January 24, 2007

• Get something reliable and sturdy -- I would avoid cheap flip phones because the ribbon that connects the top and bottom of the phone will crimp and bend the more you flip the phone open and closed. This is a when, not if, kind of thing (as I found out when I killed three cheap Motorola flip phones in less than a year. I was actually told by the cell phone guy to avoid *all* cheap Moto phones). Also, go to the actual cell phone place (rather than a big box store like Big Buy or whatever) and ask if you can test out the phone. My dad has a lot of trouble hearing people on his phone, and my mom wishes she had practiced dialing on hers because she found that the buttons were too little for her fingers. You can buy the phone wherever you want, but I think the cell phone company stores would be more likely to let you test the phone.
• I'm holding out for a stem cell phone.
• If you don't know what you want to do service-wise, I'd recommend starting on a pay-as-you-go plan. That way you're not locked into a contract if the service sucks or customer service is a hassle.
• When my husband drove cross-country (alone in a blizzard) and neither of us had a cell phone, he bought a phone that came with a certain number of minutes. He just used the minutes as he needed them, and when he ran out, he was able to buy more. I don't know whether they have those in Canada, or how they handle international calls, but it might be worth looking at for local calls.
• What MCT said. Plus if she doesn't use it much then maybe this one is good? I dunno, I just saw the ad and thought it was a good niche market. Plus "The Jitterbug Phone" is a good name. For something I'm not going to buy ever.
• Yeah, she needs something fairly simple -- she's scared of electonics. She's going to be driving much more than she ever has, and be by herself most times -- which is completely new territory for her. She also needs to be able to call family members in Holland on a moment's notice, and be able to speak to Sister Renault in England concerning her coming sprog. Local calls won't be all that many -- just emergency ones to me, when she's stuck in a snowbank or something.
• Except for my very first Motorola Microtak Flip Phone (that bugger was indestructable, and lasted 10 years), I have had endless bad luck with Motorola phones. The just drop like flies. I've even had ones that didn't even work right out of the box. My Nokia 2125, on the other hand, has been fantastic and has taken a lot of beating without trouble. I second the bit about avoiding flip phones. Also, avoid Rogers. Evil bastards.
• Also, you can get a pay-as-you-go phone from someone like Virgin Mobile, and then use those el-cheapo corner store international calling cards for international calls. Much cheaper than trying to get a cell phone plan for intercontinental calls.
• Capt - I'm interested to read you state, "I know enough not to go for Rogers". I've used them for 13 years with no problems. I don't recall what part of the Great White North you hang your toque in, but I'm sure the recommendation will hold east to west. Fer yer Ma, I would suggest Roger's Pay-as-you-go plan. For $10 a month, my wife has voice mail, call display and a cell phone to tote around 'for emergencies' - i.e. less than 30 minutes usage a month. As well, since she buys more minutes before the 30 day period is over, she builds up a balance of minutes. (if a new payment is made 'too late' any carry forward balance is lost) This is cheaper than sharing my plan with her since that would entail her also paying a system access fee, a 911 fee, voice mail fee, call display fee, etc.. Finally, Rogers has something called 'No Worries'. It is a three month analysis of phone usage that recommends what type of plan is best for the user. I don't recall the details and am too lazy to look them up on the Rogers wireless FAQ. As for phones, I am very satisfied with the Nokia brand. Sturdy, good battery life, good reception, easy user interface. If you wish, feel free to send me an email - I will gladly discuss my Toronto / Sudbury Rogers wireless experiences.
• Nokia has a 6010 model that boasts "large fonts and keys". From their advertising, I think they're aiming for a mature market. In general, I find Nokia phones quite good.
• Just listen to you all - Nookie nookie nookie! Buncha preverts! *just tryin' to take the slack up for GramMa*
• You'd know the pertinanet Canadian traffic laws better than I, but if she's gonna be talking and driving then some kinda hands-free setup ain't a bad idea. And I assume a good son like yourself will be programming her numbers into speed dial.
• I have a Motorola flip phone for work that I love. It's been through hell, dropped, battered, dragged around, and the antenna chewed mercilessly by my cat. This is my third Motorola phone, and I haven't had a minute's worry. The one I have now is a more expensive model, so that may be the difference. I dunno.
• Psst, Capt'n, I believe the cheapest plan these days in Canuckistan is the one offered by Petro Canada. (Yes, indeedy, they do have one, they resell Bell's service). The deal is that you can get 180 days of service on a $25 top-up. Which i think is twice as good as other services. My sister just signed up a month ago, as a emergency-type phone for the car. $75 gets you a Nokia phone, $5 in phoney money, a car charger. Poutine is extra, as always.
• p.s. the Nokia phone is depicted in its actual size on that web page!
• Great! She'll never lose it! I suppose it matches those giant keychains for the washrooms..?
• Hicks, eh? then you need to be looking for a phone in a candlestick design with rotory dialage and detachable ear piece. Oh wait, Maw-maw Renault probably has an ear trumpet, right? Then you will also have to purchase the adapter kit.
• Also, when buying phones, scour the company's website for coupons. I bought a Motorola 360M (The M stands for MuchMusic, which just means it has some stupid extra ringtones you can remove) from Rogers for $129, and later found a coupon that after I send it in was worth $70. Of course nobody tells you about these things in the phone shoppe. I have rogers Pay as you Go, because it's GSM and so I can also use the phone in the netherlands or other countries. Just have your phone unlocked (they do it everywhere in Europe for 25 euro or less, but also in canada) and buy a pay as you go chip (SIM card) in the country where you reside. Much cheaper than roaming charges.
