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Thinking about Phones--Need Help

July 4th, 2016 at 08:05 pm

I am in the preliminary stages of thinking about getting a new phone, contingent of course, on DH getting a new job. My phone is on its last legs and really old. As in, it was one of the first dumb phones to have a pull out keyboard old.

I've replaced the battery twice and the charger 3 times, but I can't do that anymore as they've stopped making them and the last time I simply just bought a copy of my phone off e-bay with a destroyed screen just for the working battery and charger. Even that doesn't seem to be an option now.

If I do get one, I'll be going through Ting and I am thinking about the phones around the 4 level or the cheaper end of the 5 level, as in Samsung Galaxy 4, LG G4, Apple iPhone 4 or possibly 5, or Nexus 5. But I don't know anything about these phones other than I've heard good things about the Samsung Galaxy 4 (but not 5).

I have never used a smart phone and I don't really use tablets either, which I understand are similar in some ways, so I'm going to need something user friendly and easy. I haven't used anything Apple based other than an ipod touch and that thing irritates me, because it is not as intuitive as it likes to pretend to be. I like devices that are simple and easy.

I'm at the collecting information stage, I guess. What can you all tell me about the phones I've listed above? Pros and cons and ease of use. Thanks.

14 Responses to “Thinking about Phones--Need Help”

  1. disneysteve Says:
    1467664810

    We are big fans of Apple products. I can't deny that they do charge a premium but we think it's worth it. I have an iPhone 5 and I have said numerous times that it is without a doubt the single best piece of technology I have ever owned. I previously had an iPhone 3. That had great potential but didn't have the processing power to really live up to it. The 5, however, definitely does. I can't say enough good things about it. To be fair, I have nothing to compare it to other than the 3. I've never used a Samsung or LG smartphone.

  2. Laura S. Says:
    1467672801

    Amazon is releasing the Moto G on Prime Day on the 12th for $149. I asked my son who is a major tech geek about it and he said it is a great phone.

  3. LuckyRobin Says:
    1467675170

    Thanks, Steve. But is it easy to use?

  4. LuckyRobin Says:
    1467675264

    Laura S.--Okay, but something that someone who is majorly tech savvy thinks is a good phone might be way over the top on bells and whistles for me. Is it simple enough for someone who has never had a smartphone before to learn to use quickly and easily?

  5. disneysteve Says:
    1467681244

    I find the iPhone easy to use. All of the basic functions like calling, texting, taking pictures, email, and such are all quite straightforward.

    I'd suggest either finding friends with the phones you're considering or spending some time at a retailer where they can demonstrate them and let you play with them a bit.

  6. Livingalmostlarge Says:
    1467702588

    Buy the moto g. I have it as an android devide that works great and is very cheap. Apples are nice but I believe not worth the premium. DH won't buy me expensive phone because i am hard on them. $149 great price and I've had the moto e for $99 which also works fine. I use my phone a lot and am tec savvy and my dh loves his Mac laptop. But for the price he wouldn't buy an iPhone and he'll only use the Mac for work. The moto g will last and be great.

  7. scfr Says:
    1467735823

    duplicate - sorry

  8. scfr Says:
    1467735930

    My comments will be a bit contrary to what the others have said. With a smart phone, there IS a learning curve. I am not a technophobe and am pretty computer savvy for my age (in my 50's). I got my first smart phone a little over a year ago (moto e for $99 when I signed up with Republic Wireless). The mini-manual that came with it gave me info on how to do all sorts of things EXCEPT what I wanted to do (make or answer a phone call, text, link Email account).

    Regardless of what phone you get, plan on setting aside some time when you are calm to learn the features and the basic functions that are important to you, either with the help of a book or on-line research or a friend or family member who has the same phone.

    My advice really is to know going in to it that it is not going to be a perfectly smooth transition. But it's nothing you can't handle.

    And I should add that I am happy with my Moto e but in hindsight I wish I had gone for a higher version. I didn't think I'd use the phone to take pictures, but I do.

  9. LuckyRobin Says:
    1467751372

    Thanks, Steve, that is good advice.

  10. LuckyRobin Says:
    1467751625

    LAL--I have not looked at the moto g at all yet, though I did see it as offered at Ting. It just looked kind of ugly so I didn't pay attention to it. I'll check it out. I wouldn't be getting a new Apple if I decide to go with it. The ones I am looking at are in the $150 to $225 price range.

  11. LuckyRobin Says:
    1467751906

    SCFR--Whatever I get, it needs to be easy to figure out how to call and text. I have heard about some phones that don't make that plain and I don't get it, because those are the primary purposes of a phone. I would like it to have a nice camera.

    I am sure I will have to spend quite a bit of time figuring it out. I am easily frustrated with non-intuitive tech, so I will probably have my husband figure it all out first and then teach me.

  12. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1467770678

    I have an iPhone 5C. You can get a refurbished one for under $200, possibly $150. Making phone calls is prety simple - just swipe and press the green icon with a picure of a phone ...

    Like SCFR said, there will be a learning curve. Give yourself some time to just sit and play with it. Find some youtube videos of people demonstrating how to use it. Look for online user guides, etc. Maybe go to a Best Buy, etc. that has phones you can play with before buying.

    if you get an iPhone, you can also always ask for help here Smile I'd be of no help on Androids - tried a few Android based phones, and didn't care for them personally.

  13. crazyliblady Says:
    1468100528

    I can't tell you anything about smart phones, as I refuse to own one. I don't need to be that connected. However, I use tracfone and love it because there is no monthly bill. I don't use my phone a lot, so it makes more sense for me to have a prepaid phone rather than something with 500 minutes a month. I don't use 500 minutes in 6 months! And tracfone also has a bring your own phone deal. Here's the link for that.

    http://get.tracfone.com/byop/

    If you don't want to bring your own phone, you can buy a tracfone phone at a lot of brick and mortar stores (like Walmart, Dollar General, etc.) or on the website. A lot of their phones come with double or triple minutes for life. I like to add more minutes by buying a minutes card, but you can also do it on the website.

  14. CB in the City Says:
    1468263297

    I'm getting to this discussion late, but just wanted to throw in that I have a Moto G. I find it easy to use. It was my first smartphone, and I'm not very techie. I have unlimited minutes and text through StraightTalk, which is available at Wal-Mart, for $50 a month. I guess it's not good-looking, but the appearance of a phone matters a lot less than how it works.

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