Negotiating for purchase a Used Cellphone,..what minor flaws acceptable ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 05:28:51 pm
content: The local shop has repaired CELLPHONEs, as well as a smattering of laptops for sale.As a person in 'poor' income situation, I've grown to accept some disparities. I think my personal income is down around 1/9th of what has been considered acceptable, (for a typical small family).I'm prepared to buy a used cellphone, maybe even a phone that has a minor crack, in back of case, or similar. That's a good incentive for a small shop owner, (I figure), as they most often see finicky shoppers, that don't want to 'accept' cosmetic type flaws.A drop-resilient case might be good, as well. The phones on display for sale include IPHONE15 which could be a nice change.Any comments, on helping me make a good phone switch ? My current phone suffers from touch-screen partial fail....top of screen does not detect my finger presses.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 09:27:51 pm
content: iphone 15 has a $600+ used price, not really something I would buy with a low income:https://swappa.com/search?q=iphone%2015Usually you can get a few year old flagship phone for <$200 that will be more than good enough. But depends on what form factor etc you like.eg samsung s21 is ~$180, or S23 is ~$250Don't get anything with USB port damage or poor battery health, if you can.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 09:37:46 pm
content: Assuming we are talking about smartphones, I would look for models which will receive security updates for a couple more years, if your budget allows.Apple has always provided updates for an above-average time, but they don't announce that coverage ahead of time and it has varied a lot between models. And of course you pay a premium price for Apple devices, including used ones. Samsung has started to guarantee 4 years of security updates for all their phones from the 2019 generation onwards, to my knowledge -- that includes the affordable "Galaxy A" series. Hence, a Galaxy A model from 2022 should still have two more years of updates coming.Battery life is another important factor, of course -- with heavy use and fast-charging, capacity may already have dropped quite a bit in a two-year-old device. Most (all?) phones can display information on battery health, i.e. what percentage of the original capacity is still available, somewhere in the settings menu. Ask the seller to show you that info.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 10:15:09 pm
content: Are you looking for an iPhone specifically or an android? Are you locked to any provider?

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 10:16:01 pm
content: I used to have flagship smartphones.I am now on my second Xiaomi Redmi Note. They last for 2-3 years, offer similar performance and my current one charges the phone in like 20 minutes from zero to full charge due to the 120W charger.The advantage of these phones is the price of 200-300 Euro and the fact that they don't get stolen and you don't have to worry too much if you drop or lose them.I would not buy a second hand phone. It will come with a worn battery and you will have no clue of what the previous owner did. Heck, you might be buying a criminals phone and end up on police surveillance without having done anything wrong.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 11:04:37 pm
content: Currently, using Alcatel that was originally something like $85 at local Walgreens drug store. The monthly service is $40 ATT Card each month.(One little irritation, is the AT&T Service is for some 28 days, which is out of sync with normal calendar and means I've often had to purchase TWO of the $40 gift cards...in order to keep service uninterrupted.)The small shop guy said he had a couple of refurbished Iphone15's for about $220.Shop was clean and also sold accessories, like earbuds.Apparently the stereo audio jack is not included in some models, which is a good thing, as my music playing had messed up my Alcatel audio, sometimes cutting out the audio, and so the wireless Bluetooth is the only way.The current phone has, apparently, ongoing heat damage, screen brightness issues, randomly, and the Chrome driver has misc random bugs.And,...only the user facing camera works.I absolutely hate, the Android updating features that I don't control, and Android book (i.e. for Dummies) does not explain things like how to copy to 'clipboard'.Nice value, for 3 years, at $85 dollars, but the thing is last legs. Wireless headphones don't sign-on initialize anymore.I hear that iPhone tutorials are on-line.(Most access goes via the house Comcast satelight server.)Thanks folks, for replies!

