i've kicked my smartphone to the curb! next up- the televisions

[dyna mo]

my smart phone always made me feel like an idiot. perhaps it was the ~$115/month bill. maybe it was due to always have my face stuffed into it. or the smart phone adverts that suggest people are less than if they don't have one. whatever the reason, my contract wrapped up and i didn't renew/extend it.

now on to the televisions, i have so much money spent on tv it bothers me. i spend an additional ~$90+ a month so i can surf 500 channels and not find anything on. my directtv contract is done next month, am thinking i will just get an hd antenna for local broadcasts and that's that.

anybody else kick that shit?

[Semi-Retired-Dave]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

my smart phone always made me feel like an idiot. perhaps it was the ~$115/month bill. maybe it was due to always have my face stuffed into it. or the smart phone adverts that suggest people are less than if they don't have one. whatever the reason, my contract wrapped up and i didn't renew/extend it.

now on to the televisions, i have so much money spent on tv it bothers me. i spend an additional ~$90+ a month so i can surf 500 channels and not find anything on. my directtv contract is done next month, am thinking i will just get an hd antenna for local broadcasts and that's that.

anybody else kick that shit?

The Land Line is something I never use except to open gates. Total waste of money.
We live off our smart phones, who uses Land Lines at home any more?

[JFK]

all my communication devices, internet, tv, phones, etc run about 1 k a month and it a habit I cant kick

I've minimized the consumption of smartphone and TV for one reason - I don't seem to be able to disconnect and relax at all.

A good book does wonders these days.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

The Land Line is something I never use except to open gates. Total waste of money.
We live off our smart phones, who uses Land Lines at home any more?

i have a magicjack and a cheapy cell phone now. combined, they provide me with all the communication i need
i have nav in my cars. couldn't use it on the bikes anyhoo though!

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Equinox

I've minimized the consumption of smartphone and TV for one reason - I don't seem to be able to disconnect and relax at all.

A good book does wonders these days.

that's my feeling as well, sometimes i would sit there and surf the tv channel list over and over trying to find something to watch and then get frustrated that nothing was on. that's nutty to me.

[alias]

Haven't had a cell, landline or tv in years. Got some voip that's it.

[dyna mo]

i would also spend time going through the apps list on my smartphone looking for that app i just had to have!

[alias]

In other news, just had an AWESOME home made lobster bisque/shellfish chowder hybrid.

[selena]

My DirecTv contract has been up for over 2 years. I am seriously toying with the notion of just having it taken out. It is a ridiculous sum of money for the stuff we watch. Outside of sports channels, we watch ABC Family and sometimes Nick. Oh, yeah, TV Land too, now that Betty White's new show is on it.

They (dish/directv/cable) need to get with the program, and go to an a la carte system where you pay for the channels you want, and nothing else. Otherwise, between netflix and internet based tv, they are going to hurt.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

The Land Line is something I never use except to open gates. Total waste of money.
We live off our smart phones, who uses Land Lines at home any more?

I do, LOL. No cell.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by selena

My DirecTv contract has been up for over 2 years. I am seriously toying with the notion of just having it taken out. It is a ridiculous sum of money for the stuff we watch. Outside of sports channels, we watch ABC Family and sometimes Nick. Oh, yeah, TV Land too, now that Betty White's new show is on it.

They (dish/directv/cable) need to get with the program, and go to an a la carte system where you pay for the channels you want, and nothing else. Otherwise, between netflix and internet based tv, they are going to hurt.

that is exactly how i feel as well. i've spoken with directtv, trying to keep my account with them, but their inexpensive *plan* is the family plan, it's all kids channels.

why they can't create a choose your channels plan is beyond me. not to mention why do sat providers require a contract. it's certainly not to cover install fees/cost of new customer acquisition.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

that is exactly how i feel as well. i've spoken with directtv, trying to keep my account with them, but their inexpensive *plan* is the family plan, it's all kids channels.

why they can't create a choose your channels plan is beyond me. not to mention why do sat providers require a contract. it's certainly not to cover install fees/cost of new customer acquisition.

