While you did not have to pay taxes on the phone, often the contracts are more expensive than buying the phone and then using a prepaid MVNO plan. Also, some carriers are less expensive than others so for many people they can easily manage the slightly smaller footprint of T--Mobile or Sprint.
On 5/25/17, Kelly Pierce <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Deidre, > > the taxes here in Chicago are the highest in the country for a middle > class family, according to a recent survey. this enables free health > care, free college, free visits to great museums, free access to > swimming pools, and free rides on public transit. My job enables me > to buy all the adaptive technology I want, but my income is reduced > paying for all the freebies. > > Kelly > > On 5/25/17, Sieghard Weitzel <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi Deidre, >> >> First of all, no iPhone ever made starting with the original iPhone 10 >> years >> ago had a removable battery. >> Second, the new touch screens on phones like the 6S/6S Plus and 7/7 Plus >> are >> using a different technology, they can make the hole phone thinner partly >> because they can make the screen thinner, but one thing which won't >> happen >> is hat a "layer of grime" builds up on an iPhone screen. As long as you >> clean the glass it is clean, if you don't then it is not. >> I also have had guide dogs for the last 23 years and yes, they do shed, >> dog >> hair does end up in furnace filters and in computer fans a bit, of course >> how much all depends on how often you brush your dog and how often you >> clean >> your house. Carpets of course don't help which is why I have gotten rid >> of >> all carpets in my house, the bedrooms are all cork flooring which is >> still >> warm and as it is free-floating on the subfloor I find it quite pleasant >> and >> it is ever so much easier to clean that, hardwood or tile. We have a >> central >> vac and even though we have no carpets we still vacuum the floor because >> it >> picks up all the dog hair instead of just swirling it around which is >> what >> mostly happens if you sweep. >> Anyhow, your new phone is also so much faster which also contributes to >> the >> feeling that it is very sensitive and responsive. >> >> Regards, >> Sieghard >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf >> Of deidre muccio >> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 1:18 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: the cost of staying connected >> >> My new phone is silky and responsive to the slightest touch. I tried to >> do >> the set up but got stuck when it was calling for the old sim card. btw, >> at >> the Verizon Store they told me the Iphone 6 had no removable battery. Is >> that true? The old iphone had a thick piece of glass on it and was >> nowhere >> near as instantaneously responsive. I suppose an old phone has a build up >> of >> grime on it even if you consistently clean it. Unfortunately I have a dog >> that sheds a lot, and I have to hand it to Apple for having an ear phone >> jack and charging port that has not gone dead after a year due to the >> hair >> that flies through the air here. It doesn't even matter if I vacuum twice >> a >> day, their is almost always a film of hair that settles on the floor >> even >> if it is not visible to anyone. The external speakers on my Victor Reader >> and my GPS from Humanware both died after a year. I would have had to pay >> $150 just to send one or the other of them back to be looked at. Someone >> who >> takes apart tiny things said it was the dog hair that had gotten in >> there. >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf >> Of Sieghard Weitzel >> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 4:41 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: RE: the cost of staying connected >> >> I totally agree that many want the latest and upgrading every year or >> every >> two years is somewhat expensive. Some may argue that they have this great >> plan from their provider which lets them upgrade every year, but of >> course >> if you really look at it you will find out that no provider does this out >> of >> the goodness of their hearts and in the end you pay through the nose for >> such a privilege. Then there are those who have multiple smartphones like >> an >> Android and an iPhone in order to "stay current with technology" or to >> "have >> the best of both worlds". Also some have multiple iDevices and to me that >> is >> also a waste of money. At one point I decided to keep my old 5S around >> and >> use it at home on WiFi but I quickly realized that I rarely did and >> always >> used my new 6S Plus anyways and while I can see how the large screen of >> an >> iPad is attractive for sighted people, it doesn't do much for me. I have >> read messages on here from people who have a very limited income yet they >> have an iPhone and an iPad, an Apple TV and multiple music and TV >> streaming >> services and I sort of wonder if they don't realize that all of this adds >> up >> to be a pretty significant cost, at the same time some of the same people >> complain about some of the expensive apps like KNFB Reader or about >> paying >> $5 a month for having a Jaws SMA (it's $120 every two years so it does >> work >> out to be just $5 a