Texting on cellphone, pdas (personal digital assist.)

[shootingstar]

I don't have either a cellphone nor personal digital assistant/aid where one types in text messages into teeny-tiny buttons on tiny screen.

Honest, it looks painful to me. And knowing me, my thoughts run faster than my fingers. I couldn't be typing in terse, short phrases into a cellphone or Blackberry.

How about you? Does anyone also surf the Internet at all on a pda? And if you are web-surfing, just what type of info. are you cruisin' around for?

[Mr. Bloom]

I got an iPhone a few weeks ago and I'm hooked.

To this point, I did limited surfing on the cell phone and occassional text messaging...all on a Motorola Razr.

The iPhone is awesome (and the applications have created "need" where "need" didn't previously exist:rolleyes::eek: Like the need to know precisely where on the globe I am by gps, or the need to always have a grocery list handy!). The iPhone combines my cell phone, pda, Hewlett Packard calculator, ipod, and many of the features of my laptop - all into one package. There are "knock offs" out there that have better reviews on some features.

Keep in mind, in 1984, I spent $2,500 for an Apple //e computer (where I paid extra for the extra 64K of memory). For $99, the iphone has more capability and 8Gig of memory!

[OakLeaf]

Where did you find an iPhone for $99??? For that price I'd buy out my Verizon contract...

Predictive typing works really well these days, but I think it's mostly an age thing. I don't compose long documents/messages (longer than say 50 characters) without a real keyboard. IMO the single major limitation to the iPhone that makes me want to keep my old PDA, is document handling. There's no application to create or edit MS Word documents on it, and there is no full-size keyboard available for it. Even without a keyboard, yeah, I really prefer a stylus and handwriting recognition. Showing my age, I know. Although how you survived without a shopping list, Mr. S....?

Yeah there have been all the news stories about people getting "Blackberry thumb," but that's just the 21st century version of "Nintendonitis" I think, something "sexy" in the news about a new type of overuse injury that may be common enough to recognize, but really doesn't happen to everyone.

[uforgot]

I text, but only because I have two twentyish sons who text me. I also have a new Motorola z9 with the at&t navigator and I love it. They had a special for $5 a month for the Navigator so I also got unlimited internet. I can take it off any time I want. On my phone it comes out to a total of $20 for internet and gps. I find I use the internet to check weather and email when I am away from home.

[KathiCville]

I text my BF a few times a day on average---short messages on topics that don't merit a phone call. My technology is pretty primitive: a pay-as-you-go TracFone. I've had the same one for two years. Keypad is pretty beat up at this point, but I know the lay-out so well that most of the time I barely need to look at what I'm typing before I hit 'send.'..... If I splurged on an iPhone I'd probably be on the darned thing all day, even at the library, where I now go to escape the phone and Internet access and actually get WORK done. :D

[OakLeaf]

It occurs to me that part of it may have to do with how fast one types on a standard keyboard. Which also may be an age thing - but not sure about that. Someone like me who's typed upward of 130 wpm on a standard keyboard for the last 30 years, is understandably reluctant to hunt and peck with my thumbs. :rolleyes: Someone who hunts and pecks on a standard keyboard, probably not so reluctant.

[Crankin]

I'm almost as un-techno as Shootingstar. I have a cell phone, with a nice At&T contract because my husband got an I Phone in August. He drives me crazy with it... checking his email and just "having to" find something on the web when he doesn't need to. Last weekend I had to yell at him to put it away when we were at cycling friend's house for dinner. We don't usually exchange heated words, but I was mad!
My cell phone is never on, unless I have to make a call when I am out of the house, which is maybe once a month? I don't know how to use any of the functions on the phone. In fact, I had just figured out my last phone, when I had to give it up. Needless to say, I don't text. I really don't feel the need to talk to people that often! I will call or email if I need to. On the other hand, my husband doesn't text, either. A couple of his employees text him once in awhile and he'll reply, but he doesn't initiate it. My older son is the king of texting. His girlfriend lives in NY during the week and this is how they communicate during the day.
A funny related story. On Monday, one of my classes was cancelled. The professor emailed early AM, saying she would make a definite decision by noon and send another email. Well, I had to leave to get into the city at 10:30, so when I was eating lunch at the university, I checked my messages on one of the public computers, to find out that yes, the class was cancelled. When I went to my first class (before the cancelled one) one of my classmates came rushing in, telling me that she tried to text me about the later cancellation, only to find out that the number she had for me was a land line! Can you imagine the horror?

