Don't have a cell phone? You're not alone.

[Mud Pie]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

OH, I had to come back and add this, because it is an important part of why I feel the way I do. Cell phones isolate people from the people around them. You see someone chatting merrily away on their cell ... nobody in their immediate presence even exists from their perspective. It's weird. Chatting in the checkout line, calling home to say you'll be there in five minutes, chatting about nothing important at all (gotta use those minutes I guess). I'll grant the legitimate need by a few people ... but the mass hordes are another matter. Madness.

Wouldn't this observation include two people standing in line talking to each other ? Many times I've had to "tap" two people standing in line to let them know they were "next". They were so engrossed in their conversation they were unaware the line had moved forward. Had nothing to do with cell phones. People pay attention to the person they are speaking to; whether in person or on the phone.

BTW- I had another legitimate use for cell phones occur yesterday. My mom called from her cell phone saying she had a flat tire but made it to a parking lot. Being I drive alot for my job, she contacted me on my cell phone. While I was enroute to help her, I called AAA and had them on their way, using my cell phone. The rainfall was extremely heavy yesterday.

I arrived, AAA came up shortly after, changed the tire, showed my card, did the paperwork thing, my mom drove home, I went back to work. My mom stayed dry as did I.

Now, how would this whole thing transpired without cell phones ?

[kwagar]

Now, do I need a cell phone ? Of course not. I also don't need the 300 piece Craftsmans socket set in my garage; a pair of Vise Grips could get most jobs done. A cell phone is a tool, just like the socket set. It makes a job easier to do.

I think we at times get confused about tools. I agree with Mudpie's observation the cell phone is a tool. Some need and use such tools and others choose not to use them and either choice is fine.

The problem is not the tool it's people's use of the tool or behavior. Tools can and are misused but that is not the fault of the tool.

A lot like the Internet, it can surely facilitate all kinds of illegal and abhorant behavior but can also be a very valuable tool for millions of people.

It's like Pogo said years ago, we have met the enemy and it is us!

[jediknight36]

She would have to had searched for a pay phone to call AAA herself. God forbid a shop owner let her use their phone. They never let me. Pay phones are increasingly becoming sparse and expensive. What cost you 25 cents in 1989 is now $1.00 or more.

I don't think it alienates people more than the current socioeconomics do. If I'm on the phone in a crowd or even in line, I make it as brief as I can. I am aware of others and I believe that I am not alone in this. Those people whom you think ignore you while on the phone: Either the problem is with you for getting offended by someone elses convorsation or they would have ignored you anyway. Think about it; were you going to talk to them anyway? If we lived in that kind of society where syrangers didn't exist and people talked to each other all the time, then I could see this. And I am excluding my generation and the generations younger yjan I because we are much more alianated than those who precedied us.

[brian r]

Originally Posted by BobDiaz

My office is at home so anyone who calls my home number is likely to reach me during the day, BUT everyone always tries to reach me via the cell phone. If I get my car serviced, the car place will NEVER call my home phone, but always calls my cell phone. If the school needs to contact me, they always call the cell phone and never my home phone.

I've reached the point where I lie to places when they ask for the cell number, I just tell the I don't have a cell phone.

Like Bob, my office is at home also, but my dilemma is that I live in one of the three "cell holes" in my town, so 95% of the time I have no service. Usually it works if we walk to the top of the driveway, or in front of the 5' x 7' window in my bedroom (on the 3rd floor with a clear southern view), but nowhere else. So few people have my mobile number, and most of the minutes on our plan are used by my two kids who are both away at school.
I use it when traveling or spend time out of the house.

My view of cell phones was probably influenced by my dad. He was a surgeon, and I often worked in his office on school breaks and when I wasn't at work during the summer. Before cell phones became mainstream, "car phones" were the latest thing. Sales people from car phone companies were always dropping by to convince him to get one. They told him all the other doctors in the area had them, and it was important for him to have one since he was a senior staff member at five hospitals. One woman even told him that he'd be saving lives if the hospital needed him in an emergency. He told them that at his office he had a main line and a private one for friends and family calls, and at any time carried at least two pagers; more if he was on trauma call at one of the hospitals. And that he lived eight minutes from home, where he had another phone. If he was in transit to a hospital and a patient was that badly in need of attention, one of his residents or fellows would attend to them.

The conversation always ended with him smiling at them and saying "...the car is the last friggin' place where I can have any piece and quiet, and it's gonna stay that way!"

When he turned 65 he didn't retire, but he did get cell phones for my mom and himself.

[TMACK]

Originally Posted by brian r

My view of cell phones was probably influenced by my dad. He was a surgeon, and
When he turned 65 he didn't retire, but he did get cell phones for my mom and himself.

Well, OK: Surgeons, (and doctors in general), should have cell phones.

"But besides that, what have the Roman's ever done for us?"

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

... can I really beat < $23/month? Not to mention the fact that everyone I know who owns one is apparently forced to buy a new phone periodically.

