TigerBright19 Posted November 18, 2019 #1 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) Anyone else in my boat? I have no idea what all of these modern gadgets do (tablets, i-pads etc). I bought a cell phone in 2008 (cheapest model in store) in case of emergencies, and I just use my portable CD player if I ever feel the need to listen to music outdoors. What exactly is everyone doing with their mobile devices? My train journey to work and back used to be noisy as hell, but in recent years I don't hear a thing. Everybody is holding a device and looking down at their feet for the entire journey. I am thinking about buying one of those gadgets simply out of curiosity. Any ideas what the appeal is, and are you in the same boat as me i.e. no previous interest whatever for years, and now you are curious to know what it's all about? Currently looking at Amazon and ebay and I have no clue what is good or bad and what any of them are primarily used for. Games, internet, music, videos? Sounds just like a desktop computer, only far less powerful? I'm puzzled. What is the appeal? Edited November 18, 2019 by Aaron2016 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+and-then Posted November 18, 2019 #2 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Careful... while it can be fun and interesting it's also a one way ticket to the Hive Mind 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExpandMyMind Posted November 18, 2019 #3 Share Posted November 18, 2019 22 minutes ago, Aaron2016 said: Sounds just like a desktop computer, only far less powerful? The newer ones are actually incredibly powerful. 2.4GHz multi-processor with 4GB or ram. That's more powerful than the Netbook I'm on at the moment and probably more powerful than the vast majority of desktops that people own. And you use it for anything you use the internet for. All the things you mention. Most people are probably using it for Facebook, though. Watch films, listen to music, read books, listen to books, play games, learn another language (or anything really. There are tonnes of educational apps), carry out banking and shopping. Honestly, you've basically asked the question, 'What is all the fuss over the internet and computers?'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Duck Posted November 18, 2019 #4 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Aaron2016 said: Anyone else in my boat? I have no idea what all of these modern gadgets do (tablets, i-pads etc). I bought a cell phone in 2008 (cheapest model in store) in case of emergencies, and I just use my portable CD player if I ever feel the need to listen to music outdoors. What exactly is everyone doing with their mobile devices? My train journey to work and back used to be noisy as hell, but in recent years I don't hear a thing. Everybody is holding a device and looking down at their feet for the entire journey. I am thinking about buying one of those gadgets simply out of curiosity. Any ideas what the appeal is, and are you in the same boat as me i.e. no previous interest whatever for years, and now you are curious to know what it's all about? Currently looking at Amazon and ebay and I have no clue what is good or bad and what any of them are primarily used for. Games, internet, music, videos? Sounds just like a desktop computer, only far less powerful? I'm puzzled. What is the appeal? You came to this site to ask this question. You could do the same on your commute. Edited November 18, 2019 by Golden Duck 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+and-then Posted November 18, 2019 #5 Share Posted November 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Aaron2016 said: Any ideas what the appeal is, and are you in the same boat as me i.e. no previous interest whatever for years, and now you are curious to know what it's all about? I was where you are now, about 10 years ago. I felt like I was missing a good thing at that time and became ever more curious about the appeal that seemed everywhere around me. I began using a PC back in the early 90s because I began attending University as a 30-year-old. I had no interest in handheld devices and allowed most knowledge of tech to pass me by. The older I get, the less "bandwidth" I have for cramming my head full of technical info I know I don't care about. I see these devices as different routes to the same digital content and I find at 59 that phone screens aren't as friendly to my eyes as the laptop screen. My decision to get "plugged in" to that vast amount of digital content is one I don't regret but I did find that it is overwhelming and I'm simply not able to focus on any one aspect for long enough to really feel I "understand" its implications. This site has done more to help me understand that digital world than anything else because I've been able to absorb lessons from willing members who share their experiences. Choosing your "portal" is probably important only to the degree you need portability of a device. I rarely go online on a phone but my 20-something daughter rarely sits in front of a laptop outside working hours. My wife loves her tablet but I prefer a laptop because I'm not as familiar with wireless apps for printing or saving files/info on an "internet device" as she calls her tablet. On the whole, my experience with the web has been positive and enriching and I think that gets down to carefully avoiding areas where frustration or anger might get out of control. I have a Twitter handle but I almost NEVER step into that cesspool. Facebook use is very limited and is normally only about keeping up with family and old friends. The best advice is to create a list of what interests you and delve into those areas first. The net is way too vast and confusing to try to see it all. Good luck! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jim Posted November 18, 2019 #6 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I'm content to do all my web use at home. I have an all-in-one computer and I like the big screen. I don't currently have a cell phone and I don't miss it. I had a Safe Link phone for several years, just a basic phone, no camera, screen or internet. It was strictly for emergencies and thankfully I never had to use it. Last year we got a 2% increase in Social Security and now I'm $30 too rich on the year to qualify and they turned it off this past April. With the high prices and my lack of need for one I can't see ever getting an advanced phone. I did try using a pad for a while but a lot of touch sensitive devices don't respond to my fingers, so it was more frustrating than useful. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Walt' E. Kurtz Posted November 18, 2019 #7 Share Posted November 18, 2019 It's a secret... I still use paper and pen sometimes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted November 18, 2019 #8 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Oh, I've no idea about all these Eye Pods and Eye Pads and Face Books and all the things that people have these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted November 18, 2019 #9 Share Posted November 18, 2019 actually seriously, I really don't see what is the point of these Tablet things. They're far too big and clumsy to serve the purpose a phone (people trying to take phots on them always makes me laugh, it's like they're holding up a religious icon), and they're too small to be an adequate substitute for a laptop. And laptops themselves, that's another thing; the screens are too small, so that you have to zoom in on everything and then it won't all fit on the screen, so you have to scroll left and right and up and down, and that stupid touch pad thing that moves the cursor is impossibly annoying. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted November 18, 2019 #10 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) 8 hours ago, ExpandMyMind said: Watch films, listen to music, read books, See, that's the hive mind right there. You can read books? On a tiny screen you have to keep fiddling with, and which fades out of you leave it for more than a minute while you're right in the middle of something, and if you knock the gadget or put it down the bloody screen decides to rotate itself so you have to shake it to get it the right way up again, or it goes back to the Home Screen and you can't find the bloody thing you were just looking at again? Reading books is so much easier and more convenient on paper. Watch films? You lose absolutely all the effect of something that was intended for an enormous screen on something six inches by four. And then the bloody battery runs down and the charger doesn't work anymore because it got bent, and oh no, you can't just put a new battery in like you can with anything else can you, you have to charge the bloody thing. It's an absolute ripoff the whole industry. Edited November 18, 2019 by Dumbledore the Awesome 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggs Posted November 18, 2019 #11 Share Posted November 18, 2019 10 minutes ago, Dumbledore the Awesome said: See, that's the hive mind right there. You can read books? On a tiny screen you have to keep fiddling with, and which fades out of you leave it for more than a minute while you're right in the middle of something, and if you knock the gadget or put it down the bloody screen decides to rotate itself so you have to shake it to get it the right way up again, or it goes back to the Home Screen and you can't find the bloody thing you were just looking at again? Reading books is so much easier and more convenient on paper. Can recommend an E-ink reader for the whole book reading thing. Kept me sane on a 90 minute commute to London, for well over a year. The E-ink screens are easy to read, and have a battery life in days, rather than hours. The models with the built in lights for night-time reading are particularly handy. Big fan of paper books, too, but these days I’m buying far more digital copies than I am physical. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Walt' E. Kurtz Posted November 18, 2019 #12 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I can't read books on my comp or phone either I prefer the real thing. Books are also useful in many other ways, " you can hit someone with them " etc.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExpandMyMind Posted November 18, 2019 #13 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Dumbledore the Awesome said: See, that's the hive mind right there. You can read books? On a tiny screen you have to keep fiddling with, and which fades out of you leave it for more than a minute while you're right in the middle of something, and if you knock the gadget or put it down the bloody screen decides to rotate itself so you have to shake it to get it the right way up again, or it goes back to the Home Screen and you can't find the bloody thing you were just looking at again? Reading books is so much easier and more convenient on paper. Watch films? You lose absolutely all the effect of something that was intended for an enormous screen on something six inches by four. And then the bloody battery runs down and the charger doesn't work anymore because it got bent, and oh no, you can't just put a new battery in like you can with anything else can you, you have to charge the bloody thing. It's an absolute ripoff the whole industry. I've never had to fiddle with ebooks on my phone. You can turn off the screensaver, turn off auto-rotate and there are apps for reading ebooks, so I'm not sure how anyone would have a hard time clicking one icon on their screen. About the small screen, that matters very little. You could say the same about televisions. Once you get used to it, it can be just as immersive, especially with headphones. Personally, I'd limit my viewing on a phone to comedies or documentaries or shows I've seen before and save the other stuff for the TV. I agree that the cost makes the high end phones a ripoff, but you can get a smartphone