Restaurants in My Pocket!

The iPhone (cell phone) has a few great "look-up-stuff" software
applications.

"I Want" is one. I tapped restaurants and it found every restaurant near me
for miles around from closest to farthest. It also let me search by
cuisine.

I can't believe all the new restaurants that have sprung up in town.

The program also lets you read reviews by others. The reviews are, by and
large, very good. I've only found fault with a couple.

There's an Indian restaurant in town I want to try. No German cuisine
restaurants for miles around.

I may try a few others, if only to increase my cholesterol and blood
pressure readings.

It also can look up nearby "anything imaginable" and GPS get you there from
where you're standing or driving! You can of course dial them. Even pick
from a list of nearby movie theaters and see what's playing and show times.

http://i40.tinypic.com/35naatc.jpg (two screens, side by side).

Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing as
far as convenience goes.

Best,

Andy

On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:

> Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing as
> far as convenience goes.

Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.

nb

notbob said...

> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
>> Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing
as
>> far as convenience goes.
>
> Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
> versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.
>
> nb


nb,

Do you carry around a phone book??

Do you also carry...

*A cell phone
*An ipod
*A camera still and video
*GPS/maps
*SMS text messaging
*Web browser
*Doc viewer (for all my user manuals)
*Book reader
*Complete Sports scores (up to the minute, as it happens)
*Streaming Radio
*Dictionaries/language translators
*Youtube player
*HP 11C, 12C, 15C, 14C Calculator
*Weather
*Stock prices
*Visual voice mail
*Calendar/appointments/alarms
*Clocks around the world
*Cookbooks
*White/yellow pages
*Harmonica, guitar, piano, drums, synth
*Much more


It's just TOO convenient for me. Ease of use. Intuitiveness. Everything
about it is stunning. I consider the cost to be inconsequential. YMMV.

Best,

Andy

On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:

> Do you also carry...
>
> *A cell phone
|
|
(absurd list of usless crap)
|
|
> *Much more

No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it for me.
I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage to survive. Amazing, but
true.

nb

Andy wrote:

> notbob said...
>
> > On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
> >
> >> Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing
> as
> >> far as convenience goes.
> >
> > Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
> > versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.
> >
> > nb
>
>
> nb,
>
> Do you carry around a phone book??
>
> Do you also carry...
>
> *A cell phone
> *An ipod
> *A camera still and video
> *GPS/maps
> *SMS text messaging
> *Web browser
> *Doc viewer (for all my user manuals)
> *Book reader
> *Complete Sports scores (up to the minute, as it happens)
> *Streaming Radio
> *Dictionaries/language translators
> *Youtube player
> *HP 11C, 12C, 15C, 14C Calculator
> *Weather
> *Stock prices
> *Visual voice mail
> *Calendar/appointments/alarms
> *Clocks around the world
> *Cookbooks
> *White/yellow pages
> *Harmonica, guitar, piano, drums, synth
> *Much more
>
>
> It's just TOO convenient for me. Ease of use. Intuitiveness. Everything
> about it is stunning. I consider the cost to be inconsequential. YMMV.
>


You must be a *very* busy guy when you are out there walking around, Andy...

;-p


--
Best
Greg

notbob wrote:

> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
> > Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing
as
> > far as convenience goes.
>
> Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
> versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.


I'm always amused by the peeps that are crying about their finances and the
"New Depression" while they are shelling out all those bux for the newest
iWhatever bling...not so long ago that amount of money could have pretty
much paid the rent.

We live in a *very* spoiled age, nb...

:-|


--
Best
Greg

"Gregory Morrow" > wrote in message
m...
>
> Andy wrote:
>
>> notbob said...
>>
>> > On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>> >
>> >> Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing
>> as
>> >> far as convenience goes.
>> >
>> > Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service
>> > fees
>> > versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.
>> >
>> > nb
>>
>>
>> nb,
>>
>> Do you carry around a phone book??
>>
>> Do you also carry...
>>
>> *A cell phone
>> *An ipod
>> *A camera still and video
>> *GPS/maps
>> *SMS text messaging
>> *Web browser
>> *Doc viewer (for all my user manuals)
>> *Book reader
>> *Complete Sports scores (up to the minute, as it happens)
>> *Streaming Radio
>> *Dictionaries/language translators
>> *Youtube player
>> *HP 11C, 12C, 15C, 14C Calculator
>> *Weather
>> *Stock prices
>> *Visual voice mail
>> *Calendar/appointments/alarms
>> *Clocks around the world
>> *Cookbooks
>> *White/yellow pages
>> *Harmonica, guitar, piano, drums, synth
>> *Much more
>>
>>
>> It's just TOO convenient for me. Ease of use. Intuitiveness. Everything
>> about it is stunning. I consider the cost to be inconsequential. YMMV.
>>
>
>
> You must be a *very* busy guy when you are out there walking around,
> Andy...
>
> ;-p
>
>
> --
> Best
> Greg
>
>
Most everything on that list is covered by a Blackberry.

