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Original poster

Does anyone not have a smartphone? How do you manage?

51 replies

JustMyName · 01/02/2020 20:45

I'm fed up of my smartphone ruling my life and yet ... I'd really miss having information instantly available and being able to keep in touch with friends and family.

If you don't have a smartphone, how do you keep in touch with people? Do you wish you had one? Did you have one and get rid of it? Do you take a camera with you when out and about instead of a smartphone?

OP posts:
Whatevah · 01/02/2020 20:48

I rarely take a picture with my phone.
I don't really do much SM, just Whatsapp for work/friends etc.
Just put it away and don't take it out much.
Doesn't Ed Sheeran do this?

kerkyra · 01/02/2020 20:55

I'm late forties and manage fine with my old nokia. I don't feel I miss out at all and quite happy to catch up on emails,fb etc at home on the laptop.
I dont use what's app or many apps and even have an old camera I take put with me!

ConcentricCircles · 01/02/2020 20:56

That's a lot of questions right there-Are you a journalist?

Drizzzle · 01/02/2020 20:58

I don't understand why you need a smart phone to keep in touch with people?

OneKeyAtATime · 01/02/2020 21:03

You can still text and phone with a normal mobile? I find smartphones only useful in holidays

BingoLittlesUncle · 01/02/2020 21:04

Have a 15 years old Samsung doesn't even have a camera. Never felt the need for a smartphone.

Original poster
JustMyName · 01/02/2020 21:07

No, not a journalist.

I have family abroad, so texts and calls cost money, messenger or WhatsApp is free.

I like taking photos and use my phone for that too.

It's just the fact it's with me all the time, too easy to pick up and waste time on.

I'd be quite happy with a basic mobile if I could video call abroad for free and take quality photos.

OP posts:
AutumnRose1 · 01/02/2020 21:08

I got a smartphone and wish I hadn’t, when the contract ends, I’ll switch back

Phone and text is fine and the dumb phones have a longer lasting battery.

I dont take many pics, if I’ve got a day out a camera will do.

I see my iPad everyday so chat board and emails on there.

SoMuchToBits · 01/02/2020 21:09

I don't have one, never have. I have a mobile phone which does calls and texts, so can keep in touch when I'm out if I need to (although rarely use it).

I have a laptop at home for everything else, and a small tablet which I only use on holiday to access email etc, as laptop too heavy to take away.

Photographs I have a digital camera, but mostly only take photos at home or on holiday.

I really don't need a smartphone, and it would cost me money I can't afford.

SoMuchToBits · 01/02/2020 21:11

If I had family abroad I would use email or messenger for free on my laptop.

If I need to contact friends I usually email or use messenger rather than texts, as I have PAYG with my mobile phone, so texts cost more.

WanderingMilly · 01/02/2020 21:17

I have a mobile which does texts and phone calls. Only.
I have a laptop which does e-mails, checks MN, does online banking or allows me to research or pay bills.
I do not have Facebook at all, if someone wants to get in touch they e-mail...or text.
I have no What'sApp, no Instagram, no LinkedIn or anything else.
I use a camera to take photographs, I can upload them to my laptop to send to friends, I send them via e-mail.
I am very computer savvy and can create documents, do my work, research or do accounts, or create powerpoints for teaching purposes. So it isn't that I don't like/can't use computers, it's just that I refuse to be glued to my 'phone all day or to have my time dictated by the 'phone. In fact, often I don't carry it around with me. So simple, and no, I don't miss anything....

AutumnRose1 · 01/02/2020 21:27

Something else that bugs me

The constant updates that make things odd

I’ve been told it’s because Apple aren’t interested in keeping “old” phones working. But the latest updates, I literally can’t make a call without running them.

I gather WhatsApp won’t be running on old phones so those reluctant smartphone users might want to consider that when choosing the next one.

