So my first thought was a pre-paid plan, especially since I might go a whole month without using the phone at all. But for emergencies I'd feel better if I could pay a higher per-minute cost if I'm out of minutes and still get through. And I see "expiration" on pre-paid blocks of minutes that's a little disturbing. Are cell phones even worth it for very occasional use? I don't travel much and I live in the city, so I don't need expensive roaming or long distance. Unless someone can convince me of their wonders, I don't need web browsing, either.



Anyone have any preferences on models of phones? Why the hell are the Nokias so damned popular?



Anyone have any experience with US West/Qwest? $30/mo promotional plan might even be more than I need, though the extras might be fun. In contrast with pre-pay, $30 would only get me an hour, but I can spend 'em over 6 months. Apart from the start-up costs, am I missing hidden charges?



Is it still the case that I pay for people who call me, including soliciters? Is it a problem? If I get 60 spam calls, are my minutes spent (because they round to the minute)? (Does anyone not round to the minute?)



(And as for radiation, I'm hoping not to use the phone enough to have it make a difference. :)



I guess I'm not really serious enough to warrant wasting your time and energy in asking for advice, but any thoughts would be appreciated. ;)

When it comes to needing a cell phone, there is definitely a gray area. Everyone in my business has one and is a little annoyed at me because I don't. But the last time I had a cell and then gave it up, it was an enormous relief. Suddenly I had one less thing to worry about, as in: will it get stolen? Is the battery charged? Is this month's bill going to be outrageous? Who might be listening in on this channel? Will I get brain cancer? Is there someone on the line, or is it those voices in my head again?

So, for me, it was/is not really worth it. Of course, there was that time I totalled a rental car in the middle of nowhere and had nothing to do but wait for somebody to come along. The first vehicle, a beat up pick-up truck, pulled up. "You done hurt yerself? Wanna use m'cell phone?"



Everyone these days seems to have one, lessening the need for any given individual to have one. FWIW Luv, mom

It does seem to me that it makes a lot of sense for a cowboy to have a cell phone. If you're out riding range in the north parcel and your cows are getting out some downed fence on the south forty, it just might save you a hundred head or so if your neighbor Buffalo Joe could give you a call letting you know. (Shoulda built that fence better.)



As for the rest of us.... I think cell phones have been spurred by answering machines. Too many of them these days. Used to be that you could check your messages from the nearest payphone and then return the calls. But these days, you just get the other guys' answering machines. Fine if you're just exchanging messages. But if you actually need to confer about something, then at some time, someone has actually got to pick up the phone and say "Hello." Solution: Cell phones. Ring a guy's cell phone and chances are good he'll say "Hello." Question is, just how in touch do you want to be?



(I've been sanding and painting all day... Affects my writing style.)

Mom says:



There's no need for anyone to have one, because everyone's got one! This is funny to me because it reminds me of that line about how nobody ever goes to eat at that restaurant because it's too crowded.



More seriously, though, her (valid) observation raises the interesting notion of a reverse network effect: the more people who participate, the *less* valuable it is to buy it / get on it.



Probably fashion memes are like this too. They have a sort of bell curve of fraction of population with one now, vs. desirability to get one for yourself.