Easiest phone to use?

jenniewb

My dad has a Nokia 1800 or somethig similar (not sure of the exact code know it begins with 1).

He is on PAYG with T-Mobile and he basicly doesn't use his phone. He tops it up but never uses the phone as he doesn't know how to!

I have tried to explain to him how to call- I think he gets it, but as far as text messages go, he cannot send not answer them- and whats worse, myself as an owner of a smart phone, had many handsets before am finding it near impossible to explain to him as its just so complex!

I think he needs a better handset, one which is far easier to use and doesn't have menus which are hard to work, options which are hard to understand and if possible is easy for big clumpy fingers to use (sorry dad!) He is in his late 60s so not ancient, but does complain about things being too fiddly and has a low irritation threshold.


I don't think he minds which network he is with, just would be useful if he could at least read text messages with ease and with systems which are fast to load.

Any personal experiences with very easy to use handsets?

xbrenx

Why does he top it up if he doesnt use it? lol
Why does he have a mobile if he doesnt use it?

Those questions aside, until I got my San Francisco, I was a firm user of Sony Ericsson. I find their user interfaces very friendly, menu graphics are straight forward and not too many buttons to push before you get where you need to be.

There are phones available with big buttons on - google search should find you something.

jenniewb

He tops up so he can be contactable which is my main issue- why on earth is he paying money to own a phone he cannot use?! I am seeing it as my mission to get him a handset that he can use! If at least more then the one he currently has (which has a poor reception and one which he cannot get his text messages from).

He now works part time and is on call either to work part time, to be contactable during work (he delivers health foods for a local store and often last minute delivery details are given) he also is oncall to babysit my neice as my sister works as a nurse often at the last minute (Not his job and my sisters boyfriend should be doing it but he works as an emergency plummer...I live too far away to help!) Either way he does find it useful to have a phone and has turned into a tweenager- to him the phone has become an essential even though he cannot use it-only to answer calls, constantly checking it mid conversation to see if a call has come in...odd but true! Think a vibrate ringtone is in order too!

Thanks for the idea on SE, will look into that

Wintermute

I wouldn't bother about teaching him about text messaging unless he actually expresses an interest in learning himself, just get him a simple, no thrills phone like this one or this one talk him through making and receiving calls then leave it at that unless he wants to learn more.

My grandpa's 82, he has an oldish Nokia flip phone, he'll use the camera on it and make calls with it, isn't big on SMS (neither am I, it's easier just to call somebody most of the time!), but he can use it just fine. He's also on his 2nd or 3rd PC, has a few digital cameras and broadband, technology is something he expressed interest in, he actually went as far as doing a ECDL course. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but only if they actually want to learn them

jenniewb

Wintermute wrote: »

I wouldn't bother about teaching him about text messaging unless he actually expresses an interest in learning himself, just get him a simple, no thrills phone like this one or this one talk him through making and receiving calls then leave it at that unless he wants to learn more.

My grandpa's 82, he has an oldish Nokia flip phone, he'll use the camera on it and make calls with it, isn't big on SMS (neither am I, it's easier just to call somebody most of the time!), but he can use it just fine. He's also on his 2nd or 3rd PC, has a few digital cameras and broadband, technology is something he expressed interest in, he actually went as far as doing a ECDL course. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but only if they actually want to learn them

Agree- he has to want to learn how to do new things rather then me telling him-but he does want to learn how to read the text messages he gets especially as many of them are about work as is is rarely within an area with a decent signal! I have tried to work out how to read his texts and its not at all easy- my sister who bought him the phone, herself a nokia freak (everything has to be nokia and has been since she was 12, over 15 years ago now) she even has issues with it- its just not an easy to use handset.

I think of the two suggested the motorola looks great but I just spoke with him now...he has designs on getting the internet on his phone but "doesn't want another bill". Madness! Can just see his face when I tell him "yeah but dad you need to pay c.£100 for a handset to do that...

Guys_Dad

Basic Nokia phones are really pretty simple to use. I can just see him with a touch screen Android!

He may be better with a full QWERTY keyboard phone if his texts are a bit difficult to interpret, although the keys are a bit small.

There are some cheap ones on the market so take a look (CPW, P4U etc)

jenniewb

I didn't/don't think he'll take to the touch screen either- I showed him mine, he did seem really taken with it (I have a rubbish and faulty LG Viewty), he seems to think everything needs to be dragged, cannot get the hang of the "you just tap it dad" function and sits dragging things....so no, I think your right, touch screens may not be a good idea!

He has a basic Nokia. But even having had many nokias before and being a Nokia loyal fan for the past 15 years, even my sister has issues trying to work the thing let alone explain it to him! I tried and I can now see why its so hard for him to read a simple text message!

His fingers are quite large- I don't think the Querty keyboard would work so well for him but had thought about a stylus. The problem isn't so much writing texts as much as just simply reading the ones he gets sent to him.

Have been hunting around CPW and its so annoying b/c they have all the touchscreens to play with (ie plugged in with vaguly working screen) but none of the basic models!
Have however seen that the P4U website has a review section so may wade through this.

Its his birthday the end of March and wanted to get him a new handset if possible.

xbrenx

jenniewb wrote: »

I live too far away to help!) Either way he does find it useful to have a phone and has turned into a tweenager- to him the phone has become an essential even though he cannot use it-only to answer calls, constantly checking it mid conversation to see if a call has come in...odd but true! Think a vibrate ringtone is in order too!

Bless him
I did laugh when you said he now wants to use the internet on it too.
I do hope you find something because it sounds like he really wants to understand it all

lucylucky

If anyone is looking for a very simple big buttoned phone then these are worth considering.

http://doromobiles.co.uk/

jenniewb

Thanks for the doromobiles post- they seem like the sort of thing that would suit him...but he seems now to want the internet too....

I don't think he wants to do any more then look at his email and visit websites to view paintings (he likes his Renascence art). So something just to do the basics and with a screen that shows pictures. Doubt he will do more then this- I cannot see him ever playing internet games!! (The idea has be in bits on the floor here!!)

Am thinking I just take him to a store to show him whats available, only issue he has now is that he "doesn't want another bill" (all his bills are paperless and direct debit, he gets no bills!!) he only wants PAYG so is either going to pay over the odds for a handset or is going to have to learn to tollerate the odd bill coming in like the rest of us!

coupleuk

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=90&mpe_id=11134&productId=349503&intv_id=11085&evtype=CpgnClick&langId=-1&catalogId=1008

£39.99 - look for codes for 10% off.

Add something to get over £40 for free delivery (i just ordered a pack of batteries lol)

Quidco for cashback.

Phone is unlocked and can accept any 2G sim (not on 3 network).

Just got my 74 mother one.

Paul