Finally joining the rest of society: Got my first smart phone

[Teknoe]

Having trouble activating it though. Following the directions, I slid the button and was asked to pick a network and insert a password. I tried a password that I thought would connect me to the internet, but nothing worked. This was late last night so I decided to deal with it the next day (today). LOL.

 

Anyway, just curious how long was it until you got a smart phone? 2009? 2011? Last year? Am I the only one in their early 30s who was still using a "dumb" phone?

 

I have honestly felt out of touch for a while now as far as technology is concerned. It was a little embarrassing using my dumb phone in public as I had this feeling everytime I took it out people were staring at it going "OMG is that a phone from 2006?" LOL.

[ltjg45]

Well, I got my first smart phone with T-Mobile not long after I started working for Wal-Mart 2 years ago at the age of 27. It is pretty weird since it wasn't that long afterwards that Apple released the iPhone 6 so smart phones has been around for a while at that time.

 

However, the working poor does use the cheap cell phones a lot more than I expected. If people do have smart phones, the screens is cracked. I am one of the few at my job that has a non-damaged smartphone (Google Nexus 5). I could upgrade to the Nexus 6 but my 5 does more than enough for me. I am in no rush.

[Cherryz]

Dont care of what people say or what majority do.

Because its not always the best thing they are doing.

 

I ddnt run to get one right away either.

But kind of let the the others that do be the "guinea pig" lol

But its not really special. Other then better view or more color.

 

Those first phones are the best mobile phones.

They fall 10000000000 times and still work with or without broken screen lol.

But truth is the smartphones are very controlled by google.

And register almost everything you do on your phone. ( If u know the all seeing eye /eye of horus u may be more thoughtful when new technology's and stuff comes out)!They use the excuse of its more easy for you for when you lose your phone you can get your back up back etc., but its all about them collecting this info yours! and who knows use it against you one day when the time comes.

[GunslingerRoland]

I felt late to the game when I got mine in 2011.

 

 

But I work in IT, with a lot of people who have the latest and greatest in technology all of the time.

[Gloria25]

The people in the store didn't help you set it up?

 

Last few times I got a new phone the peeps were nice enough to set it up, put on the protective screen, case, etc. on it.

 

After that, it's just a matter of playing around with the phone and learning the new features. Actually yesterday I snapped at mum cuz instead of her exploring and trying first, she just jumps to ask me when the solution is right there...like she was asking how to place a call and right there there's a little thingy that's like a circle/keypad...so while I wasn't sure how to place the call, a process of elimination told me to hit that little circle/keyboard and it worked!!!!

 

Word of advice, as much as I hate Google intruding on our privacy, having it back up your contacts, apps, etc. is a blessing when you have to switch phones - especially if there's damage to the old phone. Once you log into Google on the new phone, it downloads EVERYTHING the old phone had on it!!!!

[loverboy69]

I go way back. I had Palm, BlackBerry and Windows smartphones since the early 2000's.

 

In June of 2007 I jumped on the iPhone bandwagon with Cingular Wireless (now AT&T). I also tried the first Google Android phone in October of 2008 (anyone remember the G1) with T-Mobile USA and almost every Android phone since including the new devices from Samsung.

 

Still true to form I always was and probably will always be an Apple iPhone fan as the iPhone 6s is my personal smart device of choice.

[Gloria25]

I go way back. I had Palm, BlackBerry and Windows smartphones since the early 2000's.

 

In June of 2007 I jumped on the iPhone bandwagon with Cingular Wireless (now AT&T). I also tried the first Google Android phone in October of 2008 (anyone remember the G1) with T-Mobile USA and almost every Android phone since including the new devices from Samsung.

 

Still true to form I always was and probably will always be an Apple iPhone fan as the iPhone 6s is my personal smart device of choice.

 

Actually, years, years ago I had like a Toshiba type thing that pretty much was a like the Palm. What a headache to charge and use. It spent most of its time in a box until I gave it away to one of my nieces.

 

I don't get all the hoopla on iPhones. I love my Mac, but after headaches with advanced series of iPods and seeing cracked screens on people's iPhones, I'm not interested.

 

My niece wants an iPhone 6 and I asked my bro and his wife and they said "no". I'm still gonna try to get her one and am sooo ashamed that I am becoming "that" person - who won't stand their ground when it comes to showering kids with stuff that they don't need and is too expensive.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Gloria25

[gaius]

I didn't bother with a cellphone at all until about 4 years ago, then I got a Samsung flip phone. Had that for about a year then got my first smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy Rush. Like the little engine that could it was cheap but did everything I asked of it.

 

Before I moved to Florida I ditched my PC computer completely and got a Samsung Galaxy Prevail. I use it for everything now. Never even touch a regular computer anymore unless I'm over Timshels house.

[AspenBaldwin]

Hey, what brand is it? Just curious.