I have it all covered with keys and my wallet.

On 2009-02-18, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
>
> We live in a *very* spoiled age, nb...

The old adage used to be, FIND a need and fill it. Today, it's INVENT a
need and fill it.

OTOH, we all have our pet passions. If it floats Andy's boat to have a
synthesizer in his pocket, so be it. To each his own. My biggest problem
with the iphone, besides the cost, is that it's two-way. It's still a cell
phone under all that other crap and I have no desire to be tethered to a
phone. I get enough crap calls on my home phone. I'll be damned if I'll pay
even more to be aggravated everywhere I go.

nb

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:39:15 GMT, notbob > wrote:

> I'll be damned if I'll pay
>even more to be aggravated everywhere I go.

AMEN to that one

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
>> Do you also carry...
>>
>> *A cell phone
> |
> |
> (absurd list of usless crap)
> |
> |
>> *Much more
>
> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it for me.
> I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage to survive. Amazing, but
> true.
>
> nb


LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch

Jill

jmcquown wrote on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:48:19 -0500:

> "notbob" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>>
>>> Do you also carry...
>>>
>>> *A cell phone
> |>
>> (absurd list of usless crap)
> |>
>>> *Much more
>>
>> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it
>> for me. I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage
>> to survive. Amazing, but true.
>>
>> nb

> LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch

A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine, don't
wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display the time.
I'm no expert on those things but is there a Dick Tracy style wrist
phone?

It's interesting what people will or will not carry. Many people dump
any coins that they receive in change into a jar at night. They may take
them to a bank once in a while if there is a no-charge counting machine
available.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-02-18, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
>> We live in a *very* spoiled age, nb...
>
> The old adage used to be, FIND a need and fill it. Today, it's INVENT a
> need and fill it.
>
> OTOH, we all have our pet passions. If it floats Andy's boat to have a
> synthesizer in his pocket, so be it. To each his own. My biggest problem
> with the iphone, besides the cost, is that it's two-way. It's still a cell
> phone under all that other crap and I have no desire to be tethered to a
> phone. I get enough crap calls on my home phone. I'll be damned if I'll pay
> even more to be aggravated everywhere I go.
>
> nb

My biggest problem with the iphone is that it is only available through
AT&T.
I do like a good gadget - but within reason and however much the iPhone
is -it is too much. All those extra features/plugins/applications/or
whatever they are called probably cost more too.

Tracy

Tracy > wrote:

> My biggest problem with the iphone is that it is only available through
> AT&T.

Can't blame you for not wanting to be shackled to AT&T, or any other
corporate entity.

> I do like a good gadget - but within reason and however much the iPhone
> is -it is too much. All those extra features/plugins/applications/or
> whatever they are called probably cost more too.

Actually, from what I've heard, the iPhone applications are all supposed
to cost $1 or something like that. So anyone can have dozens without
breaking the bank buying the apps. No idea what service charges or fees
apply to actually *using* said apps. I'm a plain old telephone kind of
guy, even if it is a cell phone these days. Mine doesn't have a camera
and it's getting hard to find one without that.

I have nothing against the technology and gadgets, just don't have
any real need/desire for most of it.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
...
> jmcquown wrote on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:48:19 -0500:
>
>> "notbob" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Do you also carry...
>>>>
>>>> *A cell phone
>> |>
>>> (absurd list of usless crap)
>> |>
>>>> *Much more
>>>
>>> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it for
>>> me. I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage
>>> to survive. Amazing, but true.
>>>
>>> nb
>
>> LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch
>
> A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine, don't
> wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display the time.
> I'm no expert on those things but is there a Dick Tracy style wrist phone?
>
There probably is, James. I haven't checked Half the time I forget to
take my cell phone with me. I only have one for emergencies, anyway. And
it doesn't have any bells or whistles.

