I don't want a smartphone!!

[Sue J]

harllee, those are my thoughts, too! I love technology and computers and I use current things all the time and I just don't want a smartphone. DH and I have flip phones that have a prepaid legacy plan. We can add money and we never lose it until we use it with no monthly cost. And I'm fine with that. If our plan gets discontinued or our phones die and we have to replace them I'd probably go with the T-Mobile 55+ plan and get smartphones. But we will hold off as long as we can.

Last month DH went out of town to help with his 89 yr old mom who had a medical crisis and his sisters needed his help. He spent almost 2 weeks there and on one of our conversations he said when he got home he wanted us to get smartphones. His brother had texted him on his flip phone instead of his ipad and he couldn't figure out how to text back (yes, it's an effort) and one of his sister's joked about his flip phone.

So I was all prepared to show him the T-mobile 55+ particulars and pick out phones when he got home. By the time he got home he was over his hissy fit and said he was fine with what we have.

Here's the situation. We are home with wifi and a home phone (magicjack) 98% of the time. We can text with our sons and my sister on ipads when we are home. Our old phones do exactly what we want, which is make a phone call, usually it's from a store.... "I stopped to pick up something, do you need anything while I'm here..."

Like the OP, I see people who are sucked into their devices and can't let go of them. I know for myself, if I have my ipad with me while watching TV or sitting outside on the deck, I keep reaching for it. Check this, look up that, one more email, quick check of news or weather. It's very seductive.

I know that eventually it will have to happen but I'm going to hold off as long as we can.

 

[mamadogmamacat]

I have no problem that I'm aware of with group texts. I get one every month or so from the head, a friend, of an animal related charity. seems to work like any other text my phone simply gives me the option of replying all or just to sender when I hit reply. otherwise no different than any other text

 

[MRG]

I was in IT for 33 years, and I resisted a smartphone until this past year.

What pushed me over to the dark side was folks sending my group texts, which my dumb phone handled, well dumbly.

To be honest, a smartphone has made my life easier - I don't even use my Garmin GPS anymore. The WAZE app works much better, and doesn't yell at me to do a U-turn and backtrack when I chose to deviate from the GPS's chosen directions.

I can walk into a Lowes store, and search for an item on their website, and then get the exact location in the store where the item is located and whether it's currently in stock.

When in a SAMS warehouse, when I find an item I'm interested in, I can check google and amazon to see whether SAM's price is really a "deal", and see if there's any reviews on it.

Haha. I resisted smartphones in my IT job. This was one of things that created RE for me. My manager insisted I get one to deal with 700-800 texts every night. Dumb phones don't do texts nearly as fast.

It's not like the texts were real, they were caused by hard drives doing what they do during real operations. I only cared about the last message saying if the disk was successful in it's internal sector reallocation.

This poor sog was so afraid of his boss he had the entire team, 6 including him, getting paged all night long. He'd call me at 3:00 AM asking about a particular message; like I cared!

I guess I should thank him and the smartphone for RE. Like maybe with 700-800 texts in the middle of the night, all saying the same message![emoji12]

 

[mpeirce]

How will "they" track you if you don't move up to a smart phone?

Seriously, you can still use a smartphone in only semi-smart mode. I.e. just use it for the basics like as a telephone, texting, contact list.

There is no requirement to start downloading third party apps.

Of course, once you have it, you may be tempted to do so. Just resist!

 

[sturbridge]

I finally got a smartphone last year, my husband still has the flip phone. I resisted mostly because I didn't want to be one of "those people" who always have their face in their phone. And you know what, I'm not. I talk to strangers at bars instead of my phone. I talk to people in line and not my phone. It is really handy for travel, as well as keeping in touch with the next generation of family, as they only text. Texting on a flip phone is for the birds.

I use wifi when I'm home, as I am also out in the sticks, and Verizon is iffy for a signal some days. Sprint/AT+T get no signal here. Sound quality is good over wi fi even when it isn't good over cellular.

 

[Souschef]

DW and I just got dragged into the 21st Century. BUT, we both bought Alcatel phones from Tracfone for $99 each. It is a pay as you go plan, and is a lot cheaper than others, as we seldom use them. DW's is linked to the speaker system in her Mazda CX-5 and loves it.I have used the Lyft app on mine and it works great.

 

[aja8888]

I finally got a smartphone last year, my husband still has the flip phone. I resisted mostly because I didn't want to be one of "those people" who always have their face in their phone. And you know what, I'm not. I talk to strangers at bars instead of my phone. I talk to people in line and not my phone. It is really handy for travel, as well as keeping in touch with the next generation of family, as they only text. Texting on a flip phone is for the birds.

I use wifi when I'm home, as I am also out in the sticks, and Verizon is iffy for a signal some days. Sprint/AT+T get no signal here. Sound quality is good over wi fi even when it isn't good over cellular.

