Could you work without a smartphone?

[Retroelectric]

Hi all.
Not sure this is the right place to post so will move / delete if needed.
Just wondering if anyone could go back to working with just a standard mobile phone and text messages?
Obviously smartphones can be very useful and I would miss the camera, but just wondering if I could go back to life without one and check whatever needed checking when I got back on my laptop as I used to.
Whats everyone think?
Impossible nowadays?

Obviously I will keep an eye for any replies on my iphone!!!

 

[Dustydazzler]

To think, we used to get by with a van and toolbox.

In an emergency, it was find a land line or phone box.........and, in many cases, it was still quicker getting the blue lights to site than it is today.

a pre paid Phone card was an essential bit of kit back in the day incase you didn't have any change on you

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I have a dumb phone, and have never owned a smart phone. While I can see some advantages to having a smart phone, there are downsides too, and for me personally these outweigh the upsides.

 

[DPG]

Where do you stop though? OK, don't have a smart phone - just have a mobile phone. But why have a mobile phone at all - just have a wired home phone. But then why not go back to writing letters. Stone tablets??? Steam cars??

Just embrace technology, but don't let it rule you. I've got a decent Samsung S series smartphone, bought second hand (£130 2 years ago) and a £7 per month SIM. I can take photos, browse the web, use Google maps, book tickets, report issues. Anything a £1000 phone can to be honest. But if I don't want to be disturbed then it just goes on silent. Easy.

 

[baldelectrician]

I have a Googoe Pixel 6 Pro - my old phone was 6 years old and playing up

However, I have a different operating system - Graphene OS on my new Google phone and it is much better
It loads quicker and does not let Google track and send lots of data (for techies the Google stuff operates in a sandbox and this restricts Google Play)

It also records calls if I want (by pressing a button on the call screen), something Google Andriod used to do but tries now to prohibit

My contract is a 30 day rolling one, which is £10 per month

More info

GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS

GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

grapheneos.org

 

[Dustydazzler]

Technology is now a necessary evil in 99% of peoples lives today. Pandoras box has been opened and just wait till AI takes fully hold. Will make todays Tech look like a black board

 

[OnlQQker]

I did away with mobile phones over 2 years ago.

At first it does feel a bit strange, more so because people can't reach you with annoying texts like, 'can you put the dinner on as I'm going to be late' or 'my mum is coming over tonight, please try and be nice'

Customers can't ring and ask where you are when you're sat in Tesco cafe having a full breakfast, and it no longer can ring when I'm at the top of a ladder and I forget to hold on as I fumble for the phone!

It caused trouble when I first stopped using it as everyone wanted me to keep it, but once you get through that barrier it's a kind of a peace I just can't put into words!

 

[DefyG]

Of course you or anyone could, they don’t run cables or terminate equipment but do make communication or accessing product details as and when needed etc. much easier.

 

[littlespark]

Just as this thread started, Macdonalds has a new tv advert showing a guy in an office “stuck in the past” with corded phone, green monochrome crt computer screen and crocket and tubbs suit.


Accept technology for the good it can do… don’t let it rule your life…. And don’t blame it for every negative headline in the news.

The human race has always been a violent, nasty place to live…. Well before the internet or horror films came to be.

 

[nicebutdim]

Just embrace technology, but don't let it rule you. I've got a decent Samsung S series smartphone, bought second hand (£130 2 years ago) and a £7 per month SIM. I can take photos, browse the web, use Google maps, book tickets, report issues. Anything a £1000 phone can to be honest. But if I don't want to be disturbed then it just goes on silent. Easy.

That's how I do it - top of the range, but a couple of models back, costs around £100 a time and Tesco sim only deal at reasonable rate.

I don't understand the mentality of so many people who rush out and drop £1500 every time a new model is released. I really don't understand people who are permanently glued to their phone or who drop everything to grab it when it makes a noise.

 

[Mikegh]

I don't have any social media apps and sometimes disable the browser app for long periods

That leaves the phone as essential use only

 

[brianmoooore]

Wife and I have a smart phone each, both freebee cast offs from different 20+ year old offspring, and both paying £6 a month to run them.
Just had my annual 'report' from my provider. 42 texts and 53 minutes of voice for the whole year!

 

[nicebutdim]

I don't mind text messages, but more than one and it should be a 30 second phone call.

 

[timhoward]

I do find it very convenient being able to often say "please text me your address".
But I think the key is not being a slave to it.
A wonderful scene in "A touch of Frost" comes to mind. He had three trays, "In", "Out", and "LBW".
LBW stood for 'let the b*ggers wait". I'm quite happy not to be talking to some people haggling about the price to change the plug on a washing machine while I'm earning decent money on an "it takes as long as it takes" job.

 

[brianmoooore]

42 texts and 53 minutes of voice for the whole year!

Missus, on the other hand, clocked up just shy of 3000 minutes of yakking and 450 texts.

 

[baldelectrician]

I do find it very convenient being able to often say "please text me your address".
But I think the key is not being a slave to it.
A wonderful scene in "A touch of Frost" comes to mind. He had three trays, "In", "Out", and "LBW".
LBW stood for 'let the b*ggers wait". I'm quite happy not to be talking to some people haggling about the price to change the plug on a washing machine while I'm earning decent money on an "it takes as long as it takes" job.

I guard my mobile number quite close- my friends, family and very regular customers have it.

Others are given the business number which informs people that calls are recorded etc., these calls are also logged it comes in handy

For example one agent had a tenant trying it on (needed to top up meter - wanted agent to send an electricain in- no addtional needs present)
Tenant was informed if I went and it was not the landlords fault he may be charged for the visit, then had the brass neck to tell the agent he informed me that he would not be paying any costs and I had agreed.
Agent then says- Stewart records the calls, I will ask him

To sum up- agent covered, tenant put in place and money saved for landlord. Agent happy