> It's interesting what people will or will not carry. Many people dump any
> coins that they receive in change into a jar at night. They may take them
> to a bank once in a while if there is a no-charge counting machine
> available.
>
My mother dumped her change into a drawer Every once in a while she'd
count the coins the old fashioned way, put them into coin wrappers and take
them to the bank. I use a mason jar for my change. I don't look for a
counting machine, either

Jill

Andy wrote:
> Do you carry around a phone book??
>
> Do you also carry...
>
> *A cell phone
> *An ipod
> *A camera still and video
> *GPS/maps
> *SMS text messaging
> *Web browser
> *Doc viewer (for all my user manuals)
> *Book reader
> *Complete Sports scores (up to the minute, as it happens)
> *Streaming Radio
> *Dictionaries/language translators
> *Youtube player
> *HP 11C, 12C, 15C, 14C Calculator
> *Weather
> *Stock prices
> *Visual voice mail
> *Calendar/appointments/alarms
> *Clocks around the world
> *Cookbooks
> *White/yellow pages
> *Harmonica, guitar, piano, drums, synth
> *Much more

Yes, most of that is in my Blackberry, along with medical reference
programs.

Andy, you're behaving as though the iPhone just came out. I think every
cell phone manufacturer and service provider has its own version of it
on the market now, some of them superior to the original.

James Silverton wrote:
> jmcquown wrote on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:48:19 -0500:
>
>> "notbob" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Do you also carry...
>>>>
>>>> *A cell phone
>> |>
>>> (absurd list of usless crap)
>> |>
>>>> *Much more
>>>
>>> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it
>>> for me. I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage
>>> to survive. Amazing, but true.
>>>
>>> nb
>
>> LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch
>
> A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine, don't
> wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display the time.
> I'm no expert on those things but is there a Dick Tracy style wrist phone?

I haven't worn a watch in a very long time. First was when I had a pager
that had a time display and later when cellphones replaced pagers.


>
> It's interesting what people will or will not carry. Many people dump
> any coins that they receive in change into a jar at night. They may take
> them to a bank once in a while if there is a no-charge counting machine
> available.
>

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
>> Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing as
>> far as convenience goes.
>
> Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
> versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.
>
> nb

Sounds like you haven't looked for a payphone w/attached phone book in a
while. I can't picture any.

notbob wrote:

> On 2009-02-18, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
> >
> > We live in a *very* spoiled age, nb...
>
> The old adage used to be, FIND a need and fill it. Today, it's INVENT a
> need and fill it.
>
> OTOH, we all have our pet passions. If it floats Andy's boat to have a
> synthesizer in his pocket, so be it. To each his own. My biggest problem
> with the iphone, besides the cost, is that it's two-way. It's still a
cell
> phone under all that other crap and I have no desire to be tethered to a
> phone. I get enough crap calls on my home phone. I'll be damned if I'll
pay
> even more to be aggravated everywhere I go.


Yup...and I'm overwhelmed with information as it is, there is not nearly
enuf time in the day to plow through all the stuff out there that I'm
interested in.

I've increasingly noticed some folks in social situations, e.g bars,
restaurants, in the home, etc. always pulling out the cellphone to read
reviews of things or show off their pics or whatever. It's distracting, it
takes away from what should be pleasant social interactions. Comparing
ringtones or whatever is *not* my idea of a good time. Peeps come to my
place, they know to put the kibosh on that stuff, if they don't they aren't
welcome back.

I don't need a cellphone for work and I really don't want one for social
needs. Some friends of mine are always bugging me, e.g. "But if you had a
cellphone and we make plans we can TEXT each other about whatnot...!!!", to
which I reply, "Why don't we do it the old fashioned way - let's set a time
and we'll be there, and you have my home phone and email anyways, what is
the big deal...".

I HATE phones in any case, I find them extremely annoying, and I'm not
looking to be even *more* annoyed than I already am...


--
Best
Greg the GROUCH

James Silverton wrote:
> jmcquown wrote on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:48:19 -0500:

>> LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch
>
> A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine, don't
> wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display the
> time.