[sundial]

First gen iPhone user here--won't go back to the other phones. I enjoy texting on this phone. I've heard the Blackberry was THE choice phone to text.

[SouthernBelle]

I have a Palm Treo. Although I do text and occasionally use it to access the internet, It's PDA functions are what is most important for me.

I keep my calendar in Outlook on my office desktop and sync it with the Palm. Then I use Google calendar and have it set to automatically sync with my laptop and home desktop. It's great being able to access it almost anywhere.

[Tuckervill]

I have a Blackberry Curve, and I really do like it. I never texted before I got this phone. I, too, have a teen and two adult sons (and their "gals" <g>), and that's a good reason to text. I meet them where they are. I really love texting for the convenience. For instance, yesterday I texted DH to tell them we were at the store next to the restaurant we were meeting at, in case he got there before we saw him. That didn't really merit a phone call, but it saved any confusion if we missed each other.

My BB doesn't have GPS per se (I don't want to pay for it), but it has a Google maps application that knows my location via the nearest cell tower. That really saved me a lot of times when on my trip in September. Sometimes we needed to find a place to stay on the road, and that was very helpful.

The BB doesn't handle documents, either, but I'm never going to need to change one if I don't have my laptop with me. I do blog from it, with pictures, though. I liked that. I do use my laptop less for checking email, because of the email push on the BB. I can at least see if there's anything pressing.

I got the BB so I could communicate better when people walk up to me at the ballpark to tell me they didn't get their uniforms or whatever. I don't have to rely on my holey memory. I just send myself an email or make a note right on the spot.

Karen

[Crankin]

Boy, am I out of it...
If I think I can't remember, I write my appointments in a 3.99 date book I got at CVS.
Or I put a sticky note with a reminder in a prominent place.
But mostly, I can remember it in my head.

[Bluetree]

I'm an iPhone texting addict with an unlimited plan. Of course, it helps that most of my friends are also on iPhone!

[SouthernBelle]

Boy, am I out of it...
If I think I can't remember, I write my appointments in a 3.99 date book I got at CVS.
Or I put a sticky note with a reminder in a prominent place.
But mostly, I can remember it in my head.


For me this is a business use, though I put personal ones in there too. My life is appointments and being somewhere at a particular time.

[OakLeaf]

Connectivity (the OP's question) vs. organization are really two separate questions. My connectivity is pretty limited (although I'm totally coveting my husband's iPhone, now that I've seen it in action - it's SO much more functional than my old PDA, with the glaring exception of document handling - I hope they remedy that soon). But, the amount of paper I've saved since I got my first PDA is literally staggering.

My shopping list is no longer on multiple scraps of paper scattered in various purses, pockets, tabletops and who knows where. It's all in one place. When I think of something I need, wherever I happen to be, I can put it on the list. And of course the calendar, as others have pointed out - if I've forgotten something, then a paper or desktop calendar doesn't help me. When my calendar is with me all the time, the alarm can go off in time for me to be where I'm supposed to be.

Last, rude is rude and I don't think it has anything to do with the mode. The same people who would text or phone during a meal, are the ones who used to read a newspaper or a book.

