“Where are all the other landline people?” The question surfaces midway through Jeremy Rellosa’s brisk, sharply observed diary of his month-long experiment in bygone technology. He’s on the F Train where, relieved of his portable distraction device, he discovers that there are still advertisements for a decades-old sitcom above his fellow commuters. A beat later, he mourns his family group chat, replaced by voicemails from his mother that are only available through the cream-colored Trimline telephone he’s plugged into his modem for service. A testament to the cleverness, detail, and personal consideration that a scant 1,800 words can hold.
Like Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail, I have a notepad next to my landline. Since there’s no caller ID and no screen, I have to jot down numbers and messages. This becomes my version of a text exchange: I’ll write a note, then call that person back, and if they don’t answer, I leave a voice-mail. A few friends have asked about the etiquette of calling my landline: “Can I call past 10 p.m.?” “Can you see a missed call if I don’t leave a voice-mail?” (Yes and no.) Before I head out, I write down important addresses and sketch the cross streets on a small notepad that I take with me.
More picks about old and new technologies
When Your Digital Life Vanishes
“A broken phone or corrupted drive can mean the loss of work, evidence, art, or the last traces of the dead. But sometimes data-recovery experts can summon lost files from the void.”
Is There Life After Smartphones?
“This year, I set out to better understand what was driving this shift — what was causing so many young people to feel fed up with their phones.”
Between the Sheets at the College Excel Championships
“One of the most unusual — and fun — events in college sports is a high-stakes spreadsheeting competition in Las Vegas.”
Everyone Is Stealing TV
“Fed up with increasing subscription prices, viewers embrace rogue streaming boxes.”
The Last Good Thing
“DVDs, streaming, and the price of nostalgia.”
Waymo Money, Waymo Problems
“Robots take to the roads—and clog the sidewalks.”
