In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 03:48:05p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 12:51:48p, Steve Pope told us...

Boron Elgar wrote:

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:24:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less cell phone,
but not b/c of accidental picture-taking. You can't bring a cell
phone that is capable of taking pictures into a federal courthouse,
even if the damned thing's turned off. And good luck with trying to
find an unoccupied telephone in a courthouse if you need to call your
office to fax something to you, look up case law or any other
information you need right that minute.

It may seem overboard, but some of the Blackberries don't have
cameras. The newest one or two do, but not the others, such as 8703.
Drawback is that you need a data plan and your office email follows
you
anywhere like a sick puppy.

Good idea. Another thought is, assuming you already have a laptop
with you, is to get a WWAN adapter for it, and use IP telephony
like Vonage or Skype with a headset.

(You'll have to make sure the laptop is not a model with a
webcam, of course.)

When I worked in defense electronics there were prohibitions
on computers that had even microphones, since one could not
be certain it was turned off.

Steve


I don't *want* my e-mail traipsing around after me, much less have my
laptop dangling from my belt. :-) All I want is a f@#$&^* phone to talk
on. Why does that have to be so dificult?



Because your needs and those of the market that the major carriers have
chosen are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The carriers love all those value added things becuase it's a revenue
stream to them. They're not going to push the manufacturers to make
phones without those features.



You're absolutely right, but it ****es me off.




Well, you could always grow your own. They do sell GSM modules on
sparkfun.com

On Sun 27 Apr 2008 07:28:04p, tom told us...


"Terry Pulliam Burd" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:29:02 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
fired up random neurons and synapses
to opine:

I feel that way with many things, Becca. Prime example, I wish to hell
that my cell phone was incapable of text messaging and taking pictures.
I don't use either, but it's a pain. I actually get SPAM text
messages, and accidentally take pictures just because the damned button
is so easily pressed by accident.

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less cell phone, but
not b/c of accidental picture-taking.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/phone...o?skuId=VMLX14

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://tinyurl.com/5vpldh




Nice phone, but their coverage is rather spotty in my area. :-(

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 04(IV)/27(XXVII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Today is: Rogation Sunday
Countdown till Memorial Day
4wks 3hrs 45mins
-------------------------------------------
Words once spoken, can never be
recalled. - Wentworth Dillon
-------------------------------------------

On Sun 27 Apr 2008 08:13:40p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 03:48:05p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 12:51:48p, Steve Pope told us...

Boron Elgar wrote:

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:24:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less cell
phone, but not b/c of accidental picture-taking. You can't bring
a cell phone that is capable of taking pictures into a federal
courthouse, even if the damned thing's turned off. And good luck
with trying to find an unoccupied telephone in a courthouse if
you need to call your office to fax something to you, look up
case law or any other information you need right that minute.

It may seem overboard, but some of the Blackberries don't have
cameras. The newest one or two do, but not the others, such as
8703. Drawback is that you need a data plan and your office email
follows you anywhere like a sick puppy.

Good idea. Another thought is, assuming you already have a laptop
with you, is to get a WWAN adapter for it, and use IP telephony
like Vonage or Skype with a headset.

(You'll have to make sure the laptop is not a model with a
webcam, of course.)

When I worked in defense electronics there were prohibitions
on computers that had even microphones, since one could not
be certain it was turned off.

Steve


I don't *want* my e-mail traipsing around after me, much less have
my laptop dangling from my belt. :-) All I want is a f@#$&^* phone
to talk on. Why does that have to be so dificult?



Because your needs and those of the market that the major carriers
have chosen are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The carriers love all those value added things becuase it's a revenue
stream to them. They're not going to push the manufacturers to make
phones without those features.



You're absolutely right, but it ****es me off.




Well, you could always grow your own. They do sell GSM modules on
sparkfun.com

Ha, I'm not *that* ambitious! :-)

As I'm gradually finding, there are a considerable number of camera-less
text-less phones around if you really hunt for them.



--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 04(IV)/27(XXVII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Today is: Rogation Sunday
Countdown till Memorial Day
4wks 2hrs 35mins
-------------------------------------------
An unemployed court jester is no one's
fool.
-------------------------------------------

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 08:13:40p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 03:48:05p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 12:51:48p, Steve Pope told us...

