what devices have made your life easier/better?

[Gina]

Ditto the Keurig!! Oh how I love that wonderful machine...

And ditto on the DVR too. Love that you can have it record new episiodes only of a show, so it's not wasting space with reruns you've already seen!

I also have to add in my Android phone (G1 for the past 2 years, and now a Vibrant) which does everything but cook me dinner. And there's probably an app for that on the way. And don't laugh, but the other gadget DS and I get tons of use out of and love to death is the GT Xpress Redi-Set-Go cooker. LOVE that thing!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

This is how I know I was born in the wrong century...There isn't one device listed thus far I couldn't live without. Most probably complicate our lives more than simplify. My choices would be hot water heater, central heat and my washing machine. Do I enjoy my tech gadgets? You bet I do, but I would happily leave them behind for the simpler pioneer life. Weird, I know

I'm with you, maybe even more so. My friends all make fun of me that I was born to be a 1950s housewife, and they are right. I long for the days of a simplier life. When I ws a kid the phone didn't ring at dinnertime and if it did it was an emergency or a kid who then got "no, we are having dinner now" when they called. Now we have a no phones at the table rule. Who'da thought? Then again, they had crock pots back then.

 

[abmitch01]

never heard of that cooker thing


I was thinking of asking for an immersion blender for Christmas

 

[ShannonMB]

DVR, and cell phones (I just have a run of the mill, no internet, etc).

I know this is as low tech as it gets, but one day I was at Target with my sister and told her I needed to get a new toilet brush. She looked at me like I was from another planet and told me to get the disposable ones, for crying out loud! I went with it, and boy has that thing changed my life!

I'm a little behind the times on technology!!

 

[abmitch01]

clothes steamer instead of ironing, quicker

 

[annsteere]

Washing machine. I did hand wash today and am thankful that's only for very special things. No beating against the rocks or even feeding clothes through the wringer.

Coffee maker.

 

[lattemomof3]

Add me to the pioneer list . I know how to use my laptop, smartphone, DD's Ipod touch, etc, but I prefer the days before these things. I will admit to loving my coffeemaker, though. I have resisted getting a Kindle, even though I love to read, because I think they are a bit sad. I love the paper feel of books, and the smell of a bookstore. I would be devastated if technology made libraries & bookstores obsolete someday. I think the world is changing way too fast, and I'm still in my 30's.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

Digital cameras - I would never take that many pictures if I still had to pay to develop film.

Cell phones - couldn't imagine how much time I'd waste looking for my husband in a store if we didn't have them

DVR 'nuf said; IMO there is no other way for me to watch tv now.

IPOD Touch / IPhone - apps are a fabulous waste of time but a more fun distraction I've never had. Can't imagine life without podcasts at this point.

Wii - we only use it for netflix streaming movies/tv - we nearly put our Wii up for sale before we found this option.

Laptops - you can have 'em; I'm a desktop PC girl at heart

 

[The Running Ann]

I like this thread - it is like a gratitude journal (and I am going to look for those disposable toilet cleaners tomorrow)!

As for me, I love the seat heaters in my car. I have had them for years and never take them for granted.

 

[ceecee]

How far back are we talking?
Microwave and cordless phones!!!

 

[dyna]

I'm with the pioneer group...that crank on the wall was very simple to operate an the phone book was smaller than most owners manuals to todays cell phones of which I HATE!

With the party lines at least we knew who was listening most of the time.

I love using my old plastic cards as scrapers so much easier than the scrubber things.

I'm another one who can live without many of todays new gadgets. I can not say they make life easier for the most part. Yes it's nice to have computer an internet but I can do without.

 

[traviesojmt]

Who knows what city I would still be lost in if it wasn't for my GPS. I would give back lots of things, but you will have to take my GPS from my cold dead hands. LOL Can you tell that I have a serious directional deficiency? Since we are a military family, we move a lot. Without my GPS, I might never find my way home.

 

[robsmom]

This thread reminds me of a college application question that of my sisters had to answer. One of her friends got into some very good colleges with a few hundred words on why the curling iron was man's greatest invention.

My list:

I will vote for my keurig as my #1 gadget these days. 2nd would be my counter top oven - I purchased it 4 years ago on a black friday for $69 and use it every day. On the tech side, i loved my itouch but recently broke it.

Thinking broader I would have to say airconditioning is my can't live without.

 

[TxRabbit]

Count me in the pioneer group. I wish life were simpler. It seems that so many of the gadgets that are supposed to make life easier just make it more complicated.

The one thing that I HATE to live without is my gas grill. I grill year round. Even in the rain (and I don't have a covered patio). Fast easy cooking and I LOVE the clean up! So easy to cook mass quantities of chicken to use for lunches and other meals later.

Having a cell phone and having family members each have a cell phone. Not for anything fancy. We have ENV2s which make for easy texting (also handy) but no data plan!

I also appreciate my digital camera.

 

[Minnie]

MacBook Pro - waited wayyyyy too long to switch

Kindle - Hundreds of books in one small device - one trip across the ocean for work made the cost of this device more that worth it

Newest fave - Android phone (HTC Incredible)

 

[FINFAN]

digital camera
Electronic garage door pad...the ones you attach outside the garage
*love * my basic singer sewing machine
not really a "device" but my contact lenses vs glasses? Life changer for sure..if I were a candidate for Lasik I am pretty sure I would be writing that
self timers for Christmas lights, seriously, when it is 20 below out knowing I do not have to go out to run the lights off....sweet
Booking travel arrangements on line

and even tho I personally am not a big user....texting. My kids communicate with me this way because it is so , well, about the laziest way you can. I bet without it I would not hear from them nearly as much as I do..like each morning when DS sends a text telling me got to school just fine even tho he is a brand new driver. So I appreciate to the hills how this can allow me to relax having instant communication with my family.

 

[biglew]

My iPhone 3G. Internet on the go is the best especially Twitter and Facebook! "There's an app for that!"

 

[momof1princess]

- my new quick messaging cell phone with unlimited texting-it is SO easy to just tap the screen to send a message to someone, instead of fumbling my way around the number keypad pecking letters!

- my heavy-duty, kitchen aid stand mixer-DH LOVES teacakes, and the dough is incredibly thick, so making them used to kill my wrists, both of which have carpal tunnel. now i just pour everything in the big bowl, and set the switch.

- my computer-i can pay bills, check account balances, shop online, and keep up with friends all over the world.

 

[kejowe28]

straight talk ph service

 

[mamaLori05]

Who knows what city I would still be lost in if it wasn't for my GPS. I would give back lots of things, but you will have to take my GPS from my cold dead hands. LOL Can you tell that I have a serious directional deficiency? Since we are a military family, we move a lot. Without my GPS, I might never find my way home.

OMG that's me too!! LOL! Mine is DEFINATELY my GPS as well. The rest of it I could live without. The other day I couldn't find it for a minute and I was telling my hubby that if I didn't find it before I had to go to XYZ then I was just going to have to stop at Target to buy a new one. I don't go unfamiliar places without it. It's my security blanket!