My emphasis above...and the statement of the day!

 

[Hermit]

My emphasis above...and the statement of the day!

I had one of those flip phones with a tiny pull down keyboard. It worked great for texting. I hated the touch screen keyboards. I must admit they have improved and I have gotten used to them.

 

[mamadogmamacat]

to each his own obviously, but texting on my flip phone is a breeze especially with predictive mode on. I've watched people text on their smart phones and i really don't see the difference What exactly, am I missing?

 

[harllee]

OP here. I use my dumb phone for talking, maybe an hour or so a day (no home phone). I send a few texts. I do quite of bit of email on my MacBook or iPad. I really need a cellphone for talking.

Alot of my talking is to my elderly mother. My mother has hearing problems and my hearing at age 66 is not so great either. The only thing I really need a cellphone for is talking and I need to be heard and be able to hear on it. So far I have not found a smartphone that I can hear with nearly as good as my old flip phone.

 

[harllee]

Personally I want to keep up with the latest devices/apps just so that when I'm 90 I'm quite able to handle myself in a world of younger people. I don't want to be limited by my inability to use a new device let's say that is a derivative of a smart phone just because I didn't want to be bothered with a smart phone etc. I also want to have access to whatever replaces Uber or Lyft when I'm 90. Things like that, but probably many things that I can't even imagine now. Personally I want to be on that curve, if I cant be ahead of it.

Twenty years ago many were saying the same about mobile phones and you can see where you would be if you decided against having one. For example here where I am if you're getting a delivery they will send you a text to tell you the time slot. Not a phone call or an email. Must be a text.

Just look at the difference between older people that can use the internet versus those that can't. That could be me someday if I fall behind.

OP here. In 25 years from there are going to be ways to communicate we can't even think of now. I don't think whether I own a smartphone is going to make a difference regarding how I handle some new technology not even invented yet. I know how to operate a smartphone ( I have used friend's smartphones) and I have an iPad, I just don't want to be forced into a smartphone by a charitable organization to which I give money( see my first post). If they want my charitable donation, they better let me communicate with them in the manner i please.

 

[travelover]

I use PagePlus, which operates on Verizon towers. I have a Moto E 3G smartphone, but I mostly use it as a telephone, though it can access data if needed. My plan is the $10 every 4 month option, as I rarely make calls. Sound is not great, but adequate. It also bluetooths to my car so I can answer the phone from my steering wheel, which is nice. Reception is better than DW's iPhone 6 on the same plan.

 

[97guns]

I can’t live without a smartphone, it’s my most used device or any 1 thing I use, I can’t think of anything that I use more of and it easily justifies the $800 I’ve spent on this current one.

 

[CardsFan]

OP here.

Alot of my talking is to my elderly mother. My mother has hearing problems and my hearing at age 66 is not so great either. The only thing I really need a cellphone for is talking and I need to be heard and be able to hear on it. So far I have not found a smartphone that I can hear with nearly as good as my old flip phone.

DW had the same issue, and I agree the flat smart phones are not as easy to hear as a flip phone (or maybe I am getting older and deafer?).

Two solutions: DW uses speaker when ever she is around the house. I go one step further and use an iHome speaker, particularly when I know I will be on hold for a while. Doesn't help when you are out, but works good at home.

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Its a Moto G 5+ which is a pretty nice phone IMHO.

I have one of these too- and I really like it. I resisted getting a smart phone forever- but then my car infotainment system was connecting to my husband's phone and playing HIS music, and we couldn't have that. I caved, and the truth is- I love it. I do not stare at it inappropriately, but I have ADD and its GREAT having my grocery list with me every time- I used to forget it at home. And my little reminder app is a life saver. And I love the calendar synced with my husbands. I sit in front of a computer all day and swore I'd never use all of this stuff- and truly don't want to do assorted computer junk when I'm not at the office, but the GPS is invaluable (I have no sense of direction) and its so nice to be able to play crossword puzzles when i'm stuck at the doctor's office...

 

[Gumby]

I never wanted a mobile phone, period. Sadly, the young wife compelled me to get a smart phone in December, after her car broke down twice and she could not contact me. I have tried to learn how to use it for a few things*, but I still think I don't really need one.

*e.g. -- on my last airline trip in February, I figured out how to put my boarding pass on the phone and hold it up to scanner like one of the cool kids.

 

[ivinsfan]

OP here. I use my dumb phone for talking, maybe an hour or so a day (no home phone). I send a few texts. I do quite of bit of email on my MacBook or iPad. I really need a cellphone for talking.

Alot of my talking is to my elderly mother. My mother has hearing problems and my hearing at age 66 is not so great either. The only thing I really need a cellphone for is talking and I need to be heard and be able to hear on it. So far I have not found a smartphone that I can hear with nearly as good as my old flip phone.

