Thanks for the detailed answer. I had mostly decided against, but your message helped me decide. It's not the interface/cost issue. I do think interface is important, very important -- although I actually relate verbally or in written language more than visually; I often get more from a paragraph of considered description than I do a rough sketch, for example. (This does not mean I want to type commands into my computer! I typically don't even use many keyboard shortcuts on my Mac on my Mac, favoring the visual menus. But I do prefer the essentially text-based interface of my iPod and iTunes to "cover-flow", which for me was a brief novelty.) In fact, it's not cost at all in this decision, but cost versus facility, for me and what I need. The only point costs comes in is, well, someone asked how much I'd be willing to pay "just for cool", and that's perhaps a couple hundred dollars if I were that enthralled.
Anyway, your message helped me make up my mind in the negative. Which might not have been your intent, but is good all the same, as I don't want to regret my decision. In my work, I'm not tied to my computer at all, although I do tend to use it for convenience; but I could easily work without it. I use e-mail but not so that I *need* to check it any more than once per day, at the most; certainly not 10 times per day. I look up some things on the Web, but don't like to read on the Web, and can't depend on the Web's veracity but for a limited amount of information. I don't have clients per se, and I sometimes I just let the house phone ring and don't answer a message for two days, a mobile message for a week as almost no one has that number. I don't at all need the Web or e-mail away from my Mac laptop. Roadmaps don't do me any good on the train, and I do usually help the driver with directions on the couple occasions I'm in a car per week, but I haven't been lost in a decade.
It sounds like in your work it is important to be in contact, whereas in mine it's important to be out of touch, or perceived as out of touch. So while I have a mobile phone for emergency and utilitarian purposes, I think that's the absolute limit of my use for mobile phones. Which means -- for me, of course, not for everyone and I doubt for most people these days -- that constant communication is anathema to my productivity for I do and the most simple, inexpensive mobile phone is my best choice. Paying a lot for useful features is one thing, but paying any price for features unused is another thing entire.
Thanks everyone for all the opinions and assistance. But I've discovered I'm just not an iPhone customer. I certainly wanted to be one, I think.
Exactly!
sanford: I was not a smartphone user either though I hated my regular phone's limitation regarding Contacts. I *needed* the iPhone for the complete contact information it would provide and visual voicemail. Just those two features would be worth the $$ - I thought.
My clients and friends now love me (and my phone) as I actually get the voicemail & respond.
I've saved myself embarrassment when needing to get to a location that I had gotten directions for 3 times in the past. I simply touched the address in my address book and there...a map. Even if you don't drive you could help out the "driver".
I feel confident that I can get important email while away from my computer for a day or two at a time. I never liked using another computer to log in to my (10!) email accounts. I don't remember the logins anyway - they automatically go to my Mail. I have the two most used/important ones going to my phone. I have gotten important email that I would not have received for a least a day without the phone.
I'm less tethered to my computer. I like that.
I find that I use apps on the phone that I never thought I'd be interested in.
My prior cells were for utilitarian needs only. This I use because it's a pleasure. It's brings me joy...like my Mac. I use a PC also - no joy there. PC just gets the job done much like my prior phones. Point being, sometimes the interface is important. Is it important to you?
Do you relate visually? If so, the phone's cost becomes a moot issue.
Feeling connected - priceless.