My mum’s friends hate the fact that she doesn’t have WA, they are retired and chatting on there all day!

mencken · 02/02/2020 15:17

easily but I'm not a parent and work from home, just for me, so no need to be on all those annoying wozzsapp groups etc.

means I can carry a small, robust, cheap phone that does talk and text, the battery lasts for two weeks, the phone cost a tenner and I spend about £20 a year on topups. No need for a fragile, expensive, power hungry brick that either drags down my trousers (it's such a silly look!) or needs a handbag. It will last years, as long as there is 2G which there always will be because the smart meters use it. Signal generally much better too, I can be in the same place and on the same network as someone yelling into their brick and I have as good a line as you get on mobiles.

plenty of internet at home. If I want to take a photo I take a small digital camera which does much better pictures than a phone. If I am going somewhere I don't know I have a portable satnav for the car, or a map, or I look it up before.

Obviouspretzel · 02/02/2020 15:30

Mencken , all your solutions are much more hassle though. Plus your camera must be expensive for it to be small and take better pictures than a phone. Nowadays, phones take excellent pictures. Only my SLR takes better ones out of the cameras I've had.

AutumnRose1 · 02/02/2020 15:43

if you're not fussed about photos and WA, it's all fine.

I will need my phone company to issue a new SIM though because I don't think an iphone SIM will now fit in a dumbphone?

The battery power - oh the joy!

AutumnRose1 · 02/02/2020 15:44

I'm not from the "and then you took a picture of your salad & put it on the internet" set though.

Wishing extra battery life to the first person to name the song, lol. No cheating!

SilverySurfer · 02/02/2020 16:46

Totally agree with mencken

My sister bought me a PAYG mobile when I was in hospital for several weeks, prior to which I didn't have one at all. It makes and receives calls and texts and that's it. That was about 5 years ago since which time I've added approx £40 to it. It's mostly uncharged at the bottom of my bag and I last used it about 2 months ago to send a text.

I have zero interest in smartphones and social media which appears to have made people self obsessed and desperate to post about the minutiae of their boring lives. Oh and if I want to take a photograph I use my SLR camera.

mencken · 02/02/2020 16:57

personal thing, but the camera is about 10 years old and takes great photos. So I don't remember how much it cost but I believe smartphones don't last 10 years. I also don't take loads of gormless selfies, pictures of food etc etc so I do not need a camera at hand all time. AND it is still smaller than a smartphone so fits in my other pocket as I don't carry a handbag.

There's a map in the car glovebox if I forget the satnav, and if I'm going somewhere by public transport, I just look it up beforehand.

a brick phone would be huge hassle with the daily charging and endless worry about whether it would run out, not to mention the too-big size, fragility and expense. This is why I don't have one, seems like a bloody tamagochi!

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 02/02/2020 17:13

My smartphone replaced about 20 kilos of paper road maps, it contains about 300 books, its camera is stunning and it holds all my music. Quite good at phone calls too.

FaFoutis · 02/02/2020 17:19

I don't have one. I manage fine, we all did before they were invented.
I have a mixture of pity and contempt for people who constantly look at their phones. It's no way to live.

katy1213 · 02/02/2020 17:19

I don't. Never had one, don't want one. Don't need constant contact with anyone and why on earth would I need to carry a camera - I don't have to photograph my life to know it's happening!

unicornsrule · 02/02/2020 17:35

I am obsessed with my iphone
I spend alot of the day playing cookie cats and cross stitch game

HeIenaDove · 02/02/2020 17:36

People on UC have to have one

inews.co.uk/news/uk/universal-credit-jobcentre-dwp-smartphone-252546

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/02/2020 17:37

Which Cross Stitch game do you have unicornsrule ?

PinkBuffalo · 02/02/2020 17:45

I have a smart phone but I don't use it as one iyswim
I just text or call - try not to call on it as I'm on payg and it's expensive.
Don't take photos - can't remember the last time I took a photo when outside. If I need to take a photo of something inside I use my ancient iPad which takes crappy pics.
My mobile is handy for calls from the Drs or medical apts etc so they can get hold of me. But at home I just use my home phone and gave an answer machine.
I don't access apps or anything. I only use Facebook/Internet at home. My iPad is so old it can't download spots anymore which is a bit of a pain, but I can't afford a new one and I don't use my mobile hardly at all it's a "just in case" so couldn't justify or really afford an iPhone or similar. I really struggle with learning new things so that might be why I'm not really interested.
For context I'm mid 30s age wise