Why Don't They Make Dumb Phones?

[Dan Hintz]

This stupid Droid won't even get thru 24 hours without being charged.

John,

I'm not sure how you have your phone set up, but I easily get 2 days before I plug in my charger (I typically do so when the charge hits around 35-40%), and sometime I'll push for three days if the charge is high enough.

I have noticed that if I don't shut down the browser after looking for something, the battery quickly gets eaten up (well within 24 hours). I work in a near-zero signal zone, so for 9 hours a day the phone is maxing out its signal strength, and I still get a few days of battery life. I mostly text, only a few calls here and there (when not at work and in a good signal strength zone).

[John Mark Lane]

John,

I'm not sure how you have your phone set up, but I easily get 2 days before I plug in my charger (I typically do so when the charge hits around 35-40%), and sometime I'll push for three days if the charge is high enough.

I have noticed that if I don't shut down the browser after looking for something, the battery quickly gets eaten up (well within 24 hours). I work in a near-zero signal zone, so for 9 hours a day the phone is maxing out its signal strength, and I still get a few days of battery life. I mostly text, only a few calls here and there (when not at work and in a good signal strength zone).

Yeah, I do need to work on how I have it set up. A couple of people have recommended some apps that will help with that. But I can't help thinking...why buy a phone that has a ton of features, if you're just gonna have to disable the features in order to use the phone? I mean, I can "text" with a cheap cell phone.

[Dan Hintz]

I did not have to install anything special, I just had to pay attention to what I was doing... for example, the browser does not shut down if you hit the "home" button, so I normally hit the "back" button several times to get me back to the home screen. That way, I know the browser has shut down. If you don't, it eats up a ton of power. I also have Bluetooth enabled 24/7 so I can hop in the car and not have to fumble with the phone shoudl a call come in. I set up the Wi-Fi, but I keep it disabled because if I'm at home where the Wi-Fi is setup for, I just hop on the computer.

[Rick Markham]

I got a new company phone back in May and like Joe, it's one of those drop it and it keeps on ticking phones. I finally have text capability, which just annoys me. It's one more way that people can irritate me! (yes, I would prefer to be a hermit)

Rick, I thought I was the only one that really dislikes the photo instruction method. Jeepers, if I need to insert tab A into slot B just ell me.

I think it would be a whole lot easier if we weren't able to follow directions Belinda... those must be for the vast masses of people with no concept of how to follow simple instructions. I think it is a case of "dumbing it down" to the lowest common denominator... Unfortunately if that is the "lowest common denominator" then I fear for humanities existence.