• nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de
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      9 days ago

      but it’s easy to calculate and compare with other offers. it does not stop working without subscription, which is the case with many other subscription models. actually I think it’s reasonable, as it also provides an incentive to continue supporting old models to the company and properly reflects the economic facts surrounding the product.

      like, if you buy Samsung or whatever, this cost is also part of the price. if you lose or brick your phone, you still paid for updates you’ll never have the chance to install.

      but of course it’s important info one should be aware of when buying this phone

      • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        9 days ago

        For the last year I’ve used a Moto G Play. Purchase price was $70. No subscription fees and I put it on provider I want. I realized I was overcomplicating phones a a few years back. I used to have a flagship phone every 2-3 years. Eventually I realized I’m not doing anything on it that requires more. A 50 megapixel camera is more than I need. ive tried mobile gaming but it isn’t for me, and I even still never had issues running things like Lords Mobile or what not. What are we doing that requires more than texting, video, Bluetooth, cameras and a flashlight?

        • nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de
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          9 days ago

          that’s perfectly fine of course, and I did not evaluate OPs phone, the price or anything beyond the subscription model as such.

          actually makes me reconsider my phone choices… I’m currently on pixel, but hardly use any features besides ‘good camera’ and a bunch of apps that might require Google (banking mainly)

      • x00z@lemmy.world
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        9 days ago

        I read that a lot of people just buy 1 month every few months to get updates.

        • nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de
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          9 days ago

          I’d not be surprised if they stopped allowing this, as it clearly is a loophole… guess it depends on how many people do this.

          • desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            9 days ago

            in what way is it a loophole? that is how All subscriptions should be treated when there are no fees for starting the subscription (car insurance comes to mind).

            • nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de
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              9 days ago

              maybe I’m just used to the practices in my field if business. if you don’t pay for your enterprise firewall support, and then want to update, you’d have to back pay the missed months at least…

              • ne0phyte@feddit.org
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                9 days ago

                But why if the customer didn’t need any support and didn’t cause any cost on your side? In B2B you are often mostly paying for the actual customer support, no?

                How is it fair to not need any support and then have to pay for past months of smooth operation to get (security?) updates?

                Edit: I get that further development and keeping products secure isn’t free, but why not make it e.g. a 6/12 month subscription then? That way you can’t just pay for a single month to get your issue resolved/software updated but also don’t need to pay for the past.

                • nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de
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                  9 days ago

                  having a support subscription, means being entitled to support… you were entitled ask the time.

                  I guess it’s just different business models - it’s cheaper to always pay in contrary to only pay when you actually need support…

    • Rimu@piefed.social
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      9 days ago

      Most of the cheap Androids I’ve had got maybe 1 free update and then nothing ever again. Even if I wanted to pay.

    • Señor Mono@feddit.org
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      9 days ago

      Might be a case of bad wording, as far as I know they are obliged to provide 5 years of updates (if they want to sell in EU).

    • ddash@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      9 days ago

      Can you just buy a single month, get updates, then leave it be another year? Not sure the contract allows single months.