Random household issues -- questions asked and answered here

Looking at the PC Mobile (gotta stop calling it PC Telecom) monthly and prepaid plans.  Still not sure what the difference is since they each have a fixed monthly component and the monthly plans now offer "flexible" data (they charge you in tiers for what you use as opposed to charging you for overages by the MB -- small distinction, to be sure).

Anyhow:

$44/month ($38 if you BYOD) gives you unlimited nationwide calling and of course unlimited texting.  Data (the flex part) is $5 for up-to 500MB, $10 for 1G, $20 for 2G and so on).

That appears to be it for their monthly plans.  Wow, that was easy.  Now, the pre-paid side of things is a bit more complicated:

$15 gets you unlimited texting and calls to other pre-paid number in the same calling area (I take it that means that if a family of pre-paid phones travel from, say, Ottawa to Montreal they will still be able to call each other -- but if one member stays in Ottawa then that one is left out).  I still need to make sure if WiFi calling is available on pre-paid or not but, if it is not, then you simply go with one of the apps (just means you will be using a different calling number).  Oh, and if you absolutely positively need to make a non-wifi call then it's $0.20/minute (local -- long distance charges extra).

$25/month is the same as above but adds unlimited evenings (7PM to 7AM) and weekends.  

For another $5 (so $30/month) they add 250 anytime nationwide minutes and evenings are 5PM-7AM.   I think I'd pay $5 just for the 2 extra hours (evenings starting at 5PM versus 7).  This may just be the sweet-spot plan.  But I'll keep looking.

$40 (an extra $10) adds unlimited incoming calls and 250 MB data.  Not sure what the point is of giving you 250 MB data.  First, that's just $2.50 based on their $5 for 500 and $10 for 1G pricing; second, who needs 250?  You can't even receive e-mail for 250 unless  your inbox is always empty.  Is $7.50 extra worth it for unlimited incoming?  I guess it depends on how/why you use your phone.  A contractor/tradesperson for example may get a lot of calls but likely doing that much calling himself.  I don't think it's something I would find useful (I've got a desk phone at work and I'm there past the 5PM free evening calls).  

$50 drops the 250 MB data (good idea) and changes the 250 anytime nationwide minutes to unlimited.  With pre-paid you buy your phone separately or bring your own, so this plan would be the same as the $38 monthly plan.  So you're $12 ahead going monthly (not sure if they lock you in for 2 years if you BYOB -- I did not see the word "contract" used in the small-print).

So $38 (BYOB) monthly gives me unlimited nation-wide calling, but $30 gives me 250 minutes plus free evenings (5PM) and weekends plus unlimited to other pre-paid PC numbers (i.e. rest of my family).

Of course the landscape changes dramatically if you want/need data. For pre-paid it's $2/day up to 20 mb, $5/month for 100 mb, $20 for 500 mb and $30 for 1G (recall with monthly it's $5 for 500 and $10 for 1G, so either 4x or 3x more for pre-paid).

My wife enjoys being able to check her e-mail or look something up now, but I'm sure she could adjust (once you've set up your profiles for Tim's, McDonald's, Library, gym, arenas, Starbucks, etc. then you're almost always in a wifi zone anyway; it's really only useful when you're in a car or bus -- wonder if OC Transpo will offer wifi anytime soon).

Walter, I admire your quest to save dollars; however, I have a hangover and can't bring myself to read more about cell phone plans.

Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you didn't know -- you aren't actually required to read. Carry on with your hangover.

wprager wrote:Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you didn't know -- you aren't actually required to read.  Carry on with your hangover.

I know friend. And yes, I am carrying on with my hangover.

Enjoy it.

wprager wrote:So $38 (BYOB) monthly gives me unlimited nation-wide calling, but $30 gives me 250 minutes plus free evenings (5PM) and weekends plus unlimited to other pre-paid PC numbers (i.e. rest of my family).

