Eventually the best part of the MP02 experience at this moment is …
This is the report of my Smartphone-free Weekend Challenge, which took place August 29th 2023 to Tuesday September 5th. It has actually been extend a bit longer before and after the weekend, as I thought interesting to do it all along my end of vacation and back to work.
During my week of vacation abroad, in Denmark, I carefully packed the MP02 Silver in my luggage and took advantage of these days off to get familiar with settings, menus, etc. It was also a real pleasure to have it in hand, compact, lightweight, nice feeling and touch with the buttons. Even if no Sim card was inserted, I was already preparing and enjoying the pleasure of carrying my new companion !
I decide to switch from my less-than a year smartphone on Friday, last day of vacation. I do it on purpose, knowing it would be a day of travels with normally the need of GPS system or App, mobile checking and boarding at the airport, etc.
The MP02 experience started with a family farewell stroll and picnic on the seaside, last moments of vacation in this fishermen’s village. Setting as well as weather are perfect, the Punkt Totebag it’s most welcome to carry the food and beverages. Eventually the best part of the MP02 experience at this moment is … simply to enjoy the moment without any notification ! Smartphone is welcome for a few minutes taking a couple of family pictures (as well as a couple for the upcoming report).
The first part of the return is driving and testing the Hotspot feature with the use of the navigation on the smartphone. It works perfectly, fast 4G connection, without any disruption. Best surprise is to notice how much the battery of the MP02 carries on with this use. It barely lost 15% for two hours of permanent hotspot!
Once arrived at the airport, you quickly realize that all the information you need to get on a place has always been here on signs and screens … they haven’t been replaced to a smartphone’s screen ! I always enjoyed traveling, even if I do pretty often for work now, but thanks to MP02 I now find again this pleasure. In particular this particular feeling, mix of excitement, of meeting so many different faces in one place, with different stories, goals and destinations today, experience moments and views you don’t everyday get to.
I quickly forget any concern I had with checking and boarding, simply going back again to a counter with a nice and helpful employee, taking and tagging your luggage, printing you boarding pass and giving you gate information with a smile. Such a pleasure.
We are eventually back home for the weekend, no wake up alarm means no need of any phone, and last weekend of vacation means no willing to turn any phone on ! These two days I barely pay attention to the screen, excepted for three replies to SMS received, and one a day email checking thanks to hotspot feature.
Texting wih MP02 is fun, reminds me back a few years ago when living abroad and using a dumb phone for the local calls and SMS. My only concern (which would be easy to solve if I were to read the manual) is understanding how to switch between T9/predictive typing. As well as sometimes capital / small letters / digits. Another very welcome aspect of texting is the natural need to be concise and straight to the point. Saves so much time, which benefits good moments with relatives !
Back to work on Monday, I decide to extend the experience and see how goes a typical day at the office with MP02. Everything went smooth, I however felt limited with two functions :
- My calendar is a shared one, I also use a team one, and eventually need to check at some of my colleagues’ one. I couldn’t think of an alternative solution, since the company won’t change it’s tools and organization.
- I need to create, update and synchronize some contacts between different hardware and software that day, and here again didn’t find a quick way to do so.
Regarding these needs, it appears that MP02 is great for a personal use more than a professional one. Even with the help of Apostrophy services.
The day after I resign, and with a little heartbreak put the SIM card back in my smartphone.
Past three weeks I carefully kept MP02 in sight, on my desk next to my keyboard, being convinced our story together is not over but only begins ! I decide now to open a second line, for private use, which I’ll share with my friends and relatives only. This will be a perfect and most welcome opportunity to go along the thousand contacts I have in my smartphone, and curate the ones who really count when it’s time for personal moments.
My smartphone will quietly stay turned off in the work bag during evenings and weekends. Only MP02 will be allowed to be in sight during these moments with family !
Henri