Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone? • Hacker News Board

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#41

Post by zitterbewegung » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:57 PM UTC

phil248 wrote: post #23

The article uses the word "phone" about 40 times. Based on my own usage patterns, I don't even have a phone. I have a portable computer. I happen to use it to make phone calls a few times every week. I use my desktop to make video calls a few times a month, but I don't call that a phone. We all know a smartphone is a computer, and I'm not trying to be pedantic about the words we use, but I think our insistence that t…

We aren't and the general media is absolutely not surprised. The reason why this article keeps on being rewritten by multiple people is the simple fact that it elicits the same response that you have just displayed. This is clickbait at its greatest level.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#42

Post by icebraining » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:57 PM UTC

alchemism wrote: post #6

I've just abandoned using a smartphone in favor of a $20 dumb Alcatel phone that can only do three things: calls, alarms, and an FM radio. It doesn't even vibrate. I offloaded every other functional use into my tablet, in this case an iPad Pro. The phone battery lasts for days on standby; I can drain my tablet battery without concern. I can leave the tablet at home if I want to stay light or if I want to stay focused…

Been doing that for about three years. I have a Nexus 7 and a $20 Wiko. It's really a great combo.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#43

Post by prolikewhoa » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:58 PM UTC

I went 2 weeks without a phone, gps, & online capabilities away from home due to breaking my old Moto X Pure and not having enough money to buy a phone. It was a great experience and now I'm trying to shift everything over to a dumb phone or even just a hotspot.

I didn't need GPS, I just looked up where to go before I left home or work and caught busses/trains that run every 10-15 minutes. If I absolutely needed online access quick I would stand outside of a starbucks or another restaurant/store I knew had WiFi and use my tablet or laptop. I purchased a $25 original Zune for off the grid FM and music. I learned quickly how to find & create alternatives to my phone and those 2 weeks were some of the best of my life.

I really noticed how our population always has it's head down with a total addiction to our phones. I felt isolated at Reddit group meeting where everyone would take 5 minutes to just check their notifications and everyone would have their heads down while I was just sitting there watching everyone and eating.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#44

Post by coding123 » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:58 PM UTC

Spearchucker wrote: post #7

lolive wrote: post #3

The phone is not smart or dumb. The user is.

I just moved to Android this week, after 9 years on Windows Phone. Android is making me feel very, very stupid indeed.

For not switching sooner? Just curious :/

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#45

Post by jonknee » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:58 PM UTC

megaman22 wrote: post #32

Why do people hold up the NY Times as such a great newspaper? There's been like 8 stories from them on here today, and it's the same repeated drivel they trot out every two or three weeks, on the same topics, and the same low-energy arguments. My flag button is wearing out.

The NYT isn't a tech focused newspaper so the types of stories you see here are not representative of what gives them such a glowing reputation. This is an article out of their weekly magazine, it's not supposed to be hard news.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#46

Post by tjr225 » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:59 PM UTC

softwarefounder wrote: post #29

Biggest thing for me keeping a smart phone is the hi-res camera ability. I'm not carrying a separate camera around Second would be Spotify, and Podcasts.

I often think about ditching my smartphone. There are a few things that a smartphone puts in your pocket that really make our lives better:

nice camera/maps/gps/calling/texting/email/music and podcast streaming

Really, the negatives of having a computer in your pocket can be summed up by:

gaming/transactional purchases/social media/news media

None of those things inherently bad, but they do tend to be addictive.

So, maybe we need phones without app stores? A closed off phone with the apps already chosen for it? Where would we draw the line on what gets included on the phone? Would there even really be a market for this kind of smartphone? KaiOS is the only thing that comes close...but it still has an App Store to my knowledge.

It probably makes most sense to just delete the addictive apps off of your phone and move on with your life.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#47

Post by blueseasky » Thu, May 17, 2018, 6:59 PM UTC

I bought my first smartphone a couple of months ago - always preferred small cheap dumb phones. They did fine for calling and texting, which was all I wanted.

But the world changed on me! I noticed that over time people were sending me longer and longer texts, and it was becoming difficult to communicate with thumb-button texting.

If things reverted to how they should be (anything over 5 words should be an email or a call, please) I would happily go back to a dumb phone.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#48

Post by soared » Thu, May 17, 2018, 7:00 PM UTC

megaman22 wrote: post #32

Why do people hold up the NY Times as such a great newspaper? There's been like 8 stories from them on here today, and it's the same repeated drivel they trot out every two or three weeks, on the same topics, and the same low-energy arguments. My flag button is wearing out.

There is probably an argument somewhere that a lack of real news is actually good news - there isn't a major crisis or surprising events to report on.

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#49

Post by jonknee » Thu, May 17, 2018, 7:00 PM UTC

kleiba wrote: post #28

ctrl-j wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Get lost and have to stop/call for directions? Abandoning modern technology doesn't seem like the better alternative in this case.

First of all, not having a GPS does not automatically imply getting lost. People used to be able to navigate just fine most of the time before that technology was available. And then, what's wrong with asking someone for directions? I've been asked many times in the olden days and never once was it an unpleasant experience.

> And then, what's wrong with asking someone for directions?

The frequently terrible answers!

Re: Is a Dumber Phone a Better Phone?

#50

Post by sk1pper » Thu, May 17, 2018, 7:00 PM UTC

softwarefounder wrote: post #29

Biggest thing for me keeping a smart phone is the hi-res camera ability. I'm not carrying a separate camera around Second would be Spotify, and Podcasts.

I agree with those, and to add some more: GPS/Maps. Uber and Lyft. Mobile concert and airline tickets are pretty nice to have too. (I don't have a printer anymore.)