Of course the landscape changes dramatically if you want/need data.  For pre-paid it's $2/day up to 20 mb, $5/month for 100 mb, $20 for 500 mb and $30 for 1G (recall with monthly it's $5 for 500 and $10 for 1G, so either 4x or 3x more for pre-paid).

My wife enjoys being able to check her e-mail or look something up now, but I'm sure she could adjust (once you've set up your profiles for Tim's, McDonald's, Library, gym, arenas, Starbucks, etc. then you're almost always in a wifi zone anyway; it's really only useful when you're in a car or bus -- wonder if OC Transpo will offer wifi anytime soon).

I feel like this is a very outdated plan.

spader wrote:

wprager wrote:So $38 (BYOB) monthly gives me unlimited nation-wide calling, but $30 gives me 250 minutes plus free evenings (5PM) and weekends plus unlimited to other pre-paid PC numbers (i.e. rest of my family).

Of course the landscape changes dramatically if you want/need data.  For pre-paid it's $2/day up to 20 mb, $5/month for 100 mb, $20 for 500 mb and $30 for 1G (recall with monthly it's $5 for 500 and $10 for 1G, so either 4x or 3x more for pre-paid).

My wife enjoys being able to check her e-mail or look something up now, but I'm sure she could adjust (once you've set up your profiles for Tim's, McDonald's, Library, gym, arenas, Starbucks, etc. then you're almost always in a wifi zone anyway; it's really only useful when you're in a car or bus -- wonder if OC Transpo will offer wifi anytime soon).

I feel like this is a very outdated plan.

Which one? I'm mentioning two in that post.

I have no intention of subsidizing my kids' surfing or Pokemon Go needs so I will not pay for their data. I'm also not one of those parents with lots of disposable income and only 1-2 kids so they can forget about getting an i-Anything with unlimited whatnot. $15/month so they can text me where they are or when to pick them up -- that is my need; if they want to talk with their friends they can do that IRL, WiFi, Hangouts or pay for it themselves.

One concern I have with this setup is my oldest who is at McGill. I'd still be able to text him but calling would require some kind of wifi setup. In his residence, last year, they didn't even include a landline (like they did at uOttawa). This year he's planning (yeah, with 3 weeks to go it's not yet set) to split rent on an apartment. I don't know if a landline is included or not, or wifi, for that matter. And I can almost guarantee that he would not know, either. I just realized that we'll have to bring along his bed and mattress. No-way that fits in my Chevy Trax.

When you rent a student apartment, do those things come with some furniture at all?

Usually it's unfurnished

Ev wrote:Usually it's unfurnished

The McGill student housing page has a search engine to find off-campus student housing. Most if not all the ads I looked at said "furnished".

Just checked uOttawa residence and for a double-occupancy room it comes out to $724/month. Meal plan is mandatory and Washer/Dryer is coin-operated.

The off-campus housing in Montreal (I was filtering on "Roommate wanted") it ranged from as low as $425 and up (there's a room right on Milton in the student ghetto that's just $550). A bedroom in an apartment gives you a lot more private space than a double-occupancy residence room. And you don't need coins to operate the washer/dryer. I know rent in Montreal is generally higher than Ottawa but residence costs, IIRC, were pretty comparable.

He should have done this last year. In residence you don't get to pick your room mate so how is that different from looking through the "Roommate wanted" ads?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. Comments?

http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_308824.html?wid=21

Specs are pretty high-end (4GB RAM, 32 GB storage, FHD screen, full-metal constructions, fingerprint scanner, etc.)  

Reviews are very favorable:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=xiaomi+redme+note+3+reviews&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=MjC8V-q_Isu1eqfrivAG

Can be shipped from China for under $200 (plus whatever it takes to pass through customs).  There are options for registered and expedited shipping, too.

