Get a case weirdo.

I work for one of the biggest communication companies and this is my work phone. You’d think that they’d give me a smart phone. We used to have blackberry’s years ago

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I'm still rockin the same flip phone that I have had since 2012... Dropped it countless times, it went through the wash once, went swimming with it, and fell in a river with it. Personally I see no need for a smart phone and I'm 29.

Case is a must.
I own an Iphone. Its great.
I really miss my Blackberry though. Best phone I ever had. So much easier to crank out texts.
I may switch back.
Hey OP,
what do you think of the new BB?

Thats the ONLY time Ive broken a phone. It was my wife's too....that sucked.

Usually...and you can use this, I wont charge you...when my phone drops, in order to stop the direct impact, Ill kick the phone or stop it with my foot. Works like 99% of the time...except that one time.

I have a flip phone and just use it to talk no text. Life is sooooo much easier when you don't text and I'll never die or take someone else's life in a car crash because I was texting.

I was just almost hit head on by someone driving and texting a few days ago. I was driving my antique VW bus so it would have been game over for me.

Last year I finally got smart phone, the company switched providers and got new phones for all of the managers, 13 people or so. My Boss said I would have to suffer it out, with the Samsung, he knew I wouldn't like it. I have always told him, "Don't need a smart phone I just need a phone". Had 2 or 3 Motorola Razors , good little phone. Have had a cell phone since around 1988, first was a Fujitsu Pocket Commander, it was big and would still work today if the cell phone system was still analog.

At one time in the early 1990's I had 2 mobile phones and a pager with a message screen. People thought I sold drugs.

I have an LG flip phone that works just fine for me (I use a iPhone seven at work). I really don't care for "Smart" phones and what they've done to society.
I get REAL tired of trying to have a conversation with someone and they're using their Smart phone while you are talking to them.

See way to many of these distracted morons daily. I have balance problems and have to continually watch out for the people with their face in their phone not watching where they walk.

It's not just about being smart enough to own one, It's also what they do to people, and the cost.
A few years ago there was no way I could afford to have a smart phone. I did need a cell phone for emergency contact and got by very inexpensively with Trac-Phone. As far as my work iPhone, it works fine for what I use it for (despite some badly thought out custom apps) but I just don't see the need for a smart phone in my personal life.

Most companies if they issue you a cell phone, let you use it personally also.

My opinion is they have turned the entirety of mankind into idiots. And the roads would be safer with a bunch of drunk drivers.

Even if they did, I wouldn't. They get all the records of my contacts and calls from the provider.

Im a flipper and proud of it. In terms of a phone anyway.

I know smart phones can make life much easier, but I intentionally do not have one because of the temptation to look at it all the time. There are too many things in the world to see, hear, smell, touch, etc. that cannot be experienced on a screen.

A similar discussion was probably being had about the time televisions were becoming mainstream. . . not sure how many of those were breaking by being dropped though.

As others have said, a case is basically mandatory. I like otterbox cases--they're designed fairly well, and available for most common/popular cell phone models.

Personally, I wouldn't go with a blackberry--the hardware itself isn't that great, and the available apps are somewhat limited. I'd stick with either an android-supported phone or an iPhone. Though, granted, having a physical keyboard is real nice. I enjoyed having a slide out keyboard on an old droid3 I had years ago.

I usually cycle through to a new phone every 3-4 years. Haven't had any issues with physical damage so far--just some of the usual wear & tear.

The downsides to new phones I've seen are that some are gravitating to a wonky curved screen, and are eliminating the SD card slots and removable batteries.

BlackBerry has run android OS for a few years now.

I am running a BlackBerry Torch, I've had it since 2010 or 2011. Dropped it many times, never had it in a case, never broken anything (knock wood). Only issue now is the power/hang up button seems to have quit working. I ordered a new on on ebay for 1.50. I love the size, does everything I need. I don't want to watch videos or movies on my phone, that's what the big tv is for.

All this Blackberry love is awesome!

I had a Passport which was really nice, but a little too wide. The square screen, however was imamaculate for email management. Have a KeyOne now and while I like the fact that it's the Android OS, I wish it were faster. Have no need for apps, games, or tomfoolery, I just like a robust communication device.

