I am considering ditching my smartphone and either going back to an old-school phone or not owning one at all. What are your thoughts? Any experience?
Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
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Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#2Many of us were old enough to have lived during a time where smartphones did not exist. My thoughts are... it is nice to have access to a great pocket-sized camera and communication device, though it is also nice to turn it off once in a while.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#3My work requires a smartphone for multi-factor authentication and to unlock the office door (if we ever go back to the office)
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#4Never had one, never really caused a problem. Mutli-auth with a yubikey, land-line if I need to make a call, old ipod for music ... do it.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#5Many of us were old enough to have lived during a time where smartphones did not exist. My thoughts are... it is nice to have access to a great pocket-sized camera and communication device, though it is also nice to turn it off once in a while.
Exactly so. Though life was more annoying without a mobile phone for example (failed rendezvouz?) it happened. It's not helpful to demonise the tech rather than managing it and yourself candidly IMHO.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#6Never had one, never will. My wife has, my kids too, I don't. Clients get hold of me via e-mail or IM, family through landline. If I am unavailable immediately then tough luck, I love not be at anybody's finger tips if I go for a stroll in a park, for example.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#7Many of us were old enough to have lived during a time where smartphones did not exist. My thoughts are... it is nice to have access to a great pocket-sized camera and communication device, though it is also nice to turn it off once in a while.
Not just a camera and communication device, but also a GPS receiver.
It's impossible to overstate how useful GPS is.
That said, one could always get a dedicated GPS device instead of using a phone.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#8I let my phone’s battery ‘die’ and may not recharge for several hours to a day.
I have thought about porting my number to Twilio or similar, and having a stationary phonebooth that can send and receive mms messages, as well.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#9Don't have one, don't feel the need for one.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?
#10My work requires a smartphone for multi-factor authentication and to unlock the office door (if we ever go back to the office)
For multi-factor, could you use an Android emulator running on your PC?
Obviously, that does not work for the doorlock.