Smartphone for elder

Lleucu

My mother aged 84 needs a smartphone. Her eye sight is quite good but she struggles with small keyboards. She needs push email (relatives all over the world) and the phone. Her IT ability ranges from reasonable to awful depending on motivation and mood.

As I will be the technician, I have been deputed to find a model. I just stopped her today from buying a ghastly shell phone (Daily Telegraph special offer).:D

I thought of the BB Curve because selfishly I do understand BBs, being a long term fan but the screen is small and the keyboard tiny.

Any ideas or should I go for an OAP model - and do any do email? Money not a big issue but I dont want to waste it on a white elephant.

grumbler

Lleucu wrote: »

My mother aged 84 needs a smartphone.... I just stopped her today from buying a ghastly shell phone...

So....
Does she really need it or it is you who thinks that she does?

Does she at her 84 really moves around a lot and needs email on the move? Otherwise a tablet would really be a much more convenient device for here.

Lleucu

Thanks it is she who wants the phone and email, she has a netbook already. I think she likes the idea of reading the emails instantly.

gfplux

If she has wifi at home an iPad wifi loaded with Skype and viber would be great for overseas contacts as well as email.
I should mention that I an not going to upgrade my iphone4 to the 5.
I am getting the Samsung Galaxy Note2. I just love the five and a half inch screen.

NiftyDigits

Lleucu wrote: »

Thanks it is she who wants the phone and email, she has a netbook already. I think she likes the idea of reading the emails instantly.

Go for the BlackBerry, as it's the cheapest to maintain and does the job @ £20 for the first eight months plus and £40 a year afterwards. Look here

[Deleted User]

Simple solution. Ipad. A smartphone is not a suitable solution for someone with failing eyesight

It's the most popular tablet for a good reason - and it's not just AppleFanbois. It's the easiest to use. Heck, my 3 year old can use it pretty well (to the point he managed to circumvent the child protection I had in place - he's a chip of the old block)

If you want to cut the price down then go for the oldest model

grumbler

ringo_24601 wrote: »

It's the most popular tablet for a good reason - and it's not just AppleFanbois.

For e-mails it's no easier than any other tablet, but will cost up to 5-6 times a much.

Lleucu

I thought of the ipad as she has broadband but its not much use out and about, she also wants the mobile for emergency calls. Thanks for all the advice, I agree the BB is small and the Samsung Note might be another option, though rather large for taking for a walk!

NiftyDigits

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Simple solution. Ipad. A smartphone is not a suitable solution for someone with failing eyesight

It's the most popular tablet for a good reason - and it's not just AppleFanbois. It's the easiest to use. Heck, my 3 year old can use it pretty well (to the point he managed to circumvent the child protection I had in place - he's a chip of the old block)

If you want to cut the price down then go for the oldest model

It's your eyesight that needs work.

Her eye sight is quite good...

Though the small keys may be a problem.

[Deleted User]

NiftyDigits wrote: »

It's your eyesight that needs work.
Though the small keys may be a problem.

It might be fine now - but what about in a years time? It is a reasonable assumption that someone in their mid-80s wouldn't be the right candidate for smartphone with either small keys (real or on a touchscreen)

I'd go for.. ipad for home (no contract, buy outright) and a cheap nokia (£30 tops) for out and about.

Smartphones are actually quite expensive if you factor in the 2 year contract. If you consider that you can get a 'sim only' contract for £15 a month but an equivalent smartphone contract would be £35.. you're really paying £480 for the phone

It'd be considerably cheaper to get an ipad+cheap phone

grumbler

She has a netbook at home. What difference can an extra iPad make except that it is less convenient to use than a netbook?