phone would be if they used 2GB instead of just 1GB.

Is that a hardware issue? I believe that is because of the way iOS interacts with the hardware. Just think how fast the iPhone would be if they actually used top of the line hardware.

"Apple Care (because it's always better to splurge on AppleCare than to pay big $$$ for repairs after your 1-year warranty runs out, $249)."

What are you talking about?

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Packages/ValuePackages.aspx Many other smaller companies also offer cheap plans off contract.

It's not a lease. They are buying the phone. $199 is the down payment. The other $450 plus interest is paid over the length of the contract.

In the USA phones are also sold off contract. Then the buyer gets his own service and ends up paying way less over time

What about roaming? Do you still get coverage? What about data while roaming?

I guess it depends on how often one is in an area where Tmobile doesn't have great service.

They do pay the rest over time. In fact, they pay even more over time. The fact that the off contract plans cost the same is just AT&T charging as much as they possibly can.

The cheapest iPhone costs $649. The fact that some choose to make a $200 down payment and pay the rest over time does not change the actual price of the phone; the phone still costs $649.

Why don't you just transfer the music from your iPod to your phone? Then you wouldn't have to spend more on a unlimited plan and you wouldn't have to worry about having to use Pandora for hours.

Buy whatever phone you want. Then get a Tmobile SIM card. Pick your plan, do not select any data. Now you have a phone with no data.