So I am considering buying one of these 'sel fone' gizmos

[Destructionator XV]

Yea, I have been under increasing pressure from society to purchase one of these newfangled gadgets, known as a "cellular telephone".

Well, I take over 2500 calls a month and waste over 10,000 minutes per month talking to people on the phone.... but this is at damn work.

At home, I place and receive maybe 2 phone calls a month, using a total of about 3 minutes - if I am talking slowly.

However, some people have been telling me to get one of these devices so I may get even more usage out of it. I am weary of this because

1) I really don't spend that much time on the phone, and I doubt I ever will.

2) I am a technophobe; I don't need all this newfangled technological felgercarb to give me brain cancer!!11!!one

3) The Terms and Conditions scare me. What if they fuck over my wallet?

4) Don't want to spend too much.


So my questions to you all are:

1) How useful do you find cell phones?

2) Do you know of any good companies for someone who uses it sparingly?

3) How much do you think it would cost?

4) Any more thoughts or reccomendations?

[Ra]

Well, I'm not really able to help you outside the fact that I don't have one either. I never really saw the point in buying one.
- Ra

[Elheru Aran]

I rely upon mine for text-messaging. I will admit, however, that if my uncle hadn't gotten it for me, I probably wouldn't get one; however, it *has* been quite useful, and allows me to keep in touch with my parents. What can I say, they're paranoid about me being safe...

[Ace Pace]

1) Very, second most usful thing I have that I use daily outside a pen. Its a handi-dandy keep Parents Happy, Keep in Touch, Send questions to SDN members while in School machine.

2)No idea on the U.S, Orange is quality here.

3)Not alot, a cheap cellphone is CHEAP.

4)Don't pay extra for web surfing or G3, a simple phone with calender, alarm, SMS features and the such is fine. Knowing you like coding, try getting one with Java.

[Pcm979]

I'll put it this way: I didn't know how useful it was until I didn't have access to it anymore.

[Rogue 9]

Don't have one myself, and don't plan on changing that. I don't like having people able to contact me no matter where I go.

[Josh]

Don't have one myself, and don't plan on changing that. I don't like having people able to contact me no matter where I go.

That line of reasoning vis a vis cell phones always amuses me.

See, there are two things you can do about that...

Leave it behind.

Or turn the ringer off.

Myself, I would have a hell of a time working without one. Handy as hell for my minimal level of socialization, too.

[Rogue 9]

Yeah, but if people know you have one and you have it off, they get all offended because they think you're avoiding them. Much easier to say "sorry, just wasn't in the room."

[Losonti Tokash]

1) How useful do you find cell phones?

Extremely. Especially once you've got the phone numbers for your favorite establishments (movie theater, pizza place, etc.) programmed. Especially the pizza thing. Say you're out running errands or whatever, you can call the pizza place and have it ready by the time you're done instead of going home and then having to wait half an hour.

2) Do you know of any good companies for someone who uses it sparingly?

I use Cingular and it's got about 500 anytime minutes along with free calls on weekdays after 7PM and all day on weekends. Fairly cheap.

3) How much do you think it would cost?

Depends on your phone and how long your plan is. I think the longer your contract lasts the lower the monthly payments though of course you're adding on more to the number of payments. Also, the phone has a lot to do with it. Lots will give you a phone for free if you agree to a two-year contract though there are some really neat phones like my Razr that cost a bundle ($320). Probably not interested in that one, though. :P

4) Any more thoughts or reccomendations?

Get one that has Java. Bejeweled is the only thing that helped protect my sanity when I was stuck in Houston's airport for 6 hours.

[Knife]

So my questions to you all are:

1) How useful do you find cell phones?

Fairly useful. I don't text hardly, I don't feel the need to stay in contact with a shit load of people, and yet I use mine with regularity. Hell, I took all the hardlines out of my house and only use the cell for comm. (except for the net ).

Basically, while a lot of people treat it as a toy, it's just a phone and you can use it as such to call people while you are not home.

2) Do you know of any good companies for someone who uses it sparingly?

There are 'pay as you go' companys. Around here, one company is called cricket, where you buy a phone, then they are like a pay as you go phone card. You are charged for as much use as you put into it. This may be an option for you if you don't really plan on using it much.

At a point, it would be cheaper to go with a 'traditional' carrier and get a smaller time/minutes type account without all the frills, they're not that expensive.

3) How much do you think it would cost?

Depending on the carrier and what type of plan and phone; regular carrier probably `100 to kick it off and ~20-30 a month if you want the cheapy plan without all the options and frills.

A pay as you go service would depend on how much you use it.

4) Any more thoughts or reccomendations?

I'd get one, they come in handy in tight spots. You don't need one with a camera or internet connection and all the jazz if you just want a damn phone.

[The Cleric]

Extremely useful. You can drop a hard line once you have a good cell phone and plan (I did). If you sign up for a 2 year deal, any plan, there's usually at least one phone you can get free. Try RadioShack or BEstBuy/Circuit City before you go to a company branch, they usually have better prices.

[B4UTRUST]

Well people here question the usefulness or the need of a cellphone.

I'll tell you something about them here... they're useful. They can save lives.

Tonight was a perfect example. I was driving home for lunch from work and almost ran over a man laying face down in the middle of the road unconcious, bleeding profusely from the head. I pulled over and because I had my cellphone I was able to dial 911 and get an ambulance there ASAP. I also, fortunatly, had my first aid kit in my truck so I started treating his wounds and trying to staunch the flow of blood. But that's beside the point. I had the phone and was able to help save the guy's life because of it.

Otherwise, hmmm I talk on my phone quite a bit. I have a house phone with unlimited long distance and I use my cell phone more. Usually I'm out more too. I text message people while I'm at work, I talk to my parents on it, talk to my friends on it, keep track of my fiances on it, play games when I'm bored at work, take videos, photos, write shopping lists, write myself memos, address book, calender, etc. Tons of useful features.

I, myself, am with cingular.

[Ace Pace]

Pay as you go is a priority if its available for you.

Paying for minutes is(to me) wasteful, I have months where I barely talk, and others that reach 3 hours easily.

Double post cleaned up for you.

[Rukia]

Cell phones are heaven sent... 'nuff said...

Everyone else had said what I was going to in regards to your questions.