Do you have an iPhone or a BlackBerry? Good for you!
I’ll never have one. I’ve made the choice to have the most basic cell phone ever. What features does it have? Next to none. It makes calls, has an alarm clock, calender, and contacts list. It even sends text messages (amazingly)! And don’t worry about taking pictures with this sucker, no camera.
In this post, I want to tell you a four reasons why I have a super-basic cell phone, and why you should think about doing the same.
1. It was cheap. Saving money is a huge part of lifestyle design, and important to anyone trying to succeed at being an internet entrepreneur. I’m saving money for my planned travels, and this is a great way for me to do so. Instead of an expensive phone, I choose the piece of crap in pictured above. It makes calls, and that’s all I really care about. And the service plan for this thing is next to nothing, there’s no added monthly fees (for internet, etc.) because it can’t do any of those things.
2. It is durable. I have dropped this thing more times than I can even begin to remember. I’ve seen it slide and bounce down a steep 30-40 foot driveway covered with ice, and still work. It’s incredible. More durability means that I have to spend less money replacing the thing if it decides to finally break. If I break this thing someday, who cares? Breaking an expensive phone could be more of a problem.
3. Less distractions. My mom has a Black(Crack)Berry. She answers emails ALL THE TIME. You know why? Because she has to. Everyone knows she has a BlackBerry, so there is no excuse for not answering an email promptly. This becomes a huge distraction when trying to do anything.
4. I like being disconnected from the world. Getting away from everything is something that is important to me. I like going on a walk and not having to answer emails. I like not getting ridiculous, and often obscene picture messages during my quiet time. My phone doesn’t do anything cool, so why bother to bring it with me at all? I hope that makes a little sense to you, maybe I’m just crazy.
Now I understand that this post may frustrate some people who love their technology, and that’s OK! Stick with your fancy phones. You really may need them.
The biggest issue with people who have a problem with their phone habits is discipline. I could have a fancy phone and discipline myself to use it in a productive way, but instead I’ve chosen to have a junk phone. If your phone/iPhone/BlackBerry owns you, maybe a downgrade could do you some good…
What do you think about this?
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Haha! Awesome. I have a possibly even crappier phone (Nokia 2300) in that it doesn’t have a coloured screen, but I have it for all the same reasons you listed above.
On the plus side, my retro phone is quite cute. I found a picture.
Another reason I love it? The battery lasts forever. Like 2 weeks, roughly. And this phone is 4 years old!
I have a de-cracked berry (a blackberry but I dont pay for a data plan/internet). It works great for standard functions, and has a much better calendar than a regular phone, but I totally understand your reasons for this article. My girl friend has an iphone that I steal every single chance I get. If I had one, I think my productivity would go right down the drain with it. So I applaud your decision!
Great post. I’ve got a BlackBerry for work, and with the phone comes the expectation that I have access to work email at all times. Yuck. When I’m traveling internationally, I understand the importance of staying connected with the office, but at home, I’m probably the only employee that un-syncs my email when I’m back in the states. So far I haven’t gotten in trouble :)
Alan
Nate,
I have you beat. I have a phone very similar to yours, only I don’t even have a service contract. I’m on the pay-as-you-go plan. I keep my usage to a minimum….for now.
Why did I choose to go with this phone? For many of the same reason you mentioned. At this time in my life, it just doesn’t make sense to have anything super special with tons of nifty features and apps.
I have to admit, however, that when the time comes, I won’t hesitate to upgrade to an iPhone or whatever. Since I’m in the process of starting a business, I might need greater flexibility and a certain features set. But for now, I’m disciplined enough to not give in to all the bells, whistles, and flashy lights…although I’m very fond of flashy lights. :-)
Scott
Thanks for all the comments!
Anna – Checked out that picture, WOW, that is the definition of retro. Very cool, I’d hold on to that thing :-)
Sean – The de-cracked berry sounds like a good deal to me. You’re probably saving some good money that way. And yup, productivity gets killed by those things, I see the people who I work with fall victim to this. They are owned by their technology.
Alan – You rock for un-synching your email when you’re home! That’s the way to go man. I do understand the need for it internationally though when you are working/traveling.
Scott – You are the pay-as-you-go type of guy eh? Good for you! And if the time comes for you to get a more fancy phone for your business, that’s probably a good sign that the business is going well. It’s just a matter of discipline like I said. Oh yes, and I’m very fond of flashy lights too :-)
Yeah, I’m thinking maybe in a billion years I can sell my retro phone and make thousands of pounds. Or… not. :)
I forgot to mention I use pay-as-you-go as well. I think it’s more due to me not particularly liking to speak on the phone in general. I’m a writing person. Talking on phones is awkward.
I don’t have a cell phone at all anymore. I never used it so I gave it away. I really hate telephones, they are so intrusive. Most people are interrupted constantly with insignificant messages. In Japan, even children constantly use them on trains, riding bicycles and while walking. It is crazy.
Sure occasionally they can be valuable when you are trying to meet someone, but other than that I really have no need for a telephone. Most of my communications are by email or Skype now. When I am away from my computer I only want to talk to people in person. Perhaps that means I am spending too much time in front of a computer screen? :-)
Hehehe! I agree full on!
