Where to begin.....
LED lights. CW, if you have a Harbor Freight near you, watch their flyers for sales. I had all flourescents in my shop and there were a constant source of aggravation. But I had purchased cases of replacement bulbs/tubes when I bought them so was putting up with them. HF had a sale I could not resist. We'd put their LEDs up on the firing line when we enclosed it and I was impressed. The sale was very cheap. I want to say $16 per 4 foot light, but might have been less. After I did the basement shop I was so impressed with the light that I went back and bought more for the garage. I hung 2 in the garage and it made a huge difference. But I have cold weather ballast flourescents in the garage and they were not cheap. So, I'll use those until they die or I run out of spare bulbs. I have more LED waiting to go up in the garage.
The LED turns my basement shop into an operating room. It's actually cheerful down there now. I found I looked forward to spending the day in the basement on projects.
Cell phones. First, I agree, each to his own. But I have to chuckle at the "big brother" concerns. Unless you are a criminal, wife beater or child molester, I'm not sure what the fear is all about. I remember when Google first showed up. A guy I know said "type your name into Google and hit "I feel luck". Your name and address will come up. THAT'S NOT RIGHT!!!". My replie was, "Open the phone book and look up your name. Your address and phone number will be there. What's the difference???
I was a hold out for smart phones, too. But flip phones went to Hell years ago. I liked flip phones because they were small and unobtrusive in my pocket. I had no need to be on the internet with a phone. I started using computers with the first IBM PC. We had one in the office that was shared. It's scared pretty much most of the folks in the office. But I was intrigues and when I found out there was a tool that would calculate mortgage payments I was in heaven because I was looking for my first house. But, since I could not buy a decent flip phone, I bought the cheapest LG smart phone I could from Verizon. We got a deal on our service because of company deals. I learned quickly how nice it was to have all that info in my pocket. Lost, you had Google Maps. Could not find what you wanted in a store, you sat in your car and found a store that did. Got a question about a gun, look it up on the web. Want to know what a certain gun is selling for, look it up on the web. Need a weather forecast, look it up on the web.
Now, the smart phone is just one of the lumps I check for in my pockets before I leave the house. Texts keep me in touch with friends without disturbing them and vise-versa. Having the phone in your pocket is like having radio communications in the military. No radio, you are on your own. Nice to be able to call in air support or tell the wife to pick up ice cream while she's at the store.
As for the camera option, my aging memory is no longer photographic. I take photos of assemblies I'm taking apart to assure I know the order for spacers, washers, spring placements, etc.. Not that I cannot figure it out eventually. But it's nice to have that as back-up. Need a copy of a document, take a pic with your phone. Friend needed a copy of an FFL the other day at Charlie's. He does not have a smartphone and can barely use a computer. I took a pic of his FFL and sent it as a text to a member in FL so the gun he just bought can be shipped to Charlie's shop. Gun shops accept digital copies of FFL for gun transfers. You can do it while you are standing in a shop in another state.
Yup, each to his own. But you are missing out on making your life easier. Waiting for a call from the doctor. Phone is in your pocket. Even if you don't ever use the smart features, if you have a stroke, heart attack or fall and hit your head, break your leg and you are alone, people can find you by tracking your phone. Like I said, I fought having a smart phone. I'm 70. I was wrong. It's a great asset/tool to have.
My phone is strictly for emergencies. I don't give out the number and I rarely turn it on. Except, when leaving the homestead. Average of twice a month, maybe.
I had reservations but hopped amazon was a kinder gentler delivery service... UPS delivered them... FOLDED!! Grrr. Amazon return was PAINLESS!! They sent email I printed. Choose UPS pickup that HAPPENED NEXT DAY! THEY showed up with shipping lable!!