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 11:36:52 pm
content: There is zero chance someone is selling an iphone 15 for 220 so probably misheard or intentionally misled.$40/month may or may not be high depending on what you get. You can easily get 8GB data + unlimited calling for $35/month in US (phonebox), probably can find deals where its less, $20-30/month.Quote from: Bicurico on July 22, 2024, 10:16:01 pmYou can have the seller to check the battery health, not hard on iphone or recent samsung phones.Certified refurb phones will give a grade which specifies battery health.Surveillance is not an issue. Only risk is buying a stolen phone which can later get blacklisted, so only buy from a reputable store or local seller you'd trust.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2024, 11:47:07 pm
content: If you're looking for a cheap, yet functional smartphone, go for the Alcatel, Motorola, or even the low end Samsungs (like the Galaxy A55).You've also got the Chinese-owned brands like Huawei, Oppo, OnePlus, TCL, ZTE, Xiaomi, etc... which I would never ordinarily recommend due to their serious security concerns, but, if that's not a priority for you, go nuts. Just bare in-mind that you'll get an "Android-like" experience with many of those phones, since they are based on Android but have been bastardised heavily.If you can find something like a Google Pixel 6, you'll continue to receive Android updates until October this year and security updates until October 2026. You'll also get the stock Android experience, without any of the third-party quirks.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2024, 05:25:52 am
content: I recently bought a smartphone and I liked it. I'm not sure that it will suit anyone (mostly not), but it will allow you to navigate the price.https://aliexpress.com/item/1005004929079585.htmlI also bought an Orange Pi 3G-IoT-A and am trying to connect it to different screens (screen clock 200MHz).

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2024, 01:11:13 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on July 22, 2024, 09:37:46 pmLook for ones supported by LineageOS, they'll stay supported as long as there's a developer interested in continuing to support it.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2024, 06:38:37 pm
content: My wife just traded in her old I-Phone and bought a new one. I don't know what model she had but it wasn't very old and the battery and condition was perfect and she had all of the manuals, books and boxes for it but they only gave her about $75 for it. But the other thing with the I-Phones is that once they get about 6 years old they start slowing to a crawl and the newer versions of apps will no long work on therm (and they "upgrade" the apps to the newer versions without your consent.) This is about the forth time that she's had to buy a new I-phone so that her apps would continue to work. A USED phone is probably not a good investment IMO, for several reasons.I pay less that $40 per month for service and T-Mobile GAVE me a new Samsung phone when i switched to them so you should be able to do better than your current phone and plan.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2024, 04:58:47 pm
content: One question that came up, as I really need to get into an adult-school class:The house system here is with 'boxes'. I like to call 'servers', the one here labeled 'DIRECTTV'.I'm wondering about the $40 AT&T monthly service, that I enter into cellphone every month.Does that access actually require the AT&T access, which is accompanied by the 'antenna' symbol, up along the top of phone screen, or is access via the usual WIFI bypassing that ?In other words, letting the AT&T Service lapse, a few days, and just operating (as usual) by way of the WIFI house installed DIRECT TV ?House manager here is often 'gruff' with responses like "I'll let you figure that out, not my responsibility...".That's why I need to, eventually, get my butt into a night school class, or recreation Dept. class.Local library had some, but turned out it was for teens.Thanks for all your contrib.s

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2024, 10:24:50 pm
content: Ironically, I've just fumbled and dropped the old cellphone, sending it skittering across the cement floor....That means less, or no, value for any trade-in, but not a major deal....might be worth $18 on any store trade-in!Yesterday, I walked past a Flip phone, sitting on the street there....no, I declined to pick that up...Lol, maybe I should have picked up that unknown phone, maybe got thrown during a domestic argument, (use your imagination).Lol, I'd rather PAY for a used phone, conventional way, not the 'Breaking Bad' fiction tale!

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2024, 10:32:36 pm
content: andy3055, Halcyon, Xiaomi thanks for help:I might be more inclined towards iPhone this time, I've seen a lot of YouTube tutorials for using iPhone.The surveillance factor is, sadly, already present, so I wouldn't stress, either way !Halcyon suggests Galaxy A55 which might work best...(we will see, I'll let you know, as things go.)

