Time marches on! Cell phone obsolete!

[bucolic_frolic]

Constant tech upgrades. Just what I need, at the time of year I have to do my taxes! I won't emerge from the cave until April.

Will I learn to use a smart phone easily?

Will I find a Samsung Galaxy J2 sort of good for starter phone?

I hardly use a cell phone. But I do need one.

Any recommendations on phones, brand, model?

Thanks.

[Phoenix61]

1. I really like having an iPhone.

They last a long time and you can get the battery replaced. When a new version comes out it’s very similar to the older one so not a lot of time spent learning how to use it. You should be able to get an iPhone 8 pretty cheap depending on who your carrier is.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. That's useful info, thanks

I guess I have a few days or weeks because the old one still works, so I will tread thoughtfully

[Irish_Dem]

3. I like my iPhone too.

I keep mine forever, they rarely have problems, easy to use.
I use an Otter Box cover and even when I drop my phone, always is OK.

[Phentex]

9. I only got one so my kids could show me how to do stuff...

also plenty of other people can show you how to do stuff.

I had an HTC and I was on my own island then.

[Phoenix61]

10. Best point ever!

No matter where you are someone else has an iPhone and knows how to do whatever it is you are trying to do.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. Buy a refurbed iPhone

A 7 or 8. You are recycling tech and getting a decent enough phone.

Also, check out Mint Mobile for really great deals on cell service. $25 a month 4GB data, unlimited talk/text.

[msongs]

5. for calls, text, net surfing any cheapo phone will do. if you do big media like music, video, photos

a more expensive phone is probably needed

[flamin lib]

6. I've used Android phones for a decade or more. Resisted going to Smart Phone

but now that I have one it has become indispensable in everyday life. I dropped my 'land line' 4 years ago and haven't looked back.

It's a PC in your pocket; check email, surf the web, read DU.
Really good cameras for every day snaps.
It has my calendar with reminders for appointments.
The navigation feature is fantastic for finding new places.
The weather app gives me a 10 day outlook and alerts for severe weather.
It can block junk calls.
Different ring tones for different callers so you know who's calling without looking.

The current Samsung is S-10 and I miss my S-5 (damaged beyond repair).
You can buy used phones on-line and save a bunch or upgrade in your wireless plan.

[Paper Roses]

7. I have an iPhone 8 given to me by my kids. Didn't really need it but:

My old cell phone had the smallest buttons, I screwed up all my texts. I guess they were tired of my garbled texts.
The rest of the story: My PC is an old Dell. It has served me well. I have an old HP laptop that I never updated to Win10. It also served me well. I could use my digital camera with Win7 with no problem.
Well, Christmas came and the whole family got together to give Mom a MacBookPro. Boy am I lost. I should be able to use the camera to post pictures on FB or wherever but I am so lost. The darn machine sits there and here I am on the old Dell.

I use only the phone and text functions on the iPhone.
Anyone can do that easily.
I need a good book for Seniors for Dummies to learn how to use the phone and the Mac.
Gives me a headache!

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Yours is the post I can most relate to

I think I understand 3G and 4G. And SIM cards. Last time I activated, about 2005, you just bought it on eBay, gave them your ESN, and it was done. Now we have IMEI. ?

[ManiacJoe]

11. IEMI is just the unique ID of the phone you are holding.

Get a SIM card from a carrier supporting that model of phone and you are good to go. (Different carriers have different radio frequency needs.)

You don't really need to understand 3G, 4G, and 5G. Everything these days is 4G unless you are out in the sticks. 5G is currently limited to really big cities and needs you to be really close to the towers.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Thanks ManiacJoe

Sticks? I am the sticks. Perhaps that's why my 3G is still operating here, haven't tried to use it in town.

I went with a 4G Samsung Galaxy. Since I'm just beginning smart phones, I consider it a starter phone. I can ramp up to a higher plan, or a new phone in a few months as needs arise, if they do. With a widely used model there are numerous YouTube videos on operation to give a running start!

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Well the new phone Galaxy is here and I'm learning how to use it

Last edited Thu Feb 25, 2021, 07:45 PM - Edit history (1)

It's a slow learning curve. The manual is 148 pages, and unsearchable. So much downloading, so many acceptances and so many ambiguities. AppSaver. does it prevent data use when it's ON or when it's OFF? I read it several times, and I have no idea. Seems like a trick question. It tells you one thing on the toggle switch, then another below the description. Toggle the switch and the descriptions switch. Terrifying thing to use because of data wastage, and a real time waster to boot. I'd be happier with a 4G phone that does 1/4 of what this thing does.

Thus far I can't imagine this being a lot of use to me but I guess I'll get used to it. Every company vying for your attention. Google, Samsung.

The biggest problem being the carrier can't figure out how to connect it to the network. I spent an hour with a technician today. He kept resetting network connections. I can't tell what's happening. Either the phone is defective, the carrier doesn't pay for access in obscure areas and doesn't want me or the regulators to know, or they're trying to make off with my backlog of paid-up service to be transferred from my old phone. My guess is I'll be charging this back to my credit card because they will want to charge a restocking fee.