I did my share of pole climbing, hauling around a PRC-10 and splicing WD1/TT wire in 67. Then I took a short and 1049 'd to aircraft electronics school. But yeah, the talkies were pretty neat with the exception of having to load it up with everything else I had to carry. Pack Mule extraordinaire! Bottom line though, I hate ALL types of phones but if I have to have one, the Apple phone I have at the present is far better than anything I have ever owned.
Why do you dislike cell phones? Unless you don't use a phone enough to have a cell phone. A "Cricket" type cell phone is cheap enough. It is actually made for Seniors. Back in 2000, we had a "pay as you go" cell phone from Walmart and had it when we were in our vehicle. Perhaps you don't drive that much or at all? Having a cell phone while driving, for emergencies, can definitely be handy. We found that out once.
The preference for the larger mobile phones of recent past was not only a new convenience but served as a status symbol for many users; particularly of the male persuasion. It’s no different than the opposite transition from the once new small transistor radios with the single ear bud to the big boom boxes that guys lug around on their shoulders. The bigger it is and the more shiny buttons it has is meat for the average man looking to upgrade his social status. Do compare the old bulky dial phone with the marketing of the princess telephone. Notably, every wife won the battle of which phone was going to hang prominently in the kitchen whilst the bigger black dial phone found itself in the garage or workshop. Oh yeah, one thing I didn’t mention in my previous post is that I only average about 1.5 calls a day but whilst working, I hook up the very small bose-like blue tooth speaker and I can play nearly every available radio station in the world plus spotify and a couple of other music only stations.
I have never been particularly fond of cell phones but I have had one for at least 15 years or so. My first one was a Trium Neptun having a coloured, translucent plastic case like the first iMac. (I've just had to google the name which I had forgotten.) I also mainly bought it for making emergency calls as Cody said. Making normal phone calls was prohibitively expensive at that time (ca. $2 a minute which at that time was more than it is today) and is still too high for me. That's the first reason why I didn't like them. The other one still is electro smog. Back then cell phone radiation used to be way higher than today and there were some very unpleasant examples of exposure to it in the news. For 5-6 years now I've had a cell phone with internet access and touch screen but I didn't use the internet. About two years ago I eventually bought a real smartphone. Both have been pre-paid phones because I dislike making phone calls. But what I really enjoy is the built-in camera and Whatsap with which I share messages and photos with family and friends. I don't want to do without both features any more. It's also handy to quickly check something on the internet in the later evening when I'm relaxing on the couch. The "walkie-talkie" kind of cell phones used to be real status symbols and their owners would make sure the cell phone was put on display on the table in a restaurant or café in order to convey the desired message.
Hey Cody, I dislike cell phones because I don't think they're necessary for anyone except Police, Fire, and Medical persons. SERIOUS uses, not rag-chewing! I bought a cell phone about 12-13 years ago, just to keep in my car to report traffic mishaps to the Highway Patrol. The phone stays in my car's center console, always under charge; I never take it with me! Whenever I see a traffic mishap on the freeway, the Highway Patrol is already there, probably because they were summoned earlier. Since my cell phone is always in my car, nobody knows its number, and even I don't know its number and don't need to know it! Every 3 months I buy a TrakFone Airtime Card for $20, just to keep my service alive in case I ever need it. Whenever I go to Lowes or Home Depot or Best Buy or the Supermarket or for Car Servicing, or to the County Fair or to a Dog Show, I go there just for the purpose I'm going there, not to chat with anyone on a telephone! Now, I don't want anyone to reply saying, "I'm with you, Hal...I don't believe in nonsense calls either", because you all love your Cell Phones or you wouldn't be walking or driving around using it. I'm sure we're agreeable in other respects! Cheers, Hal
There are many people who love their iPhones that don't use them walking or driving. I would never text while driving...I would crash. While walking I may stop to take a picture.
My car stopped dead on me while doing errands downtown and a passerby stopped and graciously let me use his cell phone to call for assistance. I didn't own a cell phone at that time but I thought after that experience it would be beneficial to get one since phone booths were no longer around. I purchased a basic pay as you go Nokia at T-Mobile for emergencies only. I had that cell for 18 years until I found a previously owned flip phone with a camera at the flea market for $10 and just switched out the SIM card. I had to get use to carrying it around though. Too many times I needed it and didn't remember to bring it with me.
No, Cody...I don't drive much at all. My car is 6-1/2 years old and has just 22,000 miles, and I log fewer miles every year. Sometimes my car stays in the garage for a week at a time. My present car may last me until I die. That's all.... Hal
Having a cell phone beats the hell out of walking if my car breaks down. Only a few years ago, I let my car run out of gas. My fault, I wasn't paying attention. But I didn't have my phone with me and I had to walk seven miles, pay an exorbitant price for a gas can, then walk seven miles back with a can full of gas.
Although I don't use a cellular telephone device, I keep one in my car for emergencies. I've never had to use it for the 13 years I've owned it, but I keep AirTime installed and it stays charged continuously. AirTime costs me $21 for 3 months of service, using the TrackPhone system. I don't even know the phone number, which is just fine with me! Hal
As far as I have heard, you can call emergency service even when you do not have an active carrier, and I have read that some people carry an old cellphone in their vehicle just in case they need to make an emergency call.
@Hal Pollner " Now, I don't want anyone to reply saying, "I'm with you, Hal...I don't believe in nonsense calls either", because you all love your Cell Phones or you wouldn't be walking or driving around using it." Not universally so. Make no hasty generalization when it comes to this irritable chord. I have one, don't much care about having one, but I accede to my wife's pragmatic insistence that I have it available, for those times when we traverse those great, sprawling masses of folks giving in to human greed in the gambling houses around us. Often, we get separated. Ever try to find an acquaintance in one of these dens of iniquity? Despite being in touch, I undergo reprimand invariably for allowing separation to take place. Of course, it was not her fault.........Often I yearn to slam the damned thing down on the pavement......... Frank