Cable providers cannot do à la carte just yet because the various networks will not allow it. Food Network doesn't just want to sell Food Network... they also want to sell Travel, HGTV, DIY, etc.

Over the next couple years there are going to be some pretty big changes. Customers want à la carte.

[BestXXXPorn]

I pay for Internet only, I ditched cable a few years ago and don't miss it at all... I pay for the shows I want to watch and Netflix. There's enough at Netflix to keep you busy for quite a while ;)

That's just me though, I don't watch sports and I don't watch reality shows so... really no need to pay for cable at all.

[Amputate Your Head]

I kicked the landline years ago.
Kicked the iPhone last year, and haven't missed it at all. I use it as an iPod now in my truck. It just sits on the dash, soaking up the sunshine every day.
Dropping TiVo in 2 more months when my contract is finally up.
I ratcheted down DirecTV as much as I could, and it's still $80 a month I think.
I cut off Netflix every other 6 months, for 6 months. (I don't know why.)

My contract with AT&T just expired finally.... so I'm tempted to ditch my cell phone too and just buy a prepaid off the shelf at Safeway.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Sly

Cable providers cannot do à la carte just yet because the various networks will not allow it. Food Network doesn't just want to sell Food Network... they also want to sell Travel, HGTV, DIY, etc.

Over the next couple years there are going to be some pretty big changes. Customers want à la carte.

oh wow, so the signal providers are hamstrung by channels/networks, i was not aware of that.

Originally Posted by BestXXXPorn

I pay for Internet only, I ditched cable a few years ago and don't miss it at all... I pay for the shows I want to watch and Netflix. There's enough at Netflix to keep you busy for quite a while ;)

That's just me though, I don't watch sports and I don't watch reality shows so... really no need to pay for cable at all.

do you watch local broadcasting? tbh, i am a nfl fan and still plan on watching the games going forward. i'm with you re: reality tv though, ugh.

[Elli]

I haven't got a smart phone and don't really want one. I work from home, so I usually have the internet with me there. A phone is for TALKING ON, if you ask me. And maybe sending texts now and then.

We also cancelled our cable when we moved in January. Haven't missed it a bit. We have the internet hooked up to the HTPC on the TV, and we just watch streaming whatever if we want. Sports are streamed a lot, as are most prime time shows now. Why pay for two different methods of serving the same content?

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

I kicked the landline years ago.
Kicked the iPhone last year, and haven't missed it at all. I use it as an iPod now in my truck. It just sits on the dash, soaking up the sunshine every day.
Dropping TiVo in 2 more months when my contract is finally up.
I ratcheted down DirecTV as much as I could, and it's still $80 a month I think.
I cut off Netflix every other 6 months, for 6 months. (I don't know why.)

My contract with AT&T just expired finally.... so I'm tempted to ditch my cell phone too and just buy a prepaid off the shelf at Safeway.

right on amigo!

the thing that finally did it for me- hanging out with friends so many times we would all be out & about socially but we would all be nosed into our smartphones, maybe we're all boring in person, i don't know.
but i realized there's a tendency to be less socially interactive face to face when there's a smartphone thrown into the mix.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Elli

I haven't got a smart phone and don't really want one. I work from home, so I usually have the internet with me there. A phone is for TALKING ON, if you ask me. And maybe sending texts now and then.

We also cancelled our cable when we moved in January. Haven't missed it a bit. We have the internet hooked up to the HTPC on the TV, and we just watch streaming whatever if we want. Sports are streamed a lot, as are most prime time shows now. Why pay for two different methods of serving the same content?

wow, that's terrific! i am not familiar with htpc, but i will look into it.

[Tom_PM]

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

The Land Line is something I never use except to open gates. Total waste of money.
We live off our smart phones, who uses Land Lines at home any more?

I use a land line, and I do not have a wireless phone device at all. My bill is now about $27 a month (used to be $21) because of new taxes and crappola.