In your case, if the $23/month plan works for you, then probably not. I'd pay more than that in taxes on the "base plan" from the local land-phone provider, not to mention long distance charges. If the prices were roughly equal, then the choice is more obvious.

As for "being forced" to by a new phone, that's bull. I've had the same phone for 6 years now (a Nokia 6230i). They may entice people to update to a new phone by offering it for "free" with a contract renewal, but the only requirement to update happened exactly once for some providers, as they shifted from TDM to GSM technology. I'd updated twice in 15 years, which is one time less than my cellular provider has changed hands. How many times have most updated their home phone/answering machine in that time? (To get wireless phones or digital answering machines, for example.)

Originally Posted by NCC1701

Cell phones isolate people from the people around them.

Originally Posted by Mud Pie

Had nothing to do with cell phones. People pay attention to the person they are speaking to;

I agree with Mud Pie. I've seen people engrossed by other things, and be rude or unobservant without the use of a cell phone. It has a lot less to do with the technology they're using, and more to do with the mindset of the person. I've know people that can't focus on talking to someone while walking without tripping. I've seen drivers swerving between lanes because they're so busy arguing with their radio, or changing the station, or eating. Should we shun food because some people focus on it while in line, or driving?

A cell phone can be placed on a desk and used just like a land line. You could even tie a string to it if you like to be anchored to a wall or desk. You can't call for AAA for help when you car breaks down 30 miles from home using your home land line (at least not without a lot of walking....)

If people prefer to have a copper wire running from a pole outside to a coil near their ear, I have no issue with that. May they enjoy their 48volt powered communication devices. For me, I'll enjoy my quad-band radio with a specified digital packet format for my communication needs.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by chieftmc

IF you have non-satellite Internet broadband, I recommend using the "Magicjack"! It's only $20 a YEAR and it works great !!

I got MagicJack today. I actually haven't made a call on it yet, just picked up the phone and sure enough, there's a dial tone. Unfortunately, the phone's battery is nearly drained and will take a few hours to charge.

So, now I'm online trying to register. I got to a point where I had a question ... tried their live chat. Ended up 'hanging up' on Dory, who apparently doesn't have English as her primary language. So, I still haven't registered. There's no 'back' button on the interface, so I guess I'll have to start over from the beginning. Rather frustrating, but I think it will be worth the effort. If it is all it appears to be I may have to end my long term relationship with AT&T. Nothing drastic until I give MagicJack a shakedown though.

Still no interest in a cell, but this could replace my landline.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

I got MagicJack today. I actually haven't made a call on it yet, just picked up the phone and sure enough, there's a dial tone. Unfortunately, the phone's battery is nearly drained and will take a few hours to charge.

So, now I'm online trying to register. I got to a point where I had a question ... tried their live chat. Ended up 'hanging up' on Dory, who apparently doesn't have English as her primary language. So, I still haven't registered. There's no 'back' button on the interface, so I guess I'll have to start over from the beginning. Rather frustrating, but I think it will be worth the effort. If it is all it appears to be I may have to end my long term relationship with AT&T. Nothing drastic until I give MagicJack a shakedown though.

Still no interest in a cell, but this could replace my landline.

Now Let me get this straight NCC

You Have a Mobile Hot spot in your car.
You have a Computer you can travel with in your car.
You will soon have a Magic Jack you can plug into that computer allowing you to have a Phone in your car.


Let me be the first to congradulat you on having one of the most complicated Mobile phones on the market.

[NCC1701]

I've already confessed to being a gadget freak, and yeah, that would work, theoretically. But, I would never use it ... at least not with the car in motion. I could easily see me using the MagicJack > notebook > Autonet Mobile while holed up in a hotel room though. I promise to not take the rig through the checkout line at the grocery store.

I played around with it last night after I finally got it registered. It allows you to use a headset, and I found that you can run the incoming audio through the computer speakers. All that would be necessary for a speakerphone type set up is a small microphone. My netbook has a mic built in.

For anyone interested in the actual price:
MagicJack $43.15 with tax, includes 1 year of service.
$62.95 for Five Year Platinum PLUS Preferred Plan (now 6 years total)
$3 extra per year for chosing the last four digits rather than having them assigned.

Grand total for six years = $124.10, or $1.73 per month. My $23/month AT&T bill sure looks huge now.

Some drawbacks: If your cable ISP is on the fritz, you can't call them to let them know. And, reading the fine print I found something which doesn't rest easy with me ...

You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements. Advertisements will be served through the magicPage™ Software or the magicJack softphone - the software/softphone attempts to serve local advertisements and classifieds using a completely automated process that enables us to effectively target dynamically changing content. Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call and your registration information in order to improve the relevance of the ads.

it's not like I'm making phone calls to be ashamed of, but it is a privacy issue. Maybe I'll see popup ads for handicrafts produced by my Mom?

[TMACK]

The government has your number now, NCC1701.