I got my first smart phone on a Black Friday special, I did hook on to my DD and SIL plan so it only costs me 20 bucks a month. Do you have a family member you could piggyback with. I wrote my DD a check for the phone costs and my first 2 years of service. One of my friends who like talking on the phone tells me that talking to me on my new smart phone it like being in the same room.

 

[athena53]

For example here where I am if you're getting a delivery they will send you a text to tell you the time slot. Not a phone call or an email. Must be a text.

I resist this all I can. I love my Ting plan, which uses the Sprint network and is pay-as-you go; typically my monthly bill is around $20 because I use mostly Wi-fi and for long conversations I use the MagicJack landline. So--- I give a business my cell number, ostensibly for their delivery messages and to save myself the inconvenience of telephone tag- and next thing I know I'm getting a follow-up call with a Satisfaction Survey or promotional texts ("Athena53, how does 50% off installation on your next window replacements sound?"). I seethe at these- they actually can end up costing me money if they send me into the next usage tier. Small amounts, sure, but why should I pay for their unwanted intrusions?

 

[CoolRich59]

Are you finding events, etc. where you must have a smartphone to participate?

Definitely. While I like having a smartphone, I can also see how it is getting harder to get by without one.

Just one example: We took a quick trip to Florida last week and the airline assumed we would not need printed boarding passes, but would display them on our phones.

On the other hand, last Fall we thought we would experiment going without smartphones for a while. But, there are so many things that smartphones make so much easier and convenient that you get used to them and it is difficult to go back.

Best example: The first weekend without my smartphone I was looking for a store that had recently moved. My car's GPS took me to the old location. Without a smartphone, I had to resort to calling my son and asking me to look up the new location on his computer.

I agree wholeheartedly about people walking around glued to their devices. When we have family events, my D-I-L takes a basket and collects all the smartphones so there is no social media, email, or other distractions.

 

[misanman]

We attended a Cirque du Soleil performance this winter and were required to use our phones for the tickets. I'm not aware of another option for that performance but I suppose there could have been one for those who were willing to complain. I just used my phone so it wasn't an issue for us. Also, I don't recall seeing anyone else in line who wasn't using a smartphone.

 

[bw5972]

I feel like I am being forced into getting a smartphone. DH and I both have good, serviceable dumb phones. I sometimes have difficulty hearing over the phone and my experience is that I can hear much better with the dumb phone than a smartphone. We have an old plan with Verizon for under $50 per month (for 2 dumb phones) (including all taxes and fees) that gives us al the voice minutes and texts we need. We spend our summers in a mountainous area that is only serviced by Verizon. When I look at the Verizon plans for smartphones, they would cost ALOT more than the $50 we are paying now for 2 phones plus there would be the cost of the smartphone itself.

We have a MacBook pro we use at home that does everything we need on the internet plus we have an iPad we take when traveling. We see people with smartphones who walk around looking at them all the time and can't even eat at a restaurant without constantly checking their smartphones! We don't want that. Some of our friends/family have smartphones (costing a small fortune), but many still have dumb phones and we have a few friends with no cell phone at all!

Today I got a card in the mail from a charitable organization to which I have been a donor for years. The charity was having a donor appreciation event with a free nice lunch and free tickets to a baseball game. When I tried to sign up online to attend the lunch and game I found out I had to have a smartphone to receive the tickets for entry to the lunch and the baseball game. I was disappointed that I would not be able to attend so I called the charity and explained I had no smartphone. The first person I talked to was no help and seemed surprised that there a actually people in the world without a smart phone. I later received a call from someone else at the charity who apologized and said they would personally make sure I got tickets to the events (they must have looked up how much $$ I have given to the organization over the years!).

Anyone else on this Forum who still has a dumb phone? Are you finding events, etc. where you must have a smartphone to participate?

I don't want a darn smartphone!

Curious in what manner a smartphone would be required that the iPad wouldn’t suffice.

 

[Elbata]

At least you have a dumb phone. My friend's GM refused to talk on any phone.

It won't be too long they install a chip inside us with the mark of the beast.

 

[harllee]

Curious in what manner a smartphone would be required that the iPad wouldn’t suffice.

The tickets had to be downloaded and taken to the events. We did not want to have to carry our iPad into the events. Anyway we could not get the tickets to download into our iPad anyhow, so I don't know what the problem was there.

 

[target2019]

Download and print? Seems possible.

 

[harllee]

OP here, we were told you could not download, it had to be used on the smartphone, weird. In any event we could not download it on the iPad. I called the charity and they are going to have tickets for me to pick up at the events. First they said that could not be done, later they called me back (I guess after they looked up my donation record) and said they would have tickets for me at the event. Many of this charity's main donors are old folks like me, probably their phone is ringing off the hook with people who have the same problem I do. We have heard from another couple with the same issue who does not have a smartphone. This is a good way for a charity to lose donors in my opinion.