Boron Elgar wrote:

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:24:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less cell
phone, but not b/c of accidental picture-taking. You can't bring
a cell phone that is capable of taking pictures into a federal
courthouse, even if the damned thing's turned off. And good luck
with trying to find an unoccupied telephone in a courthouse if
you need to call your office to fax something to you, look up
case law or any other information you need right that minute.

It may seem overboard, but some of the Blackberries don't have
cameras. The newest one or two do, but not the others, such as
8703. Drawback is that you need a data plan and your office email
follows you anywhere like a sick puppy.

Good idea. Another thought is, assuming you already have a laptop
with you, is to get a WWAN adapter for it, and use IP telephony
like Vonage or Skype with a headset.

(You'll have to make sure the laptop is not a model with a
webcam, of course.)

When I worked in defense electronics there were prohibitions
on computers that had even microphones, since one could not
be certain it was turned off.

Steve


I don't *want* my e-mail traipsing around after me, much less have
my laptop dangling from my belt. :-) All I want is a f@#$&^* phone
to talk on. Why does that have to be so dificult?



Because your needs and those of the market that the major carriers
have chosen are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The carriers love all those value added things becuase it's a revenue
stream to them. They're not going to push the manufacturers to make
phones without those features.



You're absolutely right, but it ****es me off.




Well, you could always grow your own. They do sell GSM modules on
sparkfun.com

Ha, I'm not *that* ambitious! :-)

As I'm gradually finding, there are a considerable number of camera-less
text-less phones around if you really hunt for them.






Aww come on, live a little.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/cat...hp?cPath=66_68

Or you could go for the completed product:

On Sun 27 Apr 2008 10:03:09p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 08:13:40p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 03:48:05p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 12:51:48p, Steve Pope told us...

Boron Elgar wrote:

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:24:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less cell
phone, but not b/c of accidental picture-taking. You can't
bring
a cell phone that is capable of taking pictures into a federal
courthouse, even if the damned thing's turned off. And good
luck
with trying to find an unoccupied telephone in a courthouse if
you need to call your office to fax something to you, look up
case law or any other information you need right that minute.

It may seem overboard, but some of the Blackberries don't have
cameras. The newest one or two do, but not the others, such as
8703. Drawback is that you need a data plan and your office
email
follows you anywhere like a sick puppy.

Good idea. Another thought is, assuming you already have a
laptop
with you, is to get a WWAN adapter for it, and use IP telephony
like Vonage or Skype with a headset.

(You'll have to make sure the laptop is not a model with a
webcam, of course.)

When I worked in defense electronics there were prohibitions
on computers that had even microphones, since one could not
be certain it was turned off.

Steve


I don't *want* my e-mail traipsing around after me, much less have
my laptop dangling from my belt. :-) All I want is a f@#$&^*
phone
to talk on. Why does that have to be so dificult?



Because your needs and those of the market that the major carriers
have chosen are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The carriers love all those value added things becuase it's a
revenue
stream to them. They're not going to push the manufacturers to make
phones without those features.



You're absolutely right, but it ****es me off.




Well, you could always grow your own. They do sell GSM modules on
sparkfun.com

Ha, I'm not *that* ambitious! :-)

As I'm gradually finding, there are a considerable number of camera-less
text-less phones around if you really hunt for them.






Aww come on, live a little.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/cat...hp?cPath=66_68

Or you could go for the completed product:


A bit pricey for my playing around. :-)

Wonder if I could transfer the chip from my current phone to a model that
has only the features I want? Should still work with my carrier then, no?

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Sunday, 04(IV)/27(XXVII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Today is: Rogation Sunday
Countdown till Memorial Day
4wks 1hrs 55mins
-------------------------------------------
'Beer. Now there's a temporary
solution.' -- Homer Simpson
-------------------------------------------

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 10:03:09p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 08:13:40p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 03:48:05p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 12:51:48p, Steve Pope told us...

