back in JP - a little more advice needed

[tone]

made it back to Tokyo for a while...

got a few questions off the bat - mostly its because talking to and understanding salespeople at electronics stores is a huge energy drain

**phones - my wife and I both have iPhone3Gs. does anyone know if its possible to just drop a new sim in. I saw the page someone linked to in another thread -- http://softbanksucks.blogspot.com/2011/06/comparison-of-all-b-mobile-sims.html

whats this tethering they talk about? will we need to do some kind of jailbreaking of these phones?

the other option is get on the family plan - are there month by month plans if you have a phone already?

**internet. my wife is going to be taking car of her sick dad, they have NTT i think. is that FLETS a good deal? we saw a come on for \3900 for the slower ADSL. she just wants to cruise the web and be connected while shes there every day. are those USB things the way to go for being flexible? that way we could use it between where we live and when shes there?

** gyms and pools. someone on here mentioned there being gyms and pools that were tattoo friendly. should we just call around and ask? we are by omori in tokyo

thanks much - sorry if this was written poorly. if anyone wants to grab a brew or coffee in the next few weeks i would be happy to meet up

[matsuki]

Phones - Your iBricks are outdated, if you're going to be here longterm, I suggest Docomo Smartphones with unlimited data

Net - Depending on how much you use the net, you can either tether to your smartphone, get WiMAX/LTE, or Hikari Fiber. If you want it at home but portable to the rents place, I recommend WiMAX or possibly Hikari at home and teach the wife how to tether her phone to a notebook while at the rents.

Gyms/Pools - Can't help yah there, all the ones I've used are anti-tattoo. (though unless you're covered in em, you can probably just cover them up?)

[Taro Toporific]

...Gyms/Pools - Can't help yah there, all the ones I've used are anti-tattoo...

Sadly you are about 9 months too early to use the brand-new Olympic class pool (as part of a bid for the Tokyo Olympics) that Ota Ward is building in Omori.

The Omori Sports Center (2-2-5 Omori-Honcho, Ota-ku) is ok ... JUST TELL THEM TO EAT SHIT if they rag on you about your tats.

http://arch.cside.com/ef-oomorisport.html

[Coligny]

The Omori Sports Center (2-2-5 Omori-Honcho, Ota-ku) is ok ... JUST TELL THEM TO EAT SHIT if they rag on you about your tats.

Just tell us a bit before so we can bring the goats and filming gear/crew...

[gaijinpunch]

** gyms and pools. someone on here mentioned there being gyms and pools that were tattoo friendly. should we just call around and ask? we are by omori in tokyo

If you don't mind going to Sendagaya, the Tokyo Taiiku-kan is the best pool in town. 50 meters... and tatoo friendly. Shutting down in April for 1 year for repairs. Woe is me (I really am fucking pissed about this).

[Russell]

If you don't mind going to Sendagaya, the Tokyo Taiiku-kan is the best pool in town. 50 meters... and tatoo friendly. Shutting down in April for 1 year for repairs. Woe is me (I really am fucking pissed about this).

Thanks for the tip. Length 50 meters is awesome, and it appears to be even deeper than 2m, so one has to do some real work to avoid drowning.
Looks like those bureaucrats built Japan's best pool right next to their offices.

Will it close coming April, or has it already closed down?

[Mock Cockpit]

If you want to go super cheap bare bones internet try cable internet. I think the in-laws pay 2000 yen a month. It's only 1.5mbps down but for basic net surfing that's enough.

[tone]

thx

net -- went wi-max. seems a good deal. it was funny being walked over to the regi to pay the ceremonial 1 yen for the modem unit.

pools - thx or the tip. i'm sure i'll figure out the pool sitch, going to bike over by Osaki somewhere to find a Shinagawa Kuyakusho pool that we will see if its chill about tats.

anyone else know any gyms betweeh here (Oimachi/Omori) and Shibuya that are cool?

couple more questions - where is the cheapest hoegaarden or Leffe or Franziskaner in town? there was one pub in Kawasaki a while ago that had it but at stupid prices. i guess shochu is where its at here

and where do Americans watch college and pro football? kind of feeling in the mood to keep up when possible... timing might be weird though. are there some ways to watch via a satellite hookup through the internet?

this weather is weird

[tone]

so do you guys know of any deals at the moment for phones that wouldnt have the 2 yr plan? would it make sense to get a cheap prepaid phone and hold out for the next iphone coming out in oct?

