Sunday, January 29, 2012

Why I don't have an iPhone


We were talking about computers at Sunday School a week or so ago. This is a senior class and most of the members said that not only did they not have a computer, but that they had no desire to get one.

One woman said she had one, but only used it to Skype her grandson, who is in the military.

The rest agreed this was a legitimate reason to break down and buy a computer. Someone suggested e-mail as another incentive.

"Oh, I'd rather write a letter or call," came the objection.

With stamps now at 45 cents each, I have to assume these people have more disposable income than I do. Or they are more efficient than I am. I write letters, of course, but as soon as I put one in the slot at the Post Office I think, "Dang! I forgot to mention ..." Fill in the reason I wrote the letter in the first place. Which necessitates writing another letter to convey the missing information.

This is akin to our trips to the grocery store. Invariably, we come home with three bags full of foodstuffs only to discover we forgot the milk that was the reason for our going in the first place.

So I e-mail. That way, immediately after I hit "send" I can write another e-mail with "forgot to add" in the subject line. And it doesn't cost me another 45 cents, either.

Yes, I have sympathy for the Post Office, but there were people who had sympathy for the buggy-whip manufacturers, too, when automobiles came along.

I think I am fairly computer literate. I can create simple web sites, upload a file to Youtube, and format a book on CreateSpace. I Tweet (about once a month because I really don't have a lot to say) and have a Facebook account.

But when the Sunday School class's conversation turned to iPhones and iPads, I had to admit I was lost. I have a cell phone, but rarely use it. It took me a year to figure out how to delete old messages and another six months before a someone showed me how to lower the volume. I text, but I could walk to the person's house and deliver the message in the same length of time. I watch the ads on TV and wonder aloud, "How do they do that?" as people go from games to movies to news to finding a restaurant with a sweep of their index finger.

So here I am, a geezer with one foot in hi-tech world and another in the Land of the Luddites.

I can't help but wonder what technology will have today's baby boomers bumfoozled 20 years from now.

As does the old "technology" bewilder and frustrate our actual babies -- take a look.

12 comments:

  1. I can't text because I want to insert the correct punctuation and truthfully, I don't know the "language." Twenty years from now? I might not remember my own name, let alone how to use the "latest and greatest." I must admit, I'd die without my computer, Kindle, and yes...smart phone. Cute video!

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    1. Hit the little * thingy and it brings up a whole menu of punctuation marks. Took me awhile to figure how to get them in my message, though. And longer to figure out how to get a number until I accidentally pushed the key one too many times.

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  2. hehheeh-very cute! My 2 year old grandson is cell phone literate. He knows how to unlock and scroll and find what he wants. I got computers to work with....when I was a senior in high school. Now pre-schoolers have them.

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    1. And you should see their tiny fingers dance on the keyboard!

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  3. I think technology is wonderful when it suits our purposes. But just like food, alcohol or drugs, it can be addictive and I foresee a lonely future for our children. It's so easy to have 1000 friends on Facebook and not have one to call when in distress.

    That's why, like any other addictive substances, it has to be taken with moderation. Let us live with technology, not for technology...

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    1. So true -- I wonder how many of my Facebook friends would take me to a doctor's appointment if I found myself unable to drive.

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  4. I feel pretty much as you do about today's technology. I don't even have a cell phone! Mainly because I am home most of the time and can use my home phone (well, it IS cordless! if that counts!). I have no need for an IPad or any of those tablets. If you're reading this, you know I have a computer although I haven't completely mastered it - just learning how to email photos! I tweet once in a great while, same with Facebook where I have a lot of friends, but not much to say to them, except when I have a new book out on the market - Once a year!

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    1. YOu are doing well! Takes me considerably longer to finish a book, let alone get it published.

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  5. I'm glad I have my smartphone and must admit, I understand why I never see caps and punctuation in text messages from my nieces and nephews, but I refuse to give in. I do my best to get it right, but it definitely takes longer to get my reply typed and sent. Couldn't do without my laptop, though.

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    1. Got a desktop and a laptop -- both have their uses. Well, until my son told me to put the laptop away as I was supposedly on vacation.

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  6. I know what you mean Sandy. I do all those things you do (except format a book and I'm sure that will come soon) and I want an iPad, I want an iPhone. Probably won't ever learn how to do all they are supposedly capable of, but I want them. I do not, however, want to spend the money Apple wants for those items. My dd got an ipad knock-off for $85. That's my kinda price since I know in three months it will be obsolete and a new one will be out..

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  7. #1 son went to a meeting of 500+ businesspersons and every one of them went home with a free iPod. That's the right price, right?

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