tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post8351017731804597927..comments2024-03-28T22:03:06.328-04:00Comments on Live and Learn-Toss and Turn: Time for a smart phone?Live and Learnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-24123964758654691112015-03-01T14:12:25.441-05:002015-03-01T14:12:25.441-05:00My Tracfone contract is not up until November and ...My Tracfone contract is not up until November and I will probably have tons of minutes left. If you get another phone from them, you can transfer your minutes, I think. Both of my sons have resisted the smart phone bandwagon. It's not in their budget right now or let's say, they have chosen not to put it in their budget. Theo finally just got enough money to get internet service. However, they still seem to have a lot of knowledge, so I'll ask them. Or I'll go work on figuring out a closet organizer. We've only thought about doing that for about 5 years now. Oh, which project do we stop procrastinating on first?Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-24365906838685061652015-03-01T13:44:55.259-05:002015-03-01T13:44:55.259-05:00I think it's confusing to pick both a phone an...I think it's confusing to pick both a phone and a plan. Until I got my not-quite-smartphone, I didn't realize that different phones are more compatible for different plans, and I learned that you need to research what service providers will best service the area in which you need a phone. It's an issue for me because Verizon has the best service where I live, but in the town where I work, Sprint is a good option (but Verizon is supposed to be ok to use there, too). I seem to remember you saying that at least one of your sons is quite "techie"--he may be a great resource for you. <br /><br />BTW, it's "Ting", not "Tink", when you go to do your research. I'm completely bummed that Ting uses Sprint towers, because their method of pricing has a lot of appeal for me (you pay a minimal monthly base rate and then pay for what you use each month). For what it's worth, I've found helpful product reviews on Amazon. My yearly Tracfone card will be used up by summer so perhaps I'll be brave and join you on this smartphone journey ...Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-12293063061883798802015-03-01T07:48:17.743-05:002015-03-01T07:48:17.743-05:00I think I would love a smart phone if I got one. I...I think I would love a smart phone if I got one. I just don't want to add the expense of paying for all the features and time that make it worthwhile. However, I really haven't done any research in this area, so I guess I should do that before I rule it out.<br /><br />Reykjavík? That is what first comes to mind for the city heated geothermally. Is that right?Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-73933006288012112522015-03-01T07:42:32.504-05:002015-03-01T07:42:32.504-05:00Thanks for your concern about my family member.
H...Thanks for your concern about my family member.<br /><br />How very nice that your son helped you "join the rest of the world" when he gave you a phone. I wish someone would do that here. That would be an easy way for me to make a decision about both getting a phone and which one to get. I bet you really do appreciate being able to Skype with your grandkids (and son) with your phone. <br /><br />(BTW, Lois. I still cant' get the comments to work for me on your blog.)Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-12636186937441831002015-03-01T07:37:37.921-05:002015-03-01T07:37:37.921-05:00That's interesting the way that TracPhone work...That's interesting the way that TracPhone works. However, I don't know if they still may be cheaper in the long run or not. They usually have some really good deals. I'll put them on the list, but remember to pay attention to the point you made about the different buckets on all phones.<br />Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-76362804043169829002015-03-01T07:33:05.105-05:002015-03-01T07:33:05.105-05:00I think I'll start doing some research even if...I think I'll start doing some research even if I'm not ready to get one. I'm not willing to pay for a full data plan, so it may take some time to figure out a good deal. <br />Thanks for the heads up about Republic Wireless and Tink. I'll put them on the top of my list.Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-32917835743634955092015-02-28T23:19:28.877-05:002015-02-28T23:19:28.877-05:00First, I hope your family member is doing better. ...First, I hope your family member is doing better. <br /><br />I do have a smart phone. It wasn't something I ever considered but when my phone died and my son who worked for the cell phone company and had second hand phones arrived to replace my dead one it was a smart phone. he thought it was time I joined the rest of the world :-) I am fine having it and it's nice to be able to check email I especially enjoyed having Skype on my phone to talk to the grandchildren. Is it necessary? No, I would still be fine with a flip phone if I had to purchase another phone.Loishttp://theecograndma.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-44408104010201536362015-02-28T22:33:14.974-05:002015-02-28T22:33:14.974-05:00I do have a smart phone. Several years ago I was ...I do have a smart phone. Several years ago I was working (gratis of course) as a fundraiser for an organization. It seemed someone always needed to get in touch with me immediately, so I broke down and bought one for the email ability. It did not take me long to get on the bandwagon, and how nice to be visiting a different city and being able to google and find exactly where things are. In fact a couple of years later I got and Ipad for my birthday and thought it was a complete waste of money. Wrong, I am a total ereader now and love knowing that if I am in bed and need to know the only geothermal heated city in the world, I can find it.<br />Only problem is my Ipad is not 4g so it does require a working internet connection. Not so with my phone.Anne in the kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01533249631969001657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-90800663212144820942015-02-28T18:25:48.705-05:002015-02-28T18:25:48.705-05:00So funny you brought this up! I had lunch with a ...So funny you brought this up! I had lunch with a friend and we were talking about this very topic! We don't have smartphones, either. Last summer my son's baseball coach wanted to be able to text us about schedules and I had to confess that our phones couldn't even receive texts ... so when I stumbled on a Tracfone deal for $10 for a phone that had talk, text, and a very low-level internet connection which would allow me to stay w/my cheap Tracfone, I bought it. I have mixed feelings about the phone--the internet service is sooooooooo slow that it eats up all my minutes so I never use it. I really like being able to text ... but I'm like you, I'm waffling between "this isn't really a necessity" versus "there are some nice features on a smartphone that I'd like to have". The first thing I think of is easy access to weather and traffic conditions. <br /><br />I've checked into Ting, due to thefrugalgirl's recommendations, but it mainly uses Sprint towers and that doesn't work for our area. Tracfone has better smartphones than the one I currently use, but they use the "bucket" approach--if you use up the "internet bucket" but still have minutes left in the talk or text bucket, you still have to buy more minutes--they don't let you dip into the other buckets. That's a big turnoff for me. <br /><br />So I think you should be the first of us to take the leap and then do a review! ;) How's that for a plan??? Oh, BTW, we don't have a tablet either. I really have no need for that at all, so it isn't any kind of temptation for me. Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315851262843522940.post-41610506027222975092015-02-28T17:45:28.995-05:002015-02-28T17:45:28.995-05:00I don't have a smartphone either, though I do ...I don't have a smartphone either, though I do have a tablet, but only because CatMan bought me one a while back. I have mixed feelings about the whole idea. On the one hand, I agree that it really is "miracle technology" on the other hand, it seems that people have a very hard time making this technology work for them instead of the other way around. <br /><br />At the moment I really have no use for a smartphone, but that could change in the future. We'll have to see. I'll be curious to learn what you decide about it. I've heard that Republic Wireless and Tink are the best deals if you do decide to go for it. No clue whether that's true or not!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.com