[loveweary11]

Pretty sure I had almost *the* first smart phone:

 

Got it last century.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_VII

 

Ran data over the 1 G cell network. A first. Still carried a normal voice phone with it.

[carhill]

Anyway, just curious how long was it until you got a smart phone? 2009? 2011? Last year? Am I the only one in their early 30s who was still using a "dumb" phone?

 

I had an industrial flip 'dumb' phone (it had a tiny color screen but was impractical for anything other than texts) until about a year ago. The main reason I got the 'smart' phone was because I was going to be on the road a lot and in remote areas and needed data access for what I was doing. Today, the only time I use the 'smart' stuff with any regularity is during such times. Otherwise, the phone is only used for voice and the occasional text or camera shot for a job quote. My contract has a 2GB data component and it rarely gets anywhere near used up. I was out of state a couple weeks recently and I think I used 1.6GB and that was my only internet access.

 

I guess the activation stuff depends on the network. On Verizon, I ordered the phone from the company directly, had it the next day, charged it up, activated it in a minute and that's been pretty much it. I think the software (it's Android) has updated twice since and that takes it off the network for a minute or two or five to process the software and then it's back to normal. Overall, no different than my old dumb phone except it does more stuff and my old eyes can read the screen easier. Same old Motorola quality and I put an Otterbox defender case and glass screen protector on it because of my work. No issues. Enjoy your new phone!

[truthtripper]

Having trouble activating it though. Following the directions, I slid the button and was asked to pick a network and insert a password. I tried a password that I thought would connect me to the internet, but nothing worked. This was late last night so I decided to deal with it the next day (today). LOL.

 

Anyway, just curious how long was it until you got a smart phone? 2009? 2011? Last year? Am I the only one in their early 30s who was still using a "dumb" phone?

 

I have honestly felt out of touch for a while now as far as technology is concerned. It was a little embarrassing using my dumb phone in public as I had this feeling everytime I took it out people were staring at it going "OMG is that a phone from 2006?" LOL.

I so relate to you! I bought my first smart phone a few days ago as well. I would hide in a corner where no could see me using it. I still have to buy a plan and activate it. Hope I don't run into troubles too.

[truthtripper]

Before I moved to Florida I ditched my PC computer completely and got a Samsung Galaxy Prevail. I use it for everything now. Never even touch a regular computer anymore unless I'm over Timshels house.

What about wifi?

[SJS]

I've had cellphones since 1995 but didn't get my first smart phone until maybe 3 or 4 years ago (also in my 30's). I think it's funny that back in the day the goal was to have the smallest phone possible, now they're so big the screens are the same size as my first tv.

[Stillits]

I'm 27 and I still don't own a smartphone. I have an old "push-up" phone, must be 7 or 8 years old by now. Battery life is not that great on it anymore, but yet still a lot better than my brother's relatively new Iphone. I just haven't found a need for a smartphone, yet, though I will probably eventually have to get one for my future job.

[Els]

I got my first smartphone about 5 years ago, and they've been invaluable to me since. I love being able to use GPS, check the weather forecast, check my email, look up a restaurant's page to make a booking, check my shopping list, etc all on the go.

 

They do have the downside of not lasting as long as dumbphones, both in terms of battery life and actual longevity. Battery life isn't an issue for me as it's effortless to just connect my phone to the charger before I sleep, but the longevity kinda is. My first dumbphone lasted 4 years, but my last smartphone only lasted 2-3 years.

[gaius]

What about wifi?

I have that at my place. Guessing that's what Teknoe was trying to connect to in his first post. Rather than activating the phone.

[preraph]

I still don't have one. It costs too much monthly and my cable/internet/phone bundle won't get cheaper if i drop the home phone off of it, so I feel stuck until I'm ready to go "off the grid" with cable. I have no intention of texting anyway because it's too slow and too much of a time waster and I'm not a "short response" kind of person, so the only real appeal of smart phones for me is just being able to use the internet. Also, my land line now has "nomorobo" to keep recorded robot calls off it, and not sure the smart phones are as well equipped to block numbers like a land line is now.

[RedRobin]

I still don't have a smartphone. Haven't found a phone or plan that justifies ditching my current phone. That's ok... I didn't even have a credit card until I was 26. These little things add up to big $$ over time.

 

There is a part of me that prefers not to have so many devices... I don't need to check the weather, I am not bad at predicting it by looking outside myself... Shopping list is in my head. I do have a standalone GPS that is much cheaper on the outlay than any smartphone... But I use it mostly on long trips. Otherwise I like to explore and discover my surroundings intuitively.

 

... And besides, why would I need a smartphone when everyone else has one . I just use theirs, lol.

Edited December 12, 2015 by RedRobin

[Shining One]

I've had company-paid smartphones since the mid-2000's. I'm not really a phone person though and only use it when I'm away from a computer. I have nine computers in my house, so it never gets used at home.