As you may know, I am pondering a new phone. Not just a new phone mind, but a 'smartphone'. You know the type, as many of you have had one incarnation or another for quite a number of years. The kind I have avoided for years as a point of fact. I am pretty sure a friend (Mr. Ed I do believe.) once said I would have a flip phone at the Apocalypse. Maybe he said something about me crying if I could no longer get one. Maybe I do not remember what he said actually.
Regardless of what or who or when or whatever happened to be said, trying to find a phone I can live with has been 'trying'. Not just because I am a Luddite in a Fedora. Not just because I am picky. Not just because I despise crApple productions with a passion, or think Google is the Divil. (And yes, I know Blogger is run by the Evil of Google. Little did I know then what I had signed up for.) Not just because I am the (Pick your own adjective here) of oddball and old technology.
Put simply, I am a simple man with simple needs.
So after soliciting opinions, thoughts, smartarse comments from every corner, I finally picked out two contenders for the (Far from)coveted title of 'John's First Not Flip Phone'. One was the Blackberry Key2 LE, which is actually made by TCL and is a Hemorrhoid (Android) based phone. The another was another Roid (Android) based phone, the Sony Xperia XA2. Both were going to be costly, as neither is offered through Verizon, so i would have to buy outright. I had the money to buy either, so that was a non factor in this.
After much research, I have hit an apparent snag in the decision making progress. Not the price, nor colour, nor availability is the reason behind the pause in the headlong plunge for a new phone. It is a more simple reason, one I am sure some of you will find absurