I am old school and do not possess a smart phone

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia
I can not see myself ever getting a smart phone.
People tell me smart phones are so handy. Everything is at your finger tips.
My way of thinking is that "everything is at your fingertips" is leading society down the wrong path.
One only needs to get on a commuter train to see 90% of passengers with their eyes glued to a tiny screen. Not interacting with the person beside them, not noticing the scenery as it passes every one by.
When I purchased my new vehicle last week the salesman wanted to show me how to set up my phone/blue tooth.
I said don't worry about that. I am old school and and do not have a smart phone. I rarely listen to music and I dislike phones.
I also notice QR Codes everywhere. Without a smart phone I no not they reveal.
Do I think I am missing out?
No. Having survived this far without scanning a QR code I see no reason to start now.
Tell me some of the things available through QR codes that you think may be advantageous to this (getting there) old codger.
 

'Some are born to smart phones, some achieve smart phone proficiency, and some have smart phones thrust upon them.' - Shakespeare​

I'm in the latter group. While I admit that cell phones are in improvement over pay phones when traveling, "smart" phones offer little that is of use to me. I have a better computer, a better landline phone, a better camera. The whole concept of QR codes is silly at best. :rolleyes:
 
We were late to buy cell phones, neither of us are tied to our phone. We only turn them on when going out in case we need to contact each other with a quick phone call, or if there's an emergency.

We've had the same Android phones for years now, cost less than eighty dollars each. They come in handy if you're traveling and need to look something up or contact someone in that area.

Neither of us text for fun, we'll make the call when needed. We make most calls on our landline when we're home.
 

I certainly agree that having a smart phone can take over your life...IF you let it, but they can be an invaluable part of your life when you need to make that 911 call quick.

I have a smart phone but I don't feel the need to carry it around in my back pocket all the time. It's a phone, for pete sake. Why would I need to look at it every chance I get to see what's going on? If I want to Google something, I use my computer. If I need to order something, I use my computer. And I don't scan those QR codes....for anything. There's been warnings about them. Why are people so obsessed with taking pictures with their phones? I don't get it. I have a great camera and use it for picture taking. Why is it necessary to have all those pictures on your phone??

Basically, I use my phone as a phone....that's all. I don't spend a fortune on my bill for a phone. I've had Tracfone service (now through Verizon) since 2001 and can get service anywhere. I pay $26 every 2 months for unlimited talk/text. Why do you need to spend big bucks on a phone?
 
Best use I've found for a smart phone isn't making phone calls at all, although that's pretty handy at times.
Banking ... how I've found to use my smart phone. Keeps accurate balances on the fly and allows for mobile checking deposits. Deposits to accounts without getting up from the chair or sofa. Take a picture of the front and back of a check, deposit and done. Next.
 
I have had many years of smart phones. When I get on a train I look out the window... when I'm in a cafe I read my kindle or the news on my phone..or I chat to someone.. Because you own a smart phone won't make you into a Robot but it will leave you far behind in many cases...

for example.. I can't return and item without scanning the QR code on my phone.. the oher day I couldn't even collect and item that I'd paid for without bringing them a copy of the QR code...

Train tickets, aeroplane ticket.. all now require scanning 90% of the time...

You're going to find sooner or later you will not be able to carry out your daily tasks without a smart phone of some type... the world has changed since we were young, you have to change with it...
 
I was behind most others when it came to getting a smart phone, I actually liked the size and simplicity of the old flip phone. Eventually I had to get one for work purposes and then realized what a great tool smart phones are. I've never let it take over my life, I have no music or games on it, but it sure is handy to have for many many reasons, I wouldn't want to be without one.
 
C50 said:
I was behind most others when it came to getting a smart phone, I actually liked the size and simplicity of the old flip phone. Eventually I had to get one for work purposes and then realized what a great tool smart phones are. I've never let it take over my life, I have no music or games on it, but it sure is handy to have for many many reasons, I wouldn't want to be without one.
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same with me . I don't play music on my phone, nor do I do any kind of Banking on it..despite the family telling me how safe it is.. but I don't trust that at all.. and tbh if I did do banking on my phone.. and had Apple Pay etc.. I'd be a nervous wreck wondering where my phone is all the time... so I use it as a phone, as a camera... for the odd email .. for texts... read the papers when I'm in a waiting room .. and various other things.. .. but as it has nothing important on it, I'm not tied to it and worried about it's whereabouts every minute of the day...
 
The last few years working, before I retired, I had to carry a Blackberry! I promised myself then, that when I retired, I would not carry a phone or any contraption that would keep me in touch. That was over 8 years ago, and I do not own, nor will I use any phone, or smart phone. I am very happy in retirement...without always being available!

I am amazed, when this subject comes up... many folks commonly like to explain how they don't use a phone, or own one but don't have it on all the time, etc. etc.

