Robust, cheap, easy to use smart phone
October 28, 2018 3:52 AM
I'm considering getting my mum a smartphone for christmas. She's highly technophobic but I think she would enjoy features like picture messaging etc. so I may get her one and set it up to work just on her wifi, while she keeps her regular phone for phone calls.
I'll do all the set up for her but it needs to have an easy to use interface. In addition to being deeply technophobic she lives in the countryside and has a habit of leaving her electronics lying around outside from time to time so I also want something relatively robust and not hugely expensive. What do you recommend MeFi?
I'll do all the set up for her but it needs to have an easy to use interface. In addition to being deeply technophobic she lives in the countryside and has a habit of leaving her electronics lying around outside from time to time so I also want something relatively robust and not hugely expensive. What do you recommend MeFi?
How about an Amazon Kindle Fire? The new ones are ~$60. The upside is that a tablet will be easier for someone with joint flexibility or mild hand tremors, and you can make the type bigger without the interface getting...weird.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:17 AM on October 28, 2018
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:17 AM on October 28, 2018
I'm in my 60s. Get her a working phone and neon orange case. I feel in my driveway, just slipped, and landed on, and fractured, my tailbone. It took me 10 minutes to be able to get up and get inside, all the while wishingi had my mobile. Maybe get a good belt clip, or a small belt pack, or cross body bag, which is whati use since pockets are either absent or too small.
An Amazon fire camera will be disappointing. You can get an unlocked Android, and 1 screen of apps is not too difficult. She won't have banking or payment apps, so it can maybe be unlocked. Your library probably has downloadable audio books, that might be a draw.
I have a Moto Z plus, Motorola audio is usually great, it has a very good camera, and you can find Motos reasonably priced, though mobile phone buying is pretty horrible. I have a carrier that uses WiFi and cellular to make calls, unlimited calls & texts, starts at 15/month. Google Fi might be an option.
posted by theora55 at 5:34 AM on October 28, 2018
An Amazon fire camera will be disappointing. You can get an unlocked Android, and 1 screen of apps is not too difficult. She won't have banking or payment apps, so it can maybe be unlocked. Your library probably has downloadable audio books, that might be a draw.
I have a Moto Z plus, Motorola audio is usually great, it has a very good camera, and you can find Motos reasonably priced, though mobile phone buying is pretty horrible. I have a carrier that uses WiFi and cellular to make calls, unlimited calls & texts, starts at 15/month. Google Fi might be an option.
posted by theora55 at 5:34 AM on October 28, 2018
My mom has a Nokia Lumia Windows 10 phone and bizarrely loves it. She really likes the large tile-like icons and long battery life, and she refuses to consider iOS or Android because of that. Primary uses are texting, calling, and whatsapp. She does have email set up on there but rarely uses it. Minimal data usage; mainly just wifi at home.
posted by basalganglia at 5:42 AM on October 28, 2018
posted by basalganglia at 5:42 AM on October 28, 2018
There are 'launchers' (i.e. apps that are your phone home screen) for Android that are designed for techonophobic people who just want their phone to do simple things. Maybe investigate buying an ordinary Android phone & installing a suitable launcher on it?
posted by pharm at 6:06 AM on October 28, 2018
posted by pharm at 6:06 AM on October 28, 2018
I tried the jitterbug for my mom and their customer service was dreadful (parents had to spend huge amounts of time on hold to get it going, they straight up lied to me that it would work outside the US) so I can't really recommend them.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:42 AM on October 28, 2018
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:42 AM on October 28, 2018
Re robust, i bought my mother a CAT S40, because it is marketed for outdoors use eg construction sites, mountain climbing etc, and it really is rugged, my mother constantly has it on her in a side pocket of her wheel chair. It gets wet, dusty etc.
Also very long battery life especially for a smart phone.
She is not technophobe but not careful with any electronic devices, it works out well for that. It has a gloves on mode, which helps because of dexterity and sensory issues with her finger tips.
posted by 15L06 at 7:10 AM on October 28, 2018
Also very long battery life especially for a smart phone.
She is not technophobe but not careful with any electronic devices, it works out well for that. It has a gloves on mode, which helps because of dexterity and sensory issues with her finger tips.
posted by 15L06 at 7:10 AM on October 28, 2018
Are you thinking a phone form factor instead of a tablet because you're thinking she would like to carry it around with her? My mom tends to kep her electronics "where they belong", i.e. laptop on the desk, tablet in the basket next to the sofa, smartphone in her purse (such that she never hears it when she's at home and I always call the landline), and she doesn't carry anything around. One doesn't check email in the kitchen, don't be silly. My point being that a small phone that I'd love because it's compact and transportable, those are features she wouldn't care about.