A few years back I asked some guy what time it was (being
a non-watch wearer). Imagine my bemused surprise when
he whipped out his phone. I'm so behind the times.

> It's interesting what people will or will not carry. Many people dump
> any coins that they receive in change into a jar at night. They may
> take them to a bank once in a while if there is a no-charge counting
> machine available.

Coins are very bulky, and if you're a guy with just pockets,
how much change can you carry before they develop holes.
It stinks but I pretty much have to pay to get rid of coins.

nancy

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
>> Do you also carry...
>>
>> *A cell phone
> |
> |
> (absurd list of usless crap)
> |
> |
>> *Much more
>
> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it for me.
> I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage to survive. Amazing, but
> true.
>
> nb


Why does anyone NEED all those things? What did they do 20 years ago
when cellphones were the size of bricks and were more of a burden than
a "necessity"?

gloria p

James Silverton wrote:

> jmcquown wrote on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:48:19 -0500:
>
>> "notbob" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Do you also carry...
>>>>
>>>> *A cell phone
>>
>> |>
>>
>>> (absurd list of usless crap)
>>
>> |>
>>
>>>> *Much more
>>>
>>>
>>> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it
>>> for me. I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage
>>> to survive. Amazing, but true.
>>>
>>> nb
>
>
>> LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch
>
>
> A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine, don't
> wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display the time.
> I'm no expert on those things but is there a Dick Tracy style wrist phone?

A teammate of mine will not wear a wrist watch and drives me
abso****inglutely nuts during tournaments asking what time it is. I
told him, "John, there's this invention, it's totally cool, it's like, a
clock, an actual clock, that you wear on your arm, so you can tell what
time it is, and that way you don't have to worry about your cell phone
falling out of your pocket during races."
>
> It's interesting what people will or will not carry. Many people dump
> any coins that they receive in change into a jar at night. They may take
> them to a bank once in a while if there is a no-charge counting machine
> available.
>

My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over the
years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases, plane fare to
Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day donations to the
American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a penny for your
heart!) and two different trampolines.

The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid it
for Slurpee money.

Kathleen wrote:

>
> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over the
> years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases, plane fare to
> Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day donations to the
> American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a penny for your
> heart!) and two different trampolines.
>
> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid it
> for Slurpee money.
>

I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled maybe a
fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a couple-few
hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken money from it
for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it has been left alone.

I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of those
coinstar machines.

Tracy
(who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
coin wrappers)

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
>> Do you also carry...
>>
>> *A cell phone
> |
> |
> (absurd list of usless crap)
> |
> |
>> *Much more
>
> No, and why would I want to. Keys and my wallet pretty much do it
> for me. I don't even have a watch, yet I still manage to survive.
> Amazing, but true.
>
> nb

The big problem with having a cell phone is that people keep trying to call
me!

Tracy wrote:

> Kathleen wrote:
>
>>
>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
>> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over
>> the years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases, plane fare
>> to Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day donations to the
>> American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a penny for your
>> heart!) and two different trampolines.
>>
>> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid it
>> for Slurpee money.
>>
>
> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled maybe a
> fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a couple-few
> hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken money from it
> for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it has been left alone.
>
> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
> around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of those
> coinstar machines.
>
> Tracy
> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
> coin wrappers)

Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your coinage.

Blow that!

Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.

Kathleen wrote:
> Tracy wrote:
>
>> Kathleen wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
>>> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over
>>> the years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases, plane fare
>>> to Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day donations to the
>>> American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a penny for your
>>> heart!) and two different trampolines.
>>>
>>> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid it
>>> for Slurpee money.
>>>
>>
>> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled maybe a
>> fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a couple-few
>> hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken money from it
>> for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it has been left
>> alone.
>>
>> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
>> around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of
>> those coinstar machines.
>>
>> Tracy
>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>> coin wrappers)
>
> Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your coinage.
>
> Blow that!
>
> Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.
>

Um, does watching American Idol count as mindless? ;-)
I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or maybe
Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as much as I
buy from both....