A comment from a reader of the PhoneArena review:

I disagree that Chinese phones are hard to get in Western countries, that they are costly to ship or slow to arrive. I have ordered a number of phones from Chinese retailers. It only costs an average of about $20 via DHL and they normally arrive (in Canada) no more than a week after the order is placed. Import duties average around $25 - no extra tax or costs. I have never had any hassles with any of my orders. In terms of rating the Redmi Note 3 in comparison to similarly priced phones, I would pick the Redmi Note 3 first because of its superior battery life compared to the competition. But then, I am not that fussed about photo quality.

Well, that certainly makes me a little less uneasy about ordering it. $45 for 1-week shipping and import duties? That's how much you'd pay in taxes on a $345 phone.

So the screen isn't up-to-snuff if you choose to compare it to the high-end models, but the cost is 1/3 or less. This is *not* a high-end phone, but it has a lot of the high-end features (all metal body, fingerprint scanner, 4GB RAM). And a honking big battery (without the extra pixels to drive, I wonder what the battery life will be like).

wprager wrote:Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.  Comments?

http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_308824.html?wid=21

Specs are pretty high-end (4GB RAM, 32 GB storage, FHD screen, full-metal constructions, fingerprint scanner, etc.)  

Reviews are very favorable:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=xiaomi+redme+note+3+reviews&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=MjC8V-q_Isu1eqfrivAG

Can be shipped from China for under $200 (plus whatever it takes to pass through customs).  There are options for registered and expedited shipping, too.

This is pretty interesting. I actually have a 2 year old iPhone 4S and (unfortunately?) there's nothing wrong with it. But I encourage you to buy this and let me know how it works for you and if it's good, I may get one for myself!

While we're talking about gadgets I've been off cable since May. I finally went full Android box. I don't watch much TV other than hockey so it works for me but if anyone in the house has shows they like, they might find it a nuisance to have to look for their shows. For instance, the mrs. likes her home reno shows and game shows and I haven't found any so she's leaning towards getting cable back.

If she wants regular TV back that bad I will be looking to go through VMedia for TV, though. http://www.vmedia.ca/en/tv And internet, as well, actually.

Tell her to get her fill at the gym. Get on that treadmill or elliptical or bike, switch the set to HGTV and done. That's what mine does all the time (but she clearly doesn't get her fill as she's still glued to it when she gets home).

wprager wrote:Tell her to get her fill at the gym.  Get on that treadmill or elliptical or bike, switch the set to HGTV and done.  That's what mine does all the time (but she clearly doesn't get her fill as she's still glued to it when she gets home).

I'll just enjoy the savings while I can. It was a struggle to ditch cable in the first place.

As for the phone, the review I read said the battery lasts nearly 13 hrs. With continuous video play.

Some more info on this. Those prices I quoted are USD. Buying it on aliexpress many vendors include DHL shipping. One particular vendor (Hong Kong Goldway) only charges $16.xx for DHL while another charges $26. Most (all?) vendors will flash the phone with the global ROM but you can do that yourself and ask the vendor explicitly (I think they have the "additional instructions" or some similar box) to send you an unopened box, and then do the ROM flashing yourself. It is not difficult and it may save you shipping time (the guy on the RFD forum said it arrived less than a week from ordering).

So, summing it up:
- $230.96 (CDN) for a gold phone (silver is more expensive)
- $16.62 shipping
- $23.30 customs fees
Total: $270.88 or roughly equivalent to $240 + taxes.

For that money (give or take a few bucks) I can get (on Amazon) an HTC One M7 (only 2GB RAM, 4.7" screen), a Moto X 2nd gen (up to 5.2" on the screen but just 16GB storage), Asus Zenphone Max (nice big battery but, again, 16 GB), some Blu phones (won't even bother checking specs as most of the ones I looked into before were well below FHD screen-wise). Very few phones in this range have 32GB storage, most are only 2GB or less RAM. None of them feature either a metal case or a fingerprint scanner.

I think I have my birthday present picked out (8 weeks to go).