New operating system, new pains
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 09:35AM
In a fit of insanity exacerbated by desperation, I bought a new smartphone this past weekend. What causes me to doubt my intellectual clarity at the time of purchase was choosing a Samsung phone running the Android operating system instead of a familiar iPhone. What was I thinking?
My old iPhone 5SE just flatout died on Friday morning while I was road-tripping to Kansas City to see family. I quickly learned that traveling without a smartphone was, ahem, challenging to say the least. While my friend’s iPhone was working for maps and such and even played nicely with car’s CarPlay, her phone did not fill the void left by my old phone’s demise. So Friday evening, I visited a local TMoble store and accepted the advice of a smarmy salesman and quickly bought the new phone.
I’d been thinking about moving to an Android phone for some time. Although a faithful Apple user for many years (my first computer was an Apple II in 1983), I have been primarily using cheap Chromebooks for the last few years as my main computing device and have been satisfied with their functionality. Apple products seemed to be ever more expensive, I store no data in Apple’s cloud, and well, just maybe, it was time to shake things up cognitively and learn a new system.
An old Apple rep often used the analogy that changing operating systems in technology was like moving into a new house. For the first few days after moving in, one cannot remember where the light switches are, what cabinet the Scotch tape is in, or whether to turn left or right in the hallway to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It made one wonder what one was thinking buying a new house when the old one was so comfortable! It is only after a few days or weeks that the new homeowner starts to appreciate the extra bedroom, the nicer yard, the greater proximity to work, and other benefits of the new abode. And so it is with a new OS. It takes time and familiarity to re-learn where things are, what the new buttons do, and configure the settings to meet one’s personal preferences.
While I can certainly use the new phone, I am still in the “why in the hell didn’t I stick with my old OS” stage. Besides a lot of time-sucking experimentation, downloading old apps and trying to remember passwords, and silently cursing, I’m slowly working my way through the phone’s user manual and a downloaded copy of Android for Dummies. (I could not bring myself to get Smartphones for Seniors.) I am also getting adjusted to the size of the phone - this one is substantially larger than my old SE. I need a longer thumb if I am to operate it one-handedly as I did with my old one.
For many years, I suffered along with those who I supported at work when the school district would change technology systems - new student information systems, new email programs, even new telephone systems. While no change was made for the sheer annoyance of the staff, it usually had that effect. We encouraged training, patience, and acknowledgement of the benefits of new systems. By and large, the folks with whom I worked were good sports and had bigger worries than complaining about a feature now being under a new menu. But some still gave me the stink eye for months, even years, after the forced transition. Or maybe it was for something else.
I will keep plugging away learning my new phone. I am sure I will come to love it as much as I did my old iPhone. But if I seem cranky right now, you know why.
Reader Comments (6)
Good luck! I switched to a Samsung 6 after being an iPhone guy for a while. When it came time to upgrade I went back to iPhones for my last few. They’re both fine but it’s easier (for me) to stick with what my family has. My lovely bride did NOT like that I couldn’t use Messages as one example. But they’re all good phones so you’ll probably be fine. And if not, it’s easy to switch back whenever.
I will be using an Android over the summer as my camp job "gives" me that phone for work. So I get to switch between Apple (personal device) and Android (work device) multiple times each day.
I am hoping that it is the same phone they gave me last summer I worked, but that was three summers ago...
HI Ninja,
Yeah, the iPhone to Android messaging stuff is kind of a mess. After a little research, I found that I needed to "deregister" https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage/ my phone number with Apple. So far, I seem to be able to send and receive texts from iPhone users. But who knows what may be being sent, I'm just not seeing them either.
My new phone was "only" $300, so I can use it for a few years and change if needed. I like a second phone to use with a temporary SIM card when traveling internationally.
First world problems, right?
Doug
Hi Kenn,
My last school district insisted I use a school phone. I simply transferred all calls to it to my personal phone and kept the school phone in my desk. I don't think anyone was much the wiser. I probably violated all sorts of confidentiality laws or something though...
Have fun at camp!
Doug
I took my Android back to the store. I'm good with my iPhone.
Adam,
How long did you use the Android before returning it?
Doug
I thought it was 2 weeks, but my husband says it was 2 days. He said when he saw "the look" on my face, he knew the phone had to go!
Adam
Adam,
I've had my Android for a week. While I was ready to give it back during the first couple days. I'm more comfortable with it now. Can't say there are any new features that I am crazy about but neither am I missing any features the iPhone could do that this one can't. Like a Mac vs a Chromebook, the price of the Apple product doesn't justify the added expense - for me anyway.
Good to hear from you. Hop you are doing well.
Doug