I’m having cell phone transition angst
Yesterday I got a new cell phone, something I’d been meaning to do for months.
My old one had essentially died. The battery was losing power at an alarming clip, but that wasn’t even the biggest problem. The thing that forced my hand was that recently the little thingee into which you plug the charger wasn’t working any more. This meant that, unless I spent a ton of money to fix my old phone (not worth it; probably almost as much as a new phone would cost), the charge that phone had right now would be its very last.
So yesterday was the big day. I went into the store thinking I’d go from my Samsung Galaxy S3 to an iPhone6, but in the end I walked out with the Galaxy S5, for a number of reasons that seemed very reasonable in the store and probably are, at least theoretically. In addition, I had the weak hope that the transition would be easier because a Galaxy is a Galaxy is a Galaxy.
Right? Well, it might be right. But that doesn’t make any sort of change in technology easy for a techno-naif like me.
As the young guy in the store who waited on me said, in an effort to be reassuring: Don’t feel bad; you’re by no means the worst I’ve ever seen.
Well, I know that; I know some 100-year-old ladies, too. But I can’t hold a candle to your average 12-year-old—or even 21-year-old or 30-year-old, whose hands seem made to hold and manipulate a phone at the speed of light.
For me, the transition process yields headaches, literal and metaphoric. Samsung might call both the S3 and the S5 “Galaxy,” and they have strong resemblances to each other, but the road to “new, improved!” involves some pretty hefty changes.
I am now engaged in the process of assimilating those changes. The time spent (and wasted in fruitless searching) is extraordinary. Going back to the cell phone store to ask that nice young man for help is good in theory but not in practice. For starters, it’s a long drive. More importantly, I don’t yet know what I don’t know, and I need to know the right questions to ask before I can get the answers. So I will be watching some of those hour-long tutorials on YouTube and hoping they do the trick. Unfortunately, they tend to be geared to those who are already pretty sophisticated at this sort of thing—in other words, your average young person.
Meanwhile, patience is the word of the day—a trait of mine that’s gotten weaker over time.
I did the same exact thing the first week of December (S3 to S5) for the exact same reason. I feel as you do when it comes to new equipment. And because it takes time and effort, I usually find the improvements marginal.
Sigh.
My father has had a Samsung Sync a95f (a generic flip phone) since ’07. About every two years I would need to get on the internet and find him a replacement (he’s rough on his phones from work and lot of ocean/gulf fishing.) it’s not a particularly good phone but he really doesn’t want to learn a new phone.
The first two were pretty inexpensive (about $50) but this last one cost almost $100 and I could only find two for sale with Google. So, I handed him this one, last fall, I told him this was his last one. He frowned about it.
KRB
Am I the only curmudgeon who bristles at the notion that my grand children are more tech savvy that I am? I did manage to fly all over the world, and was only lost part of the time. Well, yes as you say Neo, their smaller hands, and more dexterous fingers can manipulate phone key pads and touch screens so much more efficiently. And they have learned to use all of the apps–and I might ask to what end? But, I assure you that they have no understanding of how the systems work, nor do they care. Unlike their grandfather, who they are so eager to help, they have never walked up to a cold computer; punched in a code on a register, loaded their own program written in machine code, and watched it come to life from scratch. So, older doesn’t mean dumber; just not obsessed with the newest (and most expensive).
Ok, enough. I always have the cheapest phone that will make calls and text. Sometimes I use the clock, if I am not wearing my watch. I recently upgraded from Tracfone–after many satisfactory years– for some of the same reasons that you changed; battery and battery charging issues. I also thought I would get better coverage on a big network. So, I bundled everything into my existing UVERSE account. What I got was constant promotional texts from ATT, and marginally better coverage at a greater cost. I love simpler.
I know that my daughters use their smart phones and tablets constantly–including while driving. I know that it has become an American obsession to “be connected” at every moment. I have read reviews panning new cars solely because of “connectivity issues”. Never mind ride, handling, or reliability. Technology can be a demanding master when it gets control of you.
If someone does a time capsule pictorial to depict America in 2015, it should show people with a phone, or blue tooth, in their ear, and a water bottle in their hand.
End of sermon.
You have my sympathy. I finally had to get rid of my very simple Nokia 1661. I bought the simplest replacement I could find that worked with my calling plan: a Samsung T199. Very frustrating.
