Technologically challenged: Droid phone going to be too frustrating?

[FINFAN]

I'm old school all the way, have my vary basic clam shell phone that I text and call on...do not even have the service to send pictures. Well, I can barely see the screen anymore to know who is calling, snd honestly, feeling the pressure that I am not keeping up and too in the dark when friends/co-workers assume that I am on par for communicating etc. I like the IPhone, I think, but we are on Verizon and I know WalMart is getting the IPhone but from what I ahev heard it is not a decent model and not to bother. I know many are after 4G, but I do not need that. I know I will have to actually learn how to use the phone but if it is too frustrating I will feel like what a waste. It will be forced learning as by nature, I am as I said, old school and prefer the simple phone. I looked into the Fascinate as well. Both re much larger than what I have and that kinda bugs me, and I have read the droid battery life is limited which I am also not used to, my old clam shell can go for 3-4 days ( obviously since I use it for the basics)
so, if you had to pick a phone to bring a girl with the mind set of the 1950's into the cell phone world of today,and have Verizon as the carrier...would the droid be a good choice? I have no idea if I would prefer a keyboard over a virtual one, but the keys on many of the models are WAY too tiny for me, or the color combo is hard to see. I imagine after I get the hang of it I will be doing some stuff by memory, but while learning I really need to see what I am working on.
Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

While they may look intimidating, I think a Droid is EASIER to use then the old clam shell type phones-no scrolling through menus to find what you want, full size keyboard with BIG keys for texting/internet (the X has this). Everything is just touch and open. Adding contacts, etc. is simple-more like you would see on a computer.

My Droid X started with the 2.1 version and has since upgraded to the 2.2 version. If you use it like your other phone you will get about 3 days of battery life. If you talk a lot on your phone, play a lot of games, watch movies, etc. that reduces your phone life, obviously. One nice thing though is that you can charge your Droid (and any smartphone) on your computer with the provided USB cord. The wall outlet cord actually uses a plug that has a USB adapter in it so it is all one cord.

I have also had great luck searching something I want to do on the phone on the internet and finding easy directions there. I wanted to erase something the other day and couldn't figure it out, searched the net and it was as simple as holding the 'button' down longer and the delete option popped up.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Finfan -

I am on Verizon too, and just upgraded from an "old school" phone to a new smartphone. I was also worried it was going to be too frustrating, because I am young but I am a bit technologically challenged! I ended up getting an LG Ally, which is an Android phone (runs the Android operating system) - but not a Droid. It was a LOT cheaper than the Droid, which even with my upgrade price was still expensive.

So far I LOVE it!! It has a touch screen which works really well for internet browsing, but it also has a slide-out keyboard, which I prefer for texting and writing emails. I personally am not a fan of touch screen only. It is very user-friendly - easy to download apps and use them, and to use the internet browser. I think more "techie" people might find that the browser speed is too slow, or that it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Droid. But it has better battery life, which I really like.

But I really like it so far (and I liked the price) - just a suggestion!

 

[ladyhawk14624]

We got the new Samsung Fascinate a couple of months ago. We both upgraded from other Verizon phones. I will admit that the learning curve is pretty long. I feel comfortable with it now and am amazed by all I can do. I got an email from Verizon yesterday though inviting us to a 2 hour class on how to use our phones. I'd upgrade if I were you and then watch for a class in your area. I think it was helpful for us to play with the phones on our own first and I'm am looking forward to the class. Good luck!

 

[golfgal]

We got the new Samsung Fascinate a couple of months ago. We both upgraded from other Verizon phones. I will admit that the learning curve is pretty long. I feel comfortable with it now and am amazed by all I can do. I got an email from Verizon yesterday though inviting us to a 2 hour class on how to use our phones. I'd upgrade if I were you and then watch for a class in your area. I think it was helpful for us to play with the phones on our own first and I'm am looking forward to the class. Good luck!

This is why I think the Droid was easier, once I figured out how to get it out of the sleep mode (about 2 seconds after the guy at the store showed me how ) everything was pretty self-explanatory. Now, I am sure there are some fancier features I don't use but I haven't discovered them yet.

I went back and forth between the Droid 2 for the real keyboard and the Droid X because I didn't think I would like the virtual keyboard but the virtual keyboard is SO much easier to use then a real one (especially in landscape mode where the buttons are almost as large as computer keyboard buttons).

 

[Kae]

Dh has the Driod with the full slide keyboard. I do ok with but I think it is because it is not my phone so I don't use on a daily basis. I have the Cosmo I like it alot.

Kae

 

[ArthurIhde]

droid works well for me lol

 

[Scurvy]

The Droid can be complicated if you want to get into customizing it extensively or writing software for it, but it doesn't have to be. It's very easy to use right out of the box. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a smart phone, even someone who isn't particularly tech savvy. It does require a data plan (which is an added charge each month), so I wouldn't suggest it for someone who only intends to use it to make calls or send texts. If you would use the internet or apps on it then it's a great phone. The battery life isn't going to be as good if you're using it as a smart phone is intended to be used. I have to charge mine every night at a minimum and since I use the GPS and internet quite a bit I usually have to charge during the day as well.

As for the Verizon iPhone - I think what you heard about was the iPad. There continue to be rumors that the iPhone is coming to Verizon, maybe as soon as January, but no specific details have been announced. On the other hand, the iPad has been announced for Verizon and it isn't as good as the one available with AT&T. Most people think the iPad isn't worth buying through Verizon, but there's no way of knowing yet if the Verizon iPhone will be worth buying.

 

[arminnie]

I am pretty proficient with technology and I DESPISED the Droid X. I worked in IT for decades. I can program in machine language - but the Droid drove me crazy. Plus I thought Verizon had the worst customer service EVER. I kept the phone for 4 days, they charged me an outrageous restocking fee plus now they want $140 for the 4 days I used
it - I may have made 5-6 calls as I was still using my other phone.

Oh and the Verizon customer service people lied to me more times than I could count. And when I called customer service to ask a question I was told I could NOT call from the phone I was asking about. Weird, weird, weird.

I used Sprint for decades but they have no service in a very rural part of Mississippi that I drive thru regularly. AT&T used to drop my calls like crazy with the iphone 2, but I never have that problem with the iphone 3gs.

 

[golfgal]

The Droid can be complicated if you want to get into customizing it extensively or writing software for it, but it doesn't have to be. It's very easy to use right out of the box. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a smart phone, even someone who isn't particularly tech savvy. It does require a data plan (which is an added charge each month), so I wouldn't suggest it for someone who only intends to use it to make calls or send texts. If you would use the internet or apps on it then it's a great phone. The battery life isn't going to be as good if you're using it as a smart phone is intended to be used. I have to charge mine every night at a minimum and since I use the GPS and internet quite a bit I usually have to charge during the day as well.

As for the Verizon iPhone - I think what you heard about was the iPad. There continue to be rumors that the iPhone is coming to Verizon, maybe as soon as January, but no specific details have been announced. On the other hand, the iPad has been announced for Verizon and it isn't as good as the one available with AT&T. Most people think the iPad isn't worth buying through Verizon, but there's no way of knowing yet if the Verizon iPhone will be worth buying.

Funny you posted this, I JUST got an email from Verizon and the IPad.

 

[golfgal]

I am pretty proficient with technology and I DESPISED the Droid X. I worked in IT for decades. I can program in machine language - but the Droid drove me crazy. Plus I thought Verizon had the worst customer service EVER. I kept the phone for 4 days, they charged me an outrageous restocking fee plus now they want $140 for the 4 days I used
it - I may have made 5-6 calls as I was still using my other phone.

Oh and the Verizon customer service people lied to me more times than I could count. And when I called customer service to ask a question I was told I could NOT call from the phone I was asking about. Weird, weird, weird.

I used Sprint for decades but they have no service in a very rural part of Mississippi that I drive thru regularly. AT&T used to drop my calls like crazy with the iphone 2, but I never have that problem with the iphone 3gs.

There must have been something wrong with your phone if you are that technologically savvy and you could not work the Droid X. It is simple to use-really no more difficult then a touch pad on a microwave I think and I am not all that technologically savvy. We have had Verizon for over 5 years and found their customer service to be amazingly helpful. Calling from the phone you are asking about would prevent them from helping you as usually the first line of assistance would be to remove the battery and reboot-thus disconnecting your call. To me that would be pretty much common sense and something you would run into with ANY phone company .

 

[ENSOCK]

I hate the new phones! My niece told me after I got my new smart phone, I was complaining about not knowing how to work it:

It is a smart phone with a dumb user!

Sad part she was right!! I miss the old clam shell!

 

[Scurvy]

There must have been something wrong with your phone if you are that technologically savvy and you could not work the Droid X. It is simple to use-really no more difficult then a touch pad on a microwave I think and I am not all that technologically savvy. We have had Verizon for over 5 years and found their customer service to be amazingly helpful. Calling from the phone you are asking about would prevent them from helping you as usually the first line of assistance would be to remove the battery and reboot-thus disconnecting your call. To me that would be pretty much common sense and something you would run into with ANY phone company .

That's what I was thinking, especially the bolded. I haven't had a problem with my Droid but when I had one with my last phone they talked me through several things to try to diagnose/fix the problem, including pulling the battery and updating the software - and I couldn't have gone through the steps if I was talking on that phone at the time. It made more sense to call on a different phone than it would to call with the problem phone and have to disconnect for each step and then call back to find out what to do next.

I don't have the Droid X, I have the original Droid. But I'm eligible for early upgrade now so I've been playing with a friend's Droid X to see if I want one and it seems just as easy to use as my Droid. Maybe there was a problem with that particular Droid X that made it more difficult to use than most.

 

[Jennasis]

My parents just got new matchign droid phones yesterday. I tried to call mom this evening and she couldn't figure out how to so much as answer the phone.

 

[golfgal]

My parents just got new matchign droid phones yesterday. I tried to call mom this evening and she couldn't figure out how to so much as answer the phone.

slide the green answer button over to the left.

All phones have a learning curve, the learning curve for the Droid X for me was about 15 minutes.

 

[Scurvy]

My parents just got new matchign droid phones yesterday. I tried to call mom this evening and she couldn't figure out how to so much as answer the phone.

Oh, no! Just in case she hasn't figured it out and you want to explain it to her: When the Droid rings, the screen shows the number that's calling and underneath that, going across the bottom of the screen, is a bar with two pictures. On the left is a green circle with a picture of a phone at an angle. On the right is a red circle with a phone lying flat like it's on the cradle. Each picture has a small arrow showing which way to slide your figure for that action. To answer, you touch the green circle and slide right. It's the same motion as the default action to unlock the screen from sleep mode. It seemed pretty self explanatory to me, but maybe it isn't as easy as I thought!

With all smart phones, there's going to be more of a learning curve than with a "normal" phone. The added bells and whistles are also possible added complications. So, for a smart phone, I think the Droid is easy to use. But compared to your average "dumb" phone, it will likely be more complicated.

 

[FINFAN]

Thanks everyone...I am regrettably already cringing at the thought of the learning curve...just do not have the patience for that sort of thing, yet I know I am going to have to upgrade myself into this century. I am going t keep looking into the choices, probably by the time I take the plunge, some new level of phone will be out and smart phones and I will be obsolete in technology all over again!