My new dumb phone is the Punkt. MP01, and it only performs two functions: calls and texts. But with physical buttons and no touch screen, I’m required to type text messages using T9 again. Do you remember T9? It’s that old, discarded version of texting that assigns 3-4 letters of the alphabet to each of the number keys on your telephone.
Well, I just used my Punkt to send my first text message using T9 since about 10 years ago. And…that wasn’t easy.
I used to think (as in, 2 days ago) that it was annoying to have to press a function key on my iPhone just to get to symbols such as a question mark or en dash. In fact, I hated typing on the iPhone at all.
So I’ve put myself in a worse situation. At least concerning texting.
Now I have to bring up a new menu, scroll through using either an up or down key, and after about 6 button presses end up at the question mark.
But I must remind myself of the following: I bought this phone in order to spend more time actually calling people, and to keep my typing of letters (text, email, etc) to devices better suited (read: intended) for that purpose.
I didn’t buy the Punkt to text, but rather to reverse my habit of texting 99% of the time and rarely ever hearing some of my closest friends’ voices.
In fact, in a wicked twist of irony, I’ve been emailing and FB messaging friends of mine today asking for their mobile numbers. I actually didn’t know them previously. Why would I, when FB and email sufficed?
So, excuse me while I end this blog post to give my friend a call, and ask her to meet me a half hour later than originally planned (using FB messenger).