I may want to get a Smart Phone, then again, I may not. For 18 years I've kept a small TRACFONE in my cars, where it has remained to this day, always charged up. I bought it just to report emergencies or breakdowns on the highways. I don't even know its number! I pay $20 for 3 months of service, which I roll over as "unused minutes" whenever I buy an Airtime Card. I get 60 minutes of talk time per airtime card, and for 18 years I have never used a single minute! That's 4,320 talk minutes I've never used. If I get a smart phone, it doesn't need Internet Access, only enough memory for 300 photos and a few short Videos, and enough storage for up to 6 phone numbers, so how much would it cost for regular, non-Internet service? The more I consider it, the more I feel that I don't need a Smart Phone. If you consider this post a waste and not worth a response, then I respect your thoughts! Hal
It is possible that you do not need to keep the contract on your old cell phone, @Hal Pollner . I read that even if you do not have a contract, you can still make an emergency call to 911, as long as the battery is charged up, and you are somewhere that has cell service.
Hal--the "internet access" is known as "data" on a phone plan. I'm not sure why you'd want a smart phone at all if you don't have a data plan; what would be the point? The cost for service shouldn't be any different no matter which model your phone is; you are paying for the service. You will have to shell out a significant amount to buy the phone itself, however.
Thanks for the comeback, Beth. Thinking about a cell phone is no different than other items I bought and then forgot! I have a generous hobby budget, and up until a few years ago, when I was deeply into Astronomy, I spent thousands on each of several telescopes, one for over $4000 and the big 20" Reflector cost me $7300 with the large finder scope! During the 55 years when I was really into the hobby, I spent close to $30,000 on Telescopes, Eyepieces, Filters, Sky Charts, etc. Two years ago I paid $1100 for a Computerized Maksutov Refractor, which had a 4000-object database and could locate and track any object in the heavens. I never once took it outside to look through! I recently donated it to HiDAS (High Desert Astronomical Society), the club I belonged to before I lost interest in Astronomy. Now I'm thinking of a Microscope, so I'll probably order one, use it for a few days, and then store it in my scientific storage cabinet! This is how it's been since I retired, Beth...lots of time and plenty of money to spend on items that come to me in a whim, then peter out once I have 'em! I have your excellent instructions on transferring videos from YouTube to the Senior Forum, which were successful without having to resort to any silly URL! I have it on Photo Paper, trimmed to the size of a 3x5 card for convenience. Thanks for all your help, and I include Al, Bess, Yvonne, Bobby, and others! Hal Hal
If you don't need a smart phone for online interaction, then you would probably just wast your money buying one........ and waste your energy trying to figure out how to use it. If this is a vote...........................It's a NO from me.
Bess...I've always agreed with your viewpoints on just about everything except the most efficient method for extracting bomb-grade U-235 from non-fissionable Uranium-238. (I prefer the Electromagnetic Method over the Gaseous-Diffusion Method) But you've clinched it... I'm not getting a Smart Phone! Hal
@Hal Pollner The "connection" here between abstract nuclear decisions and technically-current use of "smart phones", eludes me.......Frank