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2024, 10:56:32 pm
content: Apple is pretty good at keeping their products working. I am currently running an iPhone 12, and it is giving me no reason to upgrade it at this point. It is perfectly fast and responsive, with a battery health reported at 98%, and runs every app I need. It would be perfectly acceptable to anyone as a used/refurbished phone. You can look online for which older model iPhones are still worthwhile today. I think you can go back further than the 12 to get a still usable phone.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2024, 07:13:59 am
content: I like cheap phones, not smartphones. They are cheap, small and hold a charge for a long time. Not noticeable in your pocket. There are 2 requirements for them, mandatory support for 3G voice for communication in the city and a decent camera for a quick photo.I was once very upset when, in the cold, I could not answer the call by swiping up. The call was very important, and the person called back 3 times.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2024, 07:37:36 am
content: Quote from: RJSV on July 24, 2024, 10:32:36 pmAt least with Android and iOS, it's just the five-eyes spying on you (if you're a specific target) but you can still control and limit what information is captured/stored.When it's a company under the direct or indirect command of the CCP, all control and privacy is out the window.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2024, 04:17:15 pm
content: I could not recite back much, if someone were to ask what do I know about the CCP, thanks for comment !I'd probably start by saying it's in Russia, but stop myself there, even. Run off to WIKIPEDIA, and check what they have. But I have seen more than normal share of odd developments, such as court and judge assignments (US federal judge Breyer, and the, other judge, Breyer...two brothers.Humorously, a couple of court cases that had 'strangenous' factors were 'countered' by defense teams that, adopted unconventional tactics in partial reflection of the setting.But today I wanted to note that, in 1999 there were no common 'cellular' hand-held phones, and so (I'm guessing) if things move into body implanted communication, that we might remember these times, having hand-held things, rather than 'implanted' RF links.Lol, I wonder if people will complain about implant 'batterey life' ! ....only took a few years for cellphones to emerge, world-wide !

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2024, 07:31:55 pm
content: Quote from: RJSV on July 25, 2024, 04:17:15 pmActually, there were, lots of them. But the USA took a long time to catch up with the rest of the world.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2024, 11:47:15 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on July 25, 2024, 07:31:55 pmThat's surprising to hear. In 1997 I had my first mobile phone. I was still in school at the time. By about 1998/1999, I'd say a significant amount of the kids had a phone. Not "most" but a good chunk. My parents had a phone well before this, albeit it was analog. I think GSM had just emerged about that time.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2024, 11:59:03 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 25, 2024, 11:47:15 pmYup. For example the Motorola Microtac:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_MicroTACoriginating from 1989. A relative of mine used to have a mobile phone shop in the 90's buying & selling new & used mobile phones.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 12:02:33 am
content: I remember being surprised by the lack of mobile phones in the states when i was there in the early 2000's when they were getting common in the uk, it was explained that it was due to the call receiver having to pay part of the call charge.Guess thats changed now?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 12:23:26 am
content: Quote from: themadhippy on July 26, 2024, 12:02:33 amPeople still get billed for calls?Unlimited national calls/SMS have been a feature for most post-paid plans in Australia. You're mostly just paying for data allowance (and even after then, it's typically uncapped, just shaped). Of course on pre-paid, you still pay for call "minutes".

