Phone books: Do you use them?
 

My annual delivery of phone books today made me realize that I can't remember the last time I actually used one of them. Every year I get a thick residential listing and a second equally thick book for businesses, plus another book or two from rival companies who try to get me to think their listings are better somehow. All this paper wasted, and who actually uses phone books anymore? If I'm at home or work, I look up a number online; I know some people who don't care about the charge and just call information. The one place I might actually use a phone book, a public telephone, generally doesn't have them anymore.

Does anyone still use a phone book? How long before they go the way of the dinosaur?

I've used one maybe twice in the last three years... if that. I could have used the internet instead, if I had been thinking of it.

Depends on whether you prefer physical or digital medium. I just prefer books better than the computer screen. Most phone listing websites are arranged in a particularly annoying manner.

Though I don't doubt it'd be a huge burden off of the environment if we stopped printing these tons of books. But whenever I'm looking at all the available local nurseries, or recycling centers, or electronics suppliers, nothing beats the local yellow pages.

I have one in my drawer, but I have never opened it. I just go on the net instead: Canada411

I still use the phone book most of the time. A few months ago I needed planks for a new fence and I called around for prices per plank. I just looked up that section in the phone book and called up each store to see which one was cheapest. Looking it up online versus in a phone book seems like it involves the same amount of time with me (I have to open the laptop, sign on, wait for it to connect to the wireless internet, type crap in), so why not just look it up in the phone book? Considering how much paper could be saved, though, I could honestly go without one and just use the internet.

I definitely still use my phone book!

Now, with the advance of technology, all I've gotta do is Google an establishment to find its number. But like Zeph said, it largely boils down to a matter of preference. I enjoy going to my phone book, flipping through the pages, and scouring the hundreds of listings to discover what I'm looking for. I literally garner some sense of fulfillment.

I abhor using 411, though. Automated messaging can burn in hell.

When I am looking for a phone number, I either look online or I call the directory assistance. I don't even know whether I got a phone book at home or not.

I usually look up numbers on the computer because the phone book seems to hate being organized in a way that would make finding thing fast and easy possible.

Very rarely,
I mainly use it to locate a business number in the yellow pages. I keep all the numbers of people I call in a notebook by the phone.

Amen.

Now, I don't think I've actually used the thing since my freshmen year of college (when I didn't know what businesses were around my new town) about four years ago.

I used the phone book once in the past 5 years to call some guy to fix my computer when I couldn't get on the internet because of a virus. Aside from that, everything else about it is pretty much worthless, since I use Yahoo YP for everything I'm looking for.

Not at all. We don't have a single phonebook where I live now. My parents keep a few that they keep under the phone, but I rarely flip through those for numbers if I ever need a number while I'm there visiting. I usually find everything I need online.

Actually I used one just last weekend. Admittedly that was only because the internet was down, but it's handy to have one in a crisis. Apart from that, and one instance when I lost my mobile, I don't think I've ever needed it.

I don't think I've ever really used a phone book in my life, but, yeah, I could imagine some situations where I might just need one.

Come to think of it, I do recall my mother saying that I used to leaf through phone books for fun when I was younger, though. But I'm not sure if that counts as "using" one.

I never use phone books anymore. The only reason I used to use them is for residential numbers, but I can't seem to find anyone I want to get a hold of that actually allows their name to be in the phone book. Especially now that Quizno's has an online menu and delivers... there is no need for phone books.

We just got our new phone book at my apartment this morning. I'll pick it up and bring it in, but really, it will be used in emergency situations only.

The white pages are no use since everyone I know has ditched their ground line and have switched to cells exclusively.

The Yellow Pages are good if you're looking for a variety of local businesses, I guess. You look up "PLUMBER" and there's a plethora to stare at. It can be a little more efficient than the internet sometimes.

But yea. I prefer google. Easier. Faster.

I just call directory assistance. The phone book I have is for 2 years ago.

Nah eventhough I still get them through the post - Internet is so much easier (with everything really)

I use them since our phonebook gets updated every year, I don't know, when i don't have anything to do i get the phonebook and find a funny name to call.

And sometimes i use it for real things like How long is the power outage and like looking for place to get food.

Every now and then I do. Living with 4 other people in the house, sharing one set of books, they actually get used in general quite often.