In praise of cheap dumb ‘phones:

Posted on March 28, 2015 by KG

‘..More people are switching from smartphones to dumb phones, which are cheaper, sturdier and have longer-lasting batteries. Vintage-looking mobiles, such as flip or clamshell phones, are particularly popular…’
Wabbit must be a trendsetter.  And Gecko’s new flip-phone cost just $30, delivered. It’s tough as nails and the battery lasts at least three times as long as the smartphone she’s about to throw in the garbage. Ditto my ‘phone.

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27 Responses to In praise of cheap dumb ‘phones:

  1. Darin says:
    March 28, 2015 at 13:37

    I bucked the trend and bought a $60 Blackberry Curve.$45/month unlimited talk,text and data.Huge battery that goes for days and it never fails to get a connection.

    Next time I do one for somebody I’ll show you the die set I made to turn a cellphone into a drink coaster using a 100 ton hydraulic press :mrgreen:

    I sent this to every iPhone user I know awhile back :twisted:
    https://youtu.be/SbmgV7Oyp0w

    • G P says:
      March 28, 2015 at 22:16

      I’ll raise you the insanity of Apple iPhone contracts.

      This South Park episode shows how three users unwittingly signed away their rights and ended up being bodily joined anus to mouth becuae of an apple contract:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sglZGSwK6ow

      I bought an Apple phone in 2010 and it died within 18 months and the warranty was not honoured by Hardly Normal – I won’t buy from them again.

      The under 30 set seems to be unshakeably prejudiced in favour of these rip-offs.

      • Darin says:
        March 29, 2015 at 06:33

        I bought the cheap,now antique 3g Crackberry because the iPhone 4 I had for a week would fail to connect if there was light Fog or a few leaves in the air,no chance if inside a building.

        The Crackberry however will connect even in the middle of a heavy masonry and steel building.Plus is’t no contract,just log on and re-up once a month.

  2. KG says:
    March 28, 2015 at 17:20

    “..the die set I made to turn a cellphone into a drink coaster using a 100 ton hydraulic press”
    :shock: http://falfn.com/CrusaderRabbit/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_yahoo.gif

  3. tranquil says:
    March 28, 2015 at 18:05

    I have an old V800 “clamshell” phone – the model shown here –
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Ericsson_V800

    I really only use it for ringing for a taxi if I’m out somewhere – I never routinely use it like smartphone users use their phones.

    It’s solid as a rock and does all that I need.

    • KG says:
      March 28, 2015 at 18:25

      Pretty much the same here, Tranquil. A few retail salesmen actually claimed that clamshell phones were no longer being made when I went looking for one recently!

  4. Cadwallader says:
    March 28, 2015 at 18:31

    I liked the old flip phones. They were easier to use/talk into and besides it was like being Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) talking into his shoe. :lol:

    • KG says:
      March 28, 2015 at 18:35

      The old shoe phone trick, eh…….. :mrgreen:
      Well, you can still buy them, Cad.

      • Cadwallader says:
        March 28, 2015 at 20:11

        Maxwell Smart harks from the era when the world had a sense of humour.
        Where do you buy shoe-phones? Can they be bought singularly or in pairs? :grin:

        • KG says:
          March 28, 2015 at 20:19

          I saw a couple advertised on Ebay some time ago. Obviously, shoes fitted with a cellphone, but fairly funny anyway. I doubt most people would get the joke nowadays.

  5. Oswald BAstable says:
    March 28, 2015 at 18:41

    I have a $19 phone that has voice and text. The only other feature is a rather useful torch.

    Battery goes forever, compared to my POS work ‘smart’ phone!

  6. Wombat says:
    March 28, 2015 at 21:32

    It seems to me like in most cases you’re better off having a flip phone to carry around and a tablet if you want to do “computery stuff”.

    Unfortunately flip phones with a wifi-hotspot feature are as rare as hens teeth, so if you need to check stuff online regularly and you’re not in an area with plenty of open access wifi then you’re stuck with the smartphone.

