I love my Pilot readers. You always amaze me. This week, I was inundated with questions about which smartphone I purchased.

One of you who had my cellphone number even called me from the next aisle in the grocery store and then peeked around the corner to see which phone I pulled out of my pocket.

Well, today is the big reveal for all of you. I purchased an iPhone 5.

As a point of explanation, I must tell you that I didn't purchase the iPhone because it was the best phone. It is without a doubt one of the best. In my opinion, however, the Android phones like the Motorola Droid Razr phones are just as good.

I got the iPhone because I have to keep up with the technology so I can write about it and help others who are stymied by some of the new high-tech tools. Now that my husband has a Droid Razr phone and I have an iPhone, I can use either of them in writing articles, reviewing apps and helping others.

My only problem is that next week, when Windows 8 is available, there will be another smartphone operating system to contend with. I have reviewed several Windows phones that had the previous version of the Windows operating system, and I really like them.

Windows 8 phones are likely to be very good. So shortly, there will be three good phone operating systems: Apple's iOS for the iPhone, the Android operating system, and Microsoft's Windows operating system on cellphones.

My husband and I are a diversified family, as far as technology is concerned. We also use an iPad, an Android tablet and an Amazon Fire on a regular basis. As I said, he uses an Android phone, and I am now using an iPhone. While we are both tech-savvy enough to switch between all of these, I don't advise this for the average person.

Finding the operating system that you like and sticking with it for your variety of gadgets is the best thing for most people to do. Each operating system is different, but each extends to all its devices.

So if you use an iPad, you will be comfortable using an iPhone. If you have an Android phone, you will be more comfortable using an Android tablet.

With the introduction of Windows 8, Microsoft has also spread its operating system to other devices. In fact, Windows 8 will be very similar on a computer, a tablet and a phone. Apple's desktop operating system, Mac OSX, is currently different than the iOS system used for Apple's portable devices, but these are getting to be more and more similar.

If you keep all your gadgets in the same family, not only will they be easier to use and to switch between, but also you will save money. All of these new operating systems rely on apps. Although there are many free apps available, you will inevitably purchase some apps for your device.

Apps are not interchangeable between operating systems. So if you purchase an app for your Android phone and you want to use it on your iPad, you can't. You have to buy both the Android version and the Apple version to use it on both.

If, however, you own an iPad and an iPhone or an Android tablet and an Android phone, you will be able to pay once and use the app on both devices. The same will be true for the new Windows 8 devices, since it will have its own apps.

On top of that, if you stick to one operating system, you will also find it easier to sync your data between devices. So sticking to one operating system, or as they say, "eco-system," can be beneficial.

The competition between smartphone manufacturers has benefited all smartphone consumers. Today's phones can perform functions that we only dreamed about a few years ago. So if you are looking to purchase a new smartphone, you will have a lot of good choices.

Just remember that if this is your first portable device, you are not just choosing a phone, you are also choosing an ecosystem.

Contact Sandy Berger at sandy@compukiss.com.