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Jodi Moisan
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 19 February 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 6808
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| Posted: 29 April 2010 at 7:50pm | IP Logged | 1
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It is so weird, almost a whole generation will not have land lines in their houses.
During the 5 days we were without power in the ice storm, I don't know what we would have done without the land line.
Edited by Jodi Moisan on 29 April 2010 at 7:51pm
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Dwayne Gassmann
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 22 September 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 3448
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| Posted: 29 April 2010 at 8:42pm | IP Logged | 2
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Trust me if I could justify spending the money, I'd still have a land line just to talk to Mike T. And it would look like the hotline on the Batman television show from the '60s. But black.
I did not see the sense in spending $50 a month just to get solicitations.
Of course now that everyone has a cell phone, they refuse to use them and insist on texting everything.
Edited by Dwayne Gassmann on 29 April 2010 at 8:43pm
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Joakim Jahlmar
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 10 October 2005
Location: Sweden
Posts: 6080
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 2:36am | IP Logged | 3
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Pedro wrote:
"I don't even use land lines. well... only when i really have to. But anyone who knows me will tell you I always rush through phone calls just to try and hang up"
I'm not so much now, but I used to be a very seasoned phone communicator, spending oodles of time on the phone with people. My record, I think, still remains one I had with one of my best friends, which lasted from around 23:00 till something like (at least almost) 07:00.
I've never been a fan of making official calls though (to companies and stuff) or calling people for the first time, for that matter.
Jodi wrote:
"It is so weird, almost a whole generation will not have land lines in their houses.
During the 5 days we were without power in the ice storm, I don't know what we would have done without the land line."
Precisely. There's this stupid, asinine series of commercials over here from one of the cell companies, where it's all about these two company guys going around "liberating people from land lines" (literally tearing the wiring out of walls and smashing the socket). And it annoys me.
First off because they still haven't managed to cover all areas perfectly (I know, up on the hill/mountain where I live, ironically, cell phones don't work well in many places. Not anywhere really in our apartment and neither in a friend's (although, he's now moved) and he had ONLY his cell phone. Half the times we connected over the phone, it was impossible to hear each other.
And secondly, because of the electrical issue. A land line runs even when the electricity is out, as does a cell phone... up until the point when the battery goes. But people don't think about this, because there's electricity in the socket, right, so no prob...
Also, on a related note. I love how EVERYTHING is going so overly web oriented that it borders on the absurd. Two examples:
1) A few years back we had to change internet provider (the one we used was no longer going to be operating on our net once it was opened up for other players, so, we literally had too)... anyway, as always, there's a bit of tinkering to get everything up and running, but I couldn't get the settings right and the new provider hadn't given me specific enough instructions. So I went through the hassle of getting in touch with their support and finally did, and the guy was really helpful and we got it working, BUT at one point in the conversation, he says to me, "well, if you go to our web page there is a full set of instructions there." I just went silent for a dramatic pause and then said, "Well, as you may recall, my problem is that I cannot access the internet." At which point he realised his mistake. We are so used to the net being there that we're even referencing help to solve problems with accessing it to the net itself.
2) Last year I wanted to know the opening hours of the university library since I was working from home but needed to return or pick up a book. On the notification I got in the (snail) mail, there are numbers to the different library departments but also one specifically stating "Opening hours". As I didn't have my computer on at the time, I figured I'd just call instead, but you can imagine my frustration when I call the "Opening hours" number only to be referred to go check their web page. WTF? Why not just say that on the notification card? Why refer me to the answering machine in the first place, if it's not going to have the data anyway. Gah!
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Michael Tortorice
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 15 November 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 2903
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 5:03am | IP Logged | 4
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Regarding Joakim's first point, it sounds like the apocryphal story of the office worker calling IT to tell them his e-mail isn't working, only to have them respond, "Send me an e-mail, and I'll check it out." Hopefully followed by stunned silence.
I need to be clear about one thing: I don't think we should go back to just land lines, and I'm sure no one is suggesting that. I just think we have a long way to go in terms of reliability, quality, and coverage. And until those are taken care of, it makes little sense to abandon land lines.
Unless you just can't afford both. But which do you choose? I'm probably going to have to just suck it up, because I know Dwayne will have the iPhone (any Mac product really; his blood is 30% Apple juice).
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David Ferguson
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2007
Location: Ireland
Posts: 6782
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 5:46am | IP Logged | 5
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I think it's a different story in Ireland because the coverage is so good so I happily live without a landline and with an iPhone.
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William McCormick
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 February 2006
Posts: 3297
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 5:54am | IP Logged | 6
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My wife and I ditched our land line about 2 months ago. Just couldn't justify the $40 for basic service when we used our cells most of the time.
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Jodi Moisan
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 19 February 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 6808
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 7:24am | IP Logged | 7
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I have one of the old great black dial phones from the 50's that you set on a desk that has the best ring and makes this really cool sound when you dial. And I love how easy it is to hear on that phone. If things were tight financially, I would most likely give up the land line, because a cell phone is so convenient. And we are all now cell phone users, my youngest got his this past christmas, I would hate giving it up, but I love I can sort of be there for my oldest in case of emergency, even though he is 12 hours driving time away.
My dad who is in his 70's has a cell phone through our plan, we pay for it as a christmas gift, we got him a belt clip and he is never without his phone. If he would happen to fall or need help , it's nice knowing he is with a phone.
Both phones have their advantages.
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Jeremiah Avery
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 2427
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 10:23am | IP Logged | 8
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I used to have a land line in college but I kept having problems with the company and getting tech people out to actually fix the line. I like having my cell phone because when I moved, I didn't have to worry about changing the number. I'm not exactly Mr. Popular so I'm not on it all that much, but it is good to have on me in case I need it.
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William McCormick
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 February 2006
Posts: 3297
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 11:01am | IP Logged | 9
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I'm not exactly Mr. Popular so I'm not on it all that much, but it is good to have on me in case I need it. ****************** Ah, we love ya buddy!!!!!
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Juan Jose Colin Arciniega
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 6413
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 12:04pm | IP Logged | 10
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My land line is my internet service provider...so i'm stuck with it.
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Al Cook
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 December 2004
Posts: 12734
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 12:12pm | IP Logged | 11
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I need my land line to work. I simply cannot depend on cell service (or battery powered phones) to conduct interviews.
Otherwise? It'd be a distant memory.
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Jeremiah Avery
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 2427
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| Posted: 30 April 2010 at 12:25pm | IP Logged | 12
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HAHA, thanks William! My phone is mainly used as an internet terminal (comes in handy in going on Facebook instead of using my work computer) and for listening to music. Though the battery life is horrible.
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