older people like me how do you keep up?

What is a blackberry and what is bluetooth technology?Well I am 51 years old, and have been introduced to the computer at a fairly late period of my life[now it is nearly 2 and a half yrs].Initially I didn't know how to check my mail and the greaatest motivational factor was to chat with my son who left home for his Management program to a hostel. So, for one year i slowly learnt hoew to open the comp , and using single fingered typing i used to chat . That is all. But then, after relocating I was forced to occupy myself in some way ,and I needed some exclusive activity for myself. So, the computer gave me the wonderful solution.Now I know, a bit of MSWORD, and have been successful getting and completing some freelance work.I learn new things because I am interested but would never buy something just because it is the latest.On the other hand, if it is going to be productive I would not hesitate to buy it.I If it is essential for my work I would certainly do it.I would try and navigate, use all my creativity in searching for opportunities within the available setup. Incidentally, you are not 'OLD'.We may not be 'young' in flesh but I am sure we are all youthful in spirit.

My mother in law has the same problem, she gets all confused by new technology etc, but i always tell her the same thing, if you dont need it, dont get it and if you do need it then i will help her. She decidied she wanted to get on the internet so we got her a basic computer with basic internet, which i set up for her, as i am so annoyed by people trying to make more money out of people that dont understand what it is they are buying. I go round to her house twice a week for a computer sessions and i show her the basics, once she is confident with one step i take her through the next xxxx

It all depends on individual and if in my case, i also have a old computer now and i am happy with that as i don't need any extra programs also for my work and if needed only i buy or else will be happy with this pressent one's as buying new one's also will cost us extra cash

What is a blackberry and what is bluetooth technology?Well I am 51 years old, and have been introduced to the computer at a fairly late period of my life[now it is nearly 2 and a half yrs].Initially I didn't know how to check my mail and the greaatest motivational factor was to chat with my son who left home for his Management program to a hostel. So, for one year I slowly learnt how to open the comp, and using single fingered typing I used to chat . That is all. But then, after relocating I was forced to occupy myself in some way,and I needed some exclusive activity for myself. So, the computer gave me the wonderful solution.Now I know, a bit of MSWORD, and have been successful getting and completing some freelance work.I learn new things because I am interested but would never buy something just because it is the latest.On the other hand, if it is going to be productive I would not hesitate to buy it.I If it is essential for my work I would certainly do it.I would try and navigate, use all my creativity in searching for opportunities within the available setup. Incidentally, you are not 'OLD'.We may not be 'young' in flesh but I am sure we are all youthful in spirit.

Hi rose, I have to agree with you there are a lot of bells and whistles out there, and I believe the reason is The companies that sell phone services and particularly cell phone services are trying desperately to get you and me to become customers and get that $40 out of our pockets be for some one else does, I am sure you have noticed that at least every 3 months there is a bigger and better phone , for you to have and all you have to do is buy a contract from them and the phone is yours free. I lived in the day when phones were in stores and every one looked but didn't know any one with a phone to call, When I was 10 we moved to the big city and finally got a phone, and the rest is history I think I will wait until they have a phone that you can wear as a bracelet, or better yet , a grain of rice they slip under the skin like the dog finders, and hold on to your money because they are coming

I'm older than you...I'll be 61 in July and I like to try to keep up for the most part. I don't know what a blackberry is and if I don't then I figure I don't need it. I do have a cell phone because I don't drive and take a lot of cabs and just like to have it on the occasional day that I leave my apartment. I do use a digital camera and would be lost without it. I also use a web cam and microphone attached to my pc to keep in touch with my daughter and grandson who live across the country from me. They are in CA and I am in MA. Sometimes technology is the easiest and best way to keep in touch.

well, it depends on what you do for a living. I think people in certain occupations find blackberries very useful. You can get your e-mail wherever you are. I don't have one, I am retired. I also gave up my cell phone since I got rid of my car and use public transportation. My computer does what I want it to do although my hard disk should be replaced since my files fragment and the defragmentation does not work very well. I did take a couple of courses of HTML just to know what it is and how to build or change a website. I found that I always learned the stuff but it took me a lot longer than the young people. I also found that I was more honest than they were, because they never asked questions and I looked stupid, yet when I looked at their work they did not understand everything either but told me they preferred to figure it out themselves rather than ask. I have however not built a website after the courses. I don't know why, maybe fear of failure. I feel we have to keep up to a certain extent with new developments even just to know what they are. I have so many friends, particular female friends who refuse to learn anything about the internet and yet they get so frustrated and angry because more and more often you are referred to a website if you want information. I find now I could not do without my computer. I look up directions, opening and closing times of museums and events such as shows and exhibitions, train schedules and airline fares, although I still like to speak to a human being when I book a ticket. Just as an example, I was on a train from Ottawa to Toronto and this young man was irate because the train did not stop at Guildwood where he wanted to get off, but he had booked his ticket on the internet and either it did not say or he overlooked it. Someone was meeting him at Guildwood station. I guess in those cases a cellphone is handy if both parties carry one.

