Attila and I have been holding out, we don’t use cell phones. We have an old one, for emergency use, it is turned off and toted around just in case, and we pay for the service.
Batteries in cell phones are crap in my opinion. Of course I grew up with land lines, those phones just sat in the corner and waited for someone to need to use them. They weren’t like needy pets that need constant attention and care. Cell phones seem like neurotic, demanding pets to me.
Resistance is futile.
I can see that.
Our time of reckoning is coming. Soon we will have to have a functioning cell phone, and I dread the day. Life is so peaceful without one.
This all comes to mind because I was looking at the public transportation system in Ontario. Not living in Toronto, and without a cell phone, it is nearly impossible to navigate this dogs breakfast of a system. The VIA train costs a fortune, even with discounts for seniors. The GO train ticket system is intimidating for non-cell-phone users, I don’t fancy my chances getting that figured out, and I doubt customer service will have any patience whatsoever with someone who does not use a cell phone. Even with a cell phone it looks daunting. Bus service is difficult to figure out.
Anyway, I live in hope that the battery situation with cell phones improves dramatically, before I absolutely have to use one on a regular basis. Sure there are ways to work around the limited battery life of cell phones, but I don’t fancy spending time tending to a wayward, vulnerable to predators, needy mechanical pet that needs constant care and daily feeding.
Is there a cell phone that requires little to no maintenance and care?
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There’s maintenance and care to a cell phone? I’ve never had to do anything, except download a new operating system every few years, but my cell usage is bare bones and I don’t have a data plan.
My DH had a cell phone for work for about 8 years and when he retired he convinced the company to let him keep the cell phone number. So, we use his cell phone like a landline. It’s our home phone number.
I got my cell phone a few years ago, when we left behind our home landline and moved to the cottage. I realized there were times when DH and I were separated but I might need to get in touch with him or him with me. So, now we have DH with a full but minimal data plan and me with no data plan. I have my cell set up to only do internet activities, like downloading app upgrades, when I’m at home and the wi-fi is available.
The battery of my Samsung phone has a good long life and I only charge it a few times per year, I use it so little.
My cell plan is $35 and DH’s cell plan is $65, with Koodo.
Maggie, thanks so much for the laugh this morning.
My new “needy, neurotic pet” will go 2-3 days on a single charge. Then again, I have always limited its use in my life and have many notifications turned off. I still do most things on my desktop computer. The majority of my texting is done from the desktop through a link to my phone.
We don’t have a land line, so I use my phone to make and receive actual phone calls, although there aren’t so many of those these days.
I think it really is all about the user and the use. I don’t do social media, so my phone is just a little computer that happens to make/receive phone calls. It’s a handy tool and it works for me, not the other way around.
For me, the best thing about a cell phone is having it as a navigation tool. That’s something I’ve used since the early days of flip phones and it’s a real salvation for me since I’m directionally challenged.
My cellphone will go 3 or 4 days without charging. That’s with no calls. They usually have fast chargers now which charge up a battery pretty fast, I also discovered that my Kindle Fire tablet can send and receive telephone calls in case my cellphone isn’t working. Cellphones are good for peace of mind in case of emergencies
Sandy, thanks for the feedback, the fast chargers sound interesting, I will have to have a look at that technology. Also interesting is the Kindle Fire ability, I will have to see how that works for Canada, and not sure about anything dependent on US goods and services for the long term… hopefully that will eventually become a complete non-issue. I agree, cell phones are great for peace of mind!
Wendy, thank you for the feedback!
I too do most things on my computer, and I much prefer it, staying plugged into the power and being stationary works most of the time for me. But the computer just will not do everything anymore, unfortunately. I think the texting thing is desirable though, and since I don’t like to a cell phone I have severe limitations in that department.
I like the navigation function as well, but have to admit the tiny screen on the cell phone and the tiny little buttons, make it a bit of a misery to use. When we travel through Toronto I use it for navigation, but have to have it plugged into the power the whole time, the battery won’t last more than an hour or so otherwise… and travelling through Toronto takes hours. It is the road conditions, construction, and closures that interest me most. I love my paper maps, but they don’t deal with that sort of thing.
I know new batteries are possible, but they are expensive on our budget, and still only last a day or two without needing attention, which is a small improvement for how we use a cell phone.
Teri, thanks for the feedback!
Some of the things I do that demand a cell phone are apps that need constant updating, all this for occasional but necessary functions. Operating system updates seem constant, but that is probably because the wifi and cellular data functions are turned off almost all the time and when I do turn them on it is a whole list of updates that need attention before I can use the phone. The other thing that really irritates me is that when the OS updates it always leaves the bluetooth on, and who knows what else I haven’t discovered yet, so I have keep an eye on it and remember to disable the bluetooth frequently.
I think that soon our home phone will be a cell phone, it is just a matter of time. This will mean remembering to pick it up and take it with us when we are out and about, although I suppose for a price we could have a home dedicated cell phone.
So far we have found ways to work around having to separate in public places, and yet be able to reconnect, without a cell phone. It has to be planned carefully though, and involves some waiting around for the other person. For instance, during my last cardiac rehab assessment I called Attila at home, to come and pick me up, from their phone. They didn’t know how to call out on their phone system, but I figured that out as it is old and so am I.
That is a good long battery life on your phone! I think the data thing really amps up battery use. Good prices on the service as well, right now we pay $25 per month plus tax, a seniors package, with unlimited data which we do not use or take advantage of. Our price is based on income (lack thereof in our case).
I also hate cell phones. We have one only for emergency purposes. It stays in a drawer and we periodically ‘feed’ it. I hate those teeny tiny keyboards. My life is so much more peaceful with it in the drawer. Julia and I take turns at the computer. I do my tapestries while she does her genealogy. She reads books while I do word puzzles and catch up on social media. And we share the screen for streaming shows, and audio books.
Joan, from my point of view you and Julia have a peaceful arrangement with technology and each other, and your life sounds wonderful! I love that our cell phone is turned off almost all the time, we do have a land line, and there are few calls coming in on that, and few calls going out as well.
I guess I should say that I use my tablet for most of my web surfing. That also is on wi-fi at home. I don’t surf away from home unless free wi-fi is offered. Also, we don’t watch movies etc on our cell phones. We only stream programs and movies on our smartTV at home.
Thanks Teri, for the additional details!