Well, I just received my very first 'smart' phone

[Siwsan]

My old pre-paid flip phone is heading to the car console, as a designated emergency phone. I can keep it active for $10 a year, so why not.

The only reason I ever got a cell phone, in the first place, was at the request of my hard core, right wing Mom. When I started attending anti war rallies, out of state, she wanted to be sure I would be able to contact her, should I get into "trouble". Now the kids want to be able to text me, and visa versa, so I FINALLY made the leap to 21st century technology.

Anyway, wish me luck with my learning curve!!

[wryter2000]

1. I resisted for a long time

Now I don't know how I lived without it. The maps function just guided me through another state in a rental car on my own.

[Coventina]

2. I'm still holding out with my flip phone.

It's practically become a matter of principal, now.

I like that I'm hard to reach.....

[marylandblue]

4. I refused to text for a long time for that reason

Then some relatives got ill and I needed to be easy tp reach.

[Coventina]

7. Yeah, something like that might change it for me.

My mother was terminally ill in 2003, when texting really wasn't a "thing" yet.

If a similar situation arose, I wouldn't hesitate to change.

[lastlib]

24. I don't want to have a phone that's smarter than I am......

So I'm staying with my very basic phone. Yes, I can text on it, but I don't put "apps" on it. Not gonna be a slave to the "thumbnastics" thing........

[marylandblue]

3. Good luck and welcome to the 21st century!

Despite recent news, it"s really not such a bad century overall so far. Aming some positve developments
1) You can now see just about every show or movie every made from that little phone.
2) You have all the news unfit to print in your hand.
3) If something does happen at one of those rallies, you can film ans send it to the whole world as evidence. No more police bashing heads while nobody is watching.
Best of all- you can now read DU wherever you go!

[Skittles]

6. so essentially

You are advising them to turn into one of those idiots you see constantly on their handhelds, and to do so as quickly as possible.

[marylandblue]

10. No, but good point

Don't use your phone while walking or driving. People have fallen off of cliffs and what not.

[Skittles]

12. I see young people with their backs and necks sloped like old folk

too many of them a missing real life because they're constantly watching a tiny screen

[femmocrat]

5. I finally gave in too.

I thought I needed it for the Women's March... as it turned out, there was no signal in DC that day. I did get a few pictures, although we were packed in like sardines.

I still prefer my old phone. It had nice big buttons and took up less space. The iPhone buttons are too damn small for my fingers. I mostly use it to read the news while I sit around doctors' waiting rooms.

Oh.... and my "new" iPhone died... only 6 months old and the "Home" button jammed. I had my old "flip phone" for many years.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

8. I hated to give up my flip phone too, but...

After I got a smart phone several years ago, I kicked myself for not doing it sooner!

Among other things, it's so helpful to be able to check traffic and weather when I'm out and about.

[furtheradu]

9. Congratulations! You'll enJOY the magic phone!

You might want to keep the flip phone charger in the car console, too, if it's the kind that plugs into car cig lighter.

[Siwsan]

11. The screen on my flip phone is mostly black, now

Don't know what happened - I rarely used it so it was mostly closed. But when I went to replace it, the cheapest flip I could find, with TMobile was $75!!!

The kids really wanted me to learn how to text, so once I knew I had to replace my phone, anyway, I figured what the heck. Texting on a flip phone would be a nightmare, anyway.

I've got a charger for the car, and just figured if I keep that old phone where I can reach it, in an emergency, without fumbling, it will be worth the $10 per year to keep it active.

[furtheradu]

14. Sounds like a plan!

I've had the fancy phone about a year, really enJOY it! Still learning how to do things with it, but having Internet access in my pocket is awwwsome. I don't have a computer, so the magic phone is pretty neat!

[lunatica]

13. Amazon sells Smart Phone for Dummies or something similar

I just got my first iphone and I love it. I didn't even own a cell phone before so I know what you mean. And you know what? I also decided to get one to step into the 21st Century. What the hell. Why not?

[procon]

15. I'm clinging to my flip phone.

It's mostly off and I only carry it for emergency use when I leave home.

[Phentex]

16. The only reason I got an iphone

was so my kids could tell me how to use it. The only things I do now are text, call, get directions, and listen to music. I could check email and crap but I don't. Thanks to a new data plan, I can surf the net on occasion but usually only to get some kind of information. Oh, and I play a few stupid games. I have enjoyed sending pictures and texts to my kids in college.

Good luck!

[Siwsan]

17. I'm starting with a not very fancy smart phone - maybe I'll upgrade, later

I went with Consumer Cellular, and they are very flexible with changing plans. I'm not someone who is always connected to a phone, so it was nice to find a REALLY inexpensive way to upgrade from my old pre-paid plan.

[left-of-center2012]

18. My idea of a smart phone ...

It refuses to let me dial for a pizza to be delivered, saying :

"Really? Do you honestly think you need a few more pounds?"

[blogslut]

19. I held out for a long time too.

That was until the local taxi services turned to crap, leaving me stranded twice. I don't do thirds. I got a cheap paygo Android so I could use Uber/Lyft.

I dig my smart phone a lot, especially for use around the house on wi-fi. I really like podcasts and use them for help in falling asleep and load up a few for when I'm going to be out. As well, blogslut jr. and I communicate via Twitter DMs every day.

I won't use it for banking nor do I have my CC info attached to Google.

[Siwsan]

21. I'm the same about CC info and banking

My only issue, so far, is the spoken instructions for setting up the voice mail aren't in English!! I have no idea what I didn't do right, and can't figure out how to reset the process, so I'll be getting in touch with customer service, tomorrow morning!

[blogslut]

22. You might try looking up instructions on the internet for your phone model.

Look for videos on youtube too.

[Siwsan]

23. I tried that - no luck

The instructional video showed an icon popping up to start guiding through the process - specifically to allow a language choice - it never happened, on my phone. Just immediate Italian. Pretty sure it's Italian - I'd probably understand a little, if it was Spanish. Best I can do in Italian, is rude hand gestures.

Fortunately, if I have to re-set it and start over, it's no big deal. And I haven't given anybody my new phone number, yet, so I'm not worried about missing any messages.

[Kali]

20. just got my first device minus the phone part