Yet I see couples in restaurants, all the time, married (w/rings) or not that sit down and have a meal and don't have any conversations because they are on their iPhone. This is especially true with younger adults. When you don't talk a lot to a person you are with, you limit your relationship to a great degree...in time it is dangerous to the long-term relationships you have. Trust me on this our society will pay a price for this technology...
 
I don't have a smart phone and still have my landline.
I take my old mobile with me when I go out and use for occasional texts and in case of emergency.
Banks , Government, love to send you texts if you have trouble signing in so comes in handy for that but there is still the option of the computer for such things.

I have nerve damage which affects my fingertips and disabled right hand so mobiles for me can be a nightmare but even if I could I wouldn't want any more than I have.

My two sisters, one in U.S and one in U.K do have the smartest phones they can get their hands on and they are constantly in trouble with mishandling. Both have given up their laptops so I cannot keep in touch as much as I would like. I did communicate with them by email in the beginning which they picked up on mobile but when I saw some of my private email stuff on Facebook I gave up. They had no idea how it got there.
They are just not savvy enough to control the danged things. Both of them have been hacked twice.
So Big Sis has to pay extra to phone company for LD calls for communication.

My brother, who is in UK of course has smart phone but he still has his landline and computer and we have no problems
in communication and sometimes video chats.
My Daughter and adult Grandkids...well.....enuff said !!sad (2).gif
 
Still no cell phone of any kind for me. I embrace the new and improved when it suits me, but I'll never let marketers convince me I need something that I don't really want, just to give them money or be fashionable.

Picking and choosing wisely is our job as consumers. I have; a microwave, coffee machine, and toaster. I don't have; a bread machine, crock pot, pressure cooker, toaster oven, air fryer, blender, pizza oven, or turkey fryer. All items my brother tried to give me, because he bought everything the late night commercials told him he should have and if you buy two you get a deal!

"Staying connected," has always seemed oppressive to me.
 
I have had some sort of smart phone for almost two decades because I do enjoy the convivence they offer but that's just me. And no, I don't stare at my phone all the time. I do understand that there are some who prefer not to use them and good for them ! Each to their own.

According to the latest Pew Research Center, 94% of those over the age of 65 do own a cell phone and 74% of that 94% are smart phones.

Mobile Fact Sheet
 
Remy said:
I'm in agreement. I have a flip phone and my laptop. I still have the landline due to my stepfather.

I've been happy with Consumer Cellular. I may upgrade some day, but not now.
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I still have my landline too..despite having had smart phones for many years. The signal isn't always good in this house for the mobile phone so that's when my landline comes into it's own. My daughter also rings me on the landline rather than my mobile.. cheaper for her...
 
MarkinPhx said:
It really is sad what happened with Blackberry. I had to use one for work for a long time for security reasons and loved the phone. They just couldn't keep up once the consumer market opened up. I always had great respect for that company though.
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I too... I loved that phone..well I had 3 in total..still got them.. they were just the best phones...

yes it was very sad that they went to the wall. MY DD was exhausted tho' I have to tell you. She was flying all over the world at one point, meeting with Disney in the US...then back to the Uk..then off to Japan to have meetings with Sony.. then back. and then to Canada.. at one point she was flying to Toronto once a month just for meetings...
 
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I have a Smartflip phone. It's a flip phone with some smart functions. It does what I need. It could play music and even has an FM tuner. And there are a lot of apps available. All I use it for is to phone and to text my son each morning that I'm still here. He's been after me to get one of the smart phones that can alert somebody if I fall and can't call for help. But, I'm still pretty mobile and I think that's unlikely.
 
MarkinPhx said:
I do understand that there are some who prefer not to use them and good for them ! Each to their own.
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This. I use it for what works for me.

hollydolly said:
My daughter also rings me on the landline rather than my mobile.. cheaper for her...
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You must have different style plans than here. I can call anywhere in Canada, 24 hours a day, and it’s all included. I dropped that part of my plan that allowed me to include the US too. No point paying that extra $10 when I rarely call there. I have that in our landline package. Having three things in the one carrier gets us a bigger discount.
 
Jules said:
This. I use it for what works for me.


You must have different style plans than here. I can call anywhere in Canada, 24 hours a day, and it’s all included. I dropped that part of my plan that allowed me to include the US too. No point paying that extra $10 when I rarely call there. I have that in our landline package. Having three things in the one carrier gets us a bigger discount.
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its more expensive to call Mobile to mobile here, than it is to call Mobile to Landline... texts are free, whatsapps are free they're all included in most people's phone packages. My daughter only has a Mobile phone..no landline.. if she did have a landline it would be cheaper to call landline to landline..
 
Well I think I'll classify myself as "slow school" rather than
old school....got to looking around and in this room, living
room, I have desktop computer, laptop computer, flip phone,
hard wire phone, TV and Security monitor tv....ain't that enuff???
lol....
 

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