month which is half of what most of us pay for Apple >> Music or Spotify). >> I think Deidre does have a point, but unless you are mostly at home where >> a >> landline does the trick and maybe a pay as you go flipphone is enough for >> the odd time you go somewhere, I think the additional cost for a >> smartphone >> plan is justifiable considering what a smartphone offers (GPS, OCR >> anywhere >> you go, accessible texting etc.). For anybody who is working or running a >> business it is more or less essential nowadays, I need access to my >> email, >> often apps are easier to use than websites when it comes to making a >> quick >> online banking transaction, posting something on Facebook, tracking a >> package or even maintaining your profiles for Google My Business and so >> on. >> At times I can actually be away from my business to do something personal >> or >> recreational simply because I am still connected and able to do something >> if >> I have to. In a way it's not so different for a sighted person with cars. >> How many couples have a car each, it costs a lot to buy the thing in the >> first place and thousands and thousands each year for insurance, gas, >> parking and repairs/maintenance. Especially if you live in the city you >> could probably get by using public transportation and take a cab or an >> Uber >> when you have to, most of us who don't have sighted partners who drive do >> it >> all the time. But being able to jump into a car any time you want for a >> quick trip somewhere is just so convenient. I live in a rather small town >> of >> about 6,000 people, our one local cab company doesn't even use a meter, >> they >> charge $8 for a trip in town no matter if it's half a mile from the >> grocery >> store back to my house or 2 miles from one side of town to the other. If >> you >> do a return trip inside I think an hour or hour and a half then it's $11 >> for >> both. My wife is sighted but has epilepsy so can't drive either and we >> spend >> maybe $1,000 a year on cab rides for times when the weather is bad, we >> have >> more than we can or want to carry etc. If we owned a car I'd spend that >> alone on insurance let alone buying gas, new tires or dividing the >> initial >> purchase price by the lifespan of the vehicle. >> Interestingly enough people often buy used cars, sometimes cheap old >> beaters >> but few of us buy a used iPhone that is 2 years old even though in many >> cases it would do the trick as well and it would save you a fair bit >> since >> it is much cheaper to buy and you could get any post-paid or pre-paid >> plan >> you want since no carrier can ask you to sign up for a 2-year contract on >> some expensive plan. >> >> Regards, >> Sieghard >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf >> Of Kelly Pierce >> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 8:19 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: the cost of staying connected >> >> My observation is that people upgrade too early. If folks kept their >> iPhone >> for four years instead of two, the annual cost of an iPhone would be >> substantially reduced. I did this when I bought my iPhone 5 in 2012 and >> then upgraded to an iPhone 7 in 2016, selling my iPhone 5 on Craigslist >> for >> $120. Further, when I first started out, I did not use the phone much and >> had a prepaid service for $16 a month where I had 100 minutes, 100 texts >> and >> 500 MB of data a month. Now I use my phone a lot more and pay $31 >> including >> taxes for 2 GB of data with unlimited talk and texts. This level of >> service >> should be plenty for virtually all blind users who can jump on WIFI every >> so >> often for app updates and downloads along with downloading podcasts and >> audio books. >> For most people, paying more for cell phone service is unnecessary. >> >> Kelly >> >> >> >> >> On 5/24/17, MamaPeach <[email protected]> wrote: >>> That is what I did, I gave up my iPhone, and am now using a simple >>> flip phone that does have speech and it only costs me $25 every 30 >>> days through Walmart's Total Wireless unlimited talk and text plan. We >>> cut cable and now >>> >>> only use NetFlix and Hulu for watching TV shows and movies. We pay >>> $64.99 for our internet each month, which allows me to do what I want >>> and I do have >>> >>> an iPod that allows me to connect to our wifi to do anything else I >>> want to >>> >>> do using that device. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Richard Turner >>> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 3:18 PM >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: Re: the cost of staying connected >>> >>> >>> You cannot listen to your books outside with the computer unless you >>> got some kind of wireless speaker system. >>> But, you could do everything but the phone calls and internet stuff on >>> an iPod Touch. >>> If you have wifi at home anyway, then no extra monthly fee. >>> Ditch the iPhone and get a simple, inexpensive phone for times when >>> you are >>> >>> away from home. >>> Or, keep the iPhone and decide all that convenience is worth the money. >>> Just my two cents worth. >>> Richard >>> >>> >>>> On May 24, 2017, at 8:50 AM, deidre muccio <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> In the last day, I have had cause to think of the cost of