Smartphones Reignite the OS Wars
Linked by Howard Fosdick on Sat 19th May 2012 08:59 UTC
PDAs, Cellphones, Wireless Smartphones have become the preferred computer of the masses. Sales surpassed those of personal computers in 2010, having grown over 50% per year for several years. Nearly 500 million smartphones shipped in 2011. This radically shifts the terrain in the consumer operating system competition that was, for years, firmly decided in favor of Windows. This article analyzes the New OS Wars.
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dusanyu
Member since:
2006-01-21

Then i leave the house it is ti get away from the computer and phone (Still have a wall phone with a dial on it as they have yet to upgrade the phone wires in my neck of the woods)

as far as a computer i still use a desktop with a GNU/Linux Distro and TWM

I am a 35 year old troglodyte and I am happy.

Reply Score: 1

zima Member since:
2005-07-06

Mobile phones can be turned off, you know, if you want to get away from them most of the time...

But it's handy to have one in reserve, even if just for emergencies.

And the costs of that are almost negligible by now. If you insist on a new phone... something like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_1202 sets you back 20€ tops, without contract. Or more recent Nokia 103, 10€ http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_103-4690.php
(plus, such handsets are often handy for another reason - they typically include quite bright LED torch)

Though, really, plenty of people have old operational handsets in their drawers (there's such decade-old Nokia 3510i in mine); at least one buddy of yours would likely hand one down for free.

That leaves just the cost of SIM card - preferably prepaid (on the prepaid offer that I use, an equivalent of less than 1.5€ keeps the account alive & able to make outgoing calls for a year, as long as there's still some credit left of course - if not, one can still receive calls for over a year).
Well, if you'd decide to keep a mobile phone just for emergencies, even that isn't necessary - any GSM phone will dial 112 even without a SIM card inside.

Reply Parent Score: 2