9
   

WHAT IS THE BEST AVAILABE NEW SMARTFONE ?

 
 
Sturgis
 
  2  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:19 am
@Ragman,
Quote:

Consider eliminating landline -
Another thing to consider is eliminating your landline. I'm disabled and had to think long and hard, but it's been 10 yrs since I had a landline. You may feel differently as some people like the idea of not having to rely on satellite tech variability to make your connection. Statistically the amount of uptime availability is pretty similar but not the same - depending on your area and carrier. I've been happiest with my carrier which is Verizon. Never been in an emergency and not had access. the storm that took out cell phone service coincidentally also took out landline. FWIW, cellphone came back within 24 hr and landline took 2 days.



Here is where we part ways. I don't believe anyone who is even relatively homebound should eliminate their landline completely. I will now explain why.

Last December there was a problem with the local tower that most of my cell calls transmit through. At first I had had clicking sounds in a number of calls then there came that dreaded moment when there was no phone service.

Without going into extreme details as it is nobody's business, I am at times incapacitated in my abilities to get outside. If I fall, I cannot always get back up on my own. I carry the cell with me at all times, additionally I have the landline with 2 units hooked up.

At the time the cell went out, I was in a physical downturn, it was additionally late in the day. My neighbors on the floor were not around. The couple in 1 unit were on vacation somewhere, the gentleman across the hall was in his upstate house, the other unit was waiting to be rented. I needed the landline to contact the cellphone provider, they were able to switch my connecting tower. Service was responded restored soon after. Without the landline I would have been in a dangerous spot. The door was locked, and I cannot reach the lock from the floor, so I couldn't even get into the hallway and shout for help, which I did manage once after taking a fall just after unlocking the door when prepearing to head outside. Unable to stand, I managed to open the door and shift outside on my rear over to the stairs.

Additionally, landlines work even when power goes out. A cellphone, while it will last a while, needs the benefit of recharging and with no power, that can't happen unless of course you have a generator,which I don't.

This was the only time AT&T failed, I have had perfect service since, and even prior to that, only a handful of dropped calls, all of which I redialed, was reconstituted, and didn't have more trouble in my continued conversation with the person with whom I'd had an interrupted call. Verizon and Sprint suck in this area. One corner a few blocks from here is a funny place. It's a Sprint and Verizon dead spot. Calls drop there all the time, my AT&T doesn't. It's comical watching people walk through, yapping away and then a few feet later staring at their phone in confusion.

Anyways, my point is, I don't believe a landline should be dropped. Better to get the lowest cost plan and have the extra spot of security.
gungasnake
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:20 am
@OmSigDAVID,
Newer tech...

The smart phones can do email and web browsing and they can run applications which you'd have to see to believe in many cases. They can check prices with bar-codes in stores, pull up car-fax sheets from the bar-coded VIN numbers in newer cars, tell you how to shoot the elk 600 meters off at a 13-degree down angle and a 12 mph wind, tell you which stars and planets you're pointing them at, take dictation from voice using Dragon software for gadgets, do gps things, and there's almost no end to it.
gungasnake
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:21 am
@Sturgis,
I got rid of land line around 04. The combination of the cellphone and Skype is good enough.
Sturgis
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:23 am
@gungasnake,
I don't Skype. I have the technology for it, there is a camera thing in the computer, I just never have.
Ragman
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:24 am
@engineer,
With David's hearing problems, its my experience that it'd be a near-nightmare finding a bluetooth device that'd be either hearing-aid compatible or useful for someone who's more-than-moderately hearing-impaired. It took me 2 or 3 times and I'm not hearing-impaired.

If you can wait an hour or so, I'll be speaking with my close friend who is moderately-hearing impaired. She uses as bluetooth device on her cellphone. Let's see what she advises.
Ragman
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:28 am
@Sturgis,
I'm in 100% agreement. My incomplete report and research should be modified to state WARNING advice about NOT dropping landlines for disabled or nearly-disabled (or those that caretakers for same). I would accurately describe myself as partly-disabled and living in an apartment complex so my needs perhaps differ from David or others.

My comment was insufficent based on your (Sturgis) experiences. Those conditions could (and did) happen and there's an inherant danger for some people:

Quote:
You may feel differently as some people like the idea of not having to rely on satellite tech variability to make your connection. Statistically the amount of uptime availability is pretty similar but not the same - depending on your area and carrier.


Hopefully, I can always find someone to respond as there are 4-6 apartments (and an 18-ft-high balcony) within 100 feet of my front door. Oh yes, and my dog (avatar) is here with me also. His whining can be heard broadly. I do have a cveertain risk, but I live with that..because another situation is that I can't afford having both landline and smartphone at same time - not to mention high-speed Internet and HD TV. (YES, yes - my priorities are messed up.)
0 Replies
 
Ragman
 
  2  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 10:55 am
@Sturgis,
Quote:
Additionally, landlines work even when power goes out. A cellphone, while it will last a while, needs the benefit of recharging and with no power, that can't happen unless of course you have a generator,which I don't.