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 02:55:47 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 26, 2024, 12:23:26 amNot any more, but cellphone service is still very expensive in the USA. In the UK I could get a basic monthly plan with unlimited calls and texts and 20 GB of data for about £10/month, no upfront payment. A bare bones plan with 2 GB could be as little as £6/month.A cursory check shows that in the USA you would be paying 2-3x as much, with a significant pre-payment for the best deals, and often it's a new customer offer that won't last.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 04:20:32 am
content: Quote from: IanB on July 26, 2024, 02:55:47 amI know we are straying off-topic here a little bit, but since we're sharing (and for those playing along at home).Cellular plans in Australia vary quite a lot. Essentially, it comes down to: You get what you pay for.Nationally, we have only 3 carriers: Telstra, Optus (Singtel) and Vodafone, and all of them provide coverage across the country. There is no such thing as "roaming" in Australia (which to my understanding still exists in the US depending on state you're in as not all carrier operate in all states?). There are many MVNO's (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) which resell one of the three carrier's products. MVNO's handle the billing, support etc... but don't own or operate any of their infrastructure (I'm assuming MVNO's exist in most parts of the world).Telstra is arguably Australia's top-tier carrier. They provide the widest coverage both on land and out to sea (typically 20-70 kilometers from the coast for 4G/LTE coverage). Telstra also offers some of the fastest speeds, but the other two aren't far behind, and in some cases, you'll find their service to be faster in some areas, albeit with a reduced coverage footprint.That being said, the cheapest post-paid monthly plan you'll get on Telstra is AUD$65/month for which you get:50 GB of data (unlimited, but shaped to 1.5 Mbps after your quota)Unlimited national calls and SMS/MMSUnlimited international SMS/MMS30 minutes of international calls (charged per minute thereafter)You also have the option of paying $10/month extra if you want to further prioritise your TCP or UDP traffic, over other users, on the same network.The advantage with going directly with the carrier is you get access to their full network and bands, without traffic prioritisation that typically occurs with MVNO's. (There is still QoS applied, but the carrier's own traffic takes priority over resellers.)Of course if you don't care about the frills and just want a basic, cheap service, you can get plans down to about $10/month with varying data limits (it's usually limited to 4G/LTE only). There are MVNO's like "Felix" that offer pre-paid unlimited 5G data on Vodafone's network for an initial $20 for the first month, then $40/month after that. Then there is everything in between.2G cellular doesn't exist anymore; 2G shutdown commenced in 2016 and the last service went offline in 2018.3G is not far behind with the last of those services due to be decommissioned by September 2024.The existing 3G bands will then be re-farmed to expand 4G and 5G services.For the most part (unless you pay for an enterprise plan), you'll be on Carrier Grade NAT (CG-NAT) for your IPv4 address. Most will however use IPv6 (Telstraonlyissues IPv6 for cellular customers these days).