staying >>>> connected via an i phone. >>>> First off we all pay a monthly service charge perhaps starting >>>> around $50. Put another $7 or more on for insurance if you buy it. >>>> Then there is the cost of the phone which can be dirt cheap if it is >>>> your first phone provided by a carrier you have been with for a long >>>> time. Once that phone needs replacing however, let's say, 2 years and >>>> a few months, you are in for purchasing a new phone or a used one, or >>>> might pay a $200 deductible on one that your insurance coverage will >>>> replace due to hardware damage. >>>> Add >>>> this all up, and it's thousands of dollars over a mere 2 year period. >>>> I have to ask what the true value is in all this? >>>> On the practical, not philosophical front, I am paying for the >>>> convenience and portability of a phone that I can make calls on and >>>> text with, and I can do all the information sharing and web >>>> searching, social networking, watch movies, listen to podcasts, read >>>> books, etc all on the run or away from home. Other than phone service >>>> and texting, all of this I can do on my desktop computer for the >>>> price of my internet service. >>>> What would I be missing if I gave this all up? Yesterday, I >>>> seriously thought of buying a monthly phone service for $25 and >>>> giving the rest up. Has anyone tried doing that lately? I'd like to >>>> hear about it! >>>> Are >>>> you planning more hikes or tandem bike rides? >>>> How I love my phone! I love lying in bed or cleaning house and >>>> moving my phone from room to room while I listen to a podcast, a >>>> replay of a news show, or a book. Again, I could do all this on a >>>> desktop computer provided the volume on my speakers reached the far >>>> rooms. I doubt I'd miss not getting calls or texts while away from >>>> home unless I was traveling out of State. Admittedly, the cheapest >>>> cell phone service I was able to purchase was $39 per month so the >>>> additional cost to text and have a phone with voice over menus is >>>> definitely superior to that. >>>> I wonder if I've already nearly fully answered my question cause >>>> I'm sitting here smiling broadly as I write this. Still, I conclude >>>> that I'm crazy for putting out the money to entertain myself around >>>> the clock, not unlike an avid TV watcher, when I could be out >>>> gardening or I could spend more time at the gym, or finishing a novel >>>> and/or the few short stories in the works! I could even get some kind >>>> of volunteer job. I will say that when I do work for pay, my work >>>> being as a masseuse, I do not use my phone at all. >>>> One good thing, I guess, is that if I go silent, friends might >>>> inquire as to whether or not I am still alive, so for safety's sake, >>>> I guess that detail gets racked up in the plus column. >>>> I did not write or dictate this using my phone. I am typing away >>>> on a full keyboard, which is far more comfortable and affords much >>>> more time for thinking. If I could word process using a full keyboard >>>> or a dictation program that would allow you to dictate unlimited >>>> text, I'd trash the desktop pronto. Oh, no no no, having a iphone on >>>> the blink for the past day was bad enough, we'll always need back up, >>>> now won't we? >>>> >>>> Deidre >>>> Deidre >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the V >>>> iPhone list. >>>> >>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, >>>> or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact >>>> the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>>> itself. >>>> >>>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >>>> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara >>>> at [email protected] >>>> >>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups >>>> >>>> "VIPhone" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>> send an >>>> >>>> email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >>> list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, >>> or if >>> >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>> owners or >>> >>> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>> >>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >>> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >>> [email protected] >>> >>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "VIPhone" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >>> list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, >>> or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact >>> the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>> itself. >>> >>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >>> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >>> [email protected] >>> >>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "VIPhone" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >> if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >> or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >> if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >> or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >> if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >> or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >> if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >> or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
