Cell Phones

[Pavan Dave]

Cell phones are a part of many peoples lives and they are getting flashier and flashier by the day, but is there really a need for all of the new gadgets and upgrades? I can understand businessmen need them for their work (whatever it may be) but seeing my peers, even my younger brother's peers (in middle school) with fancy blackberries. I love technology, but is there a line that needs to be drawn? Why do people go crazy without them like if they leave it at home for a day? Are you really THAT important? Do people even know what a dial tone is??



(This thread is asking the importance of the high end cell phones in the hands of people in college and younger people.)

[Michelle Celio]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Cell phones are a part of many peoples lives and they are getting flashier and flashier by the day, but is there really a need for all of the new gadgets and upgrades? I can understand businessmen need them for their work (whatever it may be) but seeing my peers, even my younger brother's peers (in middle school) with fancy blackberries. I love technology, but is there a line that needs to be drawn?

Cell phones just make life easier becuase normally they don't belong to a family, like a land line might. I know whenever I get the chance I will call a peers cell phone, rather than their land line becuase I am uncomfortable with talking to people I don't know (especially parents).

As for upgrades to more flashy phones, I feel that it's a status thing, if so and so has the most expensive phone out there, it might make them feel cool.

For the 2007 season, I was my team's captain. I don't think it would of run as smoothly as it did, if it wasn't for the majority of the team having cell phones. We have two schools as a part of our team, and if I meeting was canceled last minute, it wasn't something either of them would put over the PA. We would have to call and text each other to ensure that everyone knew.

I honestly, looked for only a few features when I bought my phone, one was that it must flip, another was to have T9 texting, others included Blue tooth (becuase who wants to pay for ring tones, and texts of pictures to facebook), extended battery life, camera/video and a media player, just becuase I like being able to carry my music around with me.

Originally Posted by Pavan

Why do people go crazy without them like if they leave it at home for a day?

When ever I leave my phone at home my anxiety levels go way way up. It's probably becuase of my texting, I get anywhere from 75-200 texts a day and anywhere from 10-15 phone calls. I just like being able to be reached, comfort sort of thing.

Originally Posted by Pavan

Are you really THAT important?

Yes, I'm that important . Kidding, Kidding. Andy is pretty important.

Originally Posted by Pavan

Do people even know what a dial tone is??

And yes, I know what a Dial Tone is. I happen to have to hear one quite frequently, since my cell battery always seems to die....

[Dan Petrovic]

Sure, it's important.

Some of my friends are cumpulsively (if that's a word) late for whatever plans we make (it's kind of frustrating). Usually, I'm unsure about whether or not my friends are going to show up. So, if I don't have my cell phone I won't know about what's going on. Also, incase anything were to happen and I needed to be reached or I needed to reach someone, it wouldn't be so bad with a cell phone.

I'm not talking about all the fancy things like having a browser, or a camera, or the ability to watch videos. I'm simply talking about being able to use the phone for what it was intended to be: a phone.

All my phone can do besides make phonecalls is play games. I have Tetris for various things like when I'm on a long bus ride or I'm waiting in an airport or something and that's about it.

[Pavan Dave]

I'm specifically talking about people with higher end phones. MOST regular phones have text messaging, picture messaging, T9, camera, and bluetooth although the last two you might have to look for. I am specifically talking about the ones with the media players, the web browsers, the microsoft office suit, etc., which seem to be unnecessary (for the age group I am talking about) but yet many people would jump off cliffs for.

EDIT: I have an L6. I use the calling and receiving calls feature, the text/picture messaging feature, and the blue tooth. I get calls and text messages all of the time but I'm not going to freak out just because I left it at home.

[artdutra04]

My current cell phone is used for making calls and texting. That's it, and right now that's all I need from a cell phone. (Plus, it was a free phone with my current plan.) I've seriously considered getting an iPhone in a year and a half when my current contract is up. By then, I could actually see myself using one to it's full potential, and the memory will probably be upgraded to 16Gb or 32Gb, making it worthwhile for watching movies.