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 04:30:28 am
content: I'm using a Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro , was around $200 when I bought it... perfectly fine phone.You can get Xiaomi 13 for $165 on Amazon, and Xiaomi 12 is 145$ ... both with 8 GB ram and at least 256 GB of storage.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 06:16:38 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 26, 2024, 04:20:32 amIt's not entirely off-topic, because the cost of the phone is a one-off expense, while the monthly plan charge impacts your monthly budget indefinitely. That is arguably more important ($65/month over 3 years adds up to $2340). That's twice the cost of a brand new iPhone.The low prices I quoted were for a UK MVNO (giffgaff) running on the O2 network, but I have used them when visiting the UK (paid a little more for 5G), and never had a problem with speed or network availability. The low price does come with a lack of features (no visual voicemail, MMS is extra, premium rate numbers are extra, international calls are extra...). However, it did include roaming within the EU at no extra cost.In the USA, the main cellular networks (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) do in theory cover the whole country, so roaming is not a thing (except for Mexico and Canada). However coverage is only in populated areas, so "whole country" needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Any time you go off the beaten track you will lose cellphone service. If you want an emergency phone when hiking, you will need a satellite phone.Anecdote: in 2001, I landed at a small airfield in the Kruger National Park in South Africa (basically in the middle of the bush). I thought no way would there be cellphone service, but when I switched on my phone the signal was 5 bars.International calling is less of a concern now with VOIP services like Google Voice, which you can use for free with with cellular data.Also, I have found it nearly impossible to use more than 5-10 GB even with intensive data use. Maybe that is different for people who consume their entire social media on their phone, but my eyes are not up to the task, and watching YouTube on a teeny tiny phone screen instead of a big desktop monitor is frankly an exercise in self-flagellation.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2024, 06:28:09 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 26, 2024, 04:20:32 amThis is stupid. When I go deeper into the building, my phone automatically switches to 2G to maintain the connection. Most likely, this is due to stupidity in the formation of licenses for frequencies.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 05:13:00 am
content: Quote from: Postal2 on July 26, 2024, 06:28:09 amThe existing 2G and 3G bands are being re-used for 4G and 5G services here. So even in basements and buildings, it's pretty standard to have access to high speed data.The dropping of 2G/3G is a good thing. It allows for efficient re-use of the existing frequencies. Faster speeds and better coverage.3G is currently the "fallback" mode here, but soon that'll be 4G.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 07:14:32 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 27, 2024, 05:13:00 amI largely agree. But it's annoying that various 3G-enabled devices, which would otherwise still be perfectly fit for purpose, no longer work. My Kindle e-book reader is an example, and I assume many remote sensors (specialized, expensive, expensive to deploy/replace) as well.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 08:15:49 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on July 27, 2024, 07:14:32 amSure. But hopefully this will force manufacturers to stop being so bloody stingy with the baseband radios they put in devices. Same goes for WiFi or Ethernet ports. 10/100 in almost any product is not acceptable. Spend an extra dollar and put a 4G/5G/Gigabit/802.11ax radios when designing products.There are still some household products (Dyson, Sonos etc...) that only support 2.4 GHz or WPA2. It's unacceptable.5G was ratified in 2016 for fuck's sake with networks bullding infrastructure not that long after.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 08:24:17 am
content: In Germany we had about 10 years of overlap between the introduction of 4G networks and the discontinuation of 3G (in 2021). Generous enough for comsumer devices like cell phones, but a bit tight for things like remote sensors which have a longer product life cycle. (Regarding product development as well as the duration of using a particular unit in the field.)

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 10:37:59 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 27, 2024, 05:13:00 amThen don’t be surprised when they start supplying 300 volts to the electrical outlet and force you to replace all devices.Quote

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 11:33:58 am
content: Quote from: Postal2 on July 27, 2024, 10:37:59 amBelieve it or not, technologies do become obsolete and get phased out, to be replaced by something better. Using your AM radio is not as much fun as it used to be; depending on where you live, the same may apply to your FM radio sooner or later. Analog and ISDN phone lines, as well as analog terrestrial TV broadcasting, are a thing of the past as well in many countries.I think it is unreasonable to argue that "this should never happen!". One can only debate about timing and lead times, to enable technology users to make decent use of their investment and prepare for a smooth transition.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 12:14:49 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on July 27, 2024, 11:33:58 amA 1978 auto magazine wrote that polarized headlights were abandoned because of the harmfulness of polarized light. Now you have an LCD screen. And I have a CRT. You wear glasses, and I don't.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 02:47:31 am
content: Quote from: Postal2 on July 27, 2024, 12:14:49 pmI don't understand the point you're making? Are you suggesting people who view polarised displays over CRTs go blind? I've been viewing LCD monitors for the past 20 years, yet my eyesight is perfect? I've never seen anyone suggest polarised light is bad, so I'd be keen to read some actual science beyond what a car magazine wrote in the 70s.Viewing ANY display, for long periods of time is bad for your eyesight. You should focus on objects both near and far, varying your focal length throughout the day.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 10:13:12 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 28, 2024, 02:47:31 amI gave an example that as soon as something brings benefits - it turns out to be harmless. And also it is positioned as technological progress. If you constantly work with an LCD display (several hours a day) for 20 years - it means that you are very young. All those of my peers who laughed at my commitment to CRT, they all wear glasses, but they continue to say that the type of screen has nothing to do with it.As for your mobile phone service - the same thing. The company doesn't care about people's needs, it's just profitable for it to do what it does.

