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

I've seen that there are a lot of people on here who are quite outspoken about their dislike of mobile phones because they are annoying, not necessary, don't work properly, or for whatever other reason. These are all fair enough reasons. People like different things. I for my part like having a mobile phone, mainly because it is personal and a link directly to me without having to go through a home phone or suchlike, and I like the thought of people I know being able to get through to me should they want or need to.

"What do you think about the moblie phone revolution of the last decade or so?"

-I think that in the early stages it was something I was interested in. I loved my Nokia 3310 just like almost everyone else I knew. It was literally everywhere that phone, and a brilliant phone it was. Heavy enough so you know that it's in your pocket and that it's not easy to steal, it does calls, it does texts, it has Snake II which is brilliant for delaying boredom, and that's really all you need. Out of the 5 or so phones that I've had, my 3310 is definitely in my top 2. It just worked.

Recently though things have gotten a bit ridiculous. Now that calling, texting, and to an extend video calling and picture messaging are a given in services, not to mention cameras and MP3 players being standard in almost all modern phones, the manufacturers are going a bit mad with trying to make their phones stand out. Function can't do it anymore, everything does the same thing, so now people make swivel phones and slide phones and flip phones (clamshells) and all sorts of other weird features that are a bit too elaborate for me. As long as it feels (and hopefully looks) good in my hand and can keep me connected as and when I need to be it's fine with me.

"How have mobile phones affected your life?"

They've just made it so much easier. Yes there's an argument for the days when people 'made plans and stuck to them', but things do change and without my phone or another way to let someone know of a change I'll feel like I'm inconveniencing them and feel bad about it until I can let them know that something has changed. Just last night I had to go and pick my brother up from a party and I'd forgotten my phone, so I had to borrow one to phone him when I got there. Yes some will say why don't I just go into the party and find him, but I'm in a hurry, I don't want to leave the car alone on a dark road like that one, and frankly I'm shy and don't want all that bother, or to give him the opportunity to say 'give me 20 minutes, I'm dancing with girls' like he did the last time. Not having my phone then (which is not like me anyway) was an inconvenience.

Do you own one? If so, when did you buy your first mobile?

I got my first phone when I went away to boarding school so I could keep in contact with home, and because that was just about when they were becomming common. I think it was definitely necessary for me, partly because it's good for keeping up with people and partly because school was a bit rubbish at first and it was nice to be able to phone home some evenings to catch up and hear familiar voices.

"Are you a gadget lover? Do you hanker for the latest all-in-one superphone with the newest features? Are you the type of person who would rather buy, say, a good camera and an iPod rather than relying on the features onboard your phone?"

I'll admit, I am a gadget lover. I like technology and what it can do, and particulatly I like it when you've used something for a while and it still feels cool, not like something you can take for granted (hency why I have a MacBook). However, I haven't gotten into the whole 'all in one' culture of modern mobiles. I have an iPod that I use a lot, and I have a digital camera which I got recently, and also I have a Nokia N95. Initially I only got it because it was free and I couldn't get my last one again, because I was thinking I'd never use all the stuff in it so what's the point? I like it now, it's a good phone (even if I am on my second one) but I still don't use the MP3 or camera to their full potential. The MP3 may change since it would make sense to have some music on there for when I don't have my ipod, or for when it dies (but by then I'm hoping to be an iPhone man, but that's a whole other story) but I still think that mobile phone cameras have got a long way to go before being able to compete with normal digital cameras.

The thing they don't realise is that it's not all about megapixels. I bought an 8 MP camera deliberately. I know people with 10 MP ones and the photos are so large that downloading them takes a while, and on a computer screen when do you need something that detailed when 8 won't do? The main problem though with phone cameras is the response time, and the rubbish flash. All the hold the button half way while it focuses stuff is just annoying, and I know it applied to digi cams too but not nearly as much, and with them you can just press it all the way if you want to and take the picture basically instantly. Not so in phones. I'll stick to my sexy red digi cam thanks.

"Are you worried about the long-term health effects of mobile phone usage?"

Not really, but I'll keep an eye on it. Everything gives you cancer now anwyay so might as well get some use out of it.

"Is the wristwatch on its way out, as more and more people use their phones for timekeeping and their morning alarm?"

I doubt this, mainly because if you take out your phone to look at the time it looks like you're checking for calls or texts and looks rude, whereas looking at a watch can be a lot more subtle. Also you can't wear a phone on your wrist, you have to carry it. I use my phone as my alarm because I don't have an alarm clock, but it's never going to replace my watch.

"Have you ever lost your mobile phone or had it stolen? How much of an inconvenience was it for you?"

I've forgotten it and it was rather annoying.

"Have you ever accidentally sent or received any embarrassing text messages?"

That's a given with nights out, so yes probably, though I can't entirely remember...

"What do you think the future holds for the mobile phone market? Free calls to anywhere in the world? Or perhaps a built-in video editing suite?"

Phones already have video editing in them, but who'd use it seriously? All the stuff in them is good enough but no match for stuff you can use on a computer with a proper screen and a keyboard and mouse. Mobile phones aren't a substitute for computers, they're something else, a companion if you will. They'll never replace them properly because then it's not a mobile, it's a laptop.

"Is it possible to live without a mobile phone?"

It is, people have been doing it for years, but it's a lot easier with one these days.