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New home telephone
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philm
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May 7, 2008, 09:59 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
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May 7, 2008, 02:16 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
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May 7, 2008, 02:47 PM
 
Land lines... ew.
     
philm  (op)
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May 7, 2008, 03:40 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
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May 7, 2008, 04:56 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
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May 7, 2008, 05:00 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?
Why is there always money for war, but none for education?
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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May 7, 2008, 05:06 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 05:31 PM. )
     
turtle777
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May 7, 2008, 05:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Most old people have landlands as they are scared of cellphones.


-t
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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May 7, 2008, 05:31 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post


-t
Geez
     
peeb
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May 7, 2008, 05:36 PM
 
Why can't you sync a landline to your mac?
     
peeb
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May 7, 2008, 05:37 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
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May 7, 2008, 05:52 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.
Why is there always money for war, but none for education?
     
turtle777
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May 7, 2008, 06:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Geez
What ?

I didn't even report you...

-t
     
KeriVit
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May 7, 2008, 06:15 PM
 
Honestly, the only calls I get on my land line are telemarketers.
     
peeb
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May 7, 2008, 06:17 PM
 
Have you tried the do not call register?
     
KeriVit
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May 7, 2008, 06:52 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
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May 7, 2008, 10:02 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 - -
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May 7, 2008, 10:23 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.


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- - e r i k - -
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May 7, 2008, 10:24 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?

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peeb
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May 7, 2008, 11:00 PM
 
Ever had a power failure?
     
phantomdragonz
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May 7, 2008, 11:02 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
     
peeb
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May 7, 2008, 11:22 PM
 
For how long? Also, assuming the cell towers are not affected.
     
- - e r i k - -
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May 8, 2008, 12:13 AM
 
Originally Posted by peeb View Post
For how long? Also, assuming the cell towers are not affected.
Anywhere from a day to a week depending on use? And cell towers have never been affected in any outage I've experienced. Not that I've experienced any outages lasting longer than a couple of hours anyway.

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peeb
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May 8, 2008, 12:42 AM
 
It's not uncommon in the winter where I live to have storms that take out power for a few days. Of course, they can take down landlines too. You take your chances I guess.
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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May 8, 2008, 01:35 AM
 
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 DSL and no land line. It is called a dry-loop.
     
Gankdawg
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May 9, 2008, 08:12 AM
 
And some people still use land lines because the cell service sucks where they live and they like having direct access to local 911.
     
Mithras
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May 9, 2008, 08:28 AM
 
You can call 911 even if you don't pay for service.
     
residentEvil
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May 9, 2008, 09:13 AM
 
correct; 911 call must go through even if there is no service at the address. that is one of the fees on your bill (for those with service) that serves everyone.
     
Gankdawg
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May 9, 2008, 01:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by Mithras View Post
You can call 911 even if you don't pay for service.
I did not know that. I still won't switch to cell phone only as coverage sucks in my area and the plans are ridiculously high compared to a landline.
     
Gankdawg
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May 9, 2008, 01:05 PM
 
Originally Posted by residentEvil View Post
that is one of the fees on your bill
Can you explain the rest of them for me?
     
osiris
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May 9, 2008, 01:43 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Land lines... ew.
Over the years I've lost power a few times. The only thing that worked was my land line.
Land lines rule.
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
Dakar the Fourth
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May 9, 2008, 01:47 PM
 
I'm still on the two cups attached by string method.
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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May 9, 2008, 02:38 PM
 
Originally Posted by osiris View Post
Over the years I've lost power a few times. The only thing that worked was my land line.
Land lines rule.
Weird. My Cellphone lasted for hours after that big power failure that hit Toronto years ago. Not that I had anything to talk about in the dark.
     
osiris
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May 9, 2008, 03:30 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Weird. My Cellphone lasted for hours after that big power failure that hit Toronto years ago.
I had a signal and a good charge, but couldn't actually connect to anyone. I was convinced to keep my landline after this, and it's only about $34 a month on verizon for basic service.