*High Five*
A few years back in school I always wanted the latest phone to stay cool and keep up, now my phone is over 2 years old and as long as it can make calls,send texts, and is durable im happy. I do prefer the camera because it comes in handy sometimes :)
For the rest nothing else:)
Awesome post Sir!
Have a rockin’ day!
Diggy
Nate,
Yes… the day I need to upgrade to a better phone and buy into a contract will be special indeed; I’ll know I’m upgrading because business is going well. That’s when I’ll have reached a milestone in the business.
Scott
I just recently sold my iPhone and bought a great travel phone (an unlocked, quad-band Razr), and though it’s been nice to not feel like I need to have my phone with me all the time, I’m still suffering pretty bad withdrawal when I get lost or want to compare products online while looking at them in a store.
Sigh.
John – I see it too here in the U.S., really young kids on their phones all the time. Using them while driving is another common, and dangerous occurrence. I really don’t use my phone all that much, and I feel the same way you do. I’d rather talk in person, if email isn’t possible.
Diggy – Thanks! Sometimes I do with that I had a camera for those split second photo opportunities, but oh well! Maybe my next super-basic phone will happen to have a camera :-)
Colin – I can imagine that the withdrawal is bad. Especially being in a new country now, there might be things you want to look up on the go. I’m sure you’ll be fine :-) Thanks for stopping in!
Man, I told my wife a few weeks back that I wanted an old school Nokia – one that made calls and had my numbers in it. While it was good in theory, I have grown accustomed to having the luxuries the iPhone offers and being able, really, to have nearly everything in 1 gadget. Instant connection when talking to clients, shooting out messages, having the GPS (came in handy more times than I can remember) and even the iPod functionality has been remarkable.
Now one day, when I stop freaking about all the stuff I have gotten myself into, I do want to go back to simplicity, but that stupid phone is my comfort zone. More power to you buddy!
Before three weeks ago, I didn’t own a phone. I paid for a SkypeOut account and a phone number for it. It was something like $36 a year. I now have an iPhone. I can understand lots of people having problems staying productive with a phone like this, but I’m pretty disciplined. I don’t have texting (can’t stand incessant texters, don’t want to be one). And I’m a freelancer so I don’t usually get really, really urgent emails. I make it a habit to let people know I only check email about once a day.
What I use the iPhone for that makes me *MORE* productive:
1. Lose It! – An app that tracks calories, nutrients and weight loss. Essential for me.
2. Weightbot – Similar to Lose It! but more focused on weight statistics (plus, as a designer I’m a sucker for the sweet interface)
3. Kindle/Stanza – This is huge for me and actually makes me more of a minimalist. I’m a huge reader. I have so many books laying around. It’s better that the ones I’m currently buying are in a purely digital taking-up-no-space format. This way I can keep the books I love but not have to worry about clutter. Also, with Stanza there are thousands of books available for free. Huge value for me.
4. Newser – I could just as easily use the website, but the mobile version is more bare essentials. This gets me up to date on what’s going on in two paragraphs or less. Huge time saver.
5. Internet Anywhere – My phone is jailbroken. I have an app that tethers my Macbook to the iPhone so I can get online anywhere I can get 3G. Really useful, especially since I like to work at the library and they have locked wifi that needs renewed every two hours.
The phone you have is really great though. My grandma had one of those. I really love their design (at least on the outside). Really minimalistic.
I guess I use my phone less as a phone and more as an internet device which is why something as simple as yours would never work for me. I hate talking on the phone and if that’s all it did, I’d be better off without it.
Greg – Thanks for stopping by! I can understand what you mean with having a hard time parting with the luxuries of an iPhone. I’m afraid if I ever got one I would never be able to go back. With you, I’m sure it is especially good to have for connecting with clients. That just means business is good, and that’s what it’s all about!
J. D. – How you are using your iPhone seems like how I would, if I had one. And glad to know me and your grandma had the same phone, that’s sweet! Haha. Those apps you are using are really useful I’m sure, especially newser. Sounds like a great way to get the news without getting information overload. Thanks for the comment!
I’m totally blind, and though there is talking software out there that works with certain phones (including a built-in screenreader with the new IPhones), I’m seeking exactly the kind of phone described here. Can someone please tell me the name of it? I hate the tiny phones of today, made with even tinier buttons or completely flat touch screens, which are totally impossible to feel , and features that only frustrate me. Sometimes, I’ll hit a button and it’ll send me into a menu and I’ll have no clue that I’m there cause it doesn’t talk. That, or people will text me and I’ll think it’s a message so I waste time and money checking my voicemail when it was only a silly text that I can’t read anyway. Sometimes, I’ll hit the camera button and accidentally take a picture and then, of course, I can’t delete it. For me, a phone should be just that. I have my computers for the net and various things for music. I discovered that several companies have remade the brick style phone, but they all have modern nonsense in them. The only features I like in modern phones are the low battery alert tone (though some sound like the low signal tone so they’re confusing), the extremely long battery life, the hands-free option and the fact that they’re safer than the older ones when it comes to radiation etc. For the record, I’m 25 and started using mobile phones when I was about 14 so missed out on the large simple ones.
Well, I think I just hit the jack pot here. It’s not as large or heavy as I’d like but I think we can all agree that this has got to be the most basic phone in the world.
http://www.hop-on.com/pr_042888.html
The only thing is, I keep finding articles on this phone but can’t seem to find any place that sells it. Has anyone here ever heard of these or tried one?