[Spoon]

Oh uhm, I'm sorry? I don't really get why I'm being singled out here, but I'll go get my coat then.

[karajorma]

How's about the lot of you calm the **** down.

I can understand why cost might be factor in not making it worth getting a smartphone, but given that we're all people who play games and use the internet, I'd find it pretty hard to believe that if given a smartphone for free with a free data plan, people would just use it as a dumb phone.

[Klaustrophobia]

I think I'd come pretty close.  I think I'd only really maybe use the camera and occasionally look up locations and phone numbers and the like when I'm out and about.  Hell I avoid texting whenever possible on my dumb phone as it is.

[Polpolion]

I can understand why cost might be factor in not making it worth getting a smartphone, but given that we're all people who play games and use the internet, I'd find it pretty hard to believe that if given a smartphone for free with a free data plan, people would just use it as a dumb phone.

I'd be surprised if either Spoon or Mongoose were arguing anything to the contrary. If I got a smartphone it would cost me between five and seven hundred dollars for two years of operation (varying with fancy-ness of phone), and that's only the cost of the phone plus the data when it's bought in conjunction with my family's plan. Which brings us back to this:

Yes, they're expensive, and it's totally legit to not want to get one because you don't think you'd get your money's worth out of it.

Personally, I've been tempted to get a smartphone for the past six months or so. All but one of my courses this semester rely on group work and we use facebook groups, github, and piazza to keep track of our work and communicate with each other. Meeting in person or staying at home isn't realistic when we all have to juggle work and classes, and I'd find having some way to check up on things when I'm not actually in a position to get work done supremely useful, not to mention the general utility of internet in my pocket.

Obviously, I'm at a loss to give any reasons, other than novelty, why Mongoose would be willing to spend the money on a smartphone if he would only end up using the data features on rare occasions. No doubt he would be glad to have it on those occasions, but it just wouldn't be worth the money.

[Fury]

It might be worth noting that there are significant differences in prices of phones and cellular/data plans in different countries. Not to mention sum of one's paycheck varies even more so. Simply put, some people are at much better position to afford smartphones than others. As such, "worth the money" is inherently dependent on location of the person in question.

[Mongoose]

Well let me put it this way: if someone dropped a permanently-free Android phone in my pocket, no strings attached, of course I'd find some uses for it.  Certainly the camera, as Klaustrophobia said, and having on-the-go directions on the rare times I need them would be handy (though Google Maps screwed me over last time I used it, so maybe not).  But honestly, the main thing I think I'd use it for is trying out those relatively-few mobile games that get really good press, so in the end it'd just be mostly a 3DS alternative.

[karajorma]

I think I'd come pretty close.  I think I'd only really maybe use the camera and occasionally look up locations and phone numbers and the like when I'm out and about.  Hell I avoid texting whenever possible on my dumb phone as it is.

To be honest, I suspect you'd find you used it a lot more than you expected once you had one. I certainly never expected to end up wanting a top of the range smartphone 5 years ago when I didn't even own a mobile phone.

[Wobble73]

Hell, I'd be lost without my smartphone now! It's my camera, MP3 player, Sat-Nav, on-the-go games console. It's also my WIFI router as I have an all you can eat data plan and use the phone to broadcast a WIFI signal. I can access the internet, my email and all my social networking sites on the go too. It can also be my personal organiser and I am still finding uses for it.

[Ghostavo]

Out of curiosity, do carriers still sell dumb phones? I don't remember seeing any for sale in a long time...

[Wobble73]

Out of curiosity, do carriers still sell dumb phones? I don't remember seeing any for sale in a long time...

Yeah, The Carphone Warehouse loaned my wife a brand new dumb Nokia phone when her Galaxy s2 needed repairs, they do seem to still sell them for those who want a phone to just be a phone.

[Luis Dias]

You seem really mad about this.
Are you often told by people that you are addicted to social media? Is that why you snap at this?

I usually snap when people get snarky like you do, not because they say "I'm addicted", etc. I couldn't care less about inane obvious ignorant thoughts.

There's also a bit of a chutzpah for someone telling others they are addicted into social stuff "but not me I just have a dumb phone constantly in my pocket".

Consider for a moment the hilarity of being told one's addicted into social apps by someone who says they use facebook, when I don't even use any of those things except for twitter (which I use mainly to get interesting news or links in one-liners anyway).

Out of curiosity, do carriers still sell dumb phones? I don't remember seeing any for sale in a long time...

Ironically "Nokia" will remain a brand mostly for dumb phones. Everything else will go directly to Microsoft, for instance.

