Why a cutting-edge hipster like me doesn't have a smartphone

I consider myself fairly tech-savvy. After all I tweet (@pgmckenzie), PLUS I have a blog and a dual-monitor set up on my desk. But I'm still using a feature phone, the kind with a slide-out keyboard (you know, like the Brady Bunch kids used to text their friends while dancing to 8-tracks).

I've thought long and hard about getting a smartphone. I've envied those who have them. I've done extensive comparison shopping. And these days you can pick up a basic Android phone for a c-note and use a pay-as-you-go plan at around $50 per month. Relatively speaking, that's a great deal. And it's patently obvious to everyone that I could afford it, what with all my expensive clothes and designer watches.

My phone and iPod Touch

But instead of using one convenient, modern, sleek device that does calls/texts, internet, photos and GPS, I have four stand-alone gadgets; my aforementioned slider phone, a second-gen iPod touch, a very basic point-and-shoot camera, and a refurb GPS I just bought on eBay for thirty bucks (with free shipping!).

Is it less convenient to have four devices (older ones at that) instead of one? Most definitely. There are times I wish I had my camera with me, but it's at home. My 2006 model GPS has 2006 maps, and the touch screen is small and a bit clunky. As I do more texting, the slider phone is getting tiresome.

But here's what it boils down to. My set up is not great, but in most cases it's good enough. It's also a collection of four amazingly powerful devices that most people could not even contemplate fifteen years ago. They are devices that were cutting-edge and transforming when introduced. And it saves me about $15 bucks a month, compared to the $50 pay-as-you-go plans (and I'll bet many of you are paying much more).

Fifteen bucks may not seem like much, but consider this: $15 per month invested in a retirement account with a return of 4% per year (a very conservative rate) ends up being worth almost $5500 in 20 years. That's a gain of almost $2000.

And of course, there's one huge advantage to not having a smartphone; I don't have to read e-mails when I'm out of the office.

There's also something to be said for getting excited about a "new-to-me" device purchased at 20 or 30 percent of the price when new (again, more to put into that 401-K).

This is not meant to be an indictment against those of you with smartphones. Your needs may differ. Besides, I'm glad you have them so I can ask you to look things up for me when we're out and about and there's no wifi for my iPod Touch. And undoubtedly, one day I will join you (although it will probably be a used iPhone from eBay).

My collection of designer watches.