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
Not that I had anything to talk about in the dark.
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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May 9, 2008, 04:20 PM
 
Originally Posted by osiris View Post
I was convinced to keep my landline after this, and it's only about $34 a month on verizon for basic service.
Well you are paying $408 a year just for the assurance that you can make that hugely important phone call when the lights ocationally go out and you need to call neighbors to ask them if their house is also dark.

I seriously cannot think of any phone conversations that are worth $408 a year for the odd time the power is out and somehow the cellphone also but to each his own.
     
Mastrap
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May 9, 2008, 04:26 PM
 
We just ditched the landline when we moved a few weeks ago. There really is no reason to have one anymore, at least for us.
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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May 9, 2008, 04:38 PM
 
I dumped my land line a year ago as it was costing me $50 a month. Sometimes I go over my minutes on my cellphone but it is usually under $20 extra so as long as I don't go more than $50 over on my cell I am saving money.

So far I have saved over $600 in a year and have not used my phone any less in terms of talking. In fact it is much more convenient for people to get ahold of just 1 number.
( Last edited by analogue SPRINKLES; May 9, 2008 at 05:38 PM. )
     
subego
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May 9, 2008, 04:40 PM
 
Originally Posted by residentEvil View Post
correct; 911 call must go through even if there is no service at the address. that is one of the fees on your bill (for those with service) that serves everyone.

FWIU though, cellphones and VoIP go to PSAPs (public safety access points). The problem with this is that a PSAP can be anywhere, whereas your land line is going to go to the nearest 911 dispatch center, this can waste some valuable time because local dispatch more likely to be intimately familiar with your area, and the PSAP you connect to could be halfway across town.

They each have the same equipment, so in theory they can both get help to you equally fast, but I see the idea you're going to get a better response time from the local dispatch as being plausible.
     
villalobos
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May 9, 2008, 04:47 PM
 
Proudly landline free since 1998 1999.
     
Andy8
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May 9, 2008, 08:17 PM
 
Originally Posted by villalobos View Post
Proudly landline free since 1999.
Exactly.
     
CharlesS
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May 9, 2008, 08:36 PM
 
My main piece of advice would be to avoid any phones that use the 2.4 GHz band, because those are prone to interference with 802.11b/g/n routers. It's very annoying when the phone rings and it makes your wireless Internet connection drop. Go for either a 900 MHz (if they still make these, it's been a few years since I looked at cordless landphones) or a 5.7 GHz phone.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
Eug
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May 11, 2008, 09:08 AM
 
I get my traditional POTS for a few reasons:

1) DSL (but see below)
2) Home security system. The monitoring company won't guarantee a cell-based system (and hence the insurance discount for it is harder to get) because they say they are less reliable. They do recommend a cell backup though. However, I think the cell backups start around $600 for the equipment and go up from there, and you may or may not need another cell account.
3) Better international long distance plan (but that's completely negated by the fact that I have to pay monthly for the phone).
4) No limits on minutes, at any time. (My GF is on the phone a lot, and a cell plan to cover it would be expensive for her.)
5) I get a second telephone number (in addition to my cell).
6) Identi-call, with a 3rd telephone number for my fax machine which is on 24/7.


Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
I have DSL and no land line. It is called a dry-loop.
A dry-loop is a form of land line of course. You're just not getting traditional phone service through it. And you still pay for a dry-loop, albeit less than the cost of a traditional telephone line.


Originally Posted by CharlesS View Post
My main piece of advice would be to avoid any phones that use the 2.4 GHz band, because those are prone to interference with 802.11b/g/n routers. It's very annoying when the phone rings and it makes your wireless Internet connection drop. Go for either a 900 MHz (if they still make these, it's been a few years since I looked at cordless landphones) or a 5.7 GHz phone.
Yup. I have only 900 MHz and 5.8 GHz phones in my house for this reason.
( Last edited by Eug; May 11, 2008 at 09:21 AM. )
     
alligator
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May 11, 2008, 09:31 AM
 
My GE landline phone is Dect 1.8 Gh, and no problems thus far.
     
turtle777
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May 11, 2008, 12:23 PM
 
Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth View Post
I'm still on the two cups attached by string method.
This model ?



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