• I still don't have one either. You're not alone.
• My Nokia was great for 8 years. Then I got all upscaley and bought a Razor, Razr, whatever. Total waste of time-needs charging everyday, very finicky. Get a Nokia. And spend the time doing the research-some companies have roll-over minutes-my aunt has that since she never uses up all her time.
• Here's a vote for a flip phone that's taken a lot of abuse from grandkids and being dropped outta my purse, etc. Lemme vote for a slightly more expensive phone, as WPDK states. Get one with a camera. Never thought I'd say this, being a Luddite, but the camera comes in handy for those awkward moments. Oops, forgot to bring a camera to the party or the newborn's first visit, or even better, gottcher road accident on digital, you sucker, so don't lie about all that extra damage you're claiming, as well as WHO caused this wreck--see relative car positions. Camera phones come in handy.
• I just got a new Motorola RAZR when I renewed my contract with T-Mobile... and it is absolute shite. No reception at work or at home, and only at certain points along my commute. I could attach a paperclip antenna to a brick and get a better signal. Needless to say, it's going back to T-Mobile tomorrow. (A subsequent Google search confirms that the customer response to this phone has been less-than-stellar) So, um, don't get that phone.
• What's the MATTER with you people? What sort of games (sheesh!) does she like, Capt? That should be your main consideration. My apparently unbreakable old Nookiephone has backgammon, which has saved me from causing trouble in many a waiting room. But maybe your mom is more the Tetris type. Does she like games? Eh? Eh?
• Just finished travelling from Dogland to Virginia and back. My Smart Car was many times photographed by cell-phone-wielding Americans along the way, who had never seen such a contraption. That, and I wasn't wearing pants.
• Well, of course they would use their cell phones to shoot you without pants. There's hardly enough there to require a real digital camera. Smart-Ass Car, more like it. *pinch*
• There goes the damn thread. Thanks you guys.
• *ring* *ring*
• If you read that last comment, you'll be dead in 7 days.
• Well . . . shit!
• I didn't do it. IT WAS THE ONE-ARMED MAN.
• My procrastination clock says it's time for the Capt. to make a decision. So, what's it to be?
• What mct said about the pay-as-you-go, and watch your minutes, I think fido screwed me on some of them on the PAYG plan last time. As for hands free for driving: never talk on a cell phone while driving, hands free included. The person on the other end of the line is not in the passenger seat, they don't know when to shut up because they can't see out your windsheild. Even the person in the passenger seat doesn't always know when to shut up. Driving is an immediate type of thing. Bad idea.
• Oh wait, Maw-maw Renault probably has an ear trumpet, right? You had me at rotary.
• Went for Virgin Mobile, pay as you go. One of the lousiest salespeople I've ever had to deal with, but, admittedly, he was 41 and working a stand in a crappy mall -- not even a kiosk. Kiosks at least have walls for a sense of boundary, and maybe a stool or ledge to lean on. But buddy had clearly Given Up On Life. I had to make him sell me the thing. It was just an all-round-sad experience. One-piece Nokia, $59. Simple, hardly any buttons, lights up nicely. And it's very loud, which is good. Matches Mother Renault's coversation tone. No problems getting it all set up, but programming it seems to be more difficult than it should be. Virgin had made all of its pamphlets super-casual, so it's not as clear as it should be. They want to be your buddy. We don't need a buddy -- we need clear instructions without any bullshit. And to make it clear, there will be no driving-and-talking going on. She just needs a cell with her for when she's driving and something happens and she needs her boy to call CAA. Or for other emergency-type situations. Anyhoo -- I want to thank you all for your help on this -- I really hadn't the first clue how to go about this.
• So that means...this thread is... OPEN!!! I had coffee and a bagel for breakfast.
• MonkeyFilter: We don't need a buddy -- we need clear instructions without any bullshit. Ah! c'est magnifique! Yes, let the unmitigated maternal hassling of poor Louie commence! *ring* *ring* Uh, that's your phone Louie. *ring* *ring* Your phone's ringing. *ring* *ring* You, ah, you wanna get that? *ring* *ring* . . .
• RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING BANANAPHONE!! doot-dee-dooby-doo!
• I had good luck with virgin... it was good practice for before I went with a more traditional cell phone plan. /had English muffins with cheese melted on them
• Wow. Really? What kind of cheese? I can see a sharp cheddar, but anything else, like Swiss, would require some meat added, such as crabmeat or ham. Surely it wasn't edam.
• Oh she ate 'em. Oh hoooo-Yes.
• I had some Raisin Bran and coffee. Oh, wait. That was yesterday morning for some of you. It's not midnight here yet.
• So now we can get an answer to the burning question of whether or not Mama Renault's refirgerator is indeed running.
• Almost back on topic for a brief moment, new research shows why you shouldn't drive and talk on the phone at the same time
• My mom had a Virgin prepaid, and she was very happy with it. We also noticed the casual buddy tone, but mom was surpringly good with it. She went from "I don't know how to work this damned thing" to actually crying when she lost it. She got a second one from them (they were great about giving her a deal on a replacement and moving her minutes.) She finally opted for another brand due solely to coverage issues. But nothing but good marks for Virgin here.