Phone

[clevermanka]

My phone is cracked. Boo. Hiss.

Back in March, CREDO was bugging me about either upgrading my plan or my phone since my two-year contract had expired. I didn't need more minutes and none of their current phones were pink (no black phone for me, pls), I wasn't sure what to do. The customer service guy told me I could take the option of $10/month off my bill for a year if none of the other options interested me. I chose the $10 off.

And now (of course!), my phone (which needs to last another nineteen months unless I want to pay for an upgraded phone) is cracked. It's just a little crack on the back case, but I worry about things once they start to go downhill. Once it's pushed down the slope, a ball just starts rolling faster, you know.

I'm looking at one of them thar fancy phones so I could replace my paper planner, but I'm unsure if I'm interested in the necessary extras (and costs) that come with it.

Yes, I'm still using an actual printed calendar to keep track of my activities.

Since I've been a member of Working Assets/CREDO for over fifteen years, they said they'd give me $50 off any phone to replace my (beloved pink) Sanyo Katana. Which means I could get the Blackberry 8330 for $100. And I'd have to pay an extra charge per month for web browsing capabilities (even if I don't use them, since this model comes with a calendar planner). That would be a minimum of $5 a month.

My paper planner costs $12 and lasts for seventeen months.

So here's where you all come in, darling readers: Whom amongst you has a similar phone (or something with similar functions) to the Blackberry 8330? What do you think of it? Are you pleased with how it works? What don't you like about it? What features do you use?

I very much appreciate any information and opinions. Thanks.

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I also lurve my sparkly pink Sanyo Katana and use a paper planning system.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's nice to know there's someone out there who understands. =)

[poincaraux.livejournal.com]

Other than the fact that you could get a discounted phone, is there some reason to replace your planner? I do everything electronically because nothing else has ever come close to working for me, but it sounds like you already have a system that works.

If you have something that works and the alternative is untested and more expensive, it seem like you ought to have a pressing reason to switch.

As far as actually answering your question: I'm on the other end of the spectrum from you. I have an iPhone and I absolutely love it. I use google calendar to keep track of my own schedule. My lab has a google calendar that tracks all visiting speakers, events, etc. My wife has a google calendar. The iPhone interface is very slick, showing the different calendars in different colors, making it easy for me to edit things, blah blah blah.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I love the look of the iPhone, and everyone I know who has one just raves about it. But my provider doesn't support them. =(

My reasons for considering the switch, neither of which are particularly pressing: I'm probably going to need a new phone soon, and the flip phone options now available are ugly. I'm also experimenting with how much I can cut down my use of disposable resources (no paper napkins, no plastic or paper shopping bags, purchasing items with minimal packaging, etc. ). I realize with the paper planner and phone, it's sort of a mixed bag--because I can just throw most of the planner in the recycling bin when it's used up. But it would be one fewer item in my life...

[poincaraux.livejournal.com]

"But it would be one fewer item in my life..."

In an unrelated note, thank you for using the correct word. I do a good job when it comes to avoiding pet peeves, but less/fewer and "ATM machine" still set me off.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. It's nice to be in good company regarding certain issues.

[indigodreamer.livejournal.com]

I still use an actual printed calendar, and probably always will. I used my iPhone calendar for an entire semester but it just made me miserable. I tried to consolidate, but it wasn't worth it. For the record, though, I love my phone for all the other stuff it does. Checking e-mail every morning from my cozy bed has been good. :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

What about the electronic calendar did you dislike? I don't plan to use the phone for e-mail, although I suppose I might use it occasionally. I like leaving the internet at work when I go home at the end of the day.

[indigodreamer.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. I really didn't like the process of inputting things, to the point that I stopped adding small tasks. (It was great for recurrent tasks.) However, I use my planner as both a calendar and a to-do list, and being able to jot "qtips!" on Saturday or "SAA registration" on Wednesday without thinking (and then cross through them when they're done or jot them on another day if they're not) makes my brain quiet and happy. It often wasn't worth the hassle of starting a whole new listing for qtips or the SAA registration reminder, so I just dealt with the brain noise. I became much happier when I went back to my paper planner in January. I know a ton of people who love it, though, so it might just be that I micromanage my brain noise. :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I use my planner as a to-do list, as well. And yes, marking things off the shopping list is crucial. Otherwise things get passed over, or purchased twice. Hmmm.

This is good. This is the sort of information I need to consider. Thank you!

[indigodreamer.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I'm nerdy enough to love talking about planner philosophies. :)

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

The google does have a tasks feature I use for lists and such. Had I a phone that could access it say at the grocery when I forgot my list I think that would be groovy!

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

I agree with this completely. I'm a visual memory. My Palm (separate from my phone) is good because I can color coordinate it but it doesn't show me enough info at a glance to make it really good for me. I also chose to keep my phone and planner separate so I didn't have to keep taking the phone down from my ear and accessing the calendar or notes functions during a phone call. I also wasn't patient enough for the learning curve. It takes too much time to click through all the buttons to get to the calendar. I can open my paper planner and *boom*, I'm there.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I didn't have to keep taking the phone down from my ear and accessing the calendar or notes functions during a phone call.

