I'm really big with getting back to basics. Here is my tech evolution: I went from a Nokia (yes, that Nokia) in high school to a Blackberry in college, to an iPhone in law school. I always wanted the newest tech. Before I knew it, I was stuck in the web the iPhone created.

The iPhone allowed me to get rid of my GPS, MP3, and Camera. But once you get rid of all those things for "convenience", you never really want to go back. Why? It seems like a downgrade.

So, a few months ago I started to take stock of how much smartphones suck. The amount of time wasted on them, coupled with the privacy nightmare they cause, made me really weigh my options. I laid the phone on the table and said, "How can I kill you?" I then mapped out what I would need to make my phone disposable.

I started slowly. I bought an MP3 player with 64 GB for like $40. It's ridiculously small, fits every single song I have, and plays in my car and in my office. It also has an audio jack (you know, the one Apple is trying to kill) so I can listen anywhere. Bonus points: it runs on a single, removable AA battery. In theory, it is tech that will last forever.

Then, I bought a cheap camera to keep in my car. I figure it will come in handy. I already have a DSLR - but that is for special occasions.

Yesterday, I bought a book of road maps for all the states. I'm weighing a standalone GPS.

I joined Signal - and that is how I prefer to text. I'm trying to convert most of my immediate contacts. I love Signal's flexibility. A PC app is genius, IMO.

So all that is left is to officially kill my iPhone. I'm leaning in the direction of Punkt. It is possibly the dumbest phone on the market.

In short, if you're thinking about taking the leap - the old tech still works, guys. It may not be flashy - but it is usable.