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Am I the only geek who really loves my smartphone? It seems the popular "geek-chic" position to have these days is "you can have my old-fashioned phone when you

Am I the only geek who really loves my smartphone? It seems the popular "geek-chic" position to have these days is "you can have my old-fashioned phone when you pry it from my cold, dead, fingers". If anything, my smartphone doesn't have ENOUGH features, but that's currently due to the "dumbed down" mobile experience that many websites and Facebook seem to be content with giving me. I can't wait for semi-Augmented-Reality with Google Glass and always-connected Internet with (hopefully) better carrier coverage. Edit: The contract is too expensive though - I'm paying for tethering as well (AT&T) and with my work discount that puts me just over $80/month. I know, switch providers... (AT&T and Verizon are my only "real" options where I travel).

graue 14y ago
I don't think the author is saying his old-fashioned phone is chic... just economic. As a college student, he doesn't have a lot of disposable income, and to him the benefits of a smartphone don't justify the cost, even though he admits his feature phone is “not sexy” and “looks funny”. A lot of tech trends are really about fashion, but that couldn't be further from the case here. Edit: also worth noting, you can go the iPod Touch route and have all the wonderfully geeky benefits of a smartphone, but only when wifi is available. If you usually are in range of wifi, it could make sense... see my other comment about how a friend of mine does it.
- chadgeidel 14y ago
  You are correct of course. The author is very clear on this (which is one reason I upvoted the article). However, I do have many friends with this opinion who CAN afford smartphones. Even worse - I have friends that have expensive smartphones with the expensive data/text plan plan and would be better-served with an old dumbphone with a keyboard (for texting) and a iPod touch!
dagw 14y ago
I love my smartphone for everything except phone calls. Since I don't want to give my personal number to work contacts and vice verse I carry two phones. One smartphone (my personal phone) and one 4 year old bar phone (work phone). I use my smartphone all the time, however as soon as I have to make a phone call I instinctively grab the bar phone. My current thinking is to get something like a Note II to use as an always on internet device I can carry everywhere and an old bar or flip phone for making and receiving calls.

graue 14y ago

I don't think the author is saying his old-fashioned phone is chic... just economic. As a college student, he doesn't have a lot of disposable income, and to him the benefits of a smartphone don't justify the cost, even though he admits his feature phone is “not sexy” and “looks funny”. A lot of tech trends are really about fashion, but that couldn't be further from the case here. Edit: also worth noting, you can go the iPod Touch route and have all the wonderfully geeky benefits of a smartphone, but only when wifi is available. If you usually are in range of wifi, it could make sense... see my other comment about how a friend of mine does it.

chadgeidel 14y ago
You are correct of course. The author is very clear on this (which is one reason I upvoted the article). However, I do have many friends with this opinion who CAN afford smartphones. Even worse - I have friends that have expensive smartphones with the expensive data/text plan plan and would be better-served with an old dumbphone with a keyboard (for texting) and a iPod touch!

dagw 14y ago

I love my smartphone for everything except phone calls. Since I don't want to give my personal number to work contacts and vice verse I carry two phones. One smartphone (my personal phone) and one 4 year old bar phone (work phone). I use my smartphone all the time, however as soon as I have to make a phone call I instinctively grab the bar phone. My current thinking is to get something like a Note II to use as an always on internet device I can carry everywhere and an old bar or flip phone for making and receiving calls.