Note to self: noticed that Smasung Note 3 is only available on Verizon instead of her current provider, ATT

Maybe it's a regional thing but AT&T offers the Note 3 around here. I believe the Note 4 is due out very soon (which will make the Note 3 available at a nice discount).

Frankly Mom might be better off with a basic cell phone and a tablet. With a true tablet, she could have a much bigger screen.

Both the Note and most tablets can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard if she doesn't want to tap at a screen.

May I suggest that if you have an ATT store close, that you take her in and have them demonstrate phones for her. I'm 74 and it helped me a lot....

Jean

I agree with John and Jean. Even for someone who's somewhat "tech" savvy, it's so important to actually go in, get a "feel" for the phone and actually push some buttons/swipe some screens. :) It may be that she doesn't need or may not want to contend with layers of technology. Or...she may turn out to be my hero and be a savvy 80 year old who will be texting, googling and using google maps. :)

I agree with the other responders, except...
Im older with fingers that aren't warm and moist enough to operate most touch screens. I started with a Samsung Note II, then later a Note III, and now an LG G3. The stylus was a lifesaver for me, otherwise the touch screens usually wouldn't work for me. With the G3 I bought a tablet stylus that I can clip onto the phone case. Whatever you get you might want to try using a stylus, because it might make things easier for older hands.

I am impressed. My Mom is 85 and would never touch technology while most of her friends Skype with their grand kids and stuff.

I like my smart phone when out and about but at home I love my tablet. I bought a blue tooth keyboard case for my tablet so have the best of both worlds. Mary

I have not seen these Bluetooth Keyboards that y'all mention. Someone care to elaborate?

ZAGG makes a nice one that is standalone but it's pricey but they have it at Walmart. You can go to walmart and get a generic stand alone Bluetooth keyboard with rubber keys for like $10-$20 I think it was. They also had a generic tablet case with a keyboard that had rubber keys at Walmart for like $10. I like the a mini keyboard with the solid plastic keys on a spring so that's what my case has and my case is made specifically to fit my device to line up all openings for the buttons on my tablet and the keyboard has magnets so if I just want to take the case the keyboard comes off the case.

You can also find tablet cases with keyboards that plug into the minis USB instead of using Bluetooth. My friend has one for her tablet and it works just as good as mine and hers was generic to fit any tablet and has plastic keys with the spring underneath. If you search on amazon for your model tablet and put keyboard case after it you can see what is available or search generic tablet keyboard cases and such. Mary

Here is a link that might be useful: Zagg bluetooth keyboard

This post was edited by acraftylady on Fri, Oct 10, 14 at 9:25