[snapdragen]

Sometimes I remember to turn my plain old cell phone on....:o

[Crankin]

I never said anything about being rude... my husband was "showing" our friends some function on his I Phone and I could see my friend was bored, along with me, but her husband was mildly interested. I just said "stop" because this was after a week with both my husband and son during Thanksgiving comparing their "apps." It just got on my nerves.
Southern Belle, I used the same system for business, too.... well maybe because I was a teacher, it didn't matter if I had a line of sticky notes on my desk! I wrote meetings in my plan book, but usually there would be an email reminder from someone. I know in the business world, this wouldn't cut it, but it seems like more work to me to have to input the information into some digital device or a computer. Like an extra step. I don't type that well, though pretty fast for using just 3-4 fingers. My grocery list is always written on a pad of paper I keep by the phone in my kitchen, so if my husband thinks of something, he puts it there. I have always been super organized and I have a good memory; if I started using all of the electronic stuff I think I might get addicted for no reason at all. Like I said before, I don't find the need to text at all.
I guess this is the same reason why I resisted direct deposit for so long; I liked to hold my paycheck, not just get a copy of what was deposited. I did get over that one a long time ago.

[Tuckervill]

Boy, am I out of it...
If I think I can't remember, I write my appointments in a 3.99 date book I got at CVS.
Or I put a sticky note with a reminder in a prominent place.
But mostly, I can remember it in my head.

I abhor purses anything larger than, well, my Blackberry, so I wouldn't have a datebook with me. One of my least favorite things about working full time was having to wear skirts, which seldom have pockets. It's been a long time since I worked full time, and I will never wear skirts if I do go back. (Thinking about it--the renter in our rental just lost her job, and if she can't make her rent I'm going to have to get a job.)

Karen

[Red Rock]

I'm a BB person now. Santa gave me the Storm. I guess I have been slow to get here but I finally made it?! I have used a variety of cell phones but have been migrating to someting like this over time. As with others the calendar and Contacts seem to be the thing that is "it" for me. I have been to many places and either needed to know something or had to write it down and then move it to the phone so I could remember. The phone is always with me, everything else might not make it.

My husband and I text each other oftentimes. More when I was working because it is not cool to be on the phone with your honey at work. Employers do not like that. It has been our short method of communication.

I am still having problems with this unit to get it set up correctly. Its been driving me nuts. Are all BB like this?? Arrgghh.

Red Rock

[Becky]

I am still having problems with this unit to get it set up correctly. Its been driving me nuts. Are all BB like this?? Arrgghh.

Red Rock

My Curve was a cinch. What sort of issues are you having? Check out forums.crackberry.com- very active forums with helpful people.

[Red Rock]

Becky-I think I am beginning to get this. It has taken me a while though. Part of the problem is the user is not used to blackberry "think". The more I "play" with it, I am understanding it better. I now have all of my emails set up so that is good.

Thankyou for the link. I will have to check it out.

Red Rock

[Cataboo]

My little brother is deaf, so I end up texting him a lot. He just got a touch diamond and loves it. Has the gps, web surfing, unlimited data no voice plan.

I just have a basic cell phone. .. texting isn't bad, it can be tedious, but you get quicker at it.

I sometimes get jealous of the fancy phones everyone else has, but I'm on the computer or internet so much the last thing I need is it in my pocket... instant gratification.

I also tend to use my phone when I'm off biking, skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping... And the new phones use up their batteries too quickly with all the bells and whistles they have... I just want a phone that'll still have battery when I really need it. And I don't want a phone that I'm going to be upset if it gets dropped on a rock or I take a fall while on the bike.

I also get tri-band phones so that I've got the option of analog when I'm somewhere where I can't get a digital signal.

[Miranda]

I love text. I would rather text than talk.

I can type pretty fast on a regular keyboard and 10key fast too. I was the fastest cashier in the day when I worked retail back in the stone age before they had bar code scanners:o.

I don't have a keyboard type of cell phone. My cell is a simplier older LG at the moment. Water damaged two LG brand phones. Post 2yrs H2O damage, still working like a champ:cool:... keys included.

I use the number pad with the alpha keys. You just memorize how many times you need to touch the number to get the letter of the aphabet you want. Also, adding frequently used phrases in "quick text" you can hit one button to get in the message.