Boron Elgar wrote:

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:24:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less cell
phone, but not b/c of accidental picture-taking. You can't
bring
a cell phone that is capable of taking pictures into a federal
courthouse, even if the damned thing's turned off. And good
luck
with trying to find an unoccupied telephone in a courthouse if
you need to call your office to fax something to you, look up
case law or any other information you need right that minute.

It may seem overboard, but some of the Blackberries don't have
cameras. The newest one or two do, but not the others, such as
8703. Drawback is that you need a data plan and your office
email
follows you anywhere like a sick puppy.

Good idea. Another thought is, assuming you already have a
laptop
with you, is to get a WWAN adapter for it, and use IP telephony
like Vonage or Skype with a headset.

(You'll have to make sure the laptop is not a model with a
webcam, of course.)

When I worked in defense electronics there were prohibitions
on computers that had even microphones, since one could not
be certain it was turned off.

Steve


I don't *want* my e-mail traipsing around after me, much less have
my laptop dangling from my belt. :-) All I want is a f@#$&^*
phone
to talk on. Why does that have to be so dificult?



Because your needs and those of the market that the major carriers
have chosen are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The carriers love all those value added things becuase it's a
revenue
stream to them. They're not going to push the manufacturers to make
phones without those features.



You're absolutely right, but it ****es me off.




Well, you could always grow your own. They do sell GSM modules on
sparkfun.com

Ha, I'm not *that* ambitious! :-)

As I'm gradually finding, there are a considerable number of camera-less
text-less phones around if you really hunt for them.






Aww come on, live a little.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/cat...hp?cPath=66_68

Or you could go for the completed product:


A bit pricey for my playing around. :-)

Wonder if I could transfer the chip from my current phone to a model that
has only the features I want? Should still work with my carrier then, no?



Theoretically yes it should work. But many carriers play the handset
locking game.

On Mon 28 Apr 2008 10:52:42a, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 10:03:09p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 08:13:40p, T told us...

In article 4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 03:48:05p, T told us...

In article
4,
says...
On Sun 27 Apr 2008 12:51:48p, Steve Pope told us...

Boron Elgar wrote:

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:24:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd

The DH and I have been hunting for a decent camera-less
cell phone, but not b/c of accidental picture-taking. You
can't bring a cell phone that is capable of taking pictures
into a federal courthouse, even if the damned thing's
turned off. And good luck with trying to find an
unoccupied telephone in a courthouse if you need to call
your office to fax something to you, look up case law or
any other information you need right that minute.

It may seem overboard, but some of the Blackberries don't
have cameras. The newest one or two do, but not the others,
such as 8703. Drawback is that you need a data plan and your
office email follows you anywhere like a sick puppy.

Good idea. Another thought is, assuming you already have a
laptop with you, is to get a WWAN adapter for it, and use IP
telephony like Vonage or Skype with a headset.

(You'll have to make sure the laptop is not a model with a
webcam, of course.)

When I worked in defense electronics there were prohibitions
on computers that had even microphones, since one could not
be certain it was turned off.

Steve


I don't *want* my e-mail traipsing around after me, much less
have my laptop dangling from my belt. :-) All I want is a
f@#$&^* phone to talk on. Why does that have to be so
dificult?



Because your needs and those of the market that the major
carriers have chosen are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The carriers love all those value added things becuase it's a
revenue stream to them. They're not going to push the
manufacturers to make phones without those features.



You're absolutely right, but it ****es me off.




Well, you could always grow your own. They do sell GSM modules on
sparkfun.com

Ha, I'm not *that* ambitious! :-)

As I'm gradually finding, there are a considerable number of
camera-less text-less phones around if you really hunt for them.






Aww come on, live a little.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/cat...hp?cPath=66_68

Or you could go for the completed product:


A bit pricey for my playing around. :-)

Wonder if I could transfer the chip from my current phone to a model
that has only the features I want? Should still work with my carrier
then, no?



Theoretically yes it should work. But many carriers play the handset
locking game.



Oh well, it was a thought. :-(

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Monday, 04(IV)/28(XXVIII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Countdown till Memorial Day
3wks 6dys 11hrs 50mins
-------------------------------------------
'More hay, Trigger?' 'No thanks, Roy,
I'm stuffed!'
-------------------------------------------