Shame on the parents for letting their kids 'insist' that they need Blackberries or other similar phones. Too many kids are spoiled nowadays. If they want a cell phone, I see no problem with giving them a $50 phone. But if they want anything better, then they should get a job and earn it. If they want music, they probably already have iPods. If they want a camera phone, $100 digital cameras will take MUCH better pictures than almost all smart phones.

If you give someone everything they want, what did they actually learn? Nothing. It's like giving someone a fish rather than teaching them how to fish.

[Greg Needel]

I have had a cell phone now for about 8 years and I must say that every phone I have gotten has many new features, most of which I think are not essental when I buy the phone. After some time using the phone I come to get used to having those features and don't think I would get a phone that didn't have them in the future. I remember the first few phones I had nothing more then the basic phone features and maybe some games, I even thought it was special when I could use my phone as a modem and get 14.4 connection speeds on my computer. Now my current phone acts as an MP3 player, movie viewer, camera, and a bunch of other features which I still haven't had a use for yet. Right now I am looking at a new phone mainly for the pda features that mine lacks, but that doesn't say that EVERYONE needs one.

Ultimately I think that kids are getting phones to early in life, and it is more social status then requirement, but like others have said I think it falls on the parents more then anything else. Parents today could just say "no" but it is easier to say "yes" and not have to deal with the kid complaining. While I think it is wrong for a 10 year old to have a fully featured cellphone I can not judge the thought process of a parent I don't know, for there are legitimate reasons for children to have cellphones.

[Cynette]

Most of our lifestyle still seems to be about keeping up with the Joneses - even if we don't know who the Joneses are! Its like that saying "he who dies with the most toys wins!" Only now it isn't the number of toys, it is the newness and greatest technology toys that win.

Cell phones - yeah I've got one - its a Razr. But it was free with my plan a year ago or I wouldn't have it. But I know the dilemna, my daughter needs a new cell phone - hers is 3 years old and getting finicky. So I want her to get a cell phone for what she uses. She wants something with web and music, just because. Not happening.

I'm still very old school when it comes to cell phone use, if I'm in a crowd and my phone buzzes (never rings) I'll either ignore the call or excuse myself to answer the phone. But I do love to sneak a text in when no one is looking!

We just did a similar discussion with my daughter on a laptop computer. She "needs" one for school. Meet the basic requirements or get the latest and greatest? We ended up in a compromise...she got a basic MacBook (more $ than a basic PC, but more useful for her major). If she had decided for more power, the upgrade would have come out of her pocket. She thought it over and decided that the basic was just fine, in a few years she can get the super version if she needs it.

[Schnabel]

I will speak from the exact opposite end of high end phones. I have a sanyo v2300 from sprint and it has absolutely nothing on it but talk and text. When my parents bought it, they turned all web features (including ringtones) off. Only when I convinced them would they let me pay for my own text messaging. I personally think that it is very important because I don't know how many times I will whip it out and use it to find a contact or see if anyone called me. I always know also that I can make a call at any time when I need to. I wish that I had a better phone as mine isn't a camera phone or such. Being a geek, I wish that it was a blackberry just so that I could do everything that it does.

[cooker52]

All I need in a cell phone is the calling service. I don't use texting, becasue
#1-I find it a waste of time
#2-My parents pay for my plan, so I'll take what they give me
#3-I don't want to pay for texting as it is (that's how it will work, if I want texting, I pay for it)

I find that sometimes I would like to have bluetooth, just to make life easier. I have no use for the web on my phone, nor any built in mp3 players. I will use the camera on my phone every now and then, but still find it easier to use a normal digital camera (plus it holds more memory). I would prefer to use my mp3 player rather than a phone with mp3 capabilities for the same reason as the camera, more space and it is easier to move files and the such. I find ringtones fun to have, but I don't go crazy over them (I have only put one or two on mine). T9, I don't even know how to use it. My cousin tried to explain, he lost me on it. My mom has the Vcast phone and I don't find the use for that expensive of a phone. Give me a phone that is strong, sturdy, (and practically unbreakable), and works with contacts and calling, and I'm happy.