I dont see why it's a waste of money yet.

[Rochard]

Kicked the land line six years ago.

We have basic cable for the TV, costs us $50/month. Internet cable is free through our HOA, sweet. Three cell phones cost us $150/month. I can live with this.

[Amputate Your Head]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

right on amigo!

the thing that finally did it for me- hanging out with friends so many times we would all be out & about socially but we would all be nosed into our smartphones, maybe we're all boring in person, i don't know.
but i realized there's a tendency to be less socially interactive face to face when there's a smartphone thrown into the mix.

Yep, same here. We went out to this trendy, everyday restaurant, and everyone in there was pecking away at their phones. That's when I knew for sure... I wanted out.

[BestXXXPorn]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

do you watch local broadcasting? tbh, i am a nfl fan and still plan on watching the games going forward. i'm with you re: reality tv though, ugh.

I don't actually, hahahha... My TV's time is capitalized, in order, by

1) Movies
2) Video Games
3) TV Shows (I use iTunes for the shows I like)

I have all the consoles but rarely turn on my PS3 and Wii... Lately I've been playing a lot of Borderlands. Great game, I hop on multiplayer with my sister and some friends I have back in Florida. It's like having a conference call with your friends while doing something entertaining. I feel like I'm accomplishing more. If I watch trash tv programs (well I consider it trash anyway) I feel like my brain is rotting out of my head and I'm just waisting my time. Video games I at least feel like I'm accomplishing SOMETHING. I'm also very big on UI design and being a developer seeing different UI design patterns and just functionality in general fuels my creative side and acts as a source of inspiration for my own work.

[selena]

This thread reminds me that I have not yet told the boy that I am not paying $250 for NFL Sunday Ticket this year. It is going to kill me to not have it, but I know if I can break myself of that, I can go w/out DirecTV.

[TheDoc]

I haven't had a cell phone in prob two years now, I use voip. Then for cable we use the Internet and free tv, have been doing that for a few years too. Have all the movies/shows I want, legally, and I still can't find anything to watch on tv, so the free price is perfect.

[Jim_Gunn]

I just purchased my first real smartphone, an HTC Evo 4G and I really like it. It's a tool for communication and for my business and it has already paid for itself.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by BestXXXPorn

I don't actually, hahahha... My TV's time is capitalized, in order, by

1) Movies
2) Video Games
3) TV Shows (I use iTunes for the shows I like)

I have all the consoles but rarely turn on my PS3 and Wii... Lately I've been playing a lot of Borderlands. Great game, I hop on multiplayer with my sister and some friends I have back in Florida. It's like having a conference call with your friends while doing something entertaining. I feel like I'm accomplishing more. If I watch trash tv programs (well I consider it trash anyway) I feel like my brain is rotting out of my head and I'm just waisting my time. Video games I at least feel like I'm accomplishing SOMETHING. I'm also very big on UI design and being a developer seeing different UI design patterns and just functionality in general fuels my creative side and acts as a source of inspiration for my own work.

ahh, i see.

Originally Posted by selena

This thread reminds me that I have not yet told the boy that I am not paying $250 for NFL Sunday Ticket this year. It is going to kill me to not have it, but I know if I can break myself of that, I can go w/out DirecTV.

yeah, been doing the superfan thing for 3 seasons now, it has crossed my mind that come sept i will be in a world of hurt! lolololololol no nfl channel either!

[baddog]

Originally Posted by JFK

all my communication devices, internet, tv, phones, etc run about 1 k a month and it a habit I cant kick

Wow. Why so much? I have two cells and wireless Internet for two, cable, netflix and landline and I doubt I pay more than $400.

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

The Land Line is something I never use except to open gates. Total waste of money.
We live off our smart phones, who uses Land Lines at home any more?

I use it for faxes and for people I don't want to be able to contact me.

[mayabong]

The smarter the phone, the dumber the person - Mayabong

[selena]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

ahh, i see.


yeah, been doing the superfan thing for 3 seasons now, it has crossed my mind that come sept i will be in a world of hurt! lolololololol no nfl channel either!

