Comments on: An uneasy relationship – old people and mobile phones

By: Peter Griffin

Peter Griffin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:47:17 +0000

I also agree entirely, and I’m a gadget freak. I use an elderly Nokia 3310 that everyone laughs at but which I treasure, because ergonomically it’s almost as good as an iPod – doing exactly everything I want in a simple and stress-free manner. And I have tried some more recent and full-featured phones, and rejected them, NOT because I find them too complicated, but because doing the BASIC things on them was more difficult. Such as, to take a cringeworthy example, putting an apostrophe in a text message – well, some of us still like to do that kind of thing. Nokia – 3 taps on the same key. Newer flashy Samsung – menu key, scroll through several pages of symbols, find apostrophe, equates to ‘5′ key, press, return to message, only to find Predictive Text is now turned on. If that’s ergonomic, I’m Britney Spears.

Pete Griffin

By: TechnicalMarkus

TechnicalMarkus — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:07:28 +0000

Thanks for commenting Sue! You’re the perfect example of what I’m talking about. You only want a simple phone, so frankly, you should never feel bullied into getting a higher-spec mobile.

I’ve always said it’s about people getting the right phone FOR THEM. So, for you, a simple, easy phone is the perfect phone, whereas for me, a phone with more buttons and flashing lights than NASA is the ticket.

Everyone’s different, so everyone should get the phone THEY want, not what people say they SHOULD have.

In other words, good on ya, and tell your kids I say you’re right, and they should stop mithering you!

By: Sue Scott

Sue Scott — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:59:17 +0000

How refreshing to read your article. I want a mobile phone to make and receive calls and the same with texts. I have a laptop for the Internet and a digital camera for photos – I don’t want that on my phone!!!! My kids are always nagging me to set a “decent” phone, but surely my phone is more secure if it is not the top technological item. A potential mugger wouldn’t be interested in it and it sends a message to anyone who sees it. Plus if I do lose it, it is not a great disaster (I have a duplicate sim card for that very event). Give me a phone and just a phone. I am just 60, but still work and live a very lively life and that is all I need!!!

Sue Scott