Why retro flip phones are making a comeback

[question everything]

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-retro-flip-phones-are-making-a-comeback/

I have flip phone. I need real buttons to dial and to use. And, as the report says: they fit easily in one's hand and, for celebrities, without an "app" their phones cannot be hacked.

[TexasProgresive]

1. I like flip phones

Our work phones keep growing in size. The latest are slightly smaller than a kindle. As my wife says, "It looks like you're holding a piece of toast to your head."

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. They went out?

Also, I have a hard time calling them 'retro'

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. It's funny how something that was ubiqutious just 5 years ago is now "retro". nt

[RebelOne]

4. I have had a flip phone for a long time.

Mainly because I can't afford a Smartphone. My flip phone has all that I need. I can send and receive calls and I have voice mail. And it is cheap, only $22 a month.

[Mnpaul]

47. I just replaced my Samsung for $20

brand new and the sevice is $25 for 2 months(ATT Go service). If I need to access the internet(DU at lunch), I use my Windows tablet and 4g LTE. That service is $10/Gb.

I prefer to have the two seperate. No big deal if a flip phone is stolen.

[Kalidurga]

5. Good

I prefer flip phones they seem less prone to scratching and other damage. I don't care if they are cool or not.

[hexola]

6. They are MUCH less distracting...

I know were not supposed to drive with these things...but I can't do anything on a touchscreen/smartphone...

Flips have tactile buttons that you can work without looking...

I've seen kids who can text on a dialpad without looking.

Plus I really liked the Star Trek communicator thing...

[enlightenment]

10. Returning to your

"I know we're not supposed to drive with these things . . ."

No. We're not. Please stop using your phone while driving.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Those of us who also drive on the roads.

[hexola]

14. I dont

I dont, because - as I said...I can't.

But the point stands - they are more distracting to those who use them driving...

Happy?

[enlightenment]

46. Yep.

Thanks.

[snooper2]

7. sure LOL, just like vinyl makes a comeback (Every Year)

[badtoworse]

12. Every once in a while, I'll set up the old Dual and play some vinyl.

It really sounded good when played on a decent system.

[hifiguy]

33. Vinyl is doing very nicely, thank you.

And not just with hipsters, but with well-heeled music lovers. The simple fact is that it SOUNDS better.

See: http://www.npr.org/2014/11/29/367420344/vinyl-once-thought-dead-makes-a-comeback-in-the-digital-age?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2054

[snooper2]

36. I know, Vinyl is so awesome it makes a comeback every freaking year!

Is it the comeback that keeps cumming or the never-ending comeback?



2014
http://www.bu.edu/bostonia/2014/the-resurgence-of-vinyl/


2013
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/life-and-arts/2013/01/24/vinyl-records-are-making-a-comeback-as-consumers-search-for-more-authentic


2012
http://blog.dubspot.com/the-resurgence-of-vinyl-continues-in-2012-record-stores-making-a-comeback/


2011
http://variety.com/2011/more/news/analog-recording-makes-a-comeback-1118029668#u=http://variety.com/2011/more/news/analog-recording-makes-a-comeback-1118029668;k=pmc-adi-31bb2464aad8b905af7a81e1d57b77ae


2010
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/03/vinyl-records-make-comeback-big-way


2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/nyregion/07vinyl.html?_r=0


2008
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1702369,00.html

[dawg]

8. They are a far superior tool for making and receiving calls.

Battery life is superb. Real keypad doesn't become invisible in bright light. Easy to answer. Easy to hang-up. Doesn't take up too much space in my pocket.

And if I drop it, it usually just bounces a few times and is as good as new. But even if it busts into a million pieces, I'm only out $50 or so.

I *do* love all the things a smart phone can do. But I'm usually near a computer, so those things are mostly redundant.

[DetlefK]

19. +1

I also still use a cell-phone.