It's handy sometimes to have a written record of your text for future reference. Unlike talking, you don't have to answer "on demmand". This has advantages as well.

Sending pics is nice too. When DH used to travel biz a lot, the kids really loved getting pics of his travels. And he loved getting to see pics of what they were up to while he was gone:).

EDIT: Also, in terms of riding... texting can be handy too. If DH wants to let me know that he & the kids are going somewhere while I'm out riding, he will just send me a fyi text. Thus, I don't have to worry about if I need to pull off to answer the phone. People like, the school RN, are on their own ring tone. That way I KNOW if it comes up on the phone will riding, better stop and check it out.

[OakLeaf]

I also get tri-band phones so that I've got the option of analog when I'm somewhere where I can't get a digital signal.

I'm glad I'm not the only one still living on the planet!

Do you find places where you can only get analog signal? I haven't seen that in a while out East, but for various reasons I haven't been getting out into the sticks as much as I used to, either. It seems from the maps that there are a lot more places out West where analog service would still be useful.


in terms of riding... texting can be handy too. If DH wants to let me know that he & the kids are going somewhere while I'm out riding, he will just send me a fyi text. Thus, I don't have to worry about if I need to pull off to answer the phone. People like, the school RN, are on their own ring tone. That way I KNOW if it comes up on the phone will riding, better stop and check it out.

Exactly right, me too.

[Cataboo]

I'm glad I'm not the only one still living on the planet!

Do you find places where you can only get analog signal? I haven't seen that in a while out East, but for various reasons I haven't been getting out into the sticks as much as I used to, either. It seems from the maps that there are a lot more places out West where analog service would still be useful.


West Virginia. Getting a signal period in parts of West VA are difficult. There's a blind spot in Burtonsville, MD that I don't get digital signal in.

If you drive up and down I-95 between Richmond and Washington DC, there's 2 parts of the highway that the signal cuts out in.

Assateague/Chincoteague has really poor cell phone coverage.

Some parts of the Shenandoah.


Doing an Alaska cruise the summer before last, there were quite a few places I could get analog, not digital. Up in Banff national park there were places.


It happens just often enough that I don't want to do without it.

[OakLeaf]

okay, for those who must use vegetable fiber-based information storage systems (scnr):

Distributed Squirrel Cage for Parallel Processing (http://music.columbia.edu/~douglas/portfolio/DSCfPP/)

[Tuckervill]

My Blackberry's battery lasts longer than any phone I've ever had. I can't say that I've ever been frustrated with the BB. My dh really hates his, though, because he has a first or second generation and the processor is so much slower than mine.

Karen

[shootingstar]

I'm almost as un-techno as Shootingstar. I have a cell phone, with a nice At&T contract because my husband got an I Phone in August. He drives me crazy with it... checking his email and just "having to" find something on the web when he doesn't need to. Last weekend I had to yell at him to put it away when we were at cycling friend's house for dinner. We don't usually exchange heated words, but I was mad!
My cell phone is never on, unless I have to make a call when I am out of the house, which is maybe once a month? I don't know how to use any of the functions on the phone. In fact, I had just figured out my last phone, when I had to give it up. Needless to say, I don't text. I really don't feel the need to talk to people that often! I will call or email if I need to.

I guess I run a personal life that doesn't want to be constantly on call/available to other people. There have been uh..less than 6 times per year where my partner and I thought it would have been nice for both to have cell phones for a meet-up situation, non-emergency.

And my friendship circles never demands constant contact...I probably end up destroying good long friendships if it changed to pestering one another about trivial details in real time.

No I'm not techno-retrograde. :p Just not interested in jumping in on the on-call mode of 21st century life in my personal life. But I am curious what motivates people to text when the technology doesn't strike me as liberating as sitting down in front of a laptop....I did ask another employee who works in our dept. She's around 25 yrs...and doesn't text but uses her cell frequently. She gets complaints from family who wonder why she doesn't answer her phone. And it's non-emergency stuff.

