Four years ago I got my first smartphone. Over the weekend, I downgraded back to a basic phone. And I'm not looking back.
When cell phones first came out, I remember all the comparisons to Star Trek. A device you could carry around with you anywhere and use it to talk to virtually anyone? We were definitely living in the future. Then, as technology advanced and phones become fancier, people started laughing at the Star Trek technology. Kirk's communicator couldn't take pictures or receive written communications. It seemed like we were quickly passing this future technology by.
But with the advent of tablets, Star Trek is starting to look a little more realistic again. Why confine yourself to that small screen for email and internet browsing, when you can carry something more appropriately sized? Why not have specialized tools for communicating, exploring, and analyzing data?
It helps that I carry a purse, so it's as easy for me to carry a tablet around as a phone. But I love having two devices for different purposes. The phone has better call quality, and easier to navigate contact list, and fantastic battery life. The tablet has a great screen for reading articles on the internet, playing games, and watching TV. And my monthly bill is the same as it was with one device, since I just split my plan across the two devices.
On Saturday I re-entered all of my contacts into my new phone. This gave me a chance to consolidate information, which my android phone never handled very well. If I had two phone numbers, an email address, and a facebook link for someone, I ended up with four separate contacts in my phone which was a pain to navigate. Now I've eschewed a lot of that information, and can still have a single entry for people who still maintain a land line and a cell phone.
I also switched tablets. I still have my iPad Mini from work, but that's basically been relegated to a way for me to stay connected to the office when I'm home. I no longer carry it around with me. Instead I have a shiny, new Nexus 7 because I found a Verizon associate who was able to help me set it up, despite Verizon not officially supporting it.
The Nexus makes me so much happier than the iPad did. I love being back on an Android system where I can put widgets and to do lists right on my screen. I don't have to open apps to quickly check information.
It's also worth noting that the tablet has almost entirely replaced my computer. The only thing I really need my computer for anymore is formatting blog posts. And while the bigger monitor is nice for watching Netflix, I find I often get distracted by the internet when I try to watch TV on my computer. Better to just sit on the couch with my tablet where there are fewer distractions and I can cuddle with the animals. At this point I'm actually considering not buying a new computer when my current one breaks. I'll have to see if I still feel the same way a few years from now.
I'm really happy with my decision to ditch the smart phone in favor of a basic phone + tablet setup. I'd definitely recommend it anyone who's even the least bit interested.
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