1. Battery-life? Yes. Mine lasts almost a week without recharging.

2. And, as dawg said, some other connection to the internet is usually available.

3. Privacy. Try hacking my brain or my pen&paper-notes.

[spanone]

9. damn, and i'm just a few months into my smart phone....timing is everything

[Spazito]

11. My old flip phone finally died about 4 months ago and...

I went looking for another one, it was harder to find but I was determined. It is simple, it does what I need it to do, no 'pocket dials', a protective cover. Love my flip phone.

[MineralMan]

13. I use an older Nokia flip phone.

I pulled it out of a drawer and deactivated my 'Droid phone and re-activated the old Nokia. Why? I wasn't carrying the 'Droid. It didn't fit comfortably in a pocket. I don't use any of the features it has.

The flip phone slips right into any pocket. It can't be butt-dialed. Its battery stays charged long after the 'Droid had to be charged many times. It works when there's low signal strength. If a call comes in, which is very rare, you can answer it just by opening the phone. The 'Droid made me swipe something on the screen to answer the damned phone. That's a PITA.

Anyhow, the 'Droid is in the drawer and the old Nokia flip-phone is in my pocket. That's the bottom line.

[greatlaurel]

20. Got an old refurbished Nokia phone for a kid's first cell phone. It was built like a tiny tank.

Great sound, outstanding range for calls. We are very rural and cell coverage is still very spotty and back then it picked up signals that no other phone could. The old Nokia phones were the best.

[MineralMan]

22. Yup, they're great phones.

And that's why I have a cell phone. It's a phone. I make calls and receive calls on it. I have a tablet for other things. I have a desktop computer and a notebook computer that I use for computer tasks.

I also have a landline phone with extensions in every room. There's a very expensive headset phone on my desk, which I use because I can type notes while talking on the phone. That's the number I use for my business, which is also in my home. I don't give out the cell number to anyone except family and close friends. That's because it's never on, except when I'm out of the house.

[tabbycat31]

15. I love my smart phone

And it's all but a requirement for my job (you need to get email whenever/wherever you are) but sometimes I miss my flip phone.

I will say that I do not miss texting on a flip phone. (I text more than I talk, and at one point my voicemail greeting said to send a text to reach me faster).

But i'm no Luddite and I live in the 21st century. I'm going to embrace today's technology.

(My smartphone bill is about the same as what my flip phone bill was in 2009 only I get a lot more--- unlimited talk/text instead of 200 Anytime minutes and 500 texts, and I also get data).

[IDemo]

23. My flip phone has email & 3G internet

Plus a minimally qualified camera. I paid $14.99, you can get one now for $2.99 I see. It's pay as you go (no contract).

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/tracfone-lg-440g-no-contract-cell-phone-black/6775586.p?id=1218806579876&skuId=6775586

[tabbycat31]

27. I'm probably a generation younger than you

My job requires unlimited minutes and a smartphone. I do not have a landline (and never had one in my name). I'd probably buy my music on 8-track (a technology that died before I was born) before I'd get a landline. My cable company keeps trying to sell me their phone service and I keep rejecting it.

I used a tracfone briefly last year when my phone died. In the week-10 days I used it, I probably went through $50 worth of minutes. Between buying the phone and the minutes, I burned through my monthly phone allowance in a week. Even when I had my flip phone and limited minutes, the plan (Sprint) still offered perks that I took advantage of (unlimited cell to cell, unlimited nights and weekends, etc). My friends and family called me either from their cells or after 9 when the talk was free. Tracfone does not offer anything like that. (If they did I would have saved probably $30+).

Tracfones and other prepaid phones (that have limited minutes) have their market. For those who only use their phones for emergencies they're great. For those who need unlimited minutes for work, they're a money pit. I'm not the demographic that they're aimed at. They're aimed at an older (boomers and above) audience who still has landlines, turns their phone off at night, and is overwhelmed by technology. (Same with companies like Consumer Cellular, etc). They're for the people who want a cell to call AAA when the car breaks down, not for those who use it as their only phone.