-Tracy

Tracy wrote:
> Kathleen wrote:
>
>> Tracy wrote:
>>
>>> Kathleen wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
>>>> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over
>>>> the years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases, plane fare
>>>> to Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day donations to the
>>>> American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a penny for your
>>>> heart!) and two different trampolines.
>>>>
>>>> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid
>>>> it for Slurpee money.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled maybe
>>> a fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a
>>> couple-few hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken
>>> money from it for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it
>>> has been left alone.
>>>
>>> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
>>> around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of
>>> those coinstar machines.
>>>
>>> Tracy
>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>>> coin wrappers)
>>
>>
>> Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your coinage.
>>
>> Blow that!
>>
>> Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.
>>
>
> Um, does watching American Idol count as mindless? ;-)

Depends, I guess. How much of your organic RAM does watching American
Idol require?


> I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or maybe
> Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as much as I
> buy from both....

Exactly. Roll up your coins, turn them in and cut out the middle man.

"Tracy" > wrote in message
...
>>
> Tracy
> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of coin
> wrappers)


Yep, that's all you need to do. Sit and count and wrap coins while you're
watching television or listening to music. There's no reason to pay for
some machine to count coins for you

Jill

"Tracy" > wrote in message
...
> Kathleen wrote:
>> Tracy wrote:
>>
>>> Kathleen wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
>>>> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over
>>>> the years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases, plane fare to
>>>> Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day donations to the
>>>> American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a penny for your
>>>> heart!) and two different trampolines.
>>>>
>>>> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid it
>>>> for Slurpee money.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled maybe a
>>> fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a couple-few
>>> hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken money from it
>>> for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it has been left
>>> alone.
>>>
>>> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
>>> around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of those
>>> coinstar machines.
>>>
>>> Tracy
>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>>> coin wrappers)
>>
>> Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your coinage.
>>
>> Blow that!
>>
>> Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.
>>
>
> Um, does watching American Idol count as mindless? ;-)
> I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or maybe
> Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as much as I buy
> from both....
>
> -Tracy


Yeah, American Idol qualifies as mindless amusement I don't know about
Coinstar since I don't want my money put on a "card" only to be used in
specific establishments. It may work well for you. But then again, I don't
consider wrapping the coins myself and putting the money into my checking
account "limiting". Your method limits you to specific vendors/retailers.

Jill

"George" > wrote in message
...
> notbob wrote:
>> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>>
>>> Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing
>>> as far as convenience goes.
>>
>> Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
>> versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.
>>
>> nb
>
> Sounds like you haven't looked for a payphone w/attached phone book in a
> while. I can't picture any.


Depends on where you live, George. Back in the Memphis, TN area trying to
find a pay phone with (or without) a phone book is a losing proposition.
Down here in the lowcountry of South Carolia they're still all over the
place.

Addressing Andy's original post, I don't need an iphone to figure out where
I'm going. A GPS locator might be nice if I'm driving a considerable
distance, but I'd rather refer to an Atlas and local map or even (gasp)
Mapquest or Googlemps to map out my route ahead of time. If I get lost, I
ask for directions. For restaurant recommendations in an unfamiliar area, I
ask the locals.

Jill

If I had to carry around a laptop, a cellphone, an ipod, a camera and a
book I was reading everywhere, THAT would be inconvenient.

If I was in the yard and needed to replace a spool on the weedwacker but
forgot how, I'd have to go into the house, find the manual go back out and
fix it then put the manual back in the house, or I could just call up the
manual.pdf on the iphone and quickly get that info. Convenience.

If I'm outta town, I can still check and send emails wirelessly without
having to change any settings. Convenience.

There's a great freebie app called "Graffitio" that lets you visit and
create virtual walls that come and go depending on where you are in the
world. If I was sitting at Joe's Cafe in Media, PA, I could create a wall,,
pinpointing my GPS location on the map and write a blurb "Today only, 2-18-
2009, 2 coffees for the price of one at Joe's Cafe!" So if you were in
Media, you'd get that timely "writing on the wall." How else could you
possibly disseminate that kind of "local knowledge" like THAT, instantly!??
Some towns are better than others depending on user participation.
Ingenious.

It's all about convenience and I happily embrace it.

About the only thing wrong with the iphone in general is it's almost
entirely hand/touch driven.

Andy

In article >,
notbob > wrote:

> On 2009-02-18, Andy > wrote:
>
> > Quite amazing to have all that information in my pocket! Life changing as
> > far as convenience goes.
>
> Wow! And this only costs what?.... $300-400 + $80-100 mo + service fees
> versus the same info in a free phone book. Such a deal.

