New cell phone

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

So, I am searching to get a new cell phone. I currently have a flip phone. Old school, I know.

 

However, I hate the touch screens. My fingers and eyes cant deal with them.

 

I love the slider phones, cause you have a keyboard. However, I have found them hard to find.

 

I want a keyboard that is not small and screen that my old eyes can see without using my glasses (my fingers are used to typewriters and computers for crying out loud). Some of the phones keyboard keys are so small that you type two keys each time you type.

 

I use lots of text messaging - love the ones that show history of someone you have corresponded with before. My current phone does not allow that.

 

Of course, my current phone won't let me in on most websites (not enough memory). I can't even download videos on my phone. Don't even have a flash for pictures.

 

In non-technical terms, and links, can you suggest what phones to buy? I am currently on Telus monthly. I love their service. They wanted to give me a "free" phone for a $400 deposit, but I am thinking I can buy a phone for less.

 

Any help would be appreciated. Remember, I am not tech savvy, so no technical terms. Don't even know the difference between android and ondroid. (well, maybe the second one doesn't exist, but I'm trying to explain).

 

xoxo

[Areez 11906]

For the physical keyboard stuff - how about a blackberry Q10:

http://mobility.telus.com/en/ON/blackberry_q10/index.shtml

The touch screen thing is quite common; you will grow to like it eventually .. lots of the newer android device have bigger screen to make typing on touch screen bearable :D.

plus Android speech to text recognition is ... awesome. LOL.

I'm rocking the HTC One; :b got bored of Samsung stuff! lol.

http://mobility.telus.com/en/ON/htc_one/index.shtml

smartphone does come with learning curves but there is a lot of information out there to help; and by the time your all set-up you wont be going back :D!

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

I am thinking something outside the box. I don't care if its a big honking phone, like a laptop concept, but in a phone.

 

Need a big screen, big keyboard. Even if it weighs 10 pounds, (well not really).

 

thanks!

 

xoxo

[Midnite-Energies 110563]

Although Areez got bored of Samsung, I love them. The note or the S4 have larger screens and they have a swype keyboard which expands to a larger size when texting if you are in a certain mode. Android is also good because you can download Handcent SMS which allows you to adjust the size of your fonts to make them easier to read.

 

Phones nowadays are all about personal preference. Samsung (for me) has been extremely reliable and android has so many customizable options.

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

Although Areez got bored of Samsung, I love them. The note or the S4 have larger screens and they have a swype keyboard which expands to a larger size when texting if you are in a certain mode. Android is also good because you can download Handcent SMS which allows you to adjust the size of your fonts to make them easier to read.

 

Phones nowadays are all about personal preference. Samsung (for me) has been extremely reliable and android has so many customizable options.

 

Ok , but I don't understand what phones you are referring to. What do you you mean by note or S4. Can you provide a link? I hate searching and browsing. I always end up at a porn site.

[Areez 11906]

How big? How portable? LOL.

There is a concept of using a tablet with cellular data for texting; This way you could have a bigger screen and bigger keyboard. Again mostly on touchscreen devices. (iPad for example.)

Check out Line2 ( http://www.line2.com/home/ )

That's as far out of the box as the technology allows... lol.

http://mobility.telus.com/en/ON/ipad/index.shtml

[Two Thirty 1422]

I'm shopping for a phone myself, and am leaning toward a Blackberry Q10 or the new Q5 that was announced just today for North America (originally, it was supposed to only be aimed at countries that are so-called "emerging economies" as a plastic less expensive version of the Q10). Both have physical QWERTY keyboards, which appeals to me since I can't get the hang of touch screens. Since you say you text, and are used to having (physical) keys, these might fit your needs nicely.

[Midnite-Energies 110563]

Sorry beautiful lady....here are the links!

 

https://mobility.telus.com/en/NS/samsung_galaxy_s4/index.shtml\

 

https://mobility.telus.com/en/NS/samsung_galaxy_note_II/index.shtml

 

Those should get you started! *muah*

[Boomer 33202]

I'm shopping for a phone myself, and am leaning toward a Blackberry Q10 or the new Q5 that was announced just today for North America (originally, it was supposed to only be aimed at countries that are so-called "emerging economies" as a plastic less expensive version of the Q10). Both have physical QWERTY keyboards, which appeals to me since I can't get the hang of touch screens. Since you say you text, and are used to having (physical) keys, these might fit your needs nicely.

 

I'm with you on this as I have the Z10. The Q5 I believe is available on Aug 11th in Canada. It is a great way to get an entry level phone with the new BB10 OS, but at a considerable discount, and they are well known for their keyboard. The other knock is the supply of apps, but this is no longer an issue with many of the Android apps becoming available on this platform.

