I am going to go against the popular grain here.
I recently shut off my smart phone. I got tired of the problems with the phone that I had and didn’t want to pursue another. The prospects (especially cost) of that upgrade simply were not appealing to me.
I own a netbook. Whenever I am going to be away from home for very extended periods of time, especially when I know I have loose ends hanging via email, or on the website, I will pack the “mini laptop” in its case. It may take 20 minutes of my entire day to do a bit of business away from home. At crucial times it is worth it.
I truly feel liberated from the smart phone. My new phone doesn’t even have a camera on it. Isn’t that a hoot? I have a camera and a Flip video camera. They are enough. I took a step backwards in technology!
You can see the badges in my sidebar, I have a Twitter and Facebook account (both personal and Annie’s Goat Hill.). Those accounts are also used with limits. I work social media into my daily schedule, perhaps a 1/2 hour or less in the morning, a short period of time after I eat lunch, and a few minutes in the evening. I have met some wonderful people, customers, and other soap makers through social media. I think social media has its place, and it can be effective and positive, with limits set.
Phones are getting fancier and more costly. Can you imagine the money that is being made on smart phones these days? Always a new one, always a better one. I agree, the applications for the phones are excellent. And yes, they do help those that operate small and large businesses. But when does it stop? And does it need to? Does a $699.00 phone repay for itself?
What are your thoughts regarding the smart phones, constant connection (an entirely different topic), and social media? In my own opinion, less is definitely more. How do you feel about it?
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
I have a Blackberry. Just recently upgraded to a newer one. Personally, I love it. But my life does not revolve around it. I like having the availibility to read and comment on Facebook or Twitter as things are happening. It makes things interesting and can be quite amusing at times. Like recently I commented on Facebook about a lady behind me in line, speaking loudly on the phone. I wasn’t really complaining that she was telling the whole room her personal business. It was comical to me and reading the comments from others made me giggle. I guess I like having a connection to others, when I would otherwise not.
I could live without it if it were necessary. But for right now, I really enjoy being connected.
Becky, I did that once in the car dealership. We were waiting for my husband’s truck repair. A young lady in the waiting room was talking so loudly I think they could hear her on the other side of the building, seriously! And her perfume could probably float that far as well. Trying to not be judgmental here, but, I did have fun tweeting a bit about the situation. I blew off some steam. Social media is fun, and does have its place, and it is nice to stay connected. As you said, my life does not “revolve around it.”
I know what you mean, Mary.
I had a “Cookie” touch screen phone. Hated it. Gave it away. Swore I’d never own another, and that was after having it for 2 weeks. And then… the iphone. They said “just give it 30 days to try. If you don’t like it, bring it back.” That was 6 months ago. I have used the Internet on occasion (mostly FaceBook), and have checked my email on occasion, but not $30 a month’s worth… the photos aren’t worth writing home about. I do like the ease in function and figuring everything out… user friendly it is… but I could have managed just as well with a flip phone. I like flip phones. I’m sure one day I’ll return to one. Or, maybe I’ll just do without… time will tell. 🙂
Right now I am loving the return to the flip phone. I paid less than 30.00 for it at Wal-Mart. I may change my mind again some day, but I am happy as a lark right now. I didn’t upgrade, obviously!
Hi Mary
I couldn’t agree with you more. I have a Blackberry and it is already outdated. I am making cuts in my household in regards to “needs” and “wants” and I have thought about cutting the BB and going back to a regular phone. I too have a netbook and I can easily take that anywhere, especially since NYC is a wifi/wireless city. I would love to go back to the days of paying less than $50 a month for a bill and not feel so “connected”. I catch up on tweets while riding the train home. As a matter of fact yesterday since I was busy all day and had not had time to check, I had over 1100 tweets to read. You are right, when does it stop, will my rent not get paid because I have to pay for my phone?
Good to know I am not the only one with these thoughts!
Have a great day!
No, Melissa, you are not alone in those thoughts.
Perhaps it all boils down to a budget? Do you budget in the larger phone bills, or do you budget in other things that you can put your money towards (and those other things can help us grow)?
I have a netbook too! I packed my netbook while on vacation in Georgia, I don’t own a smart phone but I had my cell phone on me so my family could get a hold if they needed too while my parent’s and myself were on vacation, got back yesterday, a day early, today was when we were originally planning on coming home.
~*~Amy~*~
Love, love, love the netbook. I wish I had done this years ago! Happy 4th of July weekend, Amy.
Got my netbook back in November ’09 and am loving it!
~*~Amy~*~