apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i moved 6 years ago, my contractor ripped out the new apartment's landline and then proceeded to dissapear on me. i never got around to reinstalling, as the phone company wanted to charge close to $500 for two lines - yikes! plus appointments took 6 months (this was post 9/11 so the phone co.'s resources were concentrated downtown). i decided to forget about it and appreciate having one less bill to pay. altho' on the day of the blackout, i did regretting it. thank goodness for the kindness of strangers...er, neigbors

I will always keep a POTS line. I like the security of having a phone line that is not dependent on the internet or a city's power grid.

My "home" phone is my cell phone and to honest I hate it. But as I can't see paying for both a cell and a landline, I'm going to have to wait out the 2 year contract then ditch the cell.

I've been landline-free for a few years now, and I love it. With a few exceptions, I've never had significant issues with signal quality, so the difference between a landline has been insignificant. Plus, I love not having a clunky phone laying around, taking up space.

The only reason I have a landline is so I can have DSL. I can't give up my cell but hate paying for 2 phones. Pain in the ass. The only other option would be to get cable DSL, but last time I checked that wouldn't save me any money (since I don't get cable tv). Somebody tell me the industry is working on this.

I know that, in many markets in the US, you can get "naked" DSL (dsl without a phone line.) My dad just got it in his new apartment in the DC area.
I'd check with your phone company and see what they provide. If you're lucky you can save a few bucks.

all these surveys on such a new site - strikes me kinda funny... almost as if the goal is market-research for potential advertisers.

I have a cellular, but I also have a landline and DSL. When Im at home, I find myself using mostly the landline telephone, perhaps because I forget to charge the cell.

i guess i'm in over my head here, but what is a POTS line?
I have land and cell, voice mail no machine,a cordless phone and a vintage trimline with the heavy ringer, great during a blackout.

POTS is "Plain Old Telephone Service". That's actually the technical name, no joke.

Maybe this is neurotic, but a land line is a requirement. It was the only phone that worked on 9/11. I'll never be without one again.

If you don't intend on using it, you can get an "economy" line that permits some fixed number of calls in/out per month before it charges you (sort of like a cell phone!) and it's pretty cheap.

Correction: a *corded* land line.

I think the surveys are to get people talking...you notice that there are few comments on the other posts. you're more likely to chime in with the subject is you.

speaking of which, i have a digital voice line through Comcast, which has worked great for me. Even the best cell phone signal can't compare to a landline-esque phone conversation.

Max, Me too. I bought a very cute CORDED vintage donut phone on eBay and it worked for exactly 3 weeks before it just died. The landline is still functioning, unfortunately it's my phone that isn't.
Does anyone know of a repair shop in Manhattan that can fix my 'POTS' phone? I spent so much energy obtaining it...