Do you use new technology for everything?

Citygirl1

I know how technology has advanced over the years. I can't help but move along with some of it. I always thought I preferred actual books until I got a Kindle for my birthday and just love the convenience of it. I used to love my simple Nokia phone until it broke and I got a Blackberry and now, although the Blackberry isn't working as well as it used to do and I am thinking of getting a new phone, I want a smartphone and not a basic one again.

Some things however I am reluctant to move away from, I still like to use a paper diary, even though I could use the diary on my phone which would be useful but then I would miss scribbling things down, making notes and looking back on what I've written. I still prefer a paper journal to using the computer yet I use my laptop for a lot of things but just not that.

I now use my phone for music, don't even use my Ipod anymore and certainly have done away with the tape and CD walkmans.

What do you still hang on to that doesn't involve new technology or do you use it for everything now.

Justamum

Citygirl1 wrote: »

What do you still hang on to that doesn't involve new technology or do you use it for everything now.

I've got a mobile phone, but only use it as a phone and to text.

I use a calendar to write down appointments.

I read books made out of paper.

I listen to a normal FM radio and if I want to listen to music I use CDs. I want to get a proper record player again though because I've got some vinyl records and would like to play them again - plus buy some more vinyl. I sold most of my record collection years ago to help finance a trip to South Africa to see if my relationship had any future. (We've now been married for 17 years so the answer to that is 'yes' )

Essex-girl_2

I love love love technology.

Fav things - Kindle, Iphone, Mac. Though I do still use a paper diary and my to do list is always on paper, love the feeling of crossing off.

All music is on phone and computer, no more cd's cluttering up the place - same with photo's. All recipes also on computer and backed up so no chance of losing.

I am a gadget person but I don't go out and get everything as it comes out nowdays (that was pre MSE)!

hilstep2000

Being a library assistant for 20 years, I was against a Kindle, but since OH bought me one for my birthday I am a convert!
Still hate smartphones though, I only want to phone and text. I use a calendar and diary to write down appointments. Still prefer CD's to i pods. Photos are on computer, but I get them printed too.
The main things I use my laptop for are shopping and banking, as I have MS, and this way makes it easier for me.

mardatha

I'm with Justamum. I hate kindles and like the feel and smell of books. I LIKE writing things down... and I have a plain ancient mobile phone for emergencies. I haven't got any gadgets like iPods - not even sure what they look like It's all too much hassle and I just can't be assed!

ianbar0

i have an iphone and use it for most things except making calls lol!! i dont read books if honest but i do like films, and have every copy of total film and empire since may 1998. i could get digital copies of them for about half the price but i cant stack them up impressively! i do still write my shopping list on a bit of paper too lol

Hermia

I use whatever suits me. I love my Kindle and LOVE my iPhone. I use it far more than I could ever have imagined (music, apps etc) so I think it was very cheap if you look at it in a cost per use kind of way! I got rid of my hi-fi system years ago and just listen to music on my computer/iphone. I'm also watching more TV and films online now. I love technology and love trying new things, but have found old-fashioned ways suit me more in some cases.

1) Diary. I just cannot get on with electronic calendars. I find it much easier to organise my life when I write it down on paper.

2) Finance. I keep a track of my budget in a notebook. I have tried using spreadsheets and finance apps, but actually find it much easier to do it on paper.

3) Maps. I have a sat nav for those times when I am alone in the car and it's a tricky route that I cannot possibly memorise. But, otherwise I find it easier to use maps as it means I can actually visualise the journey.

Justamum

To be honest I don't want to rely totally on technology. I used to do our finances on spreadsheet, but the last time the computer crashed I lost all that information, so I've gone back to a cashbook for that.

Photos - I prefer to be able to hold them, and I'm trying to organise a photo album for each of my children. We had loads on computer, but that last crash meant we lost quite a few of them.

If you have all your music, books, finances, addresses, etc on some piece of gadgetry what happens when you lose it, break it or the memory crashes? I don't fully trust gadgets.

natlie

I do like tech, I love my laptop and my HTC and my dyson. I dont have any beauty tech apart from my hairdryer and GHD's. I am very old style with the baby none of this nappy wrapping stuff, no flahing toys, using cloth nappies and breastfeeding but have got a steriliser for when I go back to work, got a manual breastpump. The girls have got a lot of stuff and its probably the kitchen that has most tech I couldnt manage without my food processor/blender but we dont have a microwave

adelight

I love my smartphone. I spend so much time sat on trains or waiting around I like to be able to do something useful, I could read but I'd rather do my daily stuff like emails. I actually realllyyyyy want a tablet ipad type thing (but not actually an ipad!) to use for lecture notes and reading, it would be so much easier to do my uni work on the go without a pile of books and seeing as I plan on doing a postgrad with quite a commute one will be pretty much essential!
Oh and I have a clarisonic and I love it. It also saves me money on more expensive cleansing/make-up remover products as it makes cheaper ones more effective(noone tell me to use basics cleanser or baby oil!!!!!!).

I can't really think of anything I'm not techy with? Maybe because I've grown up with most tech things.

budgetboo

I'm not working

Can't stand smart phones/texting and stick with a simple payg so school can contact me.

Books - most reading via charity shops/library nowadays with the exception of recipe books. Did a declutter of cookbooks as apart from a few trusty specialist old reliable favourites (foraged foods, mrs beeton, good housekeeping) most were just using up space & most dishes are available onlne via sites like recipe goldmine for free.

Would love a kindle BUT books used to b my budgeting achilles heel and owning would just encourage me to spend money I don't have while living on benefits so I'll resist temptation for a while yet. The odd novel picked up for 10p in the charity shop doesn't do any harm and I firmly believe that a home with no groaning bookshelf is that of a philistine anyway ; ) Kids books can't be beat for a snuggle and a bedtime story, I'm not sure the electronic version gives the sam ambience.

The kitchen is a different story - a slow cooker is a my winter lifesaver and I couldn't get through it without the convenience it offers. My stick blender means I can make gourmet quality soups/pates/hummous etc at a fraction of shop cost so I'll hang onto that for all I'm worth. I dream of owning a kenwood chef.

Around the house I have a really cheap steam cleaner. If I could aford to upgrade it for a decent make I would as again it saves on ovencleaner/dry cleaner bills for curtains etc. With 2 pets and a child in the house it's an eco-friendly way of ensuring hygiene in case of dodgy tummies etc and saves on cleaning products.

My broadband is something I'll hang onto till the bitter end as it enables me to do everything from job hunt to home educate my child, (autistic) when needed. If information is power then having access to the internet at home saves me so much money on day to day purchases that on my current income it pays for itself every month.

It's using the appropriate technology for your circumstances that is an art form. Having had a career in IT, I look at technology as getting the appropriate tool for the job, for me a paper calender and wall mounted white board works best. Likewise at school DS uses an alphasmart to keep up with some subjects before doing his homework at a more leisurely pace with paper and pencil. He also follows an OT rec'd handwriting programme at home so that eventually he can reduce his dependency on the technology in class. In the meantime the technology allows him to keep up with his peers knowledge wise.