Do You Really Need a Smart Phone? 851
Roblimo writes "My phone is as stupid as a phone can be, but you can drop it or get it wet and it will still work. My cellular cost per month is about $4, on average. I've had a cellular phone longer than most people, and I assure you that a smart phone would not improve my life one bit. You, too, might find that you are just as happy with a stupid phone as with a smart one. If nothing else, you'll save money by dumbing down your phone." I stuck with a dumb phone for a long time, but I admit to loving the versatility of my Android phone, for all its imperfections.
Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
Pointless (Score:5, Insightful)
This is the most pointless post ever to appear on the /. front page.
Avoided for this reason (Score:5, Insightful)
I avoided getting a smart phone for a long time, even though I'm surrounded by people with smart phones, because I knew that as soon as I had one it would become indispensable, just like my Visor did, and my Palm, and my iPod, and ... so on.
Now, I have an iPhone, and it's indispensable. Sure, I could manage without it, but I use it all day, every day, and I feel I would be lost without it. And while I know that's an illusion, I also know how my brain works. ... which is why I don't have an iPad yet ...
No Smart or Dumb Phone (Score:3, Insightful)
This may be a sample size of only one, but I can definitely state that not only do I not need or have a smart phone, I also do not need or have a dumb cell phone.
My landline gets little enough use as it is, and when I need to call outside of my local area, I have more minutes on this prepaid phonecard I keep around than I will ever use.
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
For some, yes (Score:5, Insightful)
For others, no.
I dont have a phone (Score:5, Insightful)
Rob's been reading my posts... (Score:4, Insightful)
I like the idea of a smart phone, but I have a greater like for 5 to 10 dollars a month for my mobile expenses. At some point I'll get a smart-ish phone, but only when I get the service I want at a nominal fee without some damn 2 year contract.
Me too. (Score:5, Insightful)
I agree. I have a dumb 2G phone, and a subnotebook if I want to look at the Web or do email. I'm not interested in trying to do input on a dinky screen. If I want to watch a movie, I have a 42" screen at home for that.
Amusingly, the phone I have has a web browser, but if I try to use it for anything, either Sprint's 2G network times out or the browser crashes.
Necessities often create themselves (Score:5, Insightful)
As with most things, you only need a smartphone once you have it.
Opposite (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not actually sure if I actually need a phone at all. I spend several orders of magnitude more time on my phone doing other stuff (email, listening to podcasts, general web browsing, GPS navigation, etc) then I do actually using it as a phone.
As such, I'd lose the "phone" long before I lost the "smart".
no need for a cell phone (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't feel any need to own a cell phone, smart or dumb. I have a landline at home. I have a landline at work. I don't need to talk to people on the phone when I'm in my car (and I don't want to endanger myself or others by doing it when I'm driving). I don't need to talk to people on the phone when I'm walking down the street, or shopping, or hiking or riding my bike.
Need, No. Want? Yes. (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm one for distinguishing between 'needs' and 'wants'. The thing to realize is that if you can afford it, fulfilling your 'wants' is a valid exercise, it's what drives like 90% of our economy today.
I had a simple cell phone for years - now I more want a Pad type device that can also act as a phone via bluetooth. Is it a need? Heck, I technically don't need a cell phone in the first place, though a basic plan today is cheaper than the landlines, especially when you figure all my family are long distance at the moment.
Stupid claim (Score:5, Insightful)
"I assure you a smart phone would not improve my life one bit".
Sorry, but that statement is frankly idiotic. You have NEVER needed a map? Yeah right.
There are a thousand other little ways in which a smartphone improves your life, that's just the most obvious...
Also, most smart phones can be dropped or even accidentally put in water with the same survival rate as your dumb phone.
I can totally understand someone simply not wanting much of a monthly bill, but lets not get absurd about there being no tradeoff for going dumb.
What a worthless fucking post. (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously. Is this what we're reduced to now? Nobody gives a shit if you don't want a phone with more features. Now fuck off.
Things I don't need: continued (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
Man who does not need bells and whistles says bells and whistles not needed. Story at 11.
Some of us not wanting the bells and whistles aren't doing it out of lack of desire for the bells and whistles, but because the costs of plans are, to our way of thinking, a sudden and large monthly expense.
I've been observing people who make a fraction of the pay I do and they go about with these things, sucking $80/mo on up. Good for them. They don't have all the expenses or it's simply their choice to hand over that kind of money each month. Very few of these people have any genuine need for these things, i.e. not an EMT or Doctor, it's their little luxury.
I was an early adopter of mobile phones, having one back in the 1980's (where a mobile phone had range, though wasn't tiny. After a few phones and plans I grew to despise the 2 year leech-like plans and gave up mobile phones. After a cycling injury I decided to get one again, pay as you go, no contract. It works and keeps me in touch when I want to be. Other times it's turned off to save battery. Maybe some day I'll get a smart one, but for now I'm content and watching things develop in technology and businesses.
