When A Telephone Was Just A Telephone

: Image via Wikipedia

I’ll admit it. I love Gadgets. I was hooked on computers long before I could afford to buy my first one, and I walked by the little store in town and stared at the little Atari computer sitting in the window every chance I got.

I remember the first cell phone I had like it was yesterday. But the cost of using it demanded that I use it sparingly, and mostly I kept it for emergencies. And for the most part I didn’t carry it with me because it weighed a couple of pounds and was as big as a brick. But it made me feel safer.

Lately, I’ve seen AT&T commercials on television that just drive me up the wall. The pitchman goes on and on about downloading songs and pictures faster than Verizon. And he tries to promote the fact that on their network, it’s possible to talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time. I can’t help but sit there and wonder why anyone would want to.

Maybe I’m different, but I struggle to do one thing at a time, let alone two or three. Sure, sometimes it would be handy to look something up on the Internet when you’re talking to someone. But how often is that? And the distraction factor is a big issue with me. I recently wrote a post on using a cell phone while driving. I’ll let that one go for now.

I’ll admit that I like fact that most cell phones now have a camera. That goes to my photographic hobby. That and the fact that I have a terrible memory and forget to take my camera with me sometimes when it would really be nice to have. I can usually remember to hang my phone on my belt. So most of the time I have a camera with me as well by default.

Image via Wikipedia

The cell phone has become the Swiss Army Knife of gadgets. Let’s see, you can make phone calls, have a calendar or calculator available, take pictures or videos, surf the web, consult a GPS to find an address, record a voice memo…just about anything you might need to do, you can do with a cell phone.

But AT&T needs a reality check. They have a reputation for the most unreliable service of the major cell providers. What good does it do to have a phone that you can surf the web while talking on the phone if you aren’t able to connect? Having the fastest network is easy when no one can connect. There’s no load on the system to test that speed.

Now, when it comes to fixing the problem of being distracted at the right time, there’s an easy fix. Every GPS system can be set so that it cannot be operated when the vehicle is moving. It would be simple to do the same thing with cell phones. When the network detects that the cell phone is in motion over five miles per hour, just disable everything except the ability to make 911 calls. Doesn’t that make sense? The problem is, it probably makes too much sense.

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Los Angeles Printing Service

I actually can't help but agree with the fact that you don't really need internet on your phone. If there is an emergency, you could use that phone to call them. The screen is tiny, beats the whole point of leisurely browsing.

meleahrebeccah

@Jaffer: I have a land line too, but it's a cordless phone so if the power goes out I am screwed. But, I would LOVE to get another land line, that is NOT cordless and preferably a throw back old school phone!

Flo

"I was hooked on computers long before I could afford to buy my first one, and I walked by the little store in town and stared at the little Atari computer sitting in the window every chance I got.

I remember the first cell phone I had like it was yesterday. But the cost of using it demanded that I use it sparingly, and mostly I kept it for emergencies. And for the most part I didn’t carry it with me because it weighed a couple of pounds and was as big as a brick. But it made me feel safer. "

This beginning had me rolling on the floor. I remember those Atari computers - I lived in Palo Alto at the time. My first computer cost me $3000 and they had come down!!!!! Also my first phone was one of those bricks too. I was so excited and thought I was so cool to have a cell phone. I remember it held a charge for about 3 minutes. Now my phone does things I'm not even aware of :)

Jaffer

@Meleah - I have a kitchen phone. It is my back up phone in case the cordless phone, goes poof ! Or when we loose power !

@Lee AT&T's reputation is bad here too thanks to Canadians visiting the USA. Our phones, begin roaming on the AT&T network in the USA. I am not sure if any Canadian company has deals with Verizon.

We in North America seriously lack competition in the Cell Phone Market. These monopolies are robbing us in day-light. Did you know that it is far cheaper to own a cellphone in - surprise surprise - South Asia ? Our phone models are primitive compared to overwhelming choices they are offered there.

And we are here still oogling at iPhones !

meleahrebeccah

I miss the days of the "Kitchen Phone". You know the one that was either mustard yellow or lime green and had the 500 mile long cord!!

PS: "The cell phone has become the Swiss Army Knife of gadgets"
That is a perfect comparison!