author: bw2341
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 06:25:43 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on July 26, 2024, 12:02:33 amIn the USA and Canada, cellular phone numbers are indistinguishable from landline numbers. They are assigned geographically to a small local area.It's not reasonable for a call to a geographic phone number to have unknown extra charges. Consequently, the cell phone subscriber is responsible for their own airtime charges on all calls, outgoing and incoming. When the cell phone subscriber leaves their local area, incoming calls also have long distance charges.Since calling is cheap now, the service plans typically include unlimited nationwide calling.So for people in Calling Party Pays countries, is there a huge charge difference between calling a local mobile phone versus the same phone roaming halfway around the world? Is there an indication of the upcharge?

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 06:48:09 pm
content: Quote from: bw2341 on July 28, 2024, 06:25:43 pmIn Germany (and, I believe, many other EU countries), most mobile phone contracts cover all calls to in-country numbers in the monthly flat rate -- for calling both landline and mobile phones. Calls to international numbers in EU countries cost extra, but there is a 19 cents/minute cap set by the EU. Calls to non-EU international numbers can get expensive.When I call a German cell phone number while the called party is travelling outside the EU, thecalled partycovers the roaming fees -- similar to the US national practice, I understand. (And following the same logic: I can't know where they are at the moment, so why should I be billed?)Withinthe EU, roaming fees have been abolished by an EU regulation. Hence, whether the caller or the called party is travelling in Europe, call cost is determined by their national (home) phone number, not by where they physically are at the moment.

author: bw2341
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 07:40:37 pm
content: That makes sense. It looks like the difference in Calling Party Pays countries is that there are non-geographical prefixes for mobile phone service. It looks like in Germany, mobile numbers start with 15, 16 or 17.When I look at my VoIP provider's rate card, I see higher rates for calling mobile numbers than calling geographical numbers. Presumably, I would be paying for the called party's airtime.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 07:48:04 pm
content: Given the high cost of utilities over here, mobile phone service is surprisingly cheap, by the way. My 10 €/month contract includes all national calls and 10 GBytes/month of data. And the EU regulations have put an end to the fee-gauging for intra-Euopean calls and roaming.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 09:22:57 pm
content: Quote from: bw2341 on July 28, 2024, 07:40:37 pmIn the UK there has, historically, been a huge difference in the rate for calling a landline phone vs a mobile phone. For example, it might have cost 10x as much per minute to call a mobile compared to a landline. This matters less now with unlimited free calls on most phone plans, but in the past with metered calling it could make calling mobile phones so expensive that people would avoid calling them.Even today, as you noticed, if you call into the UK from outside and get billed per minute, then the rate is still higher for mobile numbers.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 12:08:48 am
content: My experience, here in the states (U.S.A.) was an emergence of any cellphones close to first months of 2004. The smaller package size, and awesum convenience was very novel, and took off rapidly over just a couple of months.It did take maybe a decade, before you didn't have concerns about using minutes. (Although I didn't use any international). Internet access came slowly, starting with email.My heavy use of smartphone to play videos was not until at least 2012, (that's 12 years now). That feature has helped with MASSIVE insomnia, being that I'm very Type A, having troubles relaxing and putting work issues aside.Ironically, it's the more interesting video programs (like science / NOVA), that put me out, when sleep doesn't come.The smartphone videos came, and the whole DVD movie industry went 'away'.Pre-2004, virtually all cellphones were huge, walky Talky radios, with long antennas, and perhaps larger than my head. Rarely, I would encounter some friend that had one...they always said; "Don't call...ever, because the billing charge is huge....".Ironically, the more modern flip phones began occupying a valued place, in big city street 'culture'.The rise of tablet media brought huge changes, for GPS functions and ebooks.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 12:11:57 am
content: Thanks, also, for discussing the whole 3G, 4G varieties, as I haven't followed current developments on access options.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 12:24:59 am
content: Quote from: Postal2 on July 28, 2024, 10:13:12 amI'm in my 30's and worked with computers my entire life. This sometimes means looking at a screen for the entire day.But you're drawing a link between types of monitor and anecdotal evidence that your coworkers need glasses. Correlation doesn't equal causation. As I said, it can happen with any type of monitor, even your CRT. Their poor eyesight can also be due to their genetics and nothing to do with the environment they work in.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 07:30:22 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 29, 2024, 12:24:59 amI'm 56 and I just soldered an Oppo Neo 5 display to a 0.5 pitch ribbon cable without a microscope. Sure, I have LCDs and don't mind using them from time to time. However, I feel the difference. You can't convince me that salty is sweet if I feel it myself. You're right about the different causes of vision loss. But why would I intentionally harm myself if I feel discomfort?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 11:51:14 pm
content: Quote from: Postal2 on July 29, 2024, 07:30:22 amIt seems to me that the discomfort you're experiencing is as a result of weakness or damage to your eyes already, not as a direct cause of using an LCD (again, correlation doesn't equal causation).That's great that you can solder really small things up close. That doesn't mean that your vision is perfect. Before blaming your tools, perhaps actually get your eyes checked. You might find that you're actually near-sighted. It could also be "computer eye strain" which is focussing on screens or objects at a particular focal length for sustained periods (which I described before). This might help:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321536