Some of that frustration was my crankiness about changes but in a lot of ways the Samsung is less intuitive and clunkier than the Nokia. Tasks that took one or two keystrokes on the Nokia take far more on the Samsung. The screen displays are much messier.
The owner’s manual was surprisingly helpful with regard to many of the functions and I am lucky enough to have a husband who is infinitely patient both in figuring out tech stuff and in walking me through it. I have adjusted – I no longer feel like crying when I need to enter a new contact – but I do still miss my old phone. Besides everything else, it had much nicer ring and alarm tones to choose from.
My husband updated our internet and TV service before Christmas, and the whole process was a mess. We got a new TV to handle the extra channels and my computer, which needed a new battery and some software updates was done in the same timespan. It was a mess. I’m still getting used to the new Yahoo format, but I’m getting used to the scrolling. And I really don’t care about things like vpice recognition when I change channels. It’s really a pain in the neck when you don’t care how these things work. I don’t even have a cell phone because I don’t need one.
okay, now I feel like the old out-of-date technophobe. Really, I’m not out of touch as I work with IT for work all the times.
But, I’m still using my nine-year old Samsung clamshell phone. Yea, it doesn’t hold a charge like it used to; but, for the amount I use it, it does fine.
The only real problem with it is the provider; ever since hurricane Sandy blew through NJ, the reception has been lousy. I suspect that many of the damaged cell towers haven’t been replaced.
I’ve been dragged along in the mobile phone revolution more or less reluctantly by my wife. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with technology, having worked in IT since the late ’70s. It’s more just contrariness. She talked me into getting my first cell phone back around 2001, because I was going on a long drive alone. And every few years along the way I’ve gotten a new one, as she or one of the children move up to something newer and give me their hand-me-downs.
I dragged my feet all the way. Never sent a text message until around 2011 or so. Then a year or two ago one of my children gave me her old iPhone 3, because we were buying her a 4. I didn’t use it as a phone, just as a hand-held computer when there was Wi-Fi available.
Then my wife figured out how to get the 3 onto the family wireless plan for little money. Even though I was now carrying it with me everywhere, I could still hold my head up, because it was a 3. I would hear people at work snicker about how there were “probably a few people out there still using iPhone 3s”, and smile.
Then about three weeks ago another daughter who had a 5 decided to buy a 6, and I inherited the 5. And I have to say that I really like it. It’s a pretty fantastic gizmo. I can no longer pretend that I haven’t been completely assimilated.
And the point of all this is to say that in contrast to your difficulties, Neo, the transition from 3 to 5 has been absolutely smooth and painless. I couldn’t believe it. All the contacts, photos, reminders, email accounts–everything–moved from one to the other in about 10 minutes, with no hassle at all. The user interface is like the 3’s, but better in many small and very useful ways, and not so different that I was ever confused at all.
I do not like Apple as a company. I detest their hip-liberal-capitalist view of themselves. But dang, they can really do technology right, if by “right” you mean working easily and seamlessly.
I’ve finally come to understand why it is I am so attracted to this place; a fraternity (sorority, whatever).
Comprised of a group of similarly challenged individuals slogging their way through varying degrees of scary territory.
“Galaxy”???
I am still operating with a “Planet” phone.
As in, every time I planet using it, it fails; No connectivity, persistent dropped calls, dead battery, and several other “alert” messages indicating that the joke is on me. Cellular service is very much that——still in the single cell phase of development. The hardware has far outpaced the ability to service it.
Hmmm….come to think of it, not unlike some other parts I am experiencing issues with…
(my brain, just for you naughty people)
What a coincidence! I just switched from my samsung galaxy s3 to a galaxy s4 for this weekend also! And I’m feeling the same switching pains…. for one thing, I didn’t realize my old phone was 5 years old. The kid at the store asked, “Is this a smartphone?” How insulting.
The s4 is cheaper than the s5, btw.
I can sympathize. I swapped my HTC “EVO LTE” Android phone for the newest, biggest model; the Google Nexus 6. I had some little sense that I understood Android phones; I’ve had 3 now, but the newest software version packs some changes. Some OK, some so-so, a few “WTFs”. Going from the G2 to the G5 is a fairly big jump.