[tone]

edit: double posted... might as well write something else

50m pools are burly, thats cool about one going so close to here

[gaijinpunch]

Will it close coming April, or has it already closed down?

Closes down this April... the gym part to follow in July. Both open back up in March of 2013.

anyone else know any gyms betweeh here (Oimachi/Omori) and Shibuya that are cool?

There are a few public gyms around town (Daikanyama & Ebisu) but they're pretty small and kinda suck. The Tokyo Taiikukan (where the pool is) has a gym.

and where do Americans watch college and pro football?

United States of America (or slingbox)

[matsuki]

net -- went wi-max. seems a good deal. it was funny being walked over to the regi to pay the ceremonial 1 yen for the modem unit.

That's what I'm using and while not the fastest, it's reasonable, portable, and was easy to take with me when I moved. (zero downtime!)


BTW, to whoever the big bad man that left me the racist red snot is. I wasn't born on a reservation and I ain't no chief but if even a retarded monkey is more creative than you. I think you need to heed your own words on "crap talkin" when the best you can do is send feeble attempts at such via unsigned neg rep.

[tone]

are there any 1 yr contracts on iphones?

chokonen, does docomo do one yr plans, and have you heard of anything lately that seemed like a good deal?

generally does it seem like iphones are cheap now because of the coming iphone 5's?

[matsuki]

are there any 1 yr contracts on iphones?

chokonen, does docomo do one yr plans, and have you heard of anything lately that seemed like a good deal?

generally does it seem like iphones are cheap now because of the coming iphone 5's?

Not really buy you could buy an unlocked one on yahoo/ebay and use it on bmobile??

[tone]

is my 3G really going to be a dog? it was given to me by a friend back in the states and i just used it for an ipod and calling/texting so im not expecting super fast speeds... then i could wait for used iphone 4 prices to drop in the fall?

not having a phone blows here

also - would bmobile allow voice calling and having an email (mixi and lots of circle katsudo's want me to have a cell email...)

[matsuki]

is my 3G really going to be a dog? it was given to me by a friend back in the states and i just used it for an ipod and calling/texting so im not expecting super fast speeds... then i could wait for used iphone 4 prices to drop in the fall?

not having a phone blows here

also - would bmobile allow voice calling and having an email (mixi and lots of circle katsudo's want me to have a cell email...)

The handset(s) you have unlocked?

[tone]

hmm - havent unlocked them, but now have nothing to lose. will be here at least a yr and by then for sure we will be getting newer stuff.

so i just follow an unlock procedure available on the net and get hooked up month to month with bmobile?

[tone]

wait so im confused - looking at bmobile, it looks like its a usb device?

do they also sell sim cards you drop into unlocked iphones to have month to month voice and 3g?

[Mike Oxlong]

wait so im confused - looking at bmobile, it looks like its a usb device?

do they also sell sim cards you drop into unlocked iphones to have month to month voice and 3g?

http://softbanksucks.blogspot.com/2010/07/b-mobile-talkingsim-both-voice-and-data.html

[tone]

so for 4000 yen/mo looks like 25 minutes and unlimited data (slowish but works for mail, simple browsing and GPS)

extra minutes are 42yen, billed per half minute

-so if i ended up dropping another 3k into voice, not having to pay the cancelation for a contract, i would prob come out well?

how much are iphone plans costing these days? is cancelation pretty high? its tempting to just have a flossed out streaming ready deal, but this seems good.

the other bummer is no keitai email, which i need to join all the circle-katsudos i want to get into to make some damn friends and get some damn exercise.

thx to the people who counseled me about the pools - that part has been awesome. starting out here in tokyo living at the rents with a sick father in law with no phone of my own, and still shopping around for jobs has been a rough start - compared with the life i had gotten used to. oh well

