Take my cell phone for instance. I bought it in 1991. So there, take that. I'm not a Luddite after all. I had a cell phone years before you did. It was a Motorola bag phone. I used it for over 15 years, changing carrier three times. It was rock solid.
But.
I was still using it until June of 2007. Then Verizon announced it was pulling the plug on analog phones so I had to find a replacement.
I've used my wife's and my daughters' Nokias. I hate them. They're too small, they sound lousy, the buttons are too tiny and close together. The screen is almost impossible to read in any but the best lighting conditions and with strong glasses. There are way too many menus with too many choices in them. They're loaded with useless features that just get in the way.
Enter the Jitterbug. First marketed as an emergency phone for the aged and invalid, they're now beginning to market it to the general public as the "simplified" phone. No camera, no games, no text messaging, no walkie-talkie, no library of ring tones, the list goes on of what it doesn't do. What it does do is make phone calls - simply, easily. Big screen, big buttons, simple menus. A Luddite's dream. I bought one. You can get more service for less money getting a main-stream phone. But the "old people" features are really Luddite features and I like them.
I recently found another advantage to the Jitterbug during the big Fall storm of 2007.
Another Luddite example is my PDA. I'm not a complete Luddite, I carry my Palm all the time in a belt pouch, so I'm really a geek. But it's several years behind the times, as I don't need color, or Bluetooth or Microsoft Word, etc. I use the calendar and address book and keep tons of notes in simple text. I have over 3,500 date entries, over 500 addresses and almost 300 text files. I use it every day. But I'm still a latent Luddite because I feel no need to upgrade. If most consumers were like me, the tech companies would go broke. They survive on new models, upgrades and replacements. I guess I'm just a bad consumer - unAmerican.
I'm not a big fan of powered machines. My idea of a good time on the water is to paddle a canoe or kayak. Power boats don't hold any attraction for me. I'd do sailing if I'd ever had the opportunity (and money) to learn. I used to ride my bike a lot, until my legs gave out. Now I have to drive and it's a sad thing.
Until recently, I drove a stick-shift car with no air, no power windows, no power door locks - you get the idea. It's only been the last couple years that I've "upgraded" by getting the hand-me-down family car with all that stuff on it. Now, as I get older I'm beginning to acquire a little appreciation for some of those features. Power assist does help those who are physically fading.
BUT
Now I'm back to the basics. Here's my "new" car.
If the auto manufacturers ever come up with a real electric/hybrid car, I'll seriously consider it. The current hybrids are just standard gas hogs with an electric assist. I want a real electric car with an engine/generator assist.
Update March 2007 - It looks like GM is moving in that direction. The Chevy Volt looks like the right idea. It's an electric car with a gen-set. I want one of those.Update Summer 2008 - Looks like GM is really going to do it (if they don't go broke first). They are going very public with the Volt and "promising" a 2010 production startup. I'm guessing first deliveries will be 2011. Price is yet to be determined, but it looks like it'll be close to $40,000 which will severely limit its success. It needs to be well under to $30,000 for it to sell well enough to make a real impact on the industry. We'll see if they can deliver and how it'll sell. I hope for the best.