Have any of you called a halt to acquiring any new technology? (older, smart)
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I've always tried my best to keep up with technology since the first PCs came out. I realized that if I were computer illiterate, I would be going nowhere in life. Now the older I get, it's becoming frustrating keeping up with newer tech, since it's growing at a breakneck pace. Keeping up with passwords? Gave that up, I write them down on a slip of paper and I keep those papers right near the computer out of the way.
BTW, I like watching movies from the early 90s, so see the clunky password screens, the 20 pound monitors, ect. Then movies from the 80s, no computers, just typewriters.
I kind of made my living as a geek (allowed me to retire @ 60), so it doesn't feel optional - yet, anyway. Man... to grow up in the era of Gemini and Apollo and avoid tech? I guess that's possible.
I generally draw the line at any new technology that spies on me or that funnels information about my daily habits into some aggregating database. So, any "always-listening" digital assistant or device, not happening in my house. Or any internet-connected appliances, no thank you. I'm perfectly content with my free over-the-air tv antenna connected to my very not-smart tv, but I don't watch a ton anyway. And I have a penchant for old cars, so I keep driving well-kept vehicles from the 70s/80s. I just prefer having full control over what's going on in my car, no mysterious "black boxes" that control all the subsystems.
I'm quite technically literate though and keep up to date knowledge-wise. I think this is important to know what's out there, as this helps me make informed choices about what tech or features I do or don't want to have, plus I can optimize whatever benefit I'm getting from it while minimizing cost and privacy risk. I built my own higher end desktop computer and do use this a lot (but I'm stopping at Win7, Win8/10 is terrible in so many ways imho). And if I really want to I can find and watch any media I can think of. And I do have a smartphone but with no service, only wifi, though with the right apps it's every bit as functional as having paid service, just with no bill ever. But then I keep a cheap flip phone going for when I'm out and about away from wifi and need a call. Overall, I think willingly ignoring technology puts you at a disadvantage, but knowingly choosing what you do or don't need or want puts you in the best position.
thatdudebob, it would be interesting to know the apps you are referring to which are just as functional as having paid service, if you feel like sharing.
I don't like being on the band wagon and buying into the latest and greatest.
Quite content to have what I have and reluctantly make a change when compelled.
The home I grew up in still has a Zenith Color Console, Rotary Dial Phone, appliances from the 60's and 70's that work today just as well as the day they were bought.
Mom and Dad have only had two color TV sets... one in 1965 and one in 1980...
No interest in computers, cell phones, cable TV... etc.
One of the grand kids asked to be shown how the rotary phone works... he was fascinated... I called the number and when it rang he must of jumped a mile...
I received my new smart phone today and I am totally zonked. If you know what I mean. Trying to figure it out, wanting it to work the way I want it to.
Tomorrow I'm going to T-Mobile and THEY can get it working right. It's like a car--I have no interest in fixing it or in how it works but I do want to use it.
LOL, I hear you, my smart phone makes me feel dumb. But I know when it comes to tech the less I use it the more I will lose it, so I try to keep up as best I can.
Being on a budget means I'm generally a few years behind, but whatever, it works for me.
social media varies with generations. Grandma had her party line telephone. Mom and dad spent hours talking to sibs on the telephone. Once email came along, that's what I used. Our kids use smartphone apps like snapchat and texting.
So what's new? Things always change. Think of the office - first, individual secretaries intercepting all calls. Then, one office wide admin asst. handling all calls when away from my desk, then the rest of the afternoon playing phone tag. Then email, with the older generation having an AA print them all out. Now, corporate wide IM, collaboration software and such. It's always been hard to keep up.
Overall, I think willingly ignoring technology puts you at a disadvantage, but knowingly choosing what you do or don't need or want puts you in the best position.
