The best mobile phone available.........until the next one comes along

What a strange and unbalanced world we live in. Apparently there are a couple of new phones on the market – an Apple iPhone 5s and 5c – for which punters are prepared to queue for hours and, in some (sad) circumstances, days!!
 
It speaks volumes about modern consumerism that peoples’ priorities dictate that they must have the absolute last word in phone technology and are prepared to waste so many hours of their limited time on this earth, standing about waiting for a shop to open its doors. To be fair, I am pretty ignorant of the virtues of the iPhone 5s, so I can only assume that, in addition to being able to talk to people beyond shouting distance, it also has the capability to iron clothes, make the supper, stop the wife from nagging (now, that would be worth queuing for) and prevent all manner of distasteful diseases.
 
But even if it were able to do all that and more, I am left with a strange feeling that a wiser person would be well advised to sit at home conversing with one’s friends on the Oh-so-yesterday Blueberry WP24/4df-GT/WTF, waiting for the crowds to disperse and then have a casual saunter down at one’s leisure. But then what do I know? To my eternal shame and endless embarrassment, I’m still using the Raspberry FFS 01 – you know, the one which enables you to talk to other people.

Although quite interested in the new technology stuff and might invest in a "tablet" soon as I like them, I do find it quite disconcerting when you visit the UK to notice how the phone seems to have become an extension of the arm and is carried everywhere and used constantly.

I wonder how it would affect people if the whole worldwide network went down for 24 hours. Do you think people could cope? The way some use theirs I reckon they would need counselling

The one thing I like being in rural France is the fact that you do not fall in to the "must have" trap that lies in the cities etc.

Not a 'must have... it's a don't need nor want. As Tradzoner says it is quite interesting  stuff and amazing what they can do, but it is just not necessary.

I do have a basic PAYG mobile that is almost never switched on and is just carried for emergencies in case of breakdown in the middle of nowhere.

The younger generation have grown up with mobiles and the net but us oldies can remember when a phone sat on the hall table, had a dial and went 'ring ring'

I never have understood the need for the absolute latest gadget, especially when they will be out of date in a few months.

I agree with the OP completely........except that as I aquire 'new' technology, be it a computer, mobile phone, MP3 player etc, they suddenly become indispensible  
Just this week, ive been listening to BBC Radio 2 (that gives my age away) on my laptop, with connection by dongle. I used to be the one arguing that no one needs to take their tech gadgets around with them, wait until you get home!
Dont think ide queue for any of them though, I wait until they are a lot cheaper, on their way out...one of the benefits of being a tight s&d.
Pogo

Tradzoner wrote:I do find it quite disconcerting when you visit the UK to notice how the phone seems to have become an extension of the arm and is carried everywhere and used constantly.

Hi Tradzoner. I posted something previously in the earlier forum along similar lines. It seems that people in the UK have lost the art of talking to each other by normal means ie word of mouth. They are also incapable of doing anything without regular reference to their phone. Not only is it intensely annoying but it is also very impolite to have a conversation constantly interrupted by the other person suddenly diving into their pocket to read the latest piece of drivel.

Tradzoner wrote:I wonder how it would affect people if the whole worldwide network went down for 24 hours. Do you think people could cope? The way some use theirs I reckon they would need counselling.

I simply can’t envisage a world in which I would have to wait 24 hours to find out if K8 is “washing her hair tonight” or Harry Smith is “10 minutes late due to points failure at Clapham Junction” – it’s just simply unthinkable.

Well folks
When you see all these saddo's with latests must have gaget or waiting at a shop door to buy one, it does really make you think what would the do if the you know what really hit the fan.
They might be the first to know with the latest mobile but would not have a clue what to do about it when it happened.
Simmo in the woods of the high Correze without mobile coverage as all our nerd visitors keep telling us.

Did anyone watch the program "Blackout" which aired on UK tv recently. Hopefully it made a few people think about their over dependency on some items!

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/what-happens-if-the-lights-go-out-channel-4-drama-blackout-imagines-a-post-cyberattack-britain-8779207.html

You can watch the program here but only if you are in the UK or use a proxy server
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/blackout/4od

Agree with TONY H ,i have a pay as you go for emergencies only [but where do these people find the time to be on the mobile ALL THE TIME [get a life without a mobile ]more than a worry when you see children as young as 7 or 8 with thier mobile  

I've got a (French) PAYG mobile for emergencies, but the Sim card ran out as I didn't use it enough!

I have to admit though I'm lost without my computer and broadband connection. 

Amber wrote:I have to admit though I'm lost without my computer and broadband connection. 

 
Hi Amber. I too would be..... tap tap tap
 
"Hi K8, sorry to hear about your hair....you haven't! ...OMG! what did you say to that?.....Good for you K8, he doesn't deserve you....OK tara"
 
lost without the internet and the.....tap tap tap
 
"Hi Harry.....10 minutes.....OK, I'll put the microwave dish in now.....yeah, see ya"
 
broadband connection, although it's not that brilliant where we......tap tap tap
 
"Hi sis, .....I'm putting that cerisey thingy on..... you're not! God, you look gorgeous in that.....yeah, 'bout 7-ish"
 
are.