Should I get a dumb phone?

[orpheus]

(I also posted this over at RatSkep. But I wanted the opinions of you guyz 2.)

I've been using smart devices since they came out: first was a Palm Pilot (remember those?), then a Handspring Visor (a more advanced knockoff of the Palm), then another more advanced Visor, then a series of iPhones as they were released. Here's the thing: several years ago there was a two-week period during which I had no iPhone. (The reason isn't important.) As a stop-gap, I used a very inexpensive dumb phone - a Samsung, I believe, that was pretty much an old-style cell phone that could do two things: phone and text.

At first I went through a few days of "smart-phone withdrawal". I'd been used to having constant external stimulus whenever I wanted - listening to music, surfing the web, continually checking email, playing games, etc. I hadn't realized just how much I'd fallen into doing those things all the time, with almost no "down time". So, cut off from that, I had a few days of slight panic when I realized I was left alone with my own mind for company. But then I settled down, and curiously I found that my life was better. My mind started feeding me actual thoughts of some complexity (which had been in abeyance). My attention span lengthened. I read more books (and realized that so much of what I'd read while browsing the Web was intellectual junk food). I got more creative work done. I relished the feeling of relative solitude.

Now I'm eligible for a phone upgrade, and all signs point to Apple introducing its newest iPhone in just a few days. (I broke my current iPhone; it's limping along, but barely. I need something new.) I suppose I could get the new shiny model and try, through will-power, to not fall into the Abyss of the Smartphone. After all, there's an argument to be made for having smart phone capability/versatility in one's pocket, and only using it when really needed. It is certainly a handy tool, and I don't have to use all the features all the time. But it's expensive, and I don't know if I could resist all the nifty features. It might be hard - or impossible - to avoid falling back into "continually plugged into smart-phone mode" Or should I get a cheap dumb phone? If I do, it still counts as an "upgrade", so I wouldn't be able to buy an iPhone for another two years.

I guess I'm asking two questions here: first, any advice would be appreciated. Second, anyone want to share their experiences and thoughts on smart vs. dumb phones?

[klr]

...

Now I'm eligible for a phone upgrade, and all signs point to Apple introducing its newest iPhone in just a few days.

...

I guess I'm asking two questions here: first, any advice would be appreciated. Second, anyone want to share their experiences and thoughts on smart vs. dumb phones?

Aha. That would explain why there are sizeable discounts on iPods right now, since they share most of the iPhone tech. Doubtless there will be new iPods & iPads as well as iPhones.

I'm afraid I can't help here, as I'm a bit behind the curve on smart phones and tablets. I do have an aversion to i-Anything, as Apple kit tends to be expensive, and restrictive in terms of how you can use it. But Apple must be doing something right.

[Robert_S]

Try a dumbphone for a month or two.

[Bella Fortuna]

I haz the dumbest phone ever. I keep feeling embarrassed about it, but on the other hand, it cost me $15 and $100 buying minutes annually, and I'd had it for about five years. Not bad value-wise, as long as ALL you want to do it have a phone and an option for excruciatingly inconvenient texting.

[Azathoth]

get the decent phone from the upgrade and buy a brick with cash

[Bella Fortuna]

get the decent phone from the upgrade and buy a brick with cash

[Tero]

I actually want two phones. The smart phone for stuff, and the dumb one for phone calls. It has a better battery. And they should have the same phone number.

The smarter the phone, the more bugs it gets. I got the most years out of a Samsung flip phone.

[klr]

I actually want two phones. The smart phone for stuff, and the dumb one for phone calls. It has a better battery. And they should have the same phone number.

The smarter the phone, the more bugs it gets. I got the most years out of a Samsung flip phone.

Indeed. Any i-device or Android device is using an operating system barely less complex than that on a regular PC.

[JimC]

I have a dumb phone. However, I hardly ever use it - I just take it along on long trips for emergency use.

I am a phonophobe...

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

I haven't owned a mobile phone since my last one got nicked...Can't say that I miss it. In fact, it feels quite liberating knowing that I can't be pestered while I'm out of the house walking or driving, etc.

Now, if only I could afford some recording gear for the house landline so I could bill cold-callers then my life would be complete.

[hadespussercats]

the antenna on my dumb phone was soooooo much better than the one on my droid. But having a map with me wherever I go, being able to look for nearby purveyors of whatever I want wherever I am, and easier texting all make up the difference. But if you have a car with GPS and you're not out and about much, then yeah, get a dumb phone.

[Babel]

Why not try to have a low end smart phone? Less functionality, so less temptation. Costs less. But offers the most basic smart phone features. I have one of those and the small screen doesn't make it appealing to work with it for extended periods of time. But in case you need it, it has GPS, music, internet connection et al.

[JimC]

Why not try to have a low end smart phone? Less functionality, so less temptation. Costs less. But offers the most basic smart phone features. I have one of those and the small screen doesn't make it appealing to work with it for extended periods of time. But in case you need it, it has GPS, music, internet connection et al.

That is far too rational a suggestion for this forum...