Although I pretty much agreed with tdb's entire post, I abbreviated it to cover the most important part. Just saying no because something is new is not the best reason to turn something down. Chances are the OP doesn't drive the same Edsel or whatever car they started with when they got their first driver's license. They may also have moved, changed jobs, shop at different stores or do anyone of a hundred things differently now because something better (and new) came along. And there's nothing wrong with that--Like thatdudebob said, "knowingly" choosing puts you in the best position. Just my .02.
I did not mean this thread to be a right vs. wrong kind of thread.. I think, like you and others have written, that people should do whatever works for them.
The main reason I posted this was to get an idea whether Retirement Forum posters think that living without Smartphones, etc. would even be "do-able" in another 20 years or so. I can't imagine that those of us who choose to do without all the gadgets would be FORCED to have them, in one way or another, but it seems to me that this is where we're heading as a society. Of course, I could be wrong about that, so I was wondering what others thought about this.
Thanks to EVERYONE who has posted so far!
P.S. It does seem like more and more companies are "penalizing" people who don't have Smartphones, though, by only offering making some discounts available if you have an app from that company. It seems that this would bring on a whole avalanche of "junk texts" (if that's the correct terminology).
Also, as some of you have implied, I am "cheap" that I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a Smartphone and then hundreds more dollars in monthly bills, when I can get along fine without it! I would also think that a lot of retirees on limited budgets would feel that same way.
If I could only have one electronic device, I don't know whether I'd choose a computer or a smartphone. If I could not afford a smartphone, I'd get the best phone with texting I could afford. Texting is becoming a must, especially if you deal with younger people. I think some sort of smartphone and a computer (or computer access) are musts for most of us. You can buy a used Iphone fairly cheaply, I think. Then you could shop around for the best carrier for you. If you had to, you could use public computers at a local library for computer needs. But, wow, I'd hate to give up either of these modern conveniences.
thatdudebob, it would be interesting to know the apps you are referring to which are just as functional as having paid service, if you feel like sharing.
Sure, it's pretty simple. The basic setup I use is this: I bought a newer used iphone off craigslist (5s as of now, and made sure to meet at the seller's original service provider store to make sure it checks out). For making and receiving calls I use google hangouts (which used to be google voice), and for texting I still use the old google voice app, which seems better for that. This combined gives me the same kind of phone service I'd get with a paid phone, except I only use it over wifi. Personally I set it up using an anonymous online phone service (it was a bit of a tricky process) so it doesn't actually connect to any real number, and I keep it separate from my old cell phone, but by default google wants you to link it to your cell or home phone.
I have constant wifi service at home of course, and the good majority of stores, restaurants, offices, etc offer free wifi nowadays that I can find and connect to. Overall, I'd guess only 10% of the time I don't effectively have smartphone service. Built into the phone already of course is the email app (plus I use an extra gmail app for a 2nd email account), and they both update whenever I'm around wifi. And for when I'm driving somewhere or out at a park or somewhere without wifi, I still have my basic old phone with me to make/receive calls if needed. But it's much cheaper this way, with not too much sacrifice of convenience. Basically, $100 up front for the iphone with no further costs, and maybe $10-20/month for the basic phone, depending on how much you really use it.
And an added bonus is that there's really nothing tracking my smartphone use. I do keep all background tracking/updating/uploading/etc turned off, as well as siri and icloud disabled... just don't need or want it.
For gps/mapping, I use galileo maps, which will download/store maps of any state, and it just uses the phone's gps to show whereever you are, and you can fully browse the map anywhere/anytime. If I want new driving directions on the go or need to find some new location, I do keep an old standard garmin gps in my car. Or, I also have the google maps app, and if I type a destination and get step-by-step directions while I'm still on wifi before I leave home, it'll give me the turn by turn as I'm driving.
By the way, I also hate itunes, and never use it, but I found copytrans is a great program (via your computer) to bypass itunes and store whatever music (or videos) you own onto the iphone (it's a little confusing at first to set it up though).
Anyway, this setup has been a winner for me, hope this helps.
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