Whats a good case for Samsung S4? Unlocking?

[markz]

My last phone I got unlocked, bought from pay as you go Fido, needed Virgin on a plan. Cost me $80 to unlock.
I was wondering, it cant really be that hard to do and the repair stores act like its an all day job and charge ya $80 for what is probably not much time to do.
Is it worth using a very good rated ebay seller unlock service that emails you the unlock codes?
I feel better knowing that I am doing it myself and some shady character behind a wall in a shop aint hacking my phone for cc#'s and such.


I just got the Samsung S4 today at the BestbuyMobile store for next to nothing, and I want to know what is a good case that will protect it well.

I saw the Outer/Otter cases at the BestbuyMobile store, the salesman recommended the Defender, at the Bestbuy website I see a gazzillion others.
Bestbuy clerks are flat pay unlike Futureshops commission based clerks. Those 2 companies merged now. So I take the bestbuy dude with a grain of salt, unlike not even listening to Futureshop guy. My dad got ripped off by Futureshop for their "new TV color correction service", also I dont know if when a TV is under warranty you have to pay extra for getting a new tv. Seems kinda shady, thats why I never trust those guys anymore.

On Bestbuys website, Lifeproof looks interesting, I think my friend has one of those cases for his HTC and its bulky, looks really protective. This S4 is really thin, I think I will like it, not that I really use it for other then a little surfing the interweb under 300MB/m, texting and calls. I like the calender and notepad features too. My old Ace 2x was really lagging huge, was hating it, plus my 2 year term was up, good timing for the new S4.

The salesman was pushing the $13/m GeekSquad warranty program, is that worth it? Says something like unintentional damage, give ya a new phone, up to 5 times or something. I keep good care of my phones, I only ever lost one phone. I was drunk at Walmart, at closing time, trying to call my bank...think I left it ontop of the Telus pay phone.
I cracked my Samsung Ace 2x phone (same one I lost), I stepped on it when it was in my coat on the floor beside my bed. The little corner cracked and I couldnt use the back button (bottom right button), I YouTubed it and fixed it myself for $20 off ebay.

 

[markz]

Seidio Dilex with belt clip is what I went with along with a tech21 flip/wallet thingy and a Seidio Active, which is just a bulkier nobbier rubber/plastic version without belt clip. Seems to work good, I find the belt clip swivel is firm on half the turn, and less firm on the others. Will return it. I should have went with the S5 phone, for the dust proof/water resistance. But for an extra $150 its not worth it, I dont drop my phones much anyway. Cases are good for protection.

If I want the S5 I will buy it in another year or 2 for real cheap, if I liked my S4.

Otherwise there will be a S7 on the way anyhow. I dont use much of the features anyway. I am old school. Sure beats the old days of CDMA and AMPS days! Bulky flip phones. But those bag phones were power monsters back in the day. Could get signal waaaaay out in the country where no other phones would get a signal.

 

[marty]

From Topic:
I need some good Android cell phone comparison websites.

I was shopping for a phone to use mainly as a camera and also a toy so I could learn about android. Bought Samsung Galaxy S4, slightly used on eBay. Downloaded a free GPS program.

Looked at millions of pictures of cell phone cases. Chose this one:
Ballistic Case for Samsung Galaxy S4 - Retail Packaging - Black
Bought the case on Amazon

I am happy with both the phone and the case. For making phone calls I use a cell flip phone. House phone [wire] sounds like static. That's another problem.

 

[spinningmagnets]

I am wrestling with "which phone" right now, too.

At a minimum I will get the Samsung Galaxy S5, because it has a water-resistant coating inside and out, plus it has an SD memory card slot (a cheap removable 128-Gig?), the removable back-plate means you can buy a third party "snap in" battery with lots of Ah of play time ...was about to pull the trigger, and then:

Google announces that if you get the S6, they will have a data plan that has a base $20/month charge, and you only pay for the data you use, downside is that the eliminated the removable SD card slot (have to remove the back-plate to access SD card slot) and boosted the internal memory to compensate (base memory is 32-Gig, pay $100 extra for more internal memory above that). the micro-USB port on the S6 DOES allow you to use an $13 adapter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OCBXIY8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00OCBXIY8&linkCode=as2&tag=technipages-20&linkId=V6BFQ246US26EDBS) to plug in an SD card, or a keyboard, or any other android gadget, but of course that is one more piece of clutter to haul around if you actually use it.

Something that might affect my decision is, whats the best plan for an unlocked Android phone? If I don't watch Hulu or netflix, I can get a basic "no contract" and "pay as you go" plan from Walmart for $45/month (phone, ytext, and occasional Googling for maps and info)