When we are on vacation, he does like taking laptop along and ensuring hotel has Internet access. And when I get around to it I check email, stay on forums, like here. :) Non urgent stuff.

[Crankin]

I used to keep my cell phone on all day on my desk, when my kids were at home; it's notoriously difficult to reach teachers and so I would get a lot of "can you pick me ?" calls if they wanted to stay after school. I would IM my husband if I needed to communicate quickly with him during the day, but I would have to do it sneakily, so the kids wouldn't see, or wait until lunch. Last spring, when i was subbing, my son called me from Iraq on my cell! My colleague next door was absent and there was no sub. I was trying to teach 2 classes and make sure chaos didn't break out and talk to him. I felt bad, but finally I said, 'gotta go."
Like Shootingstar, my non use of these things really has to do with the fact that I don't feel the need to be so connected to everyone I know every minute. One of my friends texts a lot; she is constantly texting her kids who are college aged. I have a good relationship with my sons and I am pretty sure they don't want me texting them. It's intrusive. I like to keep the different spheres of my life separate. I find that since I am not working now, I rarely turn my cell on, which has made a couple of people mad when they tried to reach me, but hey, they eventually called me at home. I know I could learn to use these things, but I don't want to. I told my husband that I could curl up in a little garret with my books and a computer for the Internet and I'd be fine. I wouldn't need any other electronic stuff.

[surgtech1956]

Looking at a new phone. Not really into texting, but I am addicted to any new electronic 'toy'. We're with Verizon, so the Iphone is not an option, I looked at the Blackberry Storm, can't really justify it - I don't want to pay anymore for a cell phone contract. None of my friends 'text' at least not yet. The phones I've been looking at the LG Dare, LG Voyager. I would probably benefit from something like the I-Touch, wireless connection, music and calender/pda.

[msincredible]

I have a Blackberry Pearl. I do texting and use emails and the web browser on it, but it's more for work purposes than otherwise. If work hadn't forced me to get it, I would just have a regular cell phone.

[loneleaf]

Some days ago my laptop broke down... Oh i never imagined the days would be so boring without this high-tech machine although i have just lived within its existence for 4 months.
The same goes for when my cellphone was dropped into the water...that time i hadnt had my laptop. Oh well, i befriended with my TV. But gosh, i missed it so much that tiny thing and its little keyboard.
It's not that im an addict (am i ever? :P). When we r used to one thing, we understandably find it uneasy without it :)

[roadie gal]

My cell phone is usually off, although this time of year, with the snowy roads, I do carry it.

I don't have email access and I have texting blocked. I was receiving a bunch of spam texts, at 15 cents/spam. So I had it blocked.

I've said this before, but I'm not in the cell phone habit. I don't have kids that I have to keep up with and the mountains around here make reception iffy at best.

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband and I have become as bad as teenagers about texting. Corrupted Mom and my dear friend Sheila into the fold. Then started my brother. Husband, brother and I just got Blackberry Curves, they are quite snazzy although I am still learning it. My mom get some kind of samsung phone with a Qwerty keyboard and got one for my Dad who is attempting to figure out this texting nonsense we keep forcing on him. My parents are young, still got time to learn at 53 and 55. :p Mom has a Blackberry for work, as a director of IT she really should know more than me.

I like that everyone texts me because I can pretend to be busy and ignore them. I have been known to ignore many a call to my cell phone or put it on silent, not vibrate completely silent.

[MomOnBike]

I have found that my younger daughter & started communicating better when we started texting back & forth. DH & I communicate by text a lot.

Elder Daughter has let me know she'd rather I not text her - she doesn't want to pay the 10 cents for messages. I respect her decision, but I don't necessarily like it. I'd like to send little love notes occasionally.

It's like email, the message can be ignored if the timing is not good - unlike phone calls, which always seem to come at highly inconvienent times.