It's Time to Simplify Things

Just before I went to bed, I discovered my AT&T Blackberry service had been disconnected. I actually felt relieved.

It just doesn't make any sense to pay that much every month for a service that I rarely use to its full extent.

In the future, I'll go back to using my TracFone prepaid cell phone. I just need to buy more minutes next month.

In the past I'd signed up for Apple's MobileMe service.

Now I've decided to let that go too.

MobileMe just doesn't offer much value for me. It doesn't offer much that I can't already get for free, or cheaper.

There is one huge benefit of simplifying things.

I should most likely be able to catch up on my bills in June. After that my monthly bills will be much smaller.

I can afford to save some money for a "Rainy Day."

And I'll probably find some money for goodies.

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Comment by Dan on May 24, 2009 at 7:47pm: Ron, I'm a very lightweight phone user as well. There are two really cheap services out there and they are both reliable. I use Vigin Mobile, costs me $20 ever 3 months and ten cents a minute anywhere any time comes out of that $20. I never pay more then $20 every three months.
The other one is Net10. If you are interested....

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/rates/home.do

https://www.net10.com/phones.jsp?nextPage=&task=phonedoc&phoneNum=0&hasflash=YES&b=n

Dan

Comment by Ron Knights on May 24, 2009 at 6:08pm: Thanks, I'm slowly getting back to it.

Comment by david_mallette on May 24, 2009 at 5:54pm: I always go for quality price and analyze my needs carefully. It's no use spending money for something that I won't use. I recently bought my first laptop of my life and after researching and hunting for a deal I settled for what many would call a low end machine. But if does everything that I need without breaking the bank. 545 canadian. I use my main Core2Duo desktop for any heavy lifting.

I use a prepaid cell phone and text most of the time to save money.

I wait for price drops and then upgrade. It's part of the fun. Keeping my eyes open for the flash SSDs to become mainstream.

Squeezing the maximum out of each buck can be a lot of fun. Welcome to the club.

Comment by Ron Knights on May 24, 2009 at 4:56pm: Mike, your situation is more complicated than mine.. You're really living in two countries.

I am glad you were able to work out an inexpensive arrangement.

Comment by Michael Wagner on May 24, 2009 at 3:50pm: Your needs are similar to mine Ron. We have a Vonage phone with a Michigan and Toronto number on it at the Toronto home. While in Michigan i have a prepaid Virgin Mobile phone that I buy $20 worth of minutes every 3 months and never use all of them. I also have a Skype line with phone in/out service which is extremely reasonable. Got it set up on the netbook and use it at both homes as well as anywhere i get wireless internet. My goal is always to get phone service as cheap as possible.

Comment by Ron Knights on May 24, 2009 at 3:33pm: I can see where your needs are much different than mine.

It sounds like you have a job or business that keeps you on the go.

I am "retired," living on Disability. I don't leave home much. And if I do, I really don't need the Internet to go with me.

I am thinking of buying or building another computer to help out with some of the tasks I have in mind.

That might be as easy as buying a $95 motherboard and CPU that will fit into the Microfly Small form factor case I already have.

Comment by Phillip Miecznikowski on May 24, 2009 at 3:02pm: I know what you mean about your blackberry lol! I had the internet package and everything and unlimited text unlimited nights weekends etc... was costing me little over 100 bucks a month! I was liek wait... i maybe use less then 300 min a month and never touch my internet on my phone and stuff so i called them up and redid my plan. I now only am paying 55 bucks a month. then my bb died on me and I'm on a prepaid nokia while i wait the next few months for my contract to end so i can move to aprint and get the pre.

So... heres what I do now. Look into the Nokia 810n Internet device. They are cheap right now I got mine off craigslist for 200 but from tiger direct you can get them for 230. It literally does everything I need for on the go stuff. It is not a phone. But who cares? Yea i have my phone if i need it but I use skype quit alot which costed me 30 bucks for a number and 3 bucks a month for unlimited calling. The n810 has full support for skype even video chat works! The full internet browser on it is fast! It supports flash and even connects to wireless N. I do alot of running around at work analyzing wireless networks from time to time and performing inventories of stuff so it comes in handy. Look check it out... everytime i whip it out people are like 'O cool is that a phone!?" i'm just like umm yea sure...lol

I actually think my laptop is bulky too... I'm getting the newly released latitude 2100 netbook from dell... its 10inch screen is just big enough for me and its somewhat rugged. I'm finding I dont actually need alot of stuff out of my machines. I've got my monster desktop at home for all my number crunching when i need it but 90% of the time I'm on the go and lugging around a 15' laptop is annouying. and around the house i like something small and simple.

Comment by Ron Knights on May 24, 2009 at 2:27pm: Some people might have already lost patience with me.

Sometimes it seems I really don't know what I want, or what I'm doing.

Awhile ago I got carried away by watching all the people with their iPhones. You know, all the "Apps" they can use.. How they can surf the web etc.

I thought "Well I'm more heavily invested in the web, why not take it up another notch?!"

It was a bad idea... too much money invested in something I pretty much knew I wouldn't pursue to its full potential.

I just don't need to be kept updated to the minute, on the go, etc.

I don't have that many people to talk to on a cell phone.

My AT&T plan gave me 450 minutes a month... I used less than 20 minutes.

I really want to get more involved with the web.. but I don't need a Blackberry or iPhone to do that.

I do want to investigate the use of a hardware or software mixer for my "shows."

I want the ability to talk to people on Skype, and have the audience hear them, etc.

I tried Wiretap Anywhere, but just can't seem to get it to work. It's too expensive to take a chance that the money would be wasted.

So I'm back to looking at hardware alternatives. But I get totally lost.

I may finally have found someone to help me figure out the mixing stuff.

In the meantime, I'm rearranging and cleaning my apartment.

I'm thinking about leaving a wide area behind my computer desk. I want to walk in there and vacuum on a regular basis.

If I clean more often, and more thoroughly, I think my computers and I will be healthier.

I'm thinking of getting rid of my big entertainment center. I'd replace it with smaller units, hopefully with wheels!

Comment by Eric Bernard on May 24, 2009 at 12:43pm: Sounds good, if you don't use it why pay for it? right? smart choice plus I'm sure you'll find something good to buy with all your saved money.