Didn't we just have this interchange?

My daughter wanted an Iphone. As I remember, they were US$600 plus
US$100 a month. She didn't want one *that* bad.

The second generation Iphone came out in the last few months:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...ones/apple.jsp

8GB new US$199 (2yr contract), US$99 refurb

16GB new US$299, US$199 refurb

We used to have Cingular, but now AT&T bought them out, so we already
had the service:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...ckages-details.
jsp?q_sku=sku3270242&q_package=sku3130222&_request id=383238

We have a family plan, so it costs US$10 a month for the basic service
for her phone.

The US$30 for data is not optional with the Iphone, and covers unlimited
data within the US.

Text messaging is separate. I don't remember what my daughter has, but
the price ranges (see above) from US$.20 per message, to US$20 per month
for unlimited. For US$5, you get 200 messages per month.

I didn't see any other charges. I tried to look up GPS, but it didn't
like my browser. GPS was listed as a feature, and there was nothing
about a charge for it. You do need some kind of data plan, but since
that isn't optional, it doesn't add to the cost, over and above the
US$30.

I don't want one, but if I did, I would be looking at US$99 for the
phone plus US$30 a month, in addition to the US$10 I now pay per month.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

jmcquown wrote:
> "Tracy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Kathleen wrote:
>>> Tracy wrote:
>>>
>>>> Kathleen wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
>>>>> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV.
>>>>> Over the years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases,
>>>>> plane fare to Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day
>>>>> donations to the American Heart Association at our kids' schools (a
>>>>> penny for your heart!) and two different trampolines.
>>>>>
>>>>> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid
>>>>> it for Slurpee money.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled maybe
>>>> a fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a
>>>> couple-few hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken
>>>> money from it for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it
>>>> has been left alone.
>>>>
>>>> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
>>>> around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of
>>>> those coinstar machines.
>>>>
>>>> Tracy
>>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>>>> coin wrappers)
>>>
>>> Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your coinage.
>>>
>>> Blow that!
>>>
>>> Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.
>>>
>>
>> Um, does watching American Idol count as mindless? ;-)
>> I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or
>> maybe Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as
>> much as I buy from both....
>>
>> -Tracy
>
>
> Yeah, American Idol qualifies as mindless amusement I don't know
> about Coinstar since I don't want my money put on a "card" only to be
> used in specific establishments. It may work well for you. But then
> again, I don't consider wrapping the coins myself and putting the money
> into my checking account "limiting". Your method limits you to specific
> vendors/retailers.
>
> Jill


Just to clarify - I won't be using coinstar *because* it is limiting.
But I can understand why someone (not me) would choose it though.
I just picked up some coin wrappers. I didn't get nearly enough but it's
a start.

-Tracy

jmcquown wrote:
> "Tracy" > wrote in message
> ...
>>>
>> Tracy
>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>> coin wrappers)

> Yep, that's all you need to do. Sit and count and wrap coins while
> you're watching television or listening to music. There's no reason
> to pay for some machine to count coins for you

Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.

nancy

Tracy wrote:
> Kathleen wrote:
>> Tracy wrote:
>>
>>> Kathleen wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it starts
>>>> looking pretty full we count and roll it up while watching TV. Over the
>>>> years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA, bookcases,
>>>> plane fare to Phoenix for a family emergency, Valentine's Day
>>>> donations to the American Heart Association at our kids' schools
>>>> (a penny for your heart!) and two different trampolines.
>>>>
>>>> The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the kids raid
>>>> it for Slurpee money.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled
>>> maybe a fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a
>>> couple-few hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken
>>> money from it for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part it
>>> has been left alone.
>>>
>>> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the banks
>>> around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in one of
>>> those coinstar machines.
>>>
>>> Tracy
>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>>> coin wrappers)
>>
>> Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your
>> coinage. Blow that!
>>
>> Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.
>>
>
> Um, does watching American Idol count as mindless? ;-)
> I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or
> maybe Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as
> much as I buy from both....
>
> -Tracy

Many banks have free coin counters at their main branch. You take a little
ticket and deposit in your account.