I called in to cancel SuperFan last year, because that REALLY pissed me off. I already pay for HD, why the fuck should I have to pay for HD again, yanno? They ended up giving it to me for $5 a month, so I kept it. I have read that it is all inclusive this year, but don't know if that is true or not.

My plan of action is as follows:

When the ST first hits my bill, I am going to call in, ask for a retention specialist, tell them that I do not want ST because it is too expensive. I am then going to tell them that since ST was the only reason I went with DirecTV (true), that I am thinking of just canceling it all.

I am crossing my fingers that they shoot me an offer I can't refuse.

If not, we can cry the blues together in a couple of months.

[BestXXXPorn]

Originally Posted by mayabong

The smarter the phone, the dumber the person - Mayabong

I've found the opposite to be the case... Take a look around next time you're in public ;)

[selena]

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

The Land Line is something I never use except to open gates. Total waste of money.
We live off our smart phones, who uses Land Lines at home any more?

I keep my land line out of some morbid, twisted fear that we really are in the Matrix.

That, plus I have a 14 year old. In the event of an emergency, the land line is more stable, and I want to have that.

Also, I use ATT's elite dsl, so it's better for me to have a land line from that perspective.

[Dirty Lord]

i've kicked my smartphone too, and feels great!

[quantum-x]

Looking for a phone that's simply that - a phone?



Cheap, very slim, very light. Big buttons, big display.
Best phone I've ever owned.

[BestXXXPorn]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

Looking for a phone that's simply that - a phone?
Cheap, very slim, very light. Big buttons, big display.
Best phone I've ever owned.

Samsung makes awesome products.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by selena

I called in to cancel SuperFan last year, because that REALLY pissed me off. I already pay for HD, why the fuck should I have to pay for HD again, yanno? They ended up giving it to me for $5 a month, so I kept it. I have read that it is all inclusive this year, but don't know if that is true or not.

My plan of action is as follows:

When the ST first hits my bill, I am going to call in, ask for a retention specialist, tell them that I do not want ST because it is too expensive. I am then going to tell them that since ST was the only reason I went with DirecTV (true), that I am thinking of just canceling it all.

I am crossing my fingers that they shoot me an offer I can't refuse.

If not, we can cry the blues together in a couple of months.

wow, seems like whenever i call them, i end up spending more money!

Originally Posted by BestXXXPorn

I've found the opposite to be the case... Take a look around next time you're in public ;)

well, add me to the *doesn't look smart in public* list.

Originally Posted by Dirty Lord

i've kicked my smartphone too, and feels great!

Originally Posted by quantum-x

Looking for a phone that's simply that - a phone?

i like where your head is at on this, here's my cell-


this has been my *emergency/back up* phone for a while now. i can still text with it, if needed and take a pic if needed, etc.

[mayabong]

Originally Posted by BestXXXPorn

I've found the opposite to be the case... Take a look around next time you're in public ;)

I just thought it sounded good.

[L-Pink]

I have one step above basic cable about $70 a month. I have a free Nokia that I pay $35 a month for with unlimited calling/texts.

I got tired of spending to much money on re-runs and dropping expensive phones.

.

[mynameisjim]

I just use a basic phone now with a keyboard for texts. I don't care about farting apps or my phones ability to show me where the closest hot dog stand is. 99% of all those apps and abilities are just novelties.

When phones can do something truly amazing, I'll get into them.

I still have Cable though. I'm too lazy to hook up a pc to my TV so I can stream Hulu or whatever. Eventually I might but it's a total waste paying for cable. I never watch TV and I might watch 2 movies a year at the most. I do like to waste time playing the Xbox though..lol

[Quagmire]

I have a cell phone and have never used any other function on it than the phone. The only 'addition' to is that I use is the bluetooth headset because it is the law here in Ontario.

