Wanted: Simple Phone For Old People

[bainbrig]

We want new phones. Not iPhones, we have absolutely no interest in paying that sort of money, and no interest in playing games, listening to music, Googling while on the move, or anything else.

What we want is LARGE keys, DEAD simple menus, possibly EASY texting (a real keyboard?), and that's about it.

We've tried Alcatel phones, which are part of the way there, but their menus are almost impossible to follow, and the manual is a load of rubbish!

So any recommendations?

Thanks.

BillB

[EDDIE51]

My Samsung has the ability to text by speaking the words .
I have not tried it.

[EDDIE51]

Look here
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-send-a-text-message-by-voice/

[Guilbert53]

Note that Android phones have the ability to switch the phone in to "Easy Mode".

This gives larger icons, a simpler layout, and reduced function, making it easier to use for older people or people with special needs (my son has a disability and uses it).

It is very easy to switch an Android phone back and forth between "Easy Mode" and "Normal mode" (what ever it is called).

http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-easy-mode-and-how-do-i-activate-it/

[Buenchico]

>>> Not that I'm too sure of the difference between a physical and a virtual keybord; enlightenment please

A physical keyboard is one that has actual plastic buttons that move down when you press them, as here (which is similar to my phone):
http://xphone24.com/foto/alcatel_vodafone_355.png

A virtual keyboard is what you get on a smart phone, where a keyboard appears on the (touch-sensitive) screen, as here:
http://www.shadyhaitien.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/defy_front_horiz_tmo.jpg

[bainbrig]

Buenchico - thanks, that looks more than big enough. Do most smart phones have landscape keyboards like that?

And do your comments about virtual keyboards mean you’re not keen, even on ‘big’ layouts as in that pic?

BB

[Buenchico]

I've no problem with virtual keyboards. It's only those 'proper' fiddly little keys as on my current phone) that I can't handle.

Most Android devices (including smart phones) automatically rotate the screen display as you move the phone from 'portrait' to 'landscape', enabling you to see a bigger keyboard' when you do so.

[bainbrig]

Thanks Buenchico, that's useful information.

BB

[Baldric]

We took on our Rescue Rottie/Staffie Cross as a 3 year old in early Dec. last year. We are a household of 3 sensible Adults and 1 other mature dog. He was very nervous even in a calm situation, goodness knows how he would have been had we left it 'til Xmas and had been a 'Mad' house full of kids and partying adults, he'd have had a breakdown.
He's now settled to be being one of the nicest dogs we've had ;o)

[Baldric]

Silly me, wrong thread! ^^^

[bainbrig]

Better option still might be a 2nd hand phone off Ebay - just looking at them, and they go for around the fifty quid mark, and are probably DREADFULLY old-fashioned, but do we give one? No, and as Buenchico says, they all seem to have that rotating landscape virtual keyboard, which would do us!

Anything wrong with the idea, please tell...

BB