From: Benjamin.Kubelsky@verizon.net   
      
   On 6/30/2014 2:18 PM, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
   > On Monday, June 30, 2014 6:00:12 AM UTC-4, rcp...@gmail.com wrote:   
   >   
   >> Certainly if it is a dirt cheap badly designed phone, but even the average   
   nokia phone from 15 years ago had more functionality (eg integrated phone book   
   and SMS), and ordinary people had no trouble figuring out how to use them.   
   >   
   > Fifteen years ago, many cell phone users had no clue of the many features   
   built into their units.  They knew how to make a call, speed dial, and that   
   was that.  Often a more experienced friend or the store clerk showed them.    
   Not much different than    
   computers--lots of people use spreadsheets, but basically to merely add up a   
   column of numbers (or not even for math at all, but a merely chart or   
   table)--those people don't know about the many high end features of   
   spreadsheets.   
   >   
   > Eventually, more people learned how to text and that became popular.  But I   
   dare the explosion in texting and "apps" really took it off with the "smart"   
   phones and the sliding menus, which includes a larger screen.   
   >   
   > But I will note there are plenty of people out there who don't have a cell   
   hone at all, and plenty more who do have one but use it very sparingly on a   
   cheap pay-as-you-go plan.   
   >   
   >   
      
   That would be me. I despise texting on phones. It is lazy and easy to   
   fraud or spoof with someone's stolen or borrowed phone. If I hear a   
   voice I know, I know who is there. Text could be anyone from a bot to   
   Charles Manson. Mostly, it's just rude. If you want my attention, talk   
   to me.   
      
   Oh, sure, having access to email and the internet on a device in my   
   pocket would come in handy now and then. But for the $90 a month or so   
   that it seems to cost for anything like that, I'll pass unless I have a   
   regular need.   
      
   Also, from back when I did have a regular cell plan, is that $90 they   
   quote what I pay or what they charge before the 20-30% of assorted fees   
   and taxes? I hate buying anything without knowing the price in advance.   
   Medical care and utilities are bad enough. Heck, even my land line   
   phone, if I make no calls whatsoever, has about 20% added fees and taxes   
   to the quoted rate.   
      
   My prepaid phone will NEVER send me a bill I can't afford or don't want   
   to pay.   
      
   Cheers,   
      
   David   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
    * Origin: LiveWire BBS -=*=- UseNet FTN Gateway (1:2320/1)