Sigarms, welcome to the 21st century

[Sigarms]

I understand that some people really don't need a cell phone.

I can run 2000 minutes a month easily for work (I was on the phone last night with for different contractors needing help), added the fact that I have numerous websites, technical PDF's and other things I create that I can store on my phone without actually needing a internet connection or cell service (which is important when I'm in the boonies and need to pull up technical data without relying on cell phone service). The reality is since I recently got a newer phone over an older droid, I've gotten away from needing my iPad for quick access to documents because I'm learning how to use it.

I'm also kind of deaf from a long time ago.

Put all this together, and being able to use the phone in your car (which I drive about 30k miles a year for work) and hopefully you can see why I'm excited

The down side is with a smart phone is I have no doubt the government knows everything about you including your ***** size. I'm given up on that reality a long time ago, thus the reason why I'm prepared.

 

[k0ua]

The ability to carry with you thousands of pages of PDF or Word documents with you as they pertain to your work is enough to justify a smartphone. Let alone the ability to drive to any address with GPS driven voice guidance. The ability to photograph documents and enough screen size to actually look at them on the screen is another. The list goes on and on. If you don't have a "smartphone", it is likely that you don't understand how it could enhance you life and work.

My wife resisted a smartphone for several years after I got one because I had to have it for work. "My little Motorola flip phone works fine and makes great phone calls". Yes it did, but that is all it did. After I got her one and showed her how it could enhance her work life, you couldn't pry it out of her fingers now.

Sure there is a learning curve, you have to put some effort in to get some value out of almost anything.

 

[Sigarms]

The ability to carry with you thousands of pages of PDF or Word documents with you as they pertain to your work is enough to justify a smartphone. Let alone the ability to drive to any address with GPS driven voice guidance.

What is becoming the norm now is being able to trouble shoot via video conferencing. I can be on a roof on the phone with Oklahoma and they're seeing what I'm seeing.

 

[k0ua]

What is becoming the norm now is being able to trouble shoot via video conferencing. I can be on a roof on the phone with Oklahoma and they're seeing what I'm seeing.

I had forgotten about that usage. There are hundreds more. A smartphone with the proper application loaded is pretty much whatever you want it to be in the world of communications. And a whole lot more. If you work for a living you could benefit from a smartphone. If you want to communicate, you could benefit from a smartphone. If you can read, you would benefit from a smartphone. I personally don't understand the reluctance to get a product that will make your personal and work life more productive, easier and convenient. Sure there is a learning curve, but as I have said, anything worth learning takes some time.

Did I run out and buy one as they first appeared? Heck no, but as I saw more and more of them in peoples hands, and saw what they were doing with them, I could see the value. Pretty soon my company bought me one and said to wear it. I don't work for any company any more, and my Droid is 3 years old, but I still use it in my insurance side business and for many personal uses.

If you just want to take and place voice phone calls, then a "flip phone" will fill that bill, but taking and placing voice calls is a VERY small percentage of what I do on a smartphone. As time goes on they will only get more powerful and useful.

 

[oosik]

Well, they seem to have their place. However, out here I seldom get a signal as strong as two bars, I'm retired and don't need any kind of phone for work and I have access to all the software programs I will ever need via my computer and the internet. BTW - I NEVER take the cell phone with me when I leave the house. Cell phone is the "house phone" - I don't have land line service.

I grew up and went all the way thru college without the "advantages" of a cell phone - I don't see needing a fancy one now.

 

[dmccarty]

I have a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee for running errands etc...a few weeks ago it would crank but not start...I had no idea what was wrong (figured it was not getting either spark or fuel)...Did a little bit of searching on the net and found that the GC's have on board diagnostics (I didn't know that)...Turn the key on and off three times and it will display any error/failure codes...
...
Great technology I did not know was there...

My 1984, yes 1984, Camaro would display error codes this way. You just needed a book that listed the codes. Now, the code were not a number, they were flashes you had to count to get a number. Not great but it worked.

Later,
Dan

 

[RobertN]

I work in high tech, but am on the low tech side...

I find with my smartphone, I use the camera a lot. A lot of pictures are of tear down and reassembly, then delete. Same at home; like doing the brakes on my old '68 Javelin. I have the manual for the car, but it is nice to have pictures as I disassemble them too.

Now I want to get a bluetooth code reader for cars, and one of those fancy USB bore scopes...

 

[k0ua]

I work in high tech, but am on the low tech side...

I find with my smartphone, I use the camera a lot. A lot of pictures are of tear down and reassembly, then delete. Same at home; like doing the brakes on my old '68 Javelin. I have the manual for the car, but it is nice to have pictures as I disassemble them too.

Now I want to get a bluetooth code reader for cars, and one of those fancy USB bore scopes...

Yes, Use number 3,285. Disassembly and re-assembly pictures. I use that too when I work on radios. Also the camera on a macro setting will see better than I can with the naked eye. In fact a lot better. Also you can with some practice take pictures of "behind things" Where you cannot get your head or cannot focus your eyes. Slip the smart phone back there and snap a photo and then look at the photo. Very useful. You can also use the magnifier function of the camera to look at things in real time. Example looking for that little piece of steel in your thumb you cannot see by naked eye.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

What is becoming the norm now is being able to trouble shoot via video conferencing. I can be on a roof on the phone with Oklahoma and they're seeing what I'm seeing.

My son put some video / chat app on my phone, and I can see whatever he points his phone at while we talk... it's like sci fi. Any problem on a job site, and it's like I'm there. Amazing...

 

[Gator6x4]

My son put some video / chat app on my phone, and I can see whatever he points his phone at while we talk... it's like sci fi. Any problem on a job site, and it's like I'm there. Amazing...

Did you give him a raise? :laughing: