In "girl terms", explain to my mom why Android is better than an iPhone

[fyrekraker]

tell her to wait for the new jitterbug lte...

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

I'm giving my mother my Thunderbolt either later this year or early next year when her upgrade comes due or when my wife's upgrade comes due. She came out to visit about a week and a half ago and I showed it to her and now she can't wait to get it.

She currently has a Samsung Rogue so she really likes the large screen. She wasn't sure about going to an all touch screen phone, but once she realized that the screen was glass, she seemed to like it.

 

[dajogejr]

There are several ways to look at this.

IF you want to and have time to help her/explain/coach her, Android.
If you don't have the time, iPhone.

My parents have Feature Phones, my mom, young 60s...can't even figure out voicemail.
Some people want to learn and have the patience, some don't...just want a phone that works and don't care about apps, features, speed, etc.

You just have to figure out which one of those people your parents are. In truth, an iPhone or Android might not be right for them.

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

tell her to wait for the new jitterbug lte...

Oh man, my grandfather had Jitterbug until just a month or so ago even though my mom and I told him that we would put him on my family plan. My uncle finally put him on his Verizon family.

I love Verizon, but why are all of the plans for "seniors" (including the one's from Verizon) such ripoffs? Jitterbug may have easier phones, but their plans are a ripoff and the Verizon senior plans are a ripoff and their phones are not really any "easier".

But I digress...

Back to your regularly scheduled topic...

 

[sicario666]

Here's a good pic to represent this thread...

TboltMeatclaws-talkatap

 

[Wildside]

Honestly for someone who is just interested in a smartphone out of the box and doesn't want to tweak/customize or fight with rogue battery issues, a Iphone is the better product.

This is why my wife is waiting for the Iphone 5. She doesn't want to think about technical issues or nurse her battery through a day. Her comment, "I want the phone to work when I want to use it".

I love the Thunderbolt and all it can do. I have resisted rooting based on Jerry's editorial and am now rethinking that based on some issues I'm having. I agree with Forgetful, if someone wants a phone similar to the Thunderbolt that is going to work out of the box, the Iphone is a better choice.

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

This is why my wife is waiting for the Iphone 5. She doesn't want to think about technical issues or nurse her battery through a day. Her comment, "I want the phone to work when I want to use it".

I love the Thunderbolt and all it can do. I have resisted rooting based on Jerry's editorial and am now rethinking that based on some issues I'm having. I agree with Forgetful, if someone wants a phone similar to the Thunderbolt that is going to work out of the box, the Iphone is a better choice.

My wife was going to get the iPhone 5, but I think she likes the Droid 1 I got her off of Craigs List too much. So when her upgrade comes, she may go to another Android, and she definitely will if the iPhone 5 doesn't have LTE.

 

[major_works]

I'm giving my mother my Thunderbolt either later this year or early next year when her upgrade comes due or when my wife's upgrade comes due. She came out to visit about a week and a half ago and I showed it to her and now she can't wait to get it.

She currently has a Samsung Rogue so she really likes the large screen. She wasn't sure about going to an all touch screen phone, but once she realized that the screen was glass, she seemed to like it.

Hey, I resemble that remark... came from Samsung Rogue to Tbolt as my first "real" phone. I had no experience with Android coming in. Loved it from the start, even using Sense. I am reasonably geeky, so it only took me a few weeks to get to rooting, ROMing, and kerneling with no problems.

To the OP, assuming that the question was about getting an older parent-type to move to Thunderbolt, I would say this. I refer to the phone as my "palm tablet," meaning that you can think of it either as a really big phone (which it is) or as a really small tablet (which it also is). For a phone it has a very large screen. Pinch zooming solves the "old eyes, small screen" problem nicely.

When my wife and I went to look at phones, I really had no idea walking into the store what I was going to get. I actually intended to take a good look at an iPhone. But after about five minutes playing with a Thunderbolt, I was sold.

 

[worwig]

My take:
If you have to ask, maybe you aren't skilled enough for an Android phone.

Honestly, as much as I hate iPhone owners (not so much the iPhone, but the owners), if my wife wanted a smartphone, the iPhone would be on the list for her. Actually, my used Fascinate would be the likely phone she would get, just saying that I would not rule out an iPhone for a person with only a passing interest in smartphone.

For me it is about getting the hardware and software that I want. With the iPhone it is about getting the hardware and software that apple allows you to have. Simple for me to decide there.

 

[Chrisy]

My mom is nearly 60 and doesn't consider smart phones a hobby. She doesn't play or tweak it constantly. The iPhone is perfect for her.

She has the 3GS and is getting the 5 when it's released. I wouldn't recommend an Android to my parents.

It's not about laziness, some people just want a phone to work out of the box, be simple. Not everyone spends hours playing with their phones!

 

[Chrisy]

By the way, using the phrase "girl terms" to mean non tech or dumb is, well...dumb.

 

[SF DINC]

Honestly for someone who is just interested in a smartphone out of the box and doesn't want to tweak/customize or fight with rogue battery issues, a Iphone is the better product. Some people are better off with Android and some are not, I've come to accept that.

If I was picking out a smartphone for a 40-50 year old woman I'd probably recommend a iphone. Unless she was a tech person or specifically needed something android offered it would probably be a better decision.

Of course the screen size might not be best for an older person...

Agreed +1......my wife and I origianlly had iPhones.......we switched over to the Dinc last year, she went back to the iPhone within a week and a half, saying "This thing is waaaaay to complicated for me, I want my iPhone back." I stayed with the android platform and have had my bolt since launch, and handed my Dinc down to my 13 yrs. old daughter, as I am an amateur tech junkie, and she is happy with her iPhone. Really the phone should match what the users needs are. As big of a Android fan as I am, it may sound like the iPhone may be the right choice here.....worst case scenario try the android, if she does not like it return within the time frame, and go the iPhone route.....good luck.

 

[SF DINC]

On other words those who are too lazy to spend a little time to learn and then in the long run get more out of their devices because ultimately despite Apple's quantity of apps, ultimately you can do more and be more efficient/productive on Android.

Don't think it is a question of lazy vs. practical needs.......some are happy pulling the iPhone out of the box and using what it has to offer.....again it is a personal needs thing....if widgets, and fast CPU's rooting ect..is not important to you, I would say an iPhone is fine.....most of us on these forums are more then just your "average" cell phone user, and prob have a little more expirence in the tech department then most.....remember most consumers want a product that gives them instant gratification, it has been proven even in these fourms with those who are "to lazy" to root, or configure their phones to produce a better product then what they bought out of the box......some just want a cool smartphone i.e., iPhone that works just the way they need it to right out of the box.....for the rest of us who want mods, roots, ect.....we have Android!

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

The question is a bit dumb...perhaps "noob" would have been better.

Honestly, if you even have to ask yourself if you'd rather have an Android or iPhone...you probably want an iPhone.

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

Don't think it is a question of lazy vs. practical needs.......some are happy pulling the iPhone out of the box and using what it has to offer.....again it is a personal needs thing....if widgets, and fast CPU's rooting ect..is not important to you, I would say an iPhone is fine.....most of us on these forums are more then just your "average" cell phone user, and prob have a little more expirence in the tech department then most.....remember most consumers want a product that gives them instant gratification, it has been proven even in these fourms with those who are "to lazy" to root, or configure their phones to produce a better product then what they bought out of the box......some just want a cool smartphone i.e., iPhone that works just the way they need it to right out of the box.....for the rest of us who want mods, roots, ect.....we have Android!

While this may be true to some extent, some people are just above and beyond lazy. I haven't even rooted my phone (planning to do so after the GB update), but I have at least done what is necessary to get the phone to my liking (in regards to battery life and user experience). Some people are so lazy that they don't even want to do that and they'd rather just say the phone sucks and they shouldn't have to do anything special to make the phone work.

Sadly these same people probably have computers and wonder why they slow down when they haven't defragmented them in the past 6 months or longer. Technology of all sorts requires some maintenance on the user's part to keep it running smoothly.

 

[dajogejr]

While this may be true to some extent, some people are just above and beyond lazy. I haven't even rooted my phone (planning to do so after the GB update), but I have at least done what is necessary to get the phone to my liking (in regards to battery life and user experience). Some people are so lazy that they don't even want to do that and they'd rather just say the phone sucks and they shouldn't have to do anything special to make the phone work.

Sadly these same people probably have computers and wonder why they slow down when they haven't defragmented them in the past 6 months or longer. Technology of all sorts requires some maintenance on the user's part to keep it running smoothly.

While I agree any technology needs maintenance...some users' needs are just more basic.
What people fail to forget (techie folks especially, myself dually included) is that we are talking about phones. They have to be/should be a phone first.
Some people don't care about how fast it is, a market...(my mom uses the market to buy groceries...lol) or any of that fluff. In that case, I don't think it's lazy. It's just simple.