Good. Point. Very, very good point.

[indigodreamer.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree with this too -- for example, making a hair appointment while on my phone was just too annoying. When things are too annoying, I don't do them and then my hair gets ugly.

Also the easy access -- not this Wednesday, but next? (flip) Oh, Wednesday the __? (flip, flip). On an electronic calendar that was way too many clicks for me, and I somehow ended up inputting the wrong day half the time.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

being able to jot "qtips!" on Saturday or "SAA registration" on Wednesday without thinking (and then cross through them when they're done or jot them on another day if they're not) makes my brain quiet and happy.

+1

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I know our brains work a lot alike, so this is pretty much the nail in that Blackberry's coffin as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks!

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Yes. I had an electronic planner for a while several years ago. It wasn't quite so spiffy as the stuff that's integrated with Sooper Fones these days, but my brain just prefers scribbling things on a paper planner. (shrug)

[indigodreamer.livejournal.com]

Also, if you ultimately decide *not* to go with a smartphone, you should be able to find your phone or a comparable one that works with CREDO on eBay. My sister has done that a couple of times.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Hey, I didn't even think of that. I could just buy another one of this same phone. Thanks for the idea!

[indigodreamer.livejournal.com]

No problem! It was a lifesaver for her when she lost a discontinued phone that she loved and was able to replace it for something like $20.

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

That seems to make the most sense to me. Keep both things that are currently working for you, as long as CREDO will let you substitute in a phone not bought through them.

[pamelonian.livejournal.com]

My school gives us paper planners every year. I use them. The only trouble is that there is no July and I can't start writing in August until I return for the new school year.

I love being able to "see" the days and turn pages. Old fashioned, maybe, but it works for me.

I also prefer using maps to the GPS feature. shrijani's iPhone GPS took us on a lengthy toll road I never would have chosen had I seen a map!

I am in need of a new phone and right now am free of contracts. I am overwhelmed by the options available!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oooo! Let me talk up CREDO (http://www.credomobile.com/Default.aspx) to you. They're awesome!

Well, just go to the website. If that doesn't sell you, I'm not sure I could do a better job.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I have a Palm, and it's just great. It comes in bright red as well as black -- and I think you should consider a bright red!

The calendar rings to alert me for appointments, and I use it all the time -- including for an alarm clock! I just set a 6 AM "appointment" when I want to get up that early.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That's certainly something else to consider. An electronic planner that is separate from my phone. I know fireguarder uses one of these. I'm going to see her tonight. I'll remember to ask her about it. Thanks!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I liked the PDA I had for awhile, it synced up nicely with Outlook, but I didn't like not being able to see a month at a time.
Paper planners are just so much more fun to me, doodles and such work well for me.

I do like the appt function on my phone, I use it to remind me to pick things up after work, just set an appt for 4:55p, type in whatever it is.
I just don't even use most of the features on the little EnV that I have, and I hate the keyboard on the Blackberrys. I much prefer my QWERTY flip.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I'm one of those Paper Planner People. I can use Outlook at the office to remind me to do stuff right after work (and I often do!) since I don't usually leave my cell phone on during the day when I'm at the office.

[razorart.livejournal.com]

I just recently gave up my blackberry features to save 20 bucks a month. I rarely used it for the internet and since I'm usually on a computer, I don't really need to have email on there, too. My Blackberry lasted 17 months. It works some days and not others. I need to call tech support from another phone to see if the software can be updated and fix things, but if not, luckily I have insurance on the fucking thing.

After my contract is up in February, I'm getting a different kind of phone. I don't think the Blackberry is worth it.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's certainly sounding like this isn't the route I should take. I think a Blackberry is not going to work for me.

Hey, when your contract is up, consider moving over to CREDOmobile (http://www.credomobile.com/). I'm a fifteen-year customer (I started when they were just a long-distance company) and I've never had a bad customer service experience with them.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

(I started when they were just a long-distance company)

Do you remember when Working Assets used to always give free ben & jerry's coupons? Or, that might have been in the 80s. But! They were so hippy cool ahead of their time (still are actually). I never made the move to their mobile, though.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

They still do give those coupons! They don't do a full year's worth, anymore, but you do get a coupon for a free pint when you renew your contract or sign up for a new one.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

I'm a paper planner person as well. And I was going to suggest the "replace your phone you love on ebay" option, but I see it has been suggested already!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't be surprised at all to find that I'm not ready to make the jump to new tech. And I'm very pleased to see that there are several auctions for my phone model (in pink, even) on eBay. Yay!

[stuology.livejournal.com]

That is one thing that I do love with my phone over a planner is I enter an appointment on the calendar on my laptop, and that syncs with my phone. It also syncs with Google calendar which I share with Mac then will in turn sync to his phone. Same if I enter it in my phone. It will sync to three places.

And all three places will beep at me to remind me of my appointments. Paper never did that.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I can see how that would be incredibly useful, especially if you're coordinating appointments with other people. But I don't even have my own computer (not counting the one I use at work).