    • KG says:
      March 28, 2015 at 21:35

      I can go 24hrs without internet access, Wombat. Coffee and a cigarette are another story…… :twisted:

      • Cadwallader says:
        March 28, 2015 at 21:43

        When I go on holiday I break the addiction and do not go near the internet for a couple of weeks. I replace the internet with Canadian whiskey which is not so damaging for the eyesight. :grin:

        • KG says:
          March 28, 2015 at 21:45

          Or the brain. :lol:

          • Wombat says:
            March 28, 2015 at 22:52

            You guys are tough nuts.

            If I go a day without complaining about stuff to people I’ve never met then I start to get the shakes. :mrgreen:

            • KG says:
              March 29, 2015 at 04:20

              It’s just that hacking away at something on my workbench or cutting firewood or playing with a rifle or servicing the ride-on mower or reading etcetcetc sometimes gets in the way, Wombat.
              We need 48 hour days. :roll:

              • Wombat says:
                March 29, 2015 at 12:35

                Put 48 hours in day and the 9 hour workday will miraculously become the 33 hour workday. :roll:

                Of the latter 24, you can be sure they’d fall into a brand spanking new tax bracket.

  7. Ronbo says:
    March 29, 2015 at 00:11

    I was always with the “dumb phone” crowd and purchased an AT&T “Alcatel” the cheapest dumb phone on the list for….are you ready….Drum Roll PLEASE – $14.95 plus tax :!:

    NO CONTRACT :!: PAY AS YOU GO :!: $25.00 every three months service charge and the old minutes roll over (I have over 600 minutes at the present time.)

    If I want an extended conversation hands free, I call from either my laptop or desktop by way of Skpe for less than $15 a month for unlimited world wide phone service :!: :mrgreen:

  8. Darin says:
    March 29, 2015 at 06:40

    It’s a shame really,the one phone I truly liked was my old Nextel.It was tough as nails,once dropped it off a 30′ scaffold and watched it bounce about four times,picked it up and it worked fine.

    The best feature it had was the two way.Anybody at work I needed to get hold of I could just ey them up and talk like an FM walkie.That was a worthwhile time saving feature,sadly gone for good :sad:

  9. mawm says:
    March 29, 2015 at 08:39

    I have a smart phone! It has replaced my camera, it connects to the music system both on the boat and the bach, it connects via 3G to the internet, using “hotspot” I can download books from the net onto my reader, it is my alarm clock and timer, connects me to wind and weather forecasting and tide tables, it is my diary and note book and reliably works as a phone too. I wouldn’t be without it.http://falfn.com/CrusaderRabbit/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

    • KG says:
      March 29, 2015 at 08:43

      Just don’t lose it. ;-)

      • mawm says:
        March 29, 2015 at 10:11

        Someone stole my laptop – fortunately I had all my music, passwords, etc on my phone. Just a simple app download and it was on my new computer – except for the play lists : (

  10. KG says:
    March 29, 2015 at 08:50

    And:
    http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-08/09/recycling-bins-are-watching-you
    ‘…”It provides an unparalleled insight into the past behavior of unique devices — entry/exit points, dwell times, places of work, places of interest, and affinity to other devices — and should provide a compelling reach data base for predictive analytics (likely places to eat, drink, personal habits etc.),” reads a blog post on the company’s site.

    In tests running between 21-24 May and 2-9 June, over four million events were captured, with over 530,000 unique devices captured. Further testing is taking place at sites including Liverpool Street Station.’

    • Cadwallader says:
      March 29, 2015 at 10:45

      The mentality of those who dream up these devices/stratagems floors me. I suppose it keeps them from questioning reality? :?:

  11. Brown says:
    March 29, 2015 at 20:45

    Step daughter’s I Phone (older model) packed up today. Tears and gnashing of teeth that we were not buying an I phone 6 to replace it. She searched out another older model but new I Phone for $200 so was forced to compromise and is happy. Welcome to reality.