Could you make do.....(smartphone question)

[gimmethesimplelife]

without a smartphone? Since I have been promoted I'm working longer hours and find my smartphone much more important now. I never thought I'd make such a comment but there it is.

Banking/investing/planning/communication on the go - all these are so much easier over a smartphone. Could you make do without a smartphone?

I suppose I could but life would be less convenient and I couldn't keep up my current pace without one. Rob

[Tradd]

I know people who say cost is a reason to not have a smartphone, but there are dirt cheap Android smartphones you can get on prepaid plans. Just use Wi-Fi whenever possible to save the small amount of data you get.

Smartphones are pretty much essential if you travel at all, especially by car, due to the Map apps.

You’ll pry my iPhone out of my cold dead hands.

[Alan]

There was no such thing as smartphones, gps, etc., for the majority of my life. Surprisingly enough, I traveled cross country multiple times, visited foreign countries and spent weeks at a time without easy access to anyone else. I think I could easily do it again, I just don't want to.

[Rogar]

A lot of the things you mention I do at home on the tablet or laptop with the bigger screen, larger keyboard, and relaxed atmosphere. I don't feel a great sense of urgency with things like bank accounts and without a little more research, maybe not comfortable with security issues on a smart phone. I would miss GPS and free long distance phone calls, but with my Tracfone it's just too cheap sand easy to get rid of completely. Other than that I think smart phones are over used for mindless trivial matter. I miss the days when in waiting rooms and airport like places where you would see people reading books and newspapers instead of tik-tocs and facebooks.

[bae]

Sure.

[Tradd]

A lot of the things you mention I do at home on the tablet or laptop with the bigger screen, larger keyboard, and relaxed atmosphere. I don't feel a great sense of urgency with things like bank accounts and without a little more research, maybe not comfortable with security issues on a smart phone. I would miss GPS and free long distance phone calls, but with my Tracfone it's just too cheap sand easy to get rid of completely. Other than that I think smart phones are over used for mindless trivial matter. I miss the days when in waiting rooms and airport like places where you would see people reading books and newspapers instead of tik-tocs and facebooks.

I’m just all eBooks these days. When you would think I’d be in FB, I’m actually reading.

[Rogar]

I’m just all eBooks these days. When you would think I’d be in FB, I’m actually reading.

I've actually wondered what people are looking at. Judging how quickly people look like they are paging through things, I suspect a lot of social media surfing but who knows. People on some our local walking trails apparently into messaging seems uncalled for. Some days it seems like people cannot spend time in peaceful solitude without digital stimulation.

[Tradd]

I've actually wondered what people are looking at. Judging how quickly people look like they are paging through things, I suspect a lot of social media surfing but who knows. People on some our local walking trails apparently into messaging seems uncalled for. Some days it seems like people cannot spend time in peaceful solitude without digital stimulation.

I also have online subscriptions to NYT and the Economist. I do serious reading on my phone.

[Rogar]

I also have online subscriptions to NYT and the Economist. I do serious reading on my phone.

Have you ever wondered what everyone else is looking at?

[Tradd]

Most people are probably looking at some sort of social media or maybe YT. I’m something of a snob when it comes to what I consume and think many people are empty headed or close to it. Serious shit isn’t even on their radar.

You know what I’m currently reading on the iPhone? A history of the BBC.

[Rogar]

You know what I’m currently reading on the iPhone? A history of the BBC.

I suppose people get used to the small screen. Especially when I'm at home I used the tablet or laptop, but probably read similar things and it seems more user friendly to me. Sometimes when I travel or know I'm going to be stuck in a wait somewhere I take my tablet. I read a NYT article about groups of young people going back to simple flip phones, which I could easily do.

If enough people got rid of cell phones, they'd have to bring back phone booths.

[Tradd]

At home I’m usually reading on the iPad, but I read a ton in the bathtub, and that means on iPhone.

[Rogar]

"I started flirting with the idea of getting a flip phone while watching a TikTok livestream of someone shaving a grape at 2 a.m.

It was a new low."

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/26/style/flipping-out.html

[iris lilies]

I assume you literally mean a phone, not some other device.

I hate my phone, screen too small to do anything useful. i am out of town and tried to dictate something, it was stupid slow and then did not understand. I find it useful only for GPS and then of course it’s essential for when I go out of town.

Sometimes, when we’re on the road, I have need to use DH’s phone. His phone is exactly like mine, exactly. When I try to dictate into his phone, it all comes out inGerman. I just want to throw it across the room.

yesterday we were trying to get my phone synced up to the screen in my car. It didn’t work, of course. Yet, DH’s phone, exactly like mine, works. Go figure.

i use an Ipad hours each day. If no wifi is available I can use my phone to provide connectivity to my Ipad.

[rosarugosa]

I'm pretty much on the same page as Rogar, but if I'm going to an appointment or something where I expect to do some waiting, I still always bring a book or a magazine. I was late to adopt a smartphone, at least in part because I didn't want to be one of those zombies always staring at their phones. I've successfully avoided that fate so far, and I'm no longer worried about it. I perceive my phone as a tool and use it accordingly; I don't use it as an entertainment device. I mainly use it to text, take pictures, GPS, phone calls, meditation app, and occasional Google search. Given my Mom's Alzheimer's status and the fact that she is still living at home, I feel more morally obligated to be reachable than I did in the past. Could I live without it? Sure; I did for most of my life.

[happystuff]

I'm also along the lines of I could live without it, but prefer not to. I prefer doing most financial stuff on the laptop as I can see better and have less chance of making a mistake. I like to read and watch some tv across any of the media - tv, laptop, tablet, phone. I do use the phone when I am away from the house because it travels smaller.

One thing I haven't used the phone for - yet - is gps. We pay for any and all data and I just haven't bitten the bullet on using it for that so far.

[ToomuchStuff]

The only reason I have a smartphone is in 2020, my boss passed. Several of our vendors went to online ordering and they design more for apps, then the computer, which I would prefer.

[Teacher Terry]

I use my phone for everything and like Tradd I read all my books on it. I only need a computer to write my reports for my clients and occasionally a website doesn’t work well on a phone.

[catherine]

I wish I didn't perceive such a "need" for it. Obviously I could do without it, but "a luxury once tasted becomes a necessity" and that's what happened in my relationship with the smartphone.

[jp1]

5621

[Rogar]

5621

Ahhh, the good old days. Nice hats, too. Not many working women then, maybe.

[gmiller]

Whether I could forego a smartphone depends on my line of work. Previous jobs prohibited or mandated mobile devices, while others require frequent use of smartphones. Now, as my current role only involves PC duties, I find handling most tasks directly from my desktop more convenient. As a result, my smartphone serves more as a casual companion reserved for off-hours use from bed.

[Tybee]

I just traveled with my iphone, and it did help me once to find a tire place when my indicator light went on. For the most part, I used my atlases, although I did turn on the GPS function because I liked the verbal reminders and the lane information.

[Klunick]

I am torn on this because I like the security of having a cell phone while driving especially since I'm on the roads between 3-4am when not much is open if my car breaks down. But I could probably do without one otherwise because no one calls me or texts me except my husband and kids to let me know if they'll be home on time for dinner. I pay bills/order groceries/etc online but could easily do that with a desktop if I didn't have my phone.

[iris lilies]

I just traveled with my iphone, and it did help me once to find a tire place when my indicator light went on. For the most part, I used my atlases, although I did turn on the GPS function because I liked the verbal reminders and the lane information.
The lane info is golden! I love that!

[iris lilies]

I use my phone for everything and like Tradd I read all my books on it. I only need a computer to write my reports for my clients and occasionally a website doesn’t work well on a phone.
Speaking of websites not working on mobile devices—-

I have a temporary digital subscription to the St Louis newspaper. Its mobile version is pure caca with jumping screens of ads moving here and there, a nightmare to navigate. I am following 3 local stories and want to contribute to the dialogue of readers’ comments at the end of these stories.

Since I have a terrible time with the website, I finally downloaded the app. This makes it easier to use but you know what? The ONE thing I wanted, readers comments, do not appear on the app. When I wrote to the newspaper’s webmaster he told me “this is a third party application that doesn't recognize comments.” Great.

I am defeated in using this newspaper in the device I use 90% of time. I moved to my computer and the newspaper site is fine. But now I have been blocked editorially from making comments because ? i am a bad person I guess? I’m in commentary jail.

I knew the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and I were not a good match but this is proof positive

[Tradd]

Work recently switched 401K administrators and we got a new app/website. The app is USELESS. Broken. Lots of bad reviews. If you go to the link provided on a mobile browser, it takes you to a page promoting the app. I had to fire up laptop to access everything. VERY annoying.