$MART PHONE$, What am I missing?

[DWSmith]

Everyone in our family that has a cell phone uses a $MART PHONE except for me. That includes; SWMBO, our 3 kids, our daughter-in-law, and 2 grandkids. (Our youngest grandkids are 6 and 10 and don't have phones.) I use a flip-phone.

What am I missing?

We are switching plans so now would be an excellent time for me to switch to a smart phone. I can't think of any reason to get one.

Yeah, I suppose I'm just weird but I'm sticking with my flip-phone unless I can find a good reason to switch. Can you think of any good reason?

[veggiechicken]

I'm not Smart enough to have a Smart phone - so its no good asking me!

[Jungle Jane]

I don't have one but one good thing is some of the apps,my daughter & her friends use snapchat maps or something & they can see where each other are,which is a good safety thing,I said to my daughter I could get that & we could know where we both are but she didn't want any of that

[DWSmith]

I'm not Smart enough to have a Smart phone - so its no good asking me!

That's a good reason for me to stick with my flip-phone. Thanks!

Seriously, it's that life is too short to spend that much time with a phone.

[Guest]

It really depends on what you want your phone for. I have a PAYG flip phone as all I want it for is in case of emergency. However if you feel anxious leaving your computer, feel the need to tell everyone the most mundane things in your life on every possible social media site, want to take pics especially selfies every where you go then a smart phone it is.

[Snadger]

Cheaper than a camera and is handy for emails on the move, also a damm site easier to text with.

[happyhumph]

Well I'm having a cup of tea in my warm cosy bed while typing this...

Use mine for texts, emails - use for work as self employed. Use as a camera - smaller and lighter than a camera and generally with me - capture those unexpected moments.

Listen to radio when out, Strava for running - can see if I'm getting better.

Sometimes use as a phone!!

This site and Strava are the only social media I use

[Lumpy]

My son gave me an iphone 6 (is that a smart phone?) because he said he wanted to drag me into the 21st century.

I must admit being able to facetime him (video conversations) and see our 4 year old Grandson was a real treat (they lived 500+ miles away).

I know I could do that on my laptop but always had problems.

I'm a complete tech dufuss but have found the phone much easier to use than our old one. It takes pictures that I can send on without the need for a card thingy (note the tech term) and allows me to check the bank and power supplier accounts without having to turn the laptop on and then spending 20 minutes begging it to do something.

Oh and I can make pics and text bigger by just moving my fingers apart.

[Nannysally99]

I manage very well with no phone, let alone a smart phone
I have an iPad which I get on very well with though ..

[Scarlet]

I love mine, it doubles up as a camera and I love taking photos - I don't do selfies! I use it as a sat nav. I cant get any radio reception in my little workroom but I can use my phone and/or send it to my mini speaker (new christmas present ) great for going away and I also have audiobooks. I love listening to books when I'm driving. I have apps - such as Paprika - this stores all my recipes, brilliant for when I'm shopping , I also use it when I'm cooking I have an app for converting weights, measurements, an app for converting cake recipes to different size/shape cake tins etc even the calculator. Yes, you can go and find a calculator but your phone is always with you!. Diary, alerts - store calendars for the whole family, schedule things to do and reminders...I set alerts for all appointments. I can pay bills from my phone and transfer money, I receive bank alerts weekly to review my bank accounts. Check all my bills, I have apps for Phone, gas, elect etc all in my hand - everything paperless for me....I use notes to store info, drivers lic, passport numbers, hospital/patient number for all of us. No rushing off looking through paperwork. If I'm out everything is with me and I don't have to wait until I'm at home/in the office. You can download tickets, vouchers etc and they can be scanned as you go in/use them. I couldn't be without mine.





PS....don't ask VC about phones

[Nicos]

I won't have one for that very reason!
Imagine how you would feel if you lost your phone permanently!!!!!!

[Scarlet]

Hmm, I have an IPad that does exactly the same as my phone and everything is backed up...all devices password protected.
iPad is for in the house so I get the luxury of a bigger screen. They work in tandem - if I get a message it comes through on both devices, if I take a photo I can access on either phone or iPad.

[Scarlet]

It really depends on what you want your phone for. I have a PAYG flip phone as all I want it for is in case of emergency.

If you are starting business you should look at card readers. People don't carry cash and want to pay by card. Cheques are pretty redundant. Card readers cost as little as £20 to buy and for a small percentage you can take payment so long as you have a smartphone....even in a field.

[Bren In Pots]

Cheaper than a camera and is handy for emails on the move, also a damm site easier to text with.

That's what made me decide to get an iphone, I liked my flip phone but it just took ages to type having to press a key 3 times just to get the the letter I wanted.
Now I think of it as a portable computer its there when I need it.

[Snoop Puss]

I have one as back-up for if the internet connection goes down and I need to send a file to clients. I only pay for a monthly data allowance, calls are on top, but if I (or more particularly, Mr Snoop) remember to use the operator's app rather than the signal carrier, then they're free.

Some of the apps you can get are brilliant. Stargazing (but make sure you get a phone with a magnetometer) - just point at the sky and it'll tell you what star or constellation you're looking at; birdwatching - visual ID and calls; maps; music and radio on the go.. They're great educational tools and a source of entertainment.

Even though I hardly ever use mine for calls or email, I wouldn't be without it, just in case I need it.

You don't have to buy an expensive iPhone or other phone. Mine was quite expensive by my standards (about 180 pounds), but it has an amazing screen (only 5.5 inches but full HD definition), which is handy, especially when I'm travelling. I can read newspaper articles on it, no problem. Mr Snoop still has a feature phone (phone with radio, plays music), but he's thinking of swapping over. In fact, he uses my smartphone more than I do.