I don't consider the following a nit: in the case of a landline setup that uses a cordless telephone, with power out, the cordless phone does not charge and as such the base unit would not SUPPLY the available dial-tone when battery dies. So I would strongly recommend in the scenario you describe that somone NOT utilize a cordless phone if disabled but AT LEAST have one unit of the old-fashioned wall-phone installed that doesn't use a battery. Of course, then you'd have to STILL be able to get to the phone and lift it up.
0 Replies
 
gungasnake
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 11:04 am
@Sturgis,
Skype is one of the dozen or so magical applications on the web, along with Google Earth, Youtube etc.
0 Replies
 
engineer
 
  3  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 11:51 am
@Ragman,
I was thinking more of a stand alone speaker box as an add-on. I think that might work better for someone hearing impaired since you can crank the volume.

I'm also not in favor of getting rid of the landline unless you need to for financial reasons. Landline quality is substantially better than cell quality and as previously posted, much more reliable (although the difference is like 99.99% vs 99.9%).
sozobe
 
  2  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 11:57 am
@engineer,
Like this, for example:

http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/hc-bts001.html#.TtPK-mD-KWQ
Quote:
Listen, communicate and watch TV with the ClearBlue™ BTS001 wireless speaker. Features:
Play music wirelessly from your Bluetooth A2DP enabled cellular phone, MP3/MP4 player, PC, etc.
The included 3.5mm cable allows you connect the ClearBlue™ BTS001 speaker to your PC, MP3/MP4/CD and other portable music players for wireless stereo listening.
You can also wirelessly connect with Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones or PCs for hands-free communication, allowing you to multitask.
The ClearBlue BTS001 speaker works with your Bluetooth-enabled TV or with the QLink Bluetooth transmitter.
Dimensions: 215x76x51mm


(I have no personal experience with it, but Harris Communications is a great resource for assistive technology and this is one thing I found when I went to cell phone accessories.)

Lots of other options here:

http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/equipment/wireless-phones-accessories/cell-phone-accessories.html
engineer
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 02:25 pm
@sozobe,
That's exactly what I was thinking of. I saw several on the Internet at similar prices.
0 Replies
 
rosborne979
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:01 pm
@shewolfnm,
shewolfnm wrote:

and oops!! Im really sorry. I went to reply to your post and instead hit the thumbs down! changed it though...but still, sorry about that. my fault !
No problem. I didn't even notice Smile

By the way, the iPhone is the one I like the best. But it doesn't mean it's the best for everyone. I just didn't have enough time to analyze David's needs, so I just went with that.
0 Replies
 
Questioner
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:16 pm
@OmSigDAVID,
The majority of 'bad' things I've heard about the iPhone typically come from people that hate the Apple culture and it's fanboys. I'm not one to go after the 'next big thing' myself, I waited over 2 years before buying my first iPhone, but haven't had any problems with it at all and would highly recommend it.

The other viable option in smartphone is the Droid, or anything running the android OS, really. Not having any real experience with them, I can't recommend it, but my IT administrators each have one and love them. My understanding is, if you like to dink with your phone and add/remove software or tweak the OS etc, then you'll love Android. iPhone has pretty tight control over what you can and can't do with the phone itself.

see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking
0 Replies
 
Ragman
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:49 pm
Cripes! Are my posts visible? Shocked

Do people scroll back before posting? Often times it can save a lot of typing. Rolling Eyes
Sturgis
 
  2  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:51 pm
@Ragman,
Quote:
Are my posts visible?

No, I've never seen any of them.
Ragman
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:53 pm
@Sturgis,
Sturgis wrote:

Quote:
Are my posts visible?

No, I've never seen any of them.


That's 'cause you're out motorcycling out at the Rally in Sturgis!
Sturgis
 
  2  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:55 pm
@Ragman,
Without a helmet.


Don't say helmet around Goldman he thinks it's about sex.
Questioner
 
  2  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 03:56 pm
@Ragman,
Oops. I forgot that once Rag has proclaimed upon a topic it becomes forbidden for others to add their own meager input as well.

FOR SHAME.

I shall now go and do penance. What do ya think, 12 Lavern and Shirley episodes?
Ragman
 
  0  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 06:07 pm
@Questioner,
What was that pissy comment about? I know of no commentary we've exchanged so I'm taken aback.

You repeated what I wrote. I was curious if you saw my comment and so I made a JOKING sarcastic comment. Now you come back with I interpret as a mean-spirited comment. What am I missing? Am I over-reacting or are you?

And so it goes.
Ragman
 
  1  
Reply Mon 28 Nov, 2011 06:10 pm
@Sturgis,
bwahaha!
0 Replies
 
 

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