Im not so keen on that too but must learned too since now a days computers is a must for me..and i love to browse in the net for it is the replacement of reading books..yeah i think it is a need to know the latest technology its a good learning experience that is if we have the budget for it...

What is a blackberry and what is bluetooth technology?Well I am 51 years old, and have been introduced to the computer at a fairly late period of my life[now it is nearly 2 and a half yrs].Initially I didn't know how to check my mail and the greaatest motivational factor was to chat with my son who left home for his Management program to a hostel. So, for one year I slowly learnt how to open the comp, and using single fingered typing I used to chat . That is all. But then, after relocating I was forced to occupy myself in some way,and I needed some exclusive activity for myself. So, the computer gave me the wonderful solution.Now I know, a bit of MSWORD, and have been successful getting and completing some freelance work.I learn new things because I am interested but would never buy something just because it is the latest.On the other hand, if it is going to be productive I would not hesitate to buy it.I If it is essential for my work I would certainly do it.I would try and navigate, use all my creativity in searching for opportunities within the available setup. Incidentally, you are not 'OLD'.We may not be 'young' in flesh but I am sure we are all youthful in spirit.

I enjoy some of the technology things, like the computer. Mine is almost ten years old and I have no plans on replacing it anytime soon. I tried a PDA, for awhile, lol, couldn't see it well enough to use well. A teenage grandson is now joyfully making use of it. I have TWO laptops, one my son in law gave me cause he didn't like it, and I had just given him $75 for car parts he needed. The other my husband got for me for $20 in a thriftshop. That is the one I use to read in bed at night. [okay, I admit I play cards on it too] I have a very high end computerized embroidery/sewing machine. I loved playing with it, it now needs a tech to work on it and I have it stuffed in a closet, waiting for the day I will have spare money to have it fixed. [not likely to happen anytime soon] I am back to using a purely mechanical machine and am very happy with it. I do learn how do use the techno stuff okay, I am stubborn and will keep at it until I master it. I DO NOT in any way shape or form understand the whys of how computer stuff works. Come to think of it I don't understand why mechanical stuff works. I am just happy they both do work.

Well, I don't have a blackberry, but I don't need one either. I do have a cell phone as do my children and my spouse. Because we live in a rural area, and road conditions can be questionable at this time of year, it is a necessity. Also, this enables me to be able to get in touch with my children if there is an emergency and the same with them. They can reach me whenever they need to. My desktop computer is 5 years old, I have no intention in getting a new one anytime soon, as I have no desire to switch to Vista because it is still having issues and I won't trust it until the get all the bugs worked out. Some fancy gadgets are nice to have, others are totally useless. About the best gadget I can say I have purchased recently was this little flashlight thing that is on a headband. We lost electricity for 5 days in December, and I had to refill the generator in the dark. It's hard to hold a flashlight AND a gas can at the same time. I don't buy the latest and greatest unless I really need it. My laptop I just got is used, but it serves it's purpose. And I only gave 100$ for it!

My phone has been used for four years.I don't want to change it, although it even cann't receive color message or take picture. But sometimes ,I try on new phone of my friends, because I really wanted to know how is it improved? Maybe I don't need it later-day, but someday maybe I do.

Hi! I find that the fancier the gadget the less I know how to use it. My kids have been trying to teach me how to send text messages from my cell, but I always mispell something and can't figure out the backspace key so I'd end up erasing everything and starting all over. I guess we "older" folks find it a bit intimidating and overwhelming and I'm afraid I'll hit a wrong button and break something. My computer skills grow daily, but not easily. Anyway, just wanted you to know that you are certainly not alone! P.S. (a little poetic justice).. my husband bought me an old-fashioned record player for christmas as I have a large collection of records. My kids had no clue how to work it. They kept asking questions like where do you press to go the next song? When I told them the player had a needle and you need to pick up the arm and move to the next tract, they were astonished. They also wanted to know how the record flips over... Guess we all have our own technology!