For TV at home, if I didn't have a wife and daughter, I'd cancel my Expressvu subscription since all i watch is TLC and Discovery. Other than that, I watch blurays and DVDs

[baddog]

Originally Posted by selena

I keep my land line out of some morbid, twisted fear that we really are in the Matrix.

That, plus I have a 14 year old. In the event of an emergency, the land line is more stable, and I want to have that.

Also, I use ATT's elite dsl, so it's better for me to have a land line from that perspective.

Cell towers flake, land lines don't. Batteries run down in power outages, don't need power to have a land line.

[Ayla_SquareTurtle]

Although the geek in me likes all the shiny web gadgets, I am really disturbed by the way some people use those things and it's kind of made me avoid them.

I'm talking about people who can't go ANYWHERE outside of their house without keeping their nose buried in their iphone the whole time. At a concert? Text your friends! At a bar having a few drinks? There are Facebook games to be played!

I spend MORE than enough time on the web while I'm at home. Anything more would be overload.

[cherrylula]

Originally Posted by baddog

Cell towers flake, land lines don't. Batteries run down in power outages, don't need power to have a land line.

We keep an old non-cordless phone for times of power outages. Cordless phones don't work well for that. lol

[JFK]

Originally Posted by baddog

Wow. Why so much? I have two cells and wireless Internet for two, cable, netflix and landline and I doubt I pay more than $400.



I use it for faxes and for people I don't want to be able to contact me.

4 cells, 2 internets -2 landlines, basic cable and I tend to use my BB a lot, specially when I'm away. This is Canada, so there is not much competiton price wise. Rogers and all the others love to stick it up your ass.

[ottopottomouse]

Got a landline - regular powercuts here so need something reliable.

No cable as about 3 miles from where they stopped digging the roads up for it.

Never had a fancy phone. Got a prepaid phone like a fucking pikey

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

who uses Land Lines at home any more?

I do every day

[Screwed Up]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

my smart phone always made me feel like an idiot. perhaps it was the ~$115/month bill. maybe it was due to always have my face stuffed into it. or the smart phone adverts that suggest people are less than if they don't have one. whatever the reason, my contract wrapped up and i didn't renew/extend it.

now on to the televisions, i have so much money spent on tv it bothers me. i spend an additional ~$90+ a month so i can surf 500 channels and not find anything on. my directtv contract is done next month, am thinking i will just get an hd antenna for local broadcasts and that's that.

anybody else kick that shit?

I don't watch tv and sure never pay for it.
I rather watch a dvd...

[UnUnited]

This thread is funny, everyone trying to pass of that they don't depend on their smartphones and are looking of getting rid them. yeah riiiiiight. Maybe if you never leave your house that will work. I know I'm not the only one sitting back asking myself what these people do in life that they can get away with not having a smartphone.... Lumber Jacks ?? Farmers ?? Blacksmiths ?

[Amputate Your Head]

Originally Posted by UnUnited

This thread is funny, everyone trying to pass of that they don't depend on their smartphones and are looking of getting rid them. yeah riiiiiight. Maybe if you never leave your house that will work. I know I'm not the only one sitting back asking myself what these people do in life that they can get away with not having a smartphone.... Lumber Jacks ?? Farmers ?? Blacksmiths ?

We work on computers all day attached to this new thing called the Internet. We don't need no stinking smart phones.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Ayla_SquareTurtle

I'm talking about people who can't go ANYWHERE outside of their house without keeping their nose buried in their iphone the whole time. At a concert? Text your friends! At a bar having a few drinks? There are Facebook games to be played!

I spend MORE than enough time on the web while I'm at home. Anything more would be overload.

indeed.

Originally Posted by UnUnited

This thread is funny, everyone trying to pass of that they don't depend on their smartphones and are looking of getting rid them. yeah riiiiiight. Maybe if you never leave your house that will work. I know I'm not the only one sitting back asking myself what these people do in life that they can get away with not having a smartphone.... Lumber Jacks ?? Farmers ?? Blacksmiths ?

gear down, big rig, no need to try and insult people because they are different than you.