New phone features 'baffle users'

BBC ^ | 19 January 2009 | bbc.co.uk

[Uncle Miltie]

I just want to record a ring-tone. It is impossible.

[blam]

"If you want a unique ring-tone try this: Hello Infidel "

Funny.

[Right Wing Assault]

Could I PLEASE get a phone that just makes phone calls?

Not allowed!

My first cell phone took 3 seconds to be ready to make a call. My latest takes 40 seconds.

My first computer took 45 seconds to boot. The new laptop I use at work takes about 5 minutes.

Progress.

[conejo99]

Add a long lasting battery and a cover that protects the buttons as I carry it in my pocket and I’m with you.

[stayathomemom]

Have you ever watched a person who has only used a touch tone phone try to you a dial phone? It's kind of funny.

[TruthWillWin]

I just want to record a ring-tone. It is impossible.

Actually it's not. I learned how to make ring-tones and transfer them to my phone here:

http://www.howardforums.com/index.php?

I've made over 75 ringtones, some downloaded, some from CD's, and transfered them from my PC to my motorola phone.

[stormer]

LOL - I haven't, but I can imagine. I do remember my first brush with push button telephonic technology. It was a phone booth (remember those?) at a rest stop along I-80 in central Nebraska; we all gathered ‘round and were mystified and delighted by the new fangled contraption. On the other hand, I had friend that had a bong shaped like one of those old-fashioned stick phones with the separate ear piece - his dad had picked it up an was trying to make a call. LOL.

[Professional Engineer]

To use a highly technical term:

Modern consumer electronics suck.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Jitterbug? Not until you mentioned it.

Let me look it up. http://www.jitterbug.com/Phones/

Now THAT’S what I’m talking about! Thank you.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Who has fingers shaped like the point of a pin? Who are these people?

You've got a better idea than I do. My fingers are like kielbasa.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

That would be nice too.

Battery life isn’t a big deal for me, I keep mine(when I do bother to carry it at all) turned off.

If you want to talk to me, you can call me at home, the cell if for MY convenience.

[stayathomemom]

you = use
How in the heck did that happen?

[Rennes Templar]

You’re welcome!

[AngryJawa]

Where's my Dick Tracy wristwatch phone?

I've got too much crap on my belt and in my pockets already.

[Rennes Templar]

Check out jitterbug.com

[TChris]

I am a man and I can immerse myself enough into technology to reach the lower to mid levels of geek, but my old saying about computers was that if your grandmother can’t figure out how to own and use one, then it isn’t an every day appliance yet.

That's an unfair comparison. An "every-day appliance" does only one thing.

Your stove? It heats up. The controls are to adjust which part heats up and how much.

Your refrigerator? It cools down. The controls adjust how much it cools down.

Your Television? It displays video and plays sounds. The controls change the input, channel and volume.

Now, here's a partial list of what your computer could do:

• word processing
• send and receive email
• calculator
• spreadsheet
• manage all your bank accounts and investments
• play one of thousands of available games
• read out loud to you
• write down what you say
• compose music scores
• record, edit, mix and master digital audio, including radio
• record, edit, mix and master digital video, including television
• create, edit, manipulate and print nearly perfect pictures
• play a digital music file in one of many different formats
• play a digital video file in one of many different formats
• play a commercial CD, DVD or BluRay disc
• send and receive faxes
• send and receive TTY messages for the deaf
• track your position on a digital map
• give you directions to your destination
• design a jet airliner
• calculate how much a car's front end will crumple if it hits a wall at 20 MPH
• control a billion-dollar oil refinery

Computers are complex machines, no question. But they're complex for a very good reason: They can do far more for you than any household appliance.

[sionnsar]

I must admit that I at times have stooped to reading the instruction.

Way too often the instruction sheets/books these days are really poorly written. The one for my cellphone would have flunked the Heathkit test in under 10 minutes.

[norraad]

yah hoo Heathkit, they sure knew how to do it!

So many modern "instryction" book authors should hang their heads in shame.