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 01:00:24 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 29, 2024, 11:51:14 pmCausation has already been established with A/B testing, albeit, not a blind A/B test (which I'm not sure how one would perform with CRT vs LCD!)Of course, the individual A/B results experienced by Postal2 do not necessarily (and shouldn't) generalise to the entire population of computer users.IMO, I cannot conceive of a physiological difference between CRT and LCD. AFAIC, the eyes perceive both CRT & LCD exactly the same.However one display that definitely has a notable physiological difference are e-ink monitors, though they are far less prevalent (apart from Kindles and similar e-book readers).

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 01:27:10 am
content: Getting way off topic, but it was always suggested in the past that the electric field from the screen of CRT monitors was potentially bad for you. If you place your face too close to the screen, it could induce an opposite potential on your face, which in turn could attract dust and other contaminants into your eyes. If you wave your hand anywhere near such a screen, there is certainly a powerful static charge sitting there.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 06:08:22 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 29, 2024, 11:51:14 pmI use SONY CPD-E500 with manual RGB adjustment, green color is increased. Maybe you imagined some other monitor for your conclusions.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 06:11:31 am
content: Quote from: Postal2 on July 30, 2024, 06:08:22 amMy advice wasn't based on any particular monitor at all, rather universal across all monitors, regardless of the display technology.Anyway, IanB is right. We did stray right off-topic there.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 03:25:58 pm
content: Any risk situation, you've had typical evaluation, I suppose one quick or instant aspect, and another more long term.In my view, you go into a situation and apply the long-term things right away, as a kind of formalized, or non-flexible 'template'.Maybe some responders here have that inflexible template, having to do with 'polarization' of LCD light output. That's just simply STRANGE to myself, and apparently others. In other words, a light polarization issue does not fit into the general model.Of course I appreciate general help, for a typically low-income, and lower energy level person, seeking advice. A flood of 'strange' and questionable arguments is, simply, a complete distraction.Could (you) please create a SEPARATE subject thread (elsewhere), and, if you feel the need to insist, PLEASE simply refer to THAT separate thread, instead of transacting the detailed content here.I'm asking about typical purchase, and as an example I find very valuable the discussion of communication types, for 3G, 4G, etc. and that's the kind of help needed.In the other hand, the screen is going to be a screen, and I don't see any relevance to discuss some special screen set-up. Besides, that aspect hasn't even discussed WHERE I'd even begin, to investigate purchase, although some product was specified.I'm looking to purchase local, walk-in shop, not additional research where to find a special screen.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 04:03:04 pm
content: TAXI DRIVER was laughing at me, when he saw my Sony CPD-E500 Monitor strapped to my wrist....he says that isn't hardly 'portable',although certainly hand-held...