For several months, I've been thinking about ways to simplify my life. One of the things I've contemplated is giving up my smart phone. Our family plan is up for renewal soon, and Steve and I have talked about switching back to regular, "dumb" phones. Steve is 100% on-board with doing it since he doesn't really use most of the features that come with having a smart phone. I think the only thing he'll really miss is getting sports updates as a game finishes. He says he'll live without it.
I use mine a little bit more than him and wonder if I can go back to having a regular phone. I bought my first smart phone, a cute, pink Blackberry, about 6 years ago, just after graduating from college. I'm sure I had a reason for buying it then but I can't remember what it was. I loved having instant access to my emails since I rarely checked my email at home and was often too busy to do so at work. That was the majority of my data action, as my screen was too small for looking at websites.
When Steve lost his phone in 2011, we decided to combine our plans (he had AT&T, I had Verizon and a black Blackberry) and opted for iPhones for us both. Admittedly, I've never grown to love my iPhone. In ways it's certainly better than my old Blackberry, but there are several things I miss about my old phone. In the past year or so, I've upped my usage of data stuff when I discovered Pinterest and started accessing Facebook, Kindle, and Pandora on my phone. I look up more websites on my phone, enjoying having access to all sort of information at the touch of a finger.
That said, I'm not totally sure I use my smart phone in such a way that justifies the added expense - even though we have the cheapest data plan possible. Even if I do, does that mean that making the switch to a regular phone wouldn't be beneficial? I'm a Luddite at heart and am kind of in love with the idea of de-connecting a little. I mean, I have an iPad from work that I can use for personal stuff (I'll have to give it back if I ever quit), a laptop, and a desktop computer at home, so it's not like I won't still be pretty connected. It just might be nice to have a phone that is just a phone. The main purpose for which I want it is to be able to call people and to text my husband throughout the day. Everything else is gravy.
My coworker, who used to work for Apple, switched from an iPhone to a regular phone and I asked him about it. He said at first it was pretty hard to lose some of the functions of a smart phone, but now he's so glad he did it.
Steve is definitely making the switch. He said I can keep my smart phone if I want. I'm not sure yet what I'll do. And, the good news is that no decision is permanent. If I go with a regular phone, it's not like I can't someday go back to a smart phone. Or if I choose to stay with my iPhone, I can always switch later. Right?
If you have a smart phone now, would you ever switch back to a regular phone? Why or why not?
I use mine a little bit more than him and wonder if I can go back to having a regular phone. I bought my first smart phone, a cute, pink Blackberry, about 6 years ago, just after graduating from college. I'm sure I had a reason for buying it then but I can't remember what it was. I loved having instant access to my emails since I rarely checked my email at home and was often too busy to do so at work. That was the majority of my data action, as my screen was too small for looking at websites.
When Steve lost his phone in 2011, we decided to combine our plans (he had AT&T, I had Verizon and a black Blackberry) and opted for iPhones for us both. Admittedly, I've never grown to love my iPhone. In ways it's certainly better than my old Blackberry, but there are several things I miss about my old phone. In the past year or so, I've upped my usage of data stuff when I discovered Pinterest and started accessing Facebook, Kindle, and Pandora on my phone. I look up more websites on my phone, enjoying having access to all sort of information at the touch of a finger.
That said, I'm not totally sure I use my smart phone in such a way that justifies the added expense - even though we have the cheapest data plan possible. Even if I do, does that mean that making the switch to a regular phone wouldn't be beneficial? I'm a Luddite at heart and am kind of in love with the idea of de-connecting a little. I mean, I have an iPad from work that I can use for personal stuff (I'll have to give it back if I ever quit), a laptop, and a desktop computer at home, so it's not like I won't still be pretty connected. It just might be nice to have a phone that is just a phone. The main purpose for which I want it is to be able to call people and to text my husband throughout the day. Everything else is gravy.
My coworker, who used to work for Apple, switched from an iPhone to a regular phone and I asked him about it. He said at first it was pretty hard to lose some of the functions of a smart phone, but now he's so glad he did it.
Steve is definitely making the switch. He said I can keep my smart phone if I want. I'm not sure yet what I'll do. And, the good news is that no decision is permanent. If I go with a regular phone, it's not like I can't someday go back to a smart phone. Or if I choose to stay with my iPhone, I can always switch later. Right?
If you have a smart phone now, would you ever switch back to a regular phone? Why or why not?