Tracy wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> "Tracy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Kathleen wrote:
>>>> Tracy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Kathleen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar. When it
>>>>>> starts looking pretty full we count and roll it up while
>>>>>> watching TV. Over the years we've bought a $2,000 CD for an IRA,
>>>>>> bookcases, plane fare to Phoenix for a family emergency,
>>>>>> Valentine's Day donations to the American Heart Association at
>>>>>> our kids' schools (a penny for your heart!) and two different
>>>>>> trampolines. The funds accumulate more slowly than they used to - the
>>>>>> kids
>>>>>> raid it for Slurpee money.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I have one of those water cooler bottles - 5 gallons? - filled
>>>>> maybe a fifth of the way with mostly silver. There has got to be a
>>>>> couple-few hundred dollars in there. The DH has periodically taken
>>>>> money from it for trips to Foxwoods Casino but for the most part
>>>>> it has been left alone.
>>>>>
>>>>> I really should wrap it up and put it in the bank. None of the
>>>>> banks around me have free coin counting and I will not put it in
>>>>> one of those coinstar machines.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tracy
>>>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot
>>>>> of coin wrappers)
>>>>
>>>> Good for you. IIRC, Coinstar charges 7.5% for totaling up your
>>>> coinage. Blow that!
>>>>
>>>> Count and roll it up yourself while watching something mindless.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Um, does watching American Idol count as mindless? ;-)
>>> I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or
>>> maybe Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as
>>> much as I buy from both....
>>>
>>> -Tracy
>>
>>
>> Yeah, American Idol qualifies as mindless amusement I don't know
>> about Coinstar since I don't want my money put on a "card" only to be
>> used in specific establishments. It may work well for you. But then
>> again, I don't consider wrapping the coins myself and putting the
>> money into my checking account "limiting". Your method limits you
>> to specific vendors/retailers.
>>
>> Jill
>
>
> Just to clarify - I won't be using coinstar *because* it is limiting.
> But I can understand why someone (not me) would choose it though.
> I just picked up some coin wrappers. I didn't get nearly enough but
> it's a start.
>
> -Tracy


I take our bucket to the bank and dump it in the free machine there.

Nancy Young wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> "Tracy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>>
>>> Tracy
>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>>> coin wrappers)
>
>> Yep, that's all you need to do. Sit and count and wrap coins while
>> you're watching television or listening to music. There's no reason
>> to pay for some machine to count coins for you
>
> Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.
>
> nancy

I would think it would still be "legal tender for all debts public and
private." At least in the us. Our bank's policy wasa to have the account
number of the depositer on the roll. If it failed to proof out when opened,
the account was debitted or creditted accordingly. That never really
happened. But that was the policy.

Kathleen wrote:


> My husband and I throw our change into a giant jar.


I use the coffee fund at work to buffer change. If I have too much, I
look for a dollar bill to appear in it, then swap change for it. If I'm
low, I put a buck in and get change.

It's not that big of a problem, as I don't pay cash for much these
days. Anything that can reasonably go on the credit card does.




Brian

--
Day 15 of the "no grouchy usenet posts" project

Tracy wrote:
>
> I think Coinstar is free if you put your cash on an amazon card or maybe
> Bestbuy. I am not interested in limiting myself like that as much as I
> buy from both....

Here's someone's story about what he found
among the coins the Coinstar machine refused
to accept.

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2...18.html#010716

Stephanie wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:

>> Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.

> I would think it would still be "legal tender for all debts public and
> private." At least in the us. Our bank's policy wasa to have the
> account number of the depositer on the roll. If it failed to proof
> out when opened, the account was debitted or creditted accordingly.
> That never really happened. But that was the policy.

That's the way it was back in the olden days when I spent
a some time as a bank teller. But banks can and do charge
to take coins, legally. Where I live it seems like the norm.

nancy

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> Stephanie wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.
>
>> I would think it would still be "legal tender for all debts public and
>> private." At least in the us. Our bank's policy wasa to have the
>> account number of the depositer on the roll. If it failed to proof
>> out when opened, the account was debitted or creditted accordingly.
>> That never really happened. But that was the policy.
>
> That's the way it was back in the olden days when I spent
> a some time as a bank teller. But banks can and do charge
> to take coins, legally. Where I live it seems like the norm.
>
> nancy


LOL Keep in mind, where you live you aren't allowed to pump your own gas,
either! That's a strange concept to me. Granted, every state (and bank) is
bound to be different. I never heard of a bank not accepting rolled coins.

Jill