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

Thank you everyone. Looks like a blackberry q10.

 

xoxo

[conquistador 18487]

Thank you everyone. Looks like a blackberry q10.

 

xoxo

 

probably your best bet...not many phones with keyboards and all seem to be touch, my preference.

 

I use an Android phone and use the Swype app, called something else but works the same and can never go back. I find it much faster this way than to use my fingers to type.

 

Or another option would be to go on Kijiji and purchase a used phone from someone with the features you are looking for.

 

can't really go wrong with the new BBs though.

[Jack2000 3446]

Hi !

 

If I was going to buy a phone I'd grab the Samsung Note 2, huge screen and you can use a stylus to write if you want.

 

Cheers !

 

Jack

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

Hi !

 

If I was going to buy a phone I'd grab the Samsung Note 2, huge screen and you can use a stylus to write if you want.

 

Cheers !

 

Jack

 

Jack what is a stylus?

[piano8950 32577]

Jack what is a stylus?

 

A stylus is a pen shape object to use on the screen of your phone. So instead of tapping with your finger, you're using that pen. Allows for more precision, and if kinda neat to draw stuff.

 

Some apps also have handwriting recognition, but it's not completely precise. So you could use a stylus to write as you would with a pen, but based on my experience, I'm more of a button guy. It might be worth trying out the stylus in a telus store

[Midnite-Energies 110563]

I use an Android phone and use the Swype app, called something else but works the same and can never go back. I find it much faster this way than to use my fingers to type.

 

 

Could you tell me the name of this app please?

 

As well, I use Handcent SMS but am not able to delete words from the dictionary (or at least not that I've found) as you can in the onboard SMS. Does anyone know how to do this? I'm a great speller just a terrible typer/swyper!

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

Tracie, that's why I don't use auto correct. Blood thing changes words completely. I curse auto correct when I am using other peoples phones, especially the poor spellers that have crazy words in their dictionary.

 

xoxo

[roamingguy 300291]

Well for ease of seeing (that was the reason I picked this phone, and I could have chosen Blackberry, Apple or something else) I picked the Samsung Galaxy Note when I signed with Rogers

BTW I was told the Samsung Galaxy Note, when I got it, had the largest screen available, any larger screens available were tablets.

Here's a size comparison

 

Not saying which is the best, but for my poor eyes the larger screen is best for me

Besides phone, it has texting, email (I believe it holds up to 10 email accounts) and internet, plus a lot of functions I havn't figured out how to use

RG

 

Additional Comments:

Forgot to add, but the keyboard layout on my phone is a QWERTY layout

and all that means is the keyboard is like a computer keyboard, and so named for the first six letters starting with Q at the top left hand side of the keyboard

That layout can be done on a regular keyboard or touch screen keyboard

Hope that helps

RG

[conquistador 18487]

Could you tell me the name of this app please?

 

As well, I use Handcent SMS but am not able to delete words from the dictionary (or at least not that I've found) as you can in the onboard SMS. Does anyone know how to do this? I'm a great speller just a terrible typer/swyper!

 

The app i use is called TouchPal Keyboard, it's free and i find works really well...allows you to add your words to the dictionary.

 

Try it out and let me know how it goes.

 

As for Handcent SMS, never used it so can't really help you there.

[Guest Ot**w***og****n]

Based upon my limited knowledge and some recent research that would be my choice as well Meaghan. I too have a flip phone which I really like as it's small, durable and works very well so when the time comes to replace it I will probably go with the Blackberry Q-10. I just hope they are fairly durable as I spend a lot of time outdoors in less than ideal conditions. If you get one I'd be interested in your views on it once you've had it for a while, please.

 

 

Thank you everyone. Looks like a blackberry q10.

 

xoxo

[Wolf Knight 29667]

As RG mentioned the Samsung Note is a great phone/tablet hybrid and no offence RG a better option for women who usually carry a purse to put it in. (I like phones that will fit in my pocket) Generally the larger screen is preferable for surfing purposes. However, perhaps I'm old school but I never could get used to the touch keyboard on iphones or the BB Z10. I had a Z10 and gave it to my sister and went and got a Q10 when they were released. The screen is smaller but I can't give up the BB physical keyboard.

 

I liked the best of both worlds of the BB Torch being full screen with a slide out keyboard but the operating system was just not robust enough to deal with the volume of data today's apps and internet requires. Finally, I experienced one too many lock-ups and had to change.

 

I hate change! LOL

[RoddyThomas 2746]

I have a HTC Android 4g Sensation Superphone. However I am a dunce, so my 11 year old niece had to set it up for me. A nice sized keyboard pops up, so it is easy for me to text, and I have large hands/fingers. I have heard good things about Samsung and Iphone as well......