22 July 2010 Low Tech High Tech Phone Tech

22 July 2010 Low Tech High Tech Phone Tech


Today we looked at purchasing a pair of smart phones. The contract and necessary data packages would actually double what we are currently paying for next to no service. We ruled out the high tech approach. We don’t stream video, play on-line games, maintain social network sites, text instead of talk, or use phones to plan and carry our lives. We do, sometimes, use them to talk with each other or some other person.

We finally discovered a Samsung touch screen phone that can be used to communicate by voice and which does not require a high end data package. The provider, Verizon, was quite willing to sell us the phones and assure us that we would, most likely, get reception here in the valley at the end of Tennessee. Since they phones are to arrive tomorrow by Fed-Ex, we will see if we have phone service tomorrow.

These phones are sort of not-quite-so-smart, I guess. They seem to be designed more for downloading what might be call music than for any other purpose. I’ve no intention of streaming music casts or paying to download music to listen to in MP3 format. The reviews are mixed, some love it, some hate it, some reviewers can spell, and too many reviewers can’t spell. Are cell phones degrading American literacy? That is a serious question.

We actually had five days of contract time with Nextel/Sprint remaining. When I explained that we got only the most minimal of service for our payment they assured me that they would not assess a huge early termination fee. Kind of them.

We’ve always used Motorola phones in the past. The Samsung will be a new experience. We’ve also never been able to download ringtones previously. We found a link to a site that offers endangered animal sounds to download. That could be fun.

I need to mow and trim before Monday if possible. I also need to look at finding textbooks for my history class that begins in another month. I will not order the art-history texts which cost far too much for a survey course. I’m sure that a lot of the art can be located on line if one looks carefully enough. I’d rather put in the time than the money.