h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Gosh what a lot of negative anti-mobile phone response we have here! I'm guessing, but I'd say that response isn't representative. Certainly when you see the size of the market, it aint just cos people have been forced to have one by their Mum...


I like mine. I don't love it, and I could live without it if I had to, but here's how it improves my life:

Texting. Especially as a way of keeping in touch with my teenage children. And trust me, texting my mother is much easier than having to listen to her on the phone!

Safety. I know I can get in touich with my kids, and they with me. And I can let my other half know where I am, say if we're travelling separately to a destination some way away.

As an non-intrusive light e.g to go to the loo during the night.

Emergency calculator - I've done this on an accountancy course!

Instant camera - yes the quality's not great, but you don't always have a camera with you. Plus you can send the picture to other phone users. My son got me to blue-tooth him some pcitures of the dog so he could use that as a screensaver, which I thought was quite sweet.

MP3 player. Don't uise this myself as I'm an iPod fan, but my daughter definitely loves this function, and it saves her carrying anther gadget.

Clock/ alarm - my mobile wakes me every morning, provided the dog hasn't beaten it to it.

Obviously the conversation here isn't representative. After all, people are far more likely to complain about something than sing its praises, especially for something as ubiquitous as a mobile. The complainers tend to feel rather strongly about it, whereas those who onw and use one regularly don't really feel the need to comment. Just human nature, I guess.

Incidentally, I feel the exact opposite to you about most of the points you raise.