I'm sorry for singling you out, but I feel that there's a lot of anti-smartphone Luddites on DU who are very preachy about prepaid phones. Prepaid phones are great for some people, but they're not for everyone.

[IDemo]

30. You're partly correct about me, and I'm sure many prepaid buyers

I even installed a Radio Shack 8-track player in my first car, a VW Beetle, LOL. But even though we both retired from the phone company nearly 20 years ago, the landline didn't last long after we got the first Tracphones. I recognize that flip phones aren't for everyone.

As for the term "Luddites"; nearly everyone on DU gets it wrong. It does not mean people who fail to actively embrace the latest technology, smart phones or otherwise. The original Luddites were workers in England who engaged in the destruction of manufacturing equipment in the fears that the technology would displace jobs (little did they know).

I'm a degreed electronics technician who has worked in the R&D labs of two major manufacturers and have helped develop both hardware and software applications for the manufacturing environment. I'm fully supportive of those who have the money and feel the need for smart phones or other equipment, but I don't think some people give serious thought to actual needs rather than peer pressure and advertising when it comes to such purchases.

[tabbycat31]

34. I'll admit I bought my first smartphone due to peer pressure

It was a present to myself for my 30th birthday (a Blackberry Curve) and my friends were begging me to get one, so I did. My bill went up for awhile but now thanks to Sprint's constant lowering of prices (and my negotiating), it's on par with what it was for my flip phone (I paid $42 a month for it including taxes for 200 minutes, 500 texts, and unlimited night/weekend calling). Now I pay $85 for service two smartphones (on a plan with my mom) that have unlimited talk and text and 2 GB of data to share (we don't even come close, I connect to wifi when possible). My phone itself costs an extra $20 a month (for the phone) and I'm paying extra to chip away at it. (I bought my phone in May).

In my field (political consulting), it's all but required to have email on your phone (and unlimited minutes as you use it alot). Campaigns often give you a cell phone stipend to cover the cost of unlimited minutes. I'm glad I upgraded the phone itself (from my dad's old 4 yo HTC phone) because my Galaxy has a feature called wifi calling, which lets you place the call over wifi if the signal is not strong (a lifesaver in rural offices). That alone was worth the upgrade price.

There are some technologies I don't get though and I'll admit that (even with my age). I don't get smart watches, Google glasses, etc.

[Arkansas Granny]

16. I enjoy my smartphone, but I never butt-dialed anyone from my old flip-phone.

I also liked the smaller size.

[question everything]

38. Just curious: how does one "butt dial?"

Not up with all the new jargon..

[Arkansas Granny]

45. When it's happened to me, it was from ending a call

and then slipping the phone into my pocket. Apparently my contact list was open and I touched the right spot on the screen to place another call without realizing it.

[greatlaurel]

17. The flip phones are so durable and the sound quality is excellent, too.

The security of not getting hacked and having everything on the phone put into the cloud is a big advantage. The smartphone craze is just about done. The little tablet computers do everything better than a smart phone and the flip phones are cheap, durable, and more secure. Does not surprise me that people are switching away from the smart phones. The cost of smartphones is ridiculous.

The thing that irritates me the most is so many websites have switched to the smartphone layout. It does not translate well to a computer, so there are lots of sites that I used to frequent that I rarely go to anymore. Rawstory, Common Dreams and Crooks and Liars are some of the sites that come to mind that changed their layout and have become especially annoying.

[PasadenaTrudy]

18. No thank you

Once I got my iPhone, I have never looked back. That would be like going back to a typewriter after using a computer...

[WillowTree]

21. I agree, except I'm an Android girl.

Principle re: not going back is the same though. Wouldn't be without my G3 fer nothin' now.

