I know a lot of people who, every couple of years, go through NSDMA (New Smartphone Decision Making Angst). This occurs when someone needs to pick out their first smartphone or wants a new phone because their contract is up.

It's easy to avoid NSDMA if you are a hard-core iPhone user - just get the new iPhone. Apple only has one current phone (although the older model is available for a few months after the release of the current model) so it's easy to go in and plunk your money down on a new iPhone. But what if you want a change from iPhone (yes, there is a whole other world of great smartphones out there)? You then have a choice of Android and Windows Phone, each of which have several models. I'm not going to discuss BlackBerry since their phones are barely smartphones and their future is doubtful.

There are sooooo many choices - Apple, Android, Windows? Which model? Which features? My advice - don't overthink it. At this time it's almost impossible to get a really bad smartphone. Ultimately, just get the best phone you can afford - Apple iPhone 5, Android Samsung Galaxy Nexus or Galaxy SIII, Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8. But what if you can't afford the top of the line? Don't worry.

Recently, my beloved Samsung Focus Windows Phone 7 suffered a hardware malfunction (the power button no longer works) and my contract isn't due for another couple months. Luckily that's when the Lumia 920 comes out and I'll be getting that phone, but what to do in the meantime. My job requires a smartphone and it's also my business line so it isn't like I can go without a phone for a couple of months. There is no way I'm going to drop a few hundred dollars (and extend my contract, and pay an addition early activation fee) on a Lumia 900 when the new one is just around the corner just to get a temporary phone. Android phones are known to be inexpensive so my hunt began for the cheapest one I could get without a contract that I could use my existing SIM card/phone number and carrier with.

My first stop was my local smartphone repair guy, Greg. Even he only had Androids that were hundreds of dollars. He did point out to me that Wal-Mart had a cheap Android phone for $98 - off I went to Wal-Mart. I, without even looking at the model or specs, bought a Samsung Galaxy Ace. I then went back to Greg where he did his magic and "unlocked" the phone so this Telus phone would work on the Rogers network.

My first impressions: what a piece of crap! It was smaller (3.5") and yet thicker and heavier than my 4" Samsung Focus. It felt like a toy. How was going to survive two months with this P.O.S.?

My first task was to configure this sad piece of hardware with my information. Fortunately I have always used Google for my calendar and contacts. Whether you use Apple, Android, or Windows you can easily sync your all your contacts and calendar dates using your Google account. Within minutes all my most important information was on the new device. Next, set up my most important email accounts. Done! The basics for my needs were done. Now I could relax and just play around with this thing and patiently wait for the Lumia 920.

It was at this point I had an epiphany - this "crappy" phone does everything I need it to do. There are no truly bad smartphones out there. You could get the worst iPhone, Android or Windows Phone out there and you will still have a phone that does everything you need an more. People tend get hung up on NFC, tons of RAM, high res cameras, high res screens, front facing cameras, number of processors, etc. These things may be vital to their smartphone use, but usually it's just a perceived need that they have. Sure it's nice to have all the bells and whistles (and deep down that's what I really want), but it's really not necessary.

Basically, don't self-induce NSDMA. Once you make your decision of Apple, Android or Windows just get what you can afford. We are fortunate that technology has advanced so far that it's almost impossible to make a bad decision when buying a smartphone.