that does almost everything the others do for 100 quid or so. 39 minutes ago, Tiggs said: Can recommend an E-ink reader for the whole book reading thing. Kept me sane on a 90 minute commute to London, for well over a year. The E-ink screens are easy to read, and have a battery life in days, rather than hours. The models with the built in lights for night-time reading are particularly handy. Big fan of paper books, too, but these days I’m buying far more digital copies than I am physical. My Kindle is the best value for money product that I can remember ever buying. Edited November 18, 2019 by ExpandMyMind 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acute Posted November 18, 2019 #14 Share Posted November 18, 2019 10 hours ago, Aaron2016 said: What is the appeal? It's all about notifications and access. Younger people in particular can't bear to be off-grid for any length of time. They want to know immediately when an email arrives, or a friend replies on Facebook, or someone 'likes' their video on YouTube. Smart Phones are computers that are on all day. If you are happy to wait until you put your PC or laptop on, and you have no interest in playing games during a bus journey (or checking your bank statements while you're in the bath, etc etc) then you probably don't need one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted November 18, 2019 #15 Share Posted November 18, 2019 1 hour ago, acute said: Smart Phones are computers that are on all day. and are listening to what you're saying and monitoring everything you do 24 hours a day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted November 18, 2019 #16 Share Posted November 18, 2019 1 hour ago, acute said: Smart Phones are computers that are on all day. If you are happy to wait until you put your PC or laptop on, and you have no interest in playing games during a bus journey (or checking your bank statements while you're in the bath, etc etc) then you probably don't need one. That's half the fun! It's so exciting looking at your favourite websites when you get home full of excitement to see how many likes you've accumulated today! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted November 18, 2019 #17 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Talking of modern technology, the BBC introduce us to the brand new Mobile Phone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Grey Posted November 18, 2019 #18 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Quote Any ideas what the appeal is, and are you in the same boat as me i.e. no previous interest whatever for years, and now you are curious to know what it's all about? The appeal is instant communication and access to limitless entertainment and knowledge. The ability to do your banking, emails and web browsing on one device that also holds your music collection, a flashlight and a calculator. It has live maps that tell you where to go, turn by turn. The smartphone is a marvel of modern technology. But it comes with a price. The reason people can't take their eyes off their phones, assuming they are using social media is i) Social media apps are designed to be addictive. They employ psychological tricks to keep your eyes and brain engaged with bright colors and constant dopamine hits via "likes" and notifications ii) Many people desperately want to be distracted from the world around them. This ties in to the first point. Poor job markets, no sense of purpose, real human interaction replaced by digital interactions...all these things lead to depression and social media is right there to fill the void. It's become more acceptable to "forget" your problems for hours on end then to face the harsh indifference of reality. When people can't wait in a short line or even a 10 second elevator trip without quickly checking their phones, you know the smartphone has become more than just a novelty device. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAyMO Posted November 18, 2019 #19 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) What do I use my smartphone for and what not: 1. phone calls -goes without saying 2. photography - - not really - no interest in taking photos - "your new camera has 46m pixels" - who cares. 3. writing quick notes - yes either in basic notepad type software or in One Note 4. Browsing the internet - only as a last resort websites are much more pleasing to me on the Desktop 5. Keeping on top of emails - at my discretion I can check emails while on the go and reply of course or write new emails. 6. calendars not really - except for really important things. That said I did write an IFTT that means if I post an event to 1 calendar - eg google it will auto populate the other eg outlook.don't ask how - long time ago. 7. Reading books -yes a lot, great for this (though not so for technical books) 8. Keeping in contact with family - using whatsapp - great for this especially when dealing with elderly sick parents and trying to co-ordinate with siblings. 9. ad hoc info - what time does the local pub shut type thing... using voice (but not where I can be overheard talking to a machine ) Overall I think they are a good thing - provided you stay in control and don't become slave to them . FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM - NO NO NO NO and another NO!!!! Edited November 18, 2019 by RAyMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAyMO Posted November 18, 2019 #20 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, Dumbledore the Awesome said: actually seriously, I really don't see what is the point of these Tablet things convienence bought wife a cheap tablet years back - loved it, but eventually broke Bought her a laptop good sized screen - never looked at it bought her a fairly good tablet - used it, but complained bought her a cheap tablet, loves it offered to buy her an upgrade - no thanks. Edited November 18, 2019 by RAyMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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