[Lorric]

How's about the lot of you calm the **** down.

I can understand why cost might be factor in not making it worth getting a smartphone, but given that we're all people who play games and use the internet, I'd find it pretty hard to believe that if given a smartphone for free with a free data plan, people would just use it as a dumb phone.

I would. I might use it's features once in a blue moon.

EDIT: Actually, I would just sell it, pocket the money, and keep my current phone.

[Black Wolf]

I would. I might use it's features once in a blue moon.

EDIT: Actually, I would just sell it, pocket the money, and keep my current phone.

People say this sort of thing when they've never had one before. Once you have the functionality, you'll use it, and once you get used to using it, you'll wonder how you got by without it.

You don't seem to understand that that exact process happens to millions of people every year. You might think you're a unique little butterfly and that it wouldn't happen to you, but in the situation Kara described, I can 99.995% guarantee you that you wouldn't be.

[Lorric]

I would. I might use it's features once in a blue moon.

EDIT: Actually, I would just sell it, pocket the money, and keep my current phone.

People say this sort of thing when they've never had one before. Once you have the functionality, you'll use it, and once you get used to using it, you'll wonder how you got by without it.

You don't seem to understand that that exact process happens to millions of people every year. You might think you're a unique little butterfly and that it wouldn't happen to you, but in the situation Kara described, I can 99.995% guarantee you that you wouldn't be.

I disagree.

You're missing the point. I don't want or need the features on offer. Having them isn't going to change that.

[Black Wolf]

I disagree.

You're missing the point. I don't want or need the features on offer. Having them isn't going to change that.

Okay, fine, whatever you say. I suspect your opinion will change in the next few years though.

[Luis Dias]

"Ah computers darn things those r for basement geeks. I can do all my work in ma typewritar. I have no need for those new fads."

"Ah typewriters darn things these days thy people make. I can do all ma work with ma pen and paper."

"Ah pens! Darn fads! Can't they see how ridiculous they are?"

[Flipside]

Seriously, there are good arguments, and there's accusing people of being Luddites....

People here aren't saying they think the technology is worthless or evil or dangerous, simply that they feel they would have no use for it when attached to a phone. Whether you agree with that concept or not, it doesn't make them afraid or ignorant of that technology.

[Lorric]

Seriously, there are good arguments, and there's accusing people of being Luddites....

People here aren't saying they think the technology is worthless or evil or dangerous, simply that they feel they would have no use for it when attached to a phone. Whether you agree with that concept or not, it doesn't make them afraid or ignorant of that technology.

Thank you.

[Spoon]

I usually snap when people get snarky like you do, not because they say "I'm addicted", etc. I couldn't care less about inane obvious ignorant thoughts.

There's also a bit of a chutzpah for someone telling others they are addicted into social stuff "but not me I just have a dumb phone constantly in my pocket".

Consider for a moment the hilarity of being told one's addicted into social apps by someone who says they use facebook, when I don't even use any of those things except for twitter (which I use mainly to get interesting news or links in one-liners anyway).

You usually just snap at people from most of the posts ive read from you, so I'm not suprised to see you do it here too!
You also seem to be reading snarkyness where there is none. I don't see why you've been taking any of these posts in this thread so personally. People are just sayin' that they don't use smartphones and/or social media and that if they had a smartphone, they probably wouldn't use 10% of the features that one has. Nobody here has been going on about how having a old dumb phone is some kind of lifestyle statement against technology or anything. That's just you going on rants.

Seriously, there are good arguments, and there's accusing people of being Luddites....

People here aren't saying they think the technology is worthless or evil or dangerous, simply that they feel they would have no use for it when attached to a phone. Whether you agree with that concept or not, it doesn't make them afraid or ignorant of that technology.

Exactly.
The amount of anger/disbelieve this seems to get is downright puzzling.

[Lorric]

"Ah computers darn things those r for basement geeks. I can do all my work in ma typewritar. I have no need for those new fads."

"Ah typewriters darn things these days thy people make. I can do all ma work with ma pen and paper."

"Ah pens! Darn fads! Can't they see how ridiculous they are?"

Luis, you can't go complaining about Spoon (especially when he's said that what you thought he was saying is wrong, and I thought so too before, and I believe him now) then drop something like this in the thread. I don't know if you're merely trying to be funny or having a pop, but I see no smiley here. And if you are having a pop, this is the same kind of thing you are accusing Spoon of and getting aggravated about.

Can't you just accept that some people want different things and are not afraid of technology but simply don't have a use for this specific piece of technology? Technological advancements excite me, nothing could be further from the truth in my case.