Sell-you-our network
Thursday December 29th 2011, 10:16 pm
Filed under: Family

So, I decided, let’s make something useful out of my downtime. (I’m up to a lot more than yesterday.)  Screentime? Sure.

Our family cellphone contract is finally up and four of the five phones are in bad shape and need to go; it would make sense to make choices while all those who need replacements are actually here.

Shopping for a cellphone is like shopping for a car:  it’s annoying and it just. takes. so.  long.

John and Richard went on a non-buying expedition to see some of the androids in person while trying to make up their minds. Michelle and I know what we want. Then, how much data. One company’s unlimited looked good till I read the fine print that says how much could be added to your bill. Let’s not.

Hours and much discussion and more hours and screens later, I think we’ve got it. But just to make sure there are no second thoughts, we’ll wait to hit “buy” till the morning.

Lightweight 8-megapixel camera always at the ready, here I come. Maybe I’ll even catch a hawk.


6 Comments so far
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I am not smart enough to use a smart phone. I just want to make and receive calls.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 12.30.11 @ 7:16 am

Good luck… I’m glad the Knight does that contract negotiation for us.

Comment by Channon 12.30.11 @ 8:06 am

I’m with Sherry.

Tell me, does your choice cook breakfast? Knit? Go shopping?

Comment by Don Meyer 12.30.11 @ 9:55 am

oh, I understand where you are here — we share our phone plan with our daughter and son in law — they have smart phones, and I would like that, but just can’t justify what that data plan additional cost would be — I did, however, get a phone with a QWERTY keypad so I can text easier — baby steps! I’m pretty sure you’re going to love having that camera always at the ready

Comment by Bev 12.30.11 @ 10:12 am

Wow, I have to be ready to wrestle a hydra before I go shopping online for electronica. Hope that means you’re feeling much better!

Comment by RobinH 12.30.11 @ 10:52 am

I agree that shopping for a car and shopping for a phone can each take a long time. Especially if everyone must agree on a model.

The thing is… I know what features I need in a car. I clearly don’t when it comes to a cell phone. Or didn’t.

Last time I had to made a decision I knew above all that I would never want to look things up on the Internet on a cell phone. And pay for the privilege?

Now I find myself with my knitting buddies. Someone mentions a knitting pattern. Everyone else wants to know what it is. And my fingers start flying on that cell phone keyboard even as I mutter that I once swore I’d never use that feature. And then we can all ooh and aah over the Gap-tastic cowl or some such.

And another thing. If I bought a smart stove, I’d expect so many electronic features that trying to figure them all out would exhaust me. Just resetting the clock after our frequent power failures would drive me up the wall.

Smart phone? Bah! Or not. Now that I have one, I feel as though it was designed for me. Who knew a phone could be so easy to use? Actually…that would be the lead engineer where I work. He insisted we use the only phones about the use of which neither his wife nor his-mother-in-law needed to ask him questions. I’m very grateful.

For a long time, I didn’t have a cell phone at all, not wanting to pay for one. Then I moved to the very cheapest cell phone one could possibly get, not that it was easy to use mind you.

But now I’m working for a company headquartered in the Silicon Valley out there where you live. There’s something about that techie culture surrounding one. Or at least I think so.

To my surprise, I found last summer, that not everyone there would welcome a lovingly hand-knit bookmark. So old fashioned! No worries. They’re gratefully received by many of my friends, even some in the Silicon Valley. Just not all.

Comment by RobinM 12.30.11 @ 4:25 pm



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