I like bike riding, and that's why I would like to have bluetooth, so I can call and ride, and so I don't miss a call from a friend or my mom.

My two cents.

[Wayne Doenges]

I've had a cell phone for at least 6 years. I only turn it on to make a call to my wife or for an emergency. No one, but my wife, knows my cell phone number. I like it that way.
I'm sick and tired of seeing 9-17 year olds with the latest and greatest phone just because their parents can't say NO!!! The kids run up bills and expect their parents to pay for them. My advice to the kids is...GET A JOB!
I'm also tired of seeing adults who think their cars are their offices.
*gets off soapbox and puts on flame suit

[vivek16]

yes i agree. i dont have a cell phone but if i were to get one i probably would get a cheap one since i dont use im much and rarely make calls. seriously ppl dont need blackberrys in hs.

i would like one of those nextel phones since they are practically indestructible and seem like not super fancy. i dont really listen to music often so i dont need mp3, dont need bluetooth or the web. just a phone with a decent camera would be nice since i sometimes wish i had pictures of something.

-vivek

[Taylor]

Cell phones are now what shoes were in the mid-90s. Instead of paying $200 for Air Jordans, people are now paying $600 for iPhones as the main status symbol. The other day my wife saw a homeless man digging through a dumpster, talking on his cell.
Personally, I never had Jordans, and I'll probably never spend more than $50 on a cell phone. I've got a camera; I've got a computer; I've got a phone; I've got a stereo. I don't need them all in one place so I can break/lose them all at once.
Besides, when one makes the decision to become a high school teacher, having status symbols becomes about as important as a dental plan for chickens.

[Tim Delles]

Looking at is a a college student and someone with a job, yes cell phones are important.

For a college student there are a number of things that it comes in very useful for.

Gathering a group of people quickly when they are not around their dorm rooms or such. (especially during the FIRST season when something catastrophic happens to the robot during week 6)
A lot of times it is just as much if not cheaper than an actual phone, but you can take it anywhere you want.
Job wise it allows you to be contacted if something comes up at work, and you are needed.

*The list can go on and on but im just still to tired*

[Wetzel]

I like the device convergence. I replaced my old digital camera with the camera in my new(ish) phone. I'm using the Samsung D807 right now. It was $50 when I picked it up. I got it mostly for the camera, while only at 1.3megapixels, does very well for what I want. I just got back from a month in Mexico and I took over 2300 pictures on it. While not the best pictures, they are great for what I use them for, Facebook. Check some out. I know a dedicated digital camera will take better pictures, but with this I don't have to worry about taking it with me or having another device in my pocket.
As a benefit, it also has an MP3 player so I don't have to bother with a iPod either.

My next phone I would like to have GPS, tied to the camera, with a 3G connection for mobile updates. GIS FTW!

Wetzel

[Ali Ahmed]

In my opinion, I think having a cell phone is pretty important. At least one that can make calls. Even for middle and high school and even some college kids. The reason for this is mainly for emergencies. Just in case, you know. But when high schoolers are walking around with Blackberries is just plain useless. I can't see why a 12-17 year old will ever need PDA functions. I mean, my dad just bought a Nokia E61, PDA phone, because he's now running a business. But I do think that for high schoolers having a camera phone would be nifty. Because sometimes those Kodak moments come up and you won't have your digital camera with you. As an example, I bought a Nokia N80 because it had a 3 megapixel camera, plus some other cool features, but mainly for the camera because I can't take my digital camera with me everywhere and trust me it has been extremely useful. As far as mp3 capabilities goes, it depends on your usage and if you own an iPod/ any other mp3 player. I mean, if you have an iPod I see no use in buying a phone with a music player.

But these days, all phone obviously make calls and all phones can send texts. The next thing to worry about, in my opinion, would be the camera. Do you want a megapixel? 2? 3? 5?! If you get a phone with a decent camera it will almost always have the ability to play music. But the big thing after that would be PDA functions like sending e-mail and using fax and what not. That I think should be left for the businessmen and executives and for people who basically need them.

So, what I'm saying is, people who need PDA features can have a PDA phone and people who just want to call and text should just stick to their basic phone.