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
Do you really need a cellphone? And all the advantages of the POTS and wired phone lines. As someone said... 640k ought to be enough for anyone. No idea why people keep upgrading their stuff.
Some need a phone, some a PDA, some (me) both (Score:5, Insightful)
So if you want to argue that "people don't need smartphones" - I find it kind of nonsensical. If I had to give-up one major feature of my "smartphone", it would probably be the "telephone" piece. If I were to rate in order of importance what I use my iPhone for, I'd have to say:
- Calendar (Shared and synced)
- Notes (Everything from gift ideas, to what kind of light bulbs I have in my house. Some of my notes I've been maintaining and using for YEARS).
- Email
- SMS
- GPS
- Camera
- Games & Entertainment (Yeah - hate to say it - but I kill a LOT of spare time with my iPhone!)
- Facebook
- Mobile Web (Hate to admit it, but the "experience" is still lousy on a small screen)
- Misc. productivity apps
Oh yea...and..
- Telephone
Re:Slashdot... (Score:4, Insightful)
The overall experience was pretty much meh.
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
Bingo.
To add, I rarely use the actual phone part of my iPhone and my Android set has a data-only plan for VoIP. It's more accurate to say I have a portable computer which has a seldom used telephone app.
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
To me it's sort of the opposite for the same reason: the amount of personal time I save in not being able to access email, corporate systems, etc. whilst on the move means that I'd pay extra for a non-smart phone...
I don't have a smartphone (Score:5, Insightful)
I've got a blackberry :-(
Makes parenting much easier, and better (Score:5, Insightful)
I can't tell you the number of times my iPhone has allowed me to take the kids to the playground while tending to work stuff. The kids can play, and I can spend 90% of the time playing with them, and 10% answering emails.
The alternative would have been the kids stay home and don't get a workout.
Do I *need* a smartphone? No. But has it saved time enough for everyone in my family to make it worthwhile, and improved family life? Yes. absolutely.
Re:Avoided for this reason (Score:4, Insightful)
FYI, your "wifi-only smartphone" is called an iPod touch. App store, wifi, and you can make calls & text using Google Voice and an app.
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
Every time I hear a person say this, I wonder why the person feels like they have to access all of those things against their will.
It's your phone. Don't want calls? Don't pick up. Don't want corporate email? Don't even set it up. Don't like to ever be bothered? Only turn it on when you want to use it. I can see situations where a person has no need for the features of a smartphone, or doesn't want the expense... but I don't understand this particular philosophy-- especially if you could use and appreciate the smartphone features for yourself, but don't because you would feel compelled to answer every call from your office.
Re:Stupid claim (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, ya, but I have a map for that... No seriously, an actual map. :-)
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not about "their will". When you put a leash on a dog, it's so someone can hold the other end. When you put an electronic leash on a person, it's so someone can tug the leash on the other end.
You can say "just don't pick up" or "just don't set up the corporate email" but when you have the capability there is a natural tendency to use it. More important, there is a natural tendency for other people (business or personal) to develop expectations based upon your capability. The boss sees you with a smartphone, he assumes you're always on duty. Because he can. Because YOU can.
I don't have any problem with people whose lives are enhanced by being plugged in 24/7. But I have a big problem with people who develop expectations for other people based upon decisions they have made for themselves.
Re:Shocked. (Score:2, Insightful)
get some willpower.
It's very easy to not check your work email when you have a smart phone. I don't check mine with it all the time!
If you pay for it, It's a tool, not a leash. Unless your employer is paying for it use it for the purposes that make your life better.
Re:Shocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
Luddite here. But it's not because I don't think they'll be useful. It's quite the opposite.
Ever go to a restaurant and look around at what people are doing? Sadly, a large % of them have their smart phones out, either laying on the table or in use. During dinner. With other people.
I certainly can identify with the need for being "connected" all the time, but really, how much is enough?
I'm at work all day surrounded by 3 computers. I answer calls, email, and skype with clients almost all day. The last thing I want to do when I'm out and about on my own time is be "connected". I just need a break. And for those who'll say "just don't use it then", well, I know how I am. If I have it, I'll use it.
So personally, I've drawn my line. A dumb phone is plenty for me. For others that like their smart phones, power to 'em.
Re:Another way to save money (Score:5, Insightful)
Cutting cable was one of the best things I ever did! So much more time to code, game, hang out with friends, watch movies, etc.
Re:Shocked. (Score:1, Insightful)
It's a Samsung Captivate.
I never did specify which iPhone either, did I? (it's an aging 3GS, hardly a "LookAtMephone"...)
Re:Another way to save money (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Another way to save money (Score:4, Insightful)
I got my wife a used iPhone 4. Then picked up a sim from AT&T at their retail store. Put it on a pay as you go plan. Cheap smart phone plan, as long as you don't talk all that much. If you talk more, you could always install the skype app.