considering buying a cell phone

[lauradi7dw]

I've resisted getting a cell phone, although I occasionally use phones that belong to other people. Mostly the home phone and pay phones are sufficient. I think I may turn into one of those people for whom the phone is a car accessory - not that I would talk on the phone while driving, but that I would use it to call a tow truck. A few months ago, I had made a brief stop at the shopping plaza in East Lexington, and when I got back in the car, it wouldn't start. No starter motor grinding noise, lights worked, radio worked, no indication that it was the battery. I was in a hurry to get the my next commitment, so I ran to Arlington Heights and took the bus. Later in the afternoon, I went back. Car wouldn't start. Long pay phone conversations with the towing company. Car towed. It sat over the weekend, and was finally fixed days later, by having a small (expensive)relay replaced. Yesterday I had made two short trips, and then the same thing happened. This time I was close enough to home that I walked home, ate lunch, got a recommendation from a friend for a closer mechanic, and called for a tow. Walked back to the car, and it started. Fortunately I had Florence's cell phone with me, so I could cancel the tow truck. I drove to the mechanic, who was at a loss to fix something that didn't seem broken, but kept it overnight and was planning to check wire connections and so forth. Now I'm really worried that this will keep happening, and I'll be somewhere without a nearby phone next time. I don't want to send pictures, or text messages, or email, or whatever. What I'd really like is a tiny version of an actual phone, with a raised number pad and regular receiver, but I don't think they exist.

Comments

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

I got my first cell phone as a car safety accessory, and haven't been without one, since. These days, it's the only phone I have, since I've found I don't need a wired phone in my house, too.

They used to make what were called transportable phones, or bag phones. These had a base and handset, connected by a spiral cord. They broadcast as higher power levels than the portable phones that are so popular now. My first phone was one of these. You might see if you can find one, though I haven't seen them in years, and don't know if they still make them.

Cell phones

[duchessmel.livejournal.com]

I originally got mine as a car safety feature, too. Like many conveniences, though, it's come to be a little more than that, although there still aren't a lot of people who have the number, and I don't get a lot of incoming calls. It's come to be a kind of a security blanket -- I feel better knowing I have it, even if I rarely use it. It helps to remember to keep it charged, though . . . :-)

[annag.livejournal.com]

You could get one on a prepaid plan, which is like a phone card for long distance (in that you pay for n minutes, then use them, and buy more only as needed) rather than a monthly plan.

I have seen reciever attachments that plug into the headset jack of a regular cellphone (possibly at ThinkGeek), but no cellphone with a raised number pad (not that I've looked).

I am reminded of a "Zits" comic strip where the son told his mother to look under "ironic" if she wanted a ringtone that sounded like a phone ringing.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

I cut that one out when it appeared in the newspaper.