Electronics

[Cha1k]

@151949 - in our school district the only classrooms using the Windows operating system are business/finance classes and actual computer classes that teach operating systems. They use Mac computers with Windows loaded so they can dual boot into whichever OS the teachers is covering that day.

[Cha1k]

@gardenman - I agree that the Chromebook does fit the needs of many classrooms, but for some, a full-fledged computer that will render graphics, accommodate software specific to the subject matter, or offer more computing power to complete projects is still needed. Our system prefers Macs because they have the ability to run both Windows and Mac OS.

Or district has done a TCO (total cost of operation) study comparing long term costs for full fledged computers and found that Macs are most cost effective for us.

[Cha1k]

@Chrystaltree - is your post meant for me? If so, please indicate that it is and I will gladly respond to your post.

[gardenman]

---

@Cha1k wrote:
@sidsmom - I'm not aware of a store that specifically carries Android products and offers help or training like the Apple Store does. Perhaps someone else can post if they have seen stores that do. In my area the only help you can get is from cell carriers who sell Android phones.

---

Pretty much any store that sells smartphones will offer guidance on their use and setup, but to be honest, even with no help, it's pretty easy. I got my first smartphone (an Android based LG L 41C) in January and it was a snap to learn. There are also countless tutorials on youtube and manufacturer's sites to walk anyone through anything they want to do with the phone. I can state quite confidently that a new user of a smartphone should have little trouble using an Android phone.

[hckynutjohn]

---

@Cha1k wrote:

@hckynutjohn - what do you store on the SD memory cards that you use in your smartphone or tablet?  Documents, photos, etc?

Can you store apps on the card and then run them on your device?

---

  I haven't even used my new phone since setting it up and transfering over all my time/text and data from my old phone.

My old phone ain't been turned on, for my use, since April 23, 2015, which was the last game of my leagues hockey games for 2014-2015.

Use it pretty much for carrying with me when I go out without my wife as a "just in case". Other than that? Keep time at my adult league games as the City charges $3 per minute for ice time and it is based on "cell phone time".

I do run the "time clock and keep stats" along with being an "off-ice Ref" on occasion. But I make sure our games end not a minute late as ain't no way I am paying $3 for a minute over.

But, for $6.66 per month I feel my cell phone is worth it "as a just in case". My wife does times use it to make calls from our home. Her fancy SIII with Sprint won't connect unless she drive about a mile up the street.

Just saying that the feature is there if I should ever want to use it, or maybe my wife wants to store some pix she takes on a micro-SD card.

About it. Thanks for asking,

[HonnyBrown]

---

@Cha1k wrote:
@sidsmom - I'm not aware of a store that specifically carries Android products and offers help or training like the Apple Store does. Perhaps someone else can post if they have seen stores that do. In my area the only help you can get is from cell carriers who sell Android phones.

---

Cha1k, you service provider offers training classes for all the devices they sell.

BlackBerry is a Canadian company, so their stores are either in Canada or Texas.  I use the CrackBerry forum when I need help on a certain issue for my cell or PlayBook.

Then there's always YouTube.

[Cha1k]

Yes, I'm aware that cell service providers offer rudimentary instruction in how to use the smartphones they carry, and stated that in my previous post.

As a teacher of iOS on both iPads and iPhones, I'm also aware that the training they offer is not always on-target.

I have had to correct many things that have been told to students in my classes by those so-called 'trainers' at the local Verizon store.

For instance, more than one student has been told that in order to have Siri access on their iPhone they will have to pay an extra fee.  Totally untrue!

Over 1000 companies worldwide use Android on their smartphones and I'm not aware of any manufacturer that offers phones, services, and training in their own store.  Does anyone else?

[glb613]

A lot of you assume, incorrectly I might add, that everyone who buys an Apple product lives close to an Apple store.  I switch to Apple back in 2012 and the closest store to me is 120 miles away.  Just like Android users, many people rely on the internet, forums and YouTube to help with their Apple devices. 

[ValuSkr]

I'm sure Apple appreciated your sales pitch.  Android is good for me.  I assume none of the devices - Apple or not - are completely secure and act accordingly.

[gardenman]

---

@Cha1k wrote:

Yes, I'm aware that cell service providers offer rudimentary instruction in how to use the smartphones they carry, and stated that in my previous post.

As a teacher of iOS on both iPads and iPhones, I'm also aware that the training they offer is not always on-target.

I have had to correct many things that have been told to students in my classes by those so-called 'trainers' at the local Verizon store.

For instance, more than one student has been told that in order to have Siri access on their iPhone they will have to pay an extra fee.  Totally untrue!

Over 1000 companies worldwide use Android on their smartphones and I'm not aware of any manufacturer that offers phones, services, and training in their own store.  Does anyone else?

---

No Android phone "manufacturer" offers in-store training in their own store because the vast majority of them have no stores. They're manufacturers not retailers. It's like expecting to get driving lessons from a car dealer. No, they're in business to sell you a car, you have to learn to drive on your own. They'll instruct you in the basics of operating the features on your car, but they won't teach you to drive.

It's the same with Android based phones (and truth be told, Apple phones.) The store staff will teach you the basics and then you're largely on your own. If you have a problem you can go back and ask for help, but they won't spend dozens/hundreds of hours teaching you absolutely everything about the operation of the phone. (Not even Apple does that unless you pay extra.)

I should also point out that the Android operating system is often customized by the service provider, so the hardware manufacturer may be relatively useless when it comes to teaching the consumer how to use the phone in depth. Android isn't always the exact same on every device. The operating system for Amazon's Fire tablets is based on Android, but it's not really Android, even though nearly all Android apps will run on it. 

Tracfone's smartphones all have an interactive tutorial online that walks the consumer through pretty much every facet of setting up and operating the phone. Many/most other providers also offer tutorials on how to use the phones they sell. There are also countless Youtube videos for every phone out there showing you how to do anything and everything. The truth is though, modern electronics aren't all that complex if you have any experience to build upon. Using a tablet, smartphone, or computer is pretty darn similar regardless of the brand or OS.

If you sit an i-Pad user down with a Kindle Fire they wouldn't stare at it in befuddlement and ask, "What is this?" They'd turn it on and use it. Would they know how to use every aspect of it? Not at first, but they'd learn pretty darn quickly. The same with smartphones. If I handed my Android phone to an iPhone user to make a call, they wouldn't need any help to make the call. If an iPhone user handed their phone to me to make a call I'm pretty confident I could do so with no trouble. It's not rocket science. One OS isn't a mind reader while the other is written in sanscript. Everything is pretty darn similar these days.