[IparryU]

so for 4000 yen/mo looks like 25 minutes and unlimited data (slowish but works for mail, simple browsing and GPS)

extra minutes are 42yen, billed per half minute

-so if i ended up dropping another 3k into voice, not having to pay the cancelation for a contract, i would prob come out well?

how much are iphone plans costing these days? is cancelation pretty high? its tempting to just have a flossed out streaming ready deal, but this seems good.

the other bummer is no keitai email, which i need to join all the circle-katsudos i want to get into to make some damn friends and get some damn exercise.

thx to the people who counseled me about the pools - that part has been awesome. starting out here in tokyo living at the rents with a sick father in law with no phone of my own, and still shopping around for jobs has been a rough start - compared with the life i had gotten used to. oh well

regarding phone:
get docomo family plan, put your wife on it as the main holder
get a galaxy s (now only 22500 or you can buy used)
get the SS minute plan (cheapest) with pakehoudai (unlimited net)
get skype, viber, gtalk apps to make calls.
use google tether app (code.google.com)
i have this set up as I am on the phone and email most of the day... plus i also tether my wife's pc or my PS3 depending on if I am DL something or not...

[tone]

iparry - that sounds good - i mean i like the idea of a few more talk minutes and more up to date hardware

any wifes fam already has docomo fam plan

thing is - im trying to avoid taking a mini bath on the contract. I still havent gotten settled, so i'm unconvinced as to my interest in being here 2 years yet...

so you can buy the hardware for the galaxy for 22500 with no 2 year bullshit? i guess if we left the mom could switch to it...

shee-it

[Samurai_Jerk]

BTW, to whoever the big bad man that left me the racist red snot is. I wasn't born on a reservation and I ain't no chief but if even a retarded monkey is more creative than you. I think you need to heed your own words on "crap talkin" when the best you can do is send feeble attempts at such via unsigned neg rep.

What did you get snotted for your remark on the first page of this thread? WTF? Must have been one of those Apple freaks.

[IparryU]

iparry - that sounds good - i mean i like the idea of a few more talk minutes and more up to date hardware

any wifes fam already has docomo fam plan

thing is - im trying to avoid taking a mini bath on the contract. I still havent gotten settled, so i'm unconvinced as to my interest in being here 2 years yet...

so you can buy the hardware for the galaxy for 22500 with no 2 year bullshit? i guess if we left the mom could switch to it...

shee-it

hardware is purchased as is, but you will need SIM card from ntt docomo that provides the service, yes.

there are phones that you can get where you can unlock them and use them in another cuntry. FYI, the Japanese Galaxy S is shit hardware wise so unlocking is not conveient for US carriers.

if you aren't sure about your term of stay in japan. just get a POS phone until you make your decision...

if your wife is taking care of her dad do you have the option of leaving her here? if so, you are lucky

[tone]

hardware is purchased as is, but you will need SIM card from ntt docomo that provides the service, yes.

there are phones that you can get where you can unlock them and use them in another cuntry. FYI, the Japanese Galaxy S is shit hardware wise so unlocking is not conveient for US carriers.

if you aren't sure about your term of stay in japan. just get a POS phone until you make your decision...

if your wife is taking care of her dad do you have the option of leaving her here? if so, you are lucky

haha - i could leave her here, but we will have 10 man of housing bills right off the bat for appt near her folks we are renting

you're saying the galaxy S is shit, or just that the hardware is behind the top of the line at the moment.

went to yamada denki today, i didnt realize iphones were 4man with a contract - i wonder if there will be sales coming up due to the supposedly badass iphone 5 coming up in october or whenever...

but yeah... how long to stay - once i have money coming it I will feel better, but being with the wifes parents and not being busy/bringing in some coin accentuated all the cultural weirdness and livability issues for me...

pass the rye alcohol

[tone]

so its he first gen galaxy S 1 youre saying is 22500 cash plus the contract through docomo?

the SII mustg be a lot more, more in the level of an iphone - 4man ish?

android seems cool the more i look into it

is it easy to have the OS in english?

[tone]

sorry to keep kicking this stupid thread down the road - such forgetable bullshit when its all done

but - Q. was the difference that Galaxy I's are on sale and Galaxy II's are still like 4-5man yen?

thanks - sorry about how lame this thread is, my bad