When you say "keeps her regular phone for calls" do you mean land-line or flip-phone? If it's only a landline then yes, trying to get something she can keep on her makes good sense (thanks theora55 for pointing that out!) If she's already got a flip-phone, that becomes a non-issue for the pictures/messaging device, and it really does make sense to consider a phablet or larger form factor to make it easier to read. (just consider her hand size and don't buy larger than she can securely hold)
posted by aimedwander at 7:36 AM on October 28, 2018
When you say "keeps her regular phone for calls" do you mean land-line or flip-phone? If it's only a landline then yes, trying to get something she can keep on her makes good sense (thanks theora55 for pointing that out!) If she's already got a flip-phone, that becomes a non-issue for the pictures/messaging device, and it really does make sense to consider a phablet or larger form factor to make it easier to read. (just consider her hand size and don't buy larger than she can securely hold)
posted by aimedwander at 7:36 AM on October 28, 2018
Earlier galaxy note models sell on swappa for a song (2nd latest model ~1/2 price, earlier models $75-200) ...They all (most Samsung phones do) have an "easy mode" as well as accessibility options...bigger fonts, easier controls, shortcuts, etc. Plus, the stylus helps with fine control and pointing where it's unavoidable. And the cameras are good.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:26 AM on October 28, 2018
posted by sexyrobot at 8:26 AM on October 28, 2018
I looked into an "easy" smart phone for seniors for my mom, but they all appeared to be special "launchers" or default screens for seniors, while the apps and operating system weren't any different. In the end I decided to get her a phone like mine so I would be able to walk her through any questions she had since I live in another state and can't go help her. I made the font big and made sure the home screen only had the apps she'd use. I got her a Samsung Prevail and I have a Samsung Galaxy S7.
We started with "training sessions" over the holidays where I taught her to make/answer phone calls, send/read text messages and use the camera. We did practice runs before I left. That was about two years ago and now she's comfortable to the point where she uses the map/GPS, Facebook, email, her bank's app, etc. on her phone. I actually need to get her a new phone for Christmas because I got her an inexpensive one and it's just too slow and not good enough for all the things she uses it for now. Also, her camera kind of sucks and, to my surprise, she uses the camera a lot, so I need to get her a phone with a nicer one. I wouldn't get a terrible phone that can't handle doing stuff.
I would also consider getting TeamViewer on the phone (and making sure the phone isn't so slow and terrible it can't handle it). We used TeamViewer so I could take over her computer remotely and help her with stuff, but there is a TeamViewer app so I also do it on her cell phone for her.
Lastly, I would say I don't think my mom really cared about having a smart phone - she was open to it but had resisted for a long time until all her friends started using them. I knew it be useful for her. Now she likes having one and takes an advantage of a lot of its features.
posted by AppleTurnover at 10:57 AM on October 28, 2018
We started with "training sessions" over the holidays where I taught her to make/answer phone calls, send/read text messages and use the camera. We did practice runs before I left. That was about two years ago and now she's comfortable to the point where she uses the map/GPS, Facebook, email, her bank's app, etc. on her phone. I actually need to get her a new phone for Christmas because I got her an inexpensive one and it's just too slow and not good enough for all the things she uses it for now. Also, her camera kind of sucks and, to my surprise, she uses the camera a lot, so I need to get her a phone with a nicer one. I wouldn't get a terrible phone that can't handle doing stuff.
I would also consider getting TeamViewer on the phone (and making sure the phone isn't so slow and terrible it can't handle it). We used TeamViewer so I could take over her computer remotely and help her with stuff, but there is a TeamViewer app so I also do it on her cell phone for her.
Lastly, I would say I don't think my mom really cared about having a smart phone - she was open to it but had resisted for a long time until all her friends started using them. I knew it be useful for her. Now she likes having one and takes an advantage of a lot of its features.
posted by AppleTurnover at 10:57 AM on October 28, 2018
My mom uses a kindle to check email. She resisted a smart phone until she got new hearing aids. The iPhone is the controller for the hearing aids. I don't have an iPhone, so I couldn't be her tech support. Her friends and neighbors are helping her out, and it's great to talk on the phone so easily with her.
Our mac support person at work does not recommend jitterbug because the customer support is so bad.
posted by MichelleinMD at 11:02 AM on October 28, 2018
Our mac support person at work does not recommend jitterbug because the customer support is so bad.
posted by MichelleinMD at 11:02 AM on October 28, 2018
I recommend you buy her an iPhone 7 plus. They aren't that bad in terms of confusing. If a 4 year old can use one, so can your mom. You tap the app, it opens. You press home to go home.
posted by bbqturtle at 5:30 AM on October 29, 2018
posted by bbqturtle at 5:30 AM on October 29, 2018
She's highly technophobic
A while back someone gave my own mother, who I would certainly not call highly technophobic but not especially interested in learning new technology, an ipod. She was rather annoyed by this as she was perfectly happy using CDs but felt like she should learn to use the ipod as the gifter would be expecting to see it being used.
I did all the set up for her and attempted several times to teach her how to use it, but I don't think she ever did start using it as the gifter had intended for her to do. It was an ongoing source of guilt until it went missing (presumably stolen). I think it was a relief for her not to have it anymore.
I think she would enjoy features like picture messaging
If by this you mean that you think she would enjoy seeing pictures you send her, there are some very nice electronic photo frames that you can upload photo slide shows onto remotely. Get one of those.
If you do get her a smartphone, I would go ahead and buy some minutes for it on a pay as you go card. They are cheap. Even technophobic people understand that cell phones are thing you carry with you in case of an emergency, and she might not understand that it only works at home. It would be horrible if she really took to using your gift and then was relying on it in an emergency where it wouldn't work.
In general, for similar situations I find it's best to involve the person in selecting their device instead of it being a surprise gift.
In addition to being deeply technophobic she lives in the countryside and has a habit of leaving her electronics lying around outside from time to time
This doesn't make much sense to me, as people I've known who have been deeply technophobic don't tend to have much in the way of electronics small enough to easily leave lying around outside, let alone multiple devices.
posted by yohko at 12:17 PM on October 29, 2018
A while back someone gave my own mother, who I would certainly not call highly technophobic but not especially interested in learning new technology, an ipod. She was rather annoyed by this as she was perfectly happy using CDs but felt like she should learn to use the ipod as the gifter would be expecting to see it being used.
I did all the set up for her and attempted several times to teach her how to use it, but I don't think she ever did start using it as the gifter had intended for her to do. It was an ongoing source of guilt until it went missing (presumably stolen). I think it was a relief for her not to have it anymore.
I think she would enjoy features like picture messaging
If by this you mean that you think she would enjoy seeing pictures you send her, there are some very nice electronic photo frames that you can upload photo slide shows onto remotely. Get one of those.
If you do get her a smartphone, I would go ahead and buy some minutes for it on a pay as you go card. They are cheap. Even technophobic people understand that cell phones are thing you carry with you in case of an emergency, and she might not understand that it only works at home. It would be horrible if she really took to using your gift and then was relying on it in an emergency where it wouldn't work.
In general, for similar situations I find it's best to involve the person in selecting their device instead of it being a surprise gift.
In addition to being deeply technophobic she lives in the countryside and has a habit of leaving her electronics lying around outside from time to time
This doesn't make much sense to me, as people I've known who have been deeply technophobic don't tend to have much in the way of electronics small enough to easily leave lying around outside, let alone multiple devices.
posted by yohko at 12:17 PM on October 29, 2018
Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. You've made some good points and given me some good tips to start my search.
You said twice in your question that she's very technophobic. Are you sure you're coming at this from the angle of what she wants for Christmas, as opposed to what you want her to want for Christmas?
If by this you mean that you think she would enjoy seeing pictures you send her
I mean she would enjoy picture messaging. She's a very skilled photographer and one of the main reasons I think she would enjoy a smart phone / tablet is that I think picture messages could easily become a very natural way for her to communicate with many people, not just me. It's this particular reason that makes me think it's worth at least giving her the opportunity to try out the technology.
In addition to being deeply technophobic she lives in the countryside and has a habit of leaving her electronics lying around outside from time to time
This doesn't make much sense to me, as people I've known who have been deeply technophobic don't tend to have much in the way of electronics small enough to easily leave lying around outside, let alone multiple devices.
Numerous phones, radios, cameras. I guess I should have said highly computer-phobic.
posted by roolya_boolya at 2:42 PM on October 29, 2018
You said twice in your question that she's very technophobic. Are you sure you're coming at this from the angle of what she wants for Christmas, as opposed to what you want her to want for Christmas?
If by this you mean that you think she would enjoy seeing pictures you send her
I mean she would enjoy picture messaging. She's a very skilled photographer and one of the main reasons I think she would enjoy a smart phone / tablet is that I think picture messages could easily become a very natural way for her to communicate with many people, not just me. It's this particular reason that makes me think it's worth at least giving her the opportunity to try out the technology.
In addition to being deeply technophobic she lives in the countryside and has a habit of leaving her electronics lying around outside from time to time
This doesn't make much sense to me, as people I've known who have been deeply technophobic don't tend to have much in the way of electronics small enough to easily leave lying around outside, let alone multiple devices.
Numerous phones, radios, cameras. I guess I should have said highly computer-phobic.
posted by roolya_boolya at 2:42 PM on October 29, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by howfar at 4:00 AM on October 28, 2018