Minimal Cellphone (the anti-smartphone)

"Is there really anything that a "smartphone" does that will make my life that much better?"

From the rest of your ran…er note, I take it this was a rhetorical question? ;-)

Yes Douglas, I guess it was rhetorical, but do you have any must-have features in mind? Of course, the trail GPS apps would be convenient, but I'd personally rather orient myself with map and compass.

I really am drawn to the iphone but I just cant justify the cost quite yet.

Also, can we assume that the higher bandwidth our 3g-4g-soon to be 10g phones are pulling, the more radiation risk we're enduring?

"Also, can we assume that the higher bandwidth our 3g-4g-soon to be 10g phones are pulling, the more radiation risk we're enduring?"

No.

–B.G.–

Steve Jobs: No interest Reply to Tawkon SAR Meter App
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1369796/Steve-Jobs-personally-rejects-cellphone-radiation-level-app-emailing-makers-interest.html

&

CNET: iPhone 4’s SAR higher than iPhone 3GS

I’m not retreating into a bunker any time soon, but these topics seem to be of some concern these days. Any further tech insights on SAR levels would be enlightening.

Why is his regular voice plan $60/mth? That's obscene…

We split 1400 minutes between 3 people, which works out to ~$60 each. My wife is about to join in and the 4-way split will be about $43/month. Is this really that bad of a deal? Dan, what provider are you with?

$172 for 1400 minutes, means you're paying 12 cents a minute… ouch! Yep, much better plans are out there. My Sprint family plan is 1500 minutes split between 3 people for $75 a month. Might want to call when your contract is up and see if you can do the old "threaten to take your business elsewhere" routine to get that charge down.

Is there really anything that a "smartphone" does that will make my life that much better?

In my case, yes, it gives me the freedom to be where I want to be and still take care of business and stay in touch. That doesn't mean that I am on the phone all the time. I actually only have a 700 minute per month plan that I share with my wife and two daughters. We use much more data than voice and can also take advantage of free mobile to mobile calling. When I am home, I don't need to sit in front of my desktop to send email and read BPL articles – I can do that on my phone or iPad. As a matter of fact, I spend far less time in front of my traditional desktop. I find that the smaller smartphone and tablet screens keep me focused since I can't have a bunch of windows open at one time.

I would say its a love hate thing. I hate having a cell phone. I use boost mobile month to month with a crackberry, it cost $60 per month plus $5 tax for unlimited everything. The only drawback is I had to pay for my phone, $180. thats $960 per year or $2.63 per day. So for less than the cost of a cup of coffee I am free to do as I please all day long, it has become a mobile office I spend all day every day playing outside or rebuilding my new boat, hiking biking or just sleeping in the park. My semi smart phone has freed me to no longer have to sit in my office waiting for the phone to ring. In less than a year I will be semi retired and so will my phone but for now its my freedom to actually live, feel the sun and enjoi each day to the fullest. Life is short, get out and stay out.

Check out Virgin's rates

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/beyond-talk-plans.jsp

You might consider getting the most high-end phone that works with Verizon's pre-paid daily plan. Unfortunately, that's not all that great — as far as I can tell/guess, it seems like Verizon has decided not to allow higher end cell/smartphones to work on their pre-paid daily plan, perhaps with the idea that folks who want a higher feature phone will be willing to pony up the money for an expensive cell phone addiction/habit.

Still, you can get something with some functionality beyond barebones, and the verizon network works better than most in the backcountry.

The best thing any kind of phone can do is be turned off.

The myth that cell phone radiation is creating tumors is very much false. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/93/3/203.abstract?ijkey=fe4d6f43f440f51426ab0fba45f17afc8d353c06&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

Smartphones are wonderful but you can still ignore them at will. I have a phone, calendar, email, internet, gps, reading, entertainment, etc. all in my pocket if I want it.

"I really am drawn to the iphone but I just cant justify the cost quite yet."

Since you haven't found a feature or app you really want, what draws you to it?

I've never once in 4 years thought to myself "man I wish I would have bought something other than this iPhone".

I'm with Chris on this one, there hasn't been any single purchase in the last few years that I've felt was more worth the $.

you also don't have to pay $200+ for an iPhone anymore. Can you get him one of the previous gen. models for $49?

you also fault the iPhone for the $30/month data fee but then say "and in a pinch I can use the crappy web browser on my flip phone." Wouldn't you need data for that?

All I'm saying is that your cost analysis is worse than it really needs to be and you get a LOT more functionality from a smartphone for little to no extra cost.

Thanks for all your insight, folks.

Chris wrote:
"Since you haven't found a feature or app you really want, what draws you to it?"

I'm drawn to the iPhone over the Blackberry or Droids because of their intuitive menus and ease of use.

Nathan wrote:
"you also don't have to pay $200+ for an iPhone anymore. Can you get him one of the previous gen. models for $49?"

Nope, the only one that works on the Verizon network is the current model.

Nathan wrote:
"you also fault the iPhone for the $30/month data fee but then say "and in a pinch I can use the crappy web browser on my flip phone." Wouldn't you need data for that?"

No, i don't need a $30/mo unlimited data plan. The voice plan comes with unlimited texts and something like 20mb data to cover minimal internet browsing.

"the freedom to be where I want to be and still take care of business and stay in touch"

"The best thing any kind of phone can do is be turned off."

My intention is to strike some a balance between Michael and Piper's sentiments. Call me Amish, but my intention is to avoid, at all costs, becoming one of these phone zombies we see every day, faces down at little screens, consumed in computer world. I don't see it being much different than the younger kids who walk around staring at a Playstation PSP. I'd personally prefer to bury my nose in a book (or kindle) than point it at a glowing screen of neverending distraction.

But of course, hike your own hike!

I'll probably just wait another year or two until data plans get more affordable.