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My data phone is useless as a computing device. The screen is too small, the touch keyboards are too hard for me to use,
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The screen size on even the largest cell phone is simply too small to make for pleasant surfing, or anything else other than reading the weather banner. IMO its even too small for GPS. My eyes are as old as the rest of me - and they're not up to seeing much of anything on that teeny tiny screen.
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Cell phones are lousy computing devices.
That's akin to saying books, newspapers, and magazines are "useless" and "lousy" because your eyes can't make out the print.
I'm 66+ y.o. and DH is 64+ y.o, and like most our age, our close vision is not what it used to be. We use reading glasses for many tasks so for us it's no problem to wear them when using our smartphones. But since our smartphones have adjustable text on most apps so (unlike print materials), we don't always need the glasses.
That's akin to saying books, newspapers, and magazines are "useless" and "lousy" because your eyes can't make out the print.
I'm 66+ y.o. and DH is 64+ y.o, and like most our age, our close vision is not what it used to be. We use reading glasses for many tasks so for us it's no problem to wear them when using our smartphones. But since our smartphones have adjustable text on most apps so (unlike print materials), we don't always need the glasses.
I always carry a number of small format foreign language dictionaries and some similar size reference books in my truck. The Collins Gem is 3'' x 4.4''; the small Oxford is about the same. They're completely functional and great to have awat from home. I wouldn't be without them. They are not, however, a joy to read. While I often brose a dictionary I put these back in their little rack after I've found the word.
My opinion of a tiny computer screen is the same. If I absolutely had to use a computer on the go it would be a laptop. The only small screen I carry is my Kindle Paperwhite. If Amazon offered it in a larger size I'd have it.
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My opinion of a tiny computer screen is the same. If I absolutely had to use a computer on the go it would be a laptop.
Up until the last year or so I would have agreed with you. Since then I've found that the "pinch" feature on my smartphone works to enlarge text well enough, and my iPhone 6 screen (compared to my preious iPhone 4 screen) is large enough that it's a non-factor.
When we take long trips - more than a week or so - I carry a chromebook. But for anything shorter the iPhone does the trick.
I have a basic (not paperwhite) cheap Kindle and it's the joy of my life, I can set the text to the level that I can read clearly without glasses. I'm never without it whether at home or traveling. Same thing on every Kindle I've owned since ca 2010.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I want a phone that is smart enough to go from Vibrate to RING LOUDLY when I am looking for it. (there should be a Voice Mail feature that allows you to enter a "Ring Now" code while searching). There probably is an 'APP' for that,,,
BTDT ... today. Phone had been mistakenly set down in a very obscure spot in a very large and messy Barn. (on vibrate, due to just getting out of a meeting)
We have smart phones, but don't use the features much except for a text once in awhile. I'm ok with mine, but my DH hates the thing, and can barely get the hang of answering it. We would be fine with old flip homes, and many of our friends still use them. We have a landline too, which we keep talking about getting rid of, but we had the cellphones in general, so don't want to have them be our only source of contact.
We pay about $40. a month for two phones, with Consumer Cellular.
I have the first flip phone I ever bought. It serves my purposes just fine. I have a desk top computer, and I have a laptop for a backup.
I use the phone as a phone and have no interest in having access to the internet except when I am home. When I'm out alone I read a book or listen to my iPod.
Flip Phone: Pay as you go. $100 for 1000 minutes, but the minutes last for a year. Mine last about 6 months, so my phone only costs me about $200 a year.
We still have the flip phone and would have nothing at all except we don't want our daughter ordering the staff around at timeshares because we accidently left our telephone off the hook and she wants to know we are all right.
We also have a land line, a car phone, OnStar and we take our computer along wherever we go. Most hotels and timeshares have free WiFi. I don't see myself ever with a smart phone. I like the larger screen on my computer and a mouse. The idea of moving the curser with my fingers does not appeal to me.
We also have a land line, a car phone, OnStar and we take our computer along wherever we go. Most hotels and timeshares have free WiFi.
Many hotels DON'T have free Wifi or have very poor quality internet services - I travel with a Wifi hotspot to avoid using someone else's dodgy internet.
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