Insane the Torch is still my all time favorite device!

First smartphone I bought actually only worked for a day. I had a nice thick case on it, went to an ATM and the phone fell out of my pocket and landed right on the screen. Of course there was a pebble perfectly placed that cracked my screen so bad it was impossible to use. Just my luck. Of course I didn't have a warranty or anything

Otterbox mostly makes cases for iPhone, iPad, Samsung and LG. They don't make cases for BlackBerry.

Exactly what I have. 6 years and running , dropped, kicked. I do have a flat screen phone courtesy of another pinsider and will eventually switch to it.

The worst feature of any mobile phone, is the fact that it is impossible to slam the handset down, to let callers know you are mad at them!

Didn't know of Jerry stating this. Last week I was pissed at a sales lady. She calls me every six months, and I really wanted to slam the handset while she was talking.

iPhone 4s with a lifeproof case. It's lasted 5 years and gets a new lifeproof case every year. Small and you toss it, drop it and get it wet and it keeps going. Wished phones still hung on the wall. It's Friday and my phone is off until Monday morning.

Probably should have just run the stupid lady over that just stepped off the curb staring at one of those idiot phones in front of my moving truck and put her out of her misery instead of slamming on the brakes.

However, as a consolation, you can always hang up on them while they're yapping, leaving them to wonder how long they've been talking to nobody.

How I ever managed to survive for over 50 years without one is beyond me.

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I think this thread got misplaced, shouldn't it be in the EM Collectors forum?

Smart phones are great when used properly. Hookup the smart phone to your car stereo (sorry flip phone guys, it won't integrate into that 8 track player), tell it what to do, and be on your way. Want to listen to commercial free music in your car- stream your favorite app (safer than looking at the radio to change stations). Need to call someone? Tell your phone who to call without looking at it (safer than looking at a phone to dial). Need directions somewhere and don't want to look at a screen? There is the smartphone again.

Plenty of people use their smart phones improperly, but plenty of people do use them properly too (You just don't hear about them).

Pinside wouldn't be nearly as busy as it is today without the invention of the smartphone. Not sure if that is a good thing or not....

Easy there newly minted Doc Brown!
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Smart phones are great, when used sparingly and or, for locating new tasty places to eat when you’re in unfamiliar territory.

Or my favorite...
Repeatedly having to wrangle-up (via text) lost teenage children at theme parks that AREN’T yours!

I guess I'm really old school. When I want to take pictures I use my camera. When I want to access the internet I use my computer. When I want to call someone I use my phone.

Maybe I'll invent a refrigerator that can make phone calls - or - a dishwasher that takes pictures.

You're a little late on that one. Now they've made it so you don't even have to think what you want to get to eat.
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Hah, I guess I do dimly recall reading about that somewhere now that you mention it. I had completely forgotten about that.

I wrote off BB years ago and haven't paid much attention to them since.

I've had 'em all from the original Motorola brick to the latest fancy smartphones. Granted the current versions are all-around great for many things, but the one I always miss is the Blackberry World. The best ever. You can text and email like a bitch. Still have 2 of them stashed away, along with my old original Motorola flip.

They still make Blackberry phones? Who knew?!?

Flip phones? Really? Man, whatever floats your boat. I think the smartphone is the greatest invention ever. You can communicate with anyone, take great pictures, look up anything on internet, do email, gps, play games, etc. It just does everything, easy to use, and fits in your pocket. You gotta get a decent one, though. My dad refuses to get one but has had plenty of problems with stupid flip phones. They break or just stop working right. Rarely have any issues with my smartphones. Only issue really is battery life goes down after a while but that's the same for all phones.

Silly question. Do flip phones have Bluetooth to use in your car?

A lot of them do now. It is mostly just for talk though, not texting and music.

You can't win with smartphones. They are expensive, if you try to buy a cheaper model they never work right and break even easier. Even the expensive models break easily and the cell companies want you to buy insurance on all your phones and there is still a $100 deductible. It's a money sucking industry I feel trapped in. A family of 4 can easily be paying $200 or more a month.