Hell, my parents don't believe in call waiting...they think it's rude. I sorta see their point.

Web, I see your point 100%. I was just adding to it more-so than disputing it.

 

[SF DINC]

While this may be true to some extent, some people are just above and beyond lazy. I haven't even rooted my phone (planning to do so after the GB update), but I have at least done what is necessary to get the phone to my liking (in regards to battery life and user experience). Some people are so lazy that they don't even want to do that and they'd rather just say the phone sucks and they shouldn't have to do anything special to make the phone work.

Sadly these same people probably have computers and wonder why they slow down when they haven't defragmented them in the past 6 months or longer. Technology of all sorts requires some maintenance on the user's part to keep it running smoothly.

Which is why the iPhone is a perfect phone for those "lazy" people, come on....some are just not tech say, and you can't get away in today's soceity with not having a cell phone,...The iPhone is a superb product right out of the box without any "Tweaking" or "Maintenance" ....... I know it is a hard concept to grasp for some of us whom love the Android OS, but some people just want to turn on their phone and have great battery life, and a simple user expirence.....maybe people are "lazy"......those that are the iPhone is a great phone for them to use....my wife is faaaaarrrrrrrrrr from lazy, and she just wanted a phone that lasted all day, played her music, and was simple to use.....end of the day it is the consumers want and needs (yes even the "lazy") that should determine the product they want.

 

[SF DINC]

While I agree any technology needs maintenance...some users' needs are just more basic.
What people fail to forget (techie folks especially, myself dually included) is that we are talking about phones. They have to be/should be a phone first.
Some people don't care about how fast it is, a market...(my mom uses the market to buy groceries...lol) or any of that fluff. In that case, I don't think it's lazy. It's just simple.

Hell, my parents don't believe in call waiting...they think it's rude. I sorta see their point.

Web, I see your point 100%. I was just adding to it more-so than disputing it.

Agreed, we tech junkies forget these are "PHONES" first and foremost, that are capable of becoming mini tablets/laptops with the proper tweeking......good point.

 

[LostboyinVa]

I love my Thunderbolt, but I'm a techie. For my wife, when the VZW Iphone came out and she said she wanted one. Her call not mine. However, at the time I had a Droid 1 and know about the upcomming and current Android Phones on VZW. However, knowing my wife and her needs I didn't even try and change her mind. The Iphone is perfect for the type of user she is.

Now my 14 year old son who wants the IPhone because it is a "status" symbol over his current Android phone, I'm arguing with.

 

[VideoEngineerAJS]

While I agree any technology needs maintenance...some users' needs are just more basic.
What people fail to forget (techie folks especially, myself dually included) is that we are talking about phones. They have to be/should be a phone first.
Some people don't care about how fast it is, a market...(my mom uses the market to buy groceries...lol) or any of that fluff. In that case, I don't think it's lazy. It's just simple.

Hell, my parents don't believe in call waiting...they think it's rude. I sorta see their point.

Web, I see your point 100%. I was just adding to it more-so than disputing it.

Which is why the iPhone is a perfect phone for those "lazy" people, come on....some are just not tech say, and you can't get away in today's soceity with not having a cell phone,...The iPhone is a superb product right out of the box without any "Tweaking" or "Maintenance" ....... I know it is a hard concept to grasp for some of us whom love the Android OS, but some people just want to turn on their phone and have great battery life, and a simple user expirence.....maybe people are "lazy"......those that are the iPhone is a great phone for them to use....my wife is faaaaarrrrrrrrrr from lazy, and she just wanted a phone that lasted all day, played her music, and was simple to use.....end of the day it is the consumers want and needs (yes even the "lazy") that should determine the product they want.

This is why I said SOME people are lazy. However, if you want simple, why would you get a smartphone in the first place? Yeah smartphones are becoming more simple than they were back in like the days of the Motorola Q and the Treo phones, but a smartphone is just that, a smartphone. You have to be either be willing to learn and go through the pains of learning, or just get a regular phone and do the other stuff on a computer.

I mean I would NEVER in a million years expect my grandfather to even get an iPhone let alone an Android, but people that want to use smartphones should be willing to take the time to learn if they really want to use a smartphone, whether it be an iPhone or an Android phone. If you just want to use it as a phone and a music player, get a regular phone and an mp3 player.