[MANative]

24. Agree completely. I had a Palm Treo for a really long time, so it was...

a hybrid between a smartphone and a more traditional button cell. My near vision has deteriorated in the last couple of years, so I couldn't see the screen any more. That and the buttons finally started failing after nearly ten years of use! That's what prompted the shift to my Galaxy. Wouldn't want to be without it now. I can actually see what number I'm dialing!

[tabbycat31]

28. This

And I'll never go back to texting on a flip phone.

(Except I'm an Android girl)

[Marr]

25. I expect it's little more than a hipster trend, really-- just to be different.

I personally would prefer to use an older phone, but it's just because I really fucking hate having a delicate piece of machinery on my body, and I don't use apps anyway. I do wish everyone would go back to flip phones, though. So sick of seeing all these zombies walking around, tapping on their little tvs in total isolation.

[uppityperson]

26. 2 words

Butt dialing

[tabbycat31]

29. Easily solved on most smartphones

I simply have a password that locks my screen. I have to type it in before I unlock my phone.

[Blue Owl]

31. Don't tutch the butt dial...

[adirondacker]

32. Seriously...

[FLyellowdog]

35. I love my flip phone.

[GreatGazoo]

37. went shopping for a smart phone and they were massive

I asked "how do you put this in your pocket?" and the guy turns to show me a big ugly holster on his hip. No thanks.

[LynneSin]

40. I seriously don't get this 'bigger is better'

I really don't want this massive thing attached to my hip screaming 'please pick pocket me'

I am a woman and unlike most women I like to carry SMALL purses, preferably wristlets. Those new iphones do not fit into my purses. So when my iphone 5 dies I'm getting something smaller and if it's not a smart phone then so be it. Maybe a dumb phone is what I need for awhile. Save myself about $30-$40 a month.

[stevenleser]

43. iPad too big to comfortably take with me on mass transit and read, smaller smart phones arent nice

platforms on which to read. The iPhone 6+ and similar sized android devices are the perfect size for reading while on the go during a 1 hour or so mass transit commute.

That is the attraction for me. I can't say it is the same for everyone. The one device replaces two other devices. I haven't used my iPad since I got my 6+ six or so weeks ago.

[LynneSin]

44. Ok great but if you are going to make 2 sizes of the Iphone 6...

then why not keep one smaller for those of us not looking to replace our table. Even the regular Iphone 6 is too big for my tastes.

[LynneSin]

39. I've spent 5 years with an iphone. My next phone I'm going back

I loved my iphone but I think I want to go back to the cheap phone plan. It's the better way to go.

[olddots]

41. my Motorola Coup is for sale

Very low hours ( probably minutes ) of use .Classic mid 90s design , holds a charge for hours if not in use .Only kept in right front pocket so I can't answer it if someone calls me but its never on.
In short it is an marginally functional walky talky that is very popular amoungst us old beatnics
It is for sale for 1 million dollars. Sorry no pay pal or new fangled payment excepted just crumpled cash .

[madokie]

42. My old LG flip is still going strong

I can talk, listen, text or take a picture. I guess I could also have weather on it if I wanted to pay for the extra service that it takes, I don't though. I'd say its at least 7 ro 8 years old now. I took it as a hand me down from my wife so its Oklahoma Sooners red what little of the color is still on there that is.

[TheKentuckian]

48. I didn't even like them when they were a thing. I had bar phones, except one personally

I did have a couple of flip Nextels for work. In every case the flip broke or developed a short.

Nowadays give me a big ass screen. I'd like maybe a TAB 7 type platform with phone capability. Phone is way down the list of my uses and I prefer a headset to holding any size device to my face when I do use my device as a phone.

What I have found is now an actual computer is for work and backing up my phone for the most part and my very part time phone is a GPS, music player, portable tv, reader, flashlight, portable game system, camera, and portable computer right in my pocket.

I have less than zero nostalgia or interest in a primitive device just having the books on hand makes the prospect crazy. Other than battery life there is no advantage.