Google any feature or problem you might be having; others have had them already, and some of them have figured it out. There are thousands of explanations, hundreds of YouTube videos that will walk you through anything you don’t understand.
Sorry, but all of you should have gone to an IPhone 6 or 6 +. Much easier to learn because they’re intuitive. We did a few months ago, I to IPhone and spousie to 6+ and both love them.
Gotta agree with Lowell. I had been using the cheapest Nokia stupidphone for over a decade and finally, about four months ago, switched to an iPhone 5. Much better reception–I can actually tell what people are saying now. At the beginning it was challenging for the reasons you mention, but was able to figure out how to use the calendar pretty easily. Texting is much easier. There are some very useful apps already there including a terrific calculator and great app for checking your stocks. After about a month I realized that there was a browser so now when I am waiting around with nothing to do I can read neo-nerocon and Instapundit. And I love, love, love the camera.
Ya shoulda got a Mac!
I don’t have a cell phone. I travel very little, so I have no sense of urgency that someone MUST be able to talk with me when I am at, e.g., the grocery store. I can look at the message machine when I get back.
I don’t like the small keyboards of laptops, so I am not likely to like the even smaller keyboards of all those newfangled phones.
Another reason for having a landline and not one of those small portable phones is that I am prone to misplace things. I could easily misplace a portable phone. It is virtually impossible for me to misplace my landline.
I analyze and create databases for a living, so I am not technologically illiterate- just contrary.
I have to disagree with Lowell and Bryan. I’ve had a smartphone since 2007 (never used a laptop–synched with my office/home desktops. At our office, 2 people (the most tech-savvy to add to the irony) have the iphones, the rest of us Android. All I ever hear are problems from the 2. We are able to do so much more for so much less $$. My youngest’s first smartphones were iphones. When I switched him to Android 4 years later he couldn’t believe how superior it was for again less $$.
Gringo—–very attractive lifestyle.
Neo
I am living not US so I love to fix for you that “little thingee into which you plug the charger wasn’t working any more”.
Its not a big drama, will get it back working again for you and free of charge.
Bryan:
There were some very specific advantages that an android has for me over an iPhone. The guy who sold it to me had no particular reason to push it over an iPhone, because he sells both and they were exactly the same price, but I told him the main uses and needs I have for my phone and he said the android would meet my particular needs better.
Don’t feel too badly. Galaxy S5 is quit literally the worse offering of the Galaxy S series phone. Hopefully they’ll get their act together for S6.
In terms of switching between iPhone and Android, they’re different environment. I have an iPhone from work that I put as little effort into customizing it as possible and my own Android phone that’s rooted to run what I feel like. Yes, some of us like to tinker.
BigFire:
Actually, I don’t agree. I think the S5 is already much better than the S3, having had them both.
I do plan to watch some YouTube tutorials, but haven’t had the time to do it yet.
And not a word from anyone about Windows phones? I’ve been using a Nokia Windows 8 phone for a few years and a 7 before that. Everyone else in my family just upgraded from iPhone 4 to 6. I work in IT and while I can use the iPhone I find it much more complicated than my Nokia.
A Galaxy is not a Galaxy is not a Galaxy, other than with respect to its physical design. However, your angst stems not from Samsung, but from Google. The functional difference is in the user interface, which changed from Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to Android 4.4 Kitkat. The interface should be intuitive, with inherited design and behaviors, but there are some notable differences and experiences will vary. Especially when there is an expansion of features, which feels overwhelming if approached all at once.
As “LondonTrader” says, my 928 Nokia Windows phone is sublime! (I’ve never been tempted by that micro screen Jobs foisted on all of us, but then I’m a big man with thumbs for fingers compared to most.)
Meanwhile, I love to read on this (by now) medium sized screen, with true colors (instead of Samsung’s faux colors).
And access the web. And occasionally talk or stream music or talk radio.
I bought it for the Zeiss lensed camera. I hope the next incarnation is perfect – that is, FAST!
I’ve never owned an MS product before – but the “third man” out in the great telecom wars is the best for non-special use needs, I think – or at least camera first use. It’s simpler, easier to use and customize, and more graphically appealing.
Beware of nay-sayers who can always be found to criticize a tech product.
I have a Galaxy S5 and love my phone and its many features. I think you made a great choice.
Oh my – still on my S2…. I dread upgrading because I’m cheap.