Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > New home telephone

New home telephone
Thread Tools
philm
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 08:59 AM
 
So, we want some new phones for at home - the conventional portable type, with maybe 3-4 handsets. I've been looking around and I don't seem to see any which you can hook up to your computer and upload all your phone numbers. They seem to have limits of 5-200 numbers whereas I would like >1000 on there. Surely this is not beyond the wit of man?

With the exception of Skype phones, does anyone know of a home phone which has a USB interface or some other way of talking to my Mac (bluetooth?) or maybe has a slot for a memory card? All mobile phones can do this sort of stuff, so it seems boring old home phones are lagging in technology.
     
residentEvil
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 01:16 PM
 
you call more than 1000 phone numbers? even if i count all my friends/relatives/work that i would call and add 3 contact numbers for them (home, work, cell) i don't come to even 200 numbers. and most, only have 2 contact numbers...work and cell, and 5 (if i was counted, that would be 6) only have 1...a work cell.

wow. 1000 + phone numbers. do you order a lot of take out?
     
analogue SPRINKLES
Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: T •
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 01:47 PM
 
Land lines... ew.
     
philm
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 02:40 PM
 
Well, I have 1,400 contacts in my Address Book. Some will just be e-mail addresses, but I probably have a few hundred phone numbers.

In any case, even if I only had 100, I don't relish the idea of tapping them into a new phone when I could just sync with my Mac.

Maybe we just abandon the landline. Maybe I'm too old for that.
     
residentEvil
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 03:56 PM
 
just go with vonage or equivalent in your neck of the woods? i've not seen any limitations to phone book/address book with them.
     
OldManMac
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I don't know anymore!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by philm View Post
Well, I have 1,400 contacts in my Address Book. Some will just be e-mail addresses, but I probably have a few hundred phone numbers.

In any case, even if I only had 100, I don't relish the idea of tapping them into a new phone when I could just sync with my Mac.

Maybe we just abandon the landline. Maybe I'm too old for that.
What does your age have to do with whether you have a landline or not?
Elsewhere, in his first major proposal on global warming, President Bush today declared war on the sun.
     
analogue SPRINKLES
Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: T •
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by OldManMac View Post
What does your age have to do with whether you have a landline or not?
Most old people have landlines as they are scared of cellphones.
(Last edited by analogue SPRINKLES : May 7, 2008 at 04:31 PM )
     
turtle777
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Most old people have landlands as they are scared of cellphones.


-t
     
analogue SPRINKLES
Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: T •
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:31 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post


-t
Geez
     
peeb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:36 PM
 
Why can't you sync a landline to your mac?
     
peeb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Most old people have landlines as they are scared of cellphones.
Some people have landlines because they use dsl, and don't have a need / desire for a cellphone.
     
OldManMac
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I don't know anymore!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 04:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Most old people have landlines as they are scared of cellphones.
I'm older than the vast majority here, and I haven't had a landline since 2000. I also deal with the public daily, and I can assure you that most old folks have cell phones as well.
Elsewhere, in his first major proposal on global warming, President Bush today declared war on the sun.
     
turtle777
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 05:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Geez
What ?

I didn't even report you...

-t
     
KeriVit
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: In the South
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 05:15 PM
 
Honestly, the only calls I get on my land line are telemarketers.
     
peeb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 05:17 PM
 
Have you tried the do not call register?
     
KeriVit
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: In the South
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 05:52 PM
 
I have. But somehow, my credit companies and charities still get through. I'm on a deal where the line is $10 a month all calls included for the next 4 months. I had DSL but switched to cable. I'll probably just cancel after that.
     
alligator
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Minnesota
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 09:02 PM
 
I had a Panasonic cordless phone that allowed USB upload from my computer, but not >1000 entries. How in the world would you scroll through that many? You'd need a touch screen with Apple's "flick" feature to flick the screen up and down. Oh wait, that's an iPhone.

I have a new GE ultra slim phone which is pretty cool. Very light and uses a lithium battery instead of that NiCd or NiMH crap.
     
- - e r i k - -
Posting Junkie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 09:23 PM
 
Originally Posted by peeb View Post
Some people have landlines because they use dsl, and don't have a need / desire for a cellphone.
I have a landline for my DSL. Does not mean I have a home phone though.

[ facebook ] [ flickr ] [ last.fm ] [ plaxo ]
     
- - e r i k - -
Posting Junkie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 09:24 PM
 
Of course, why not go with a Skype phone if you need a home phone? They work independently from your computer and you don't need Skype launched or even the computer on these days.

Did I mention how much cheaper calls are?

[ facebook ] [ flickr ] [ last.fm ] [ plaxo ]
     
peeb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 10:00 PM
 
Ever had a power failure?
     
phantomdragonz
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Near Boulder, Co
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 10:02 PM
 
Originally Posted by peeb View Post
Ever had a power failure?
batteries in cell phones are awesome for power outages... I use my screen as a flashlight sometimes...

-Zach

Mac Pro 2.66Ghz/ 5Gb ram/ x1900xt/ AP +BT (much better then a sawtooth 400mhz)
     
peeb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 7, 2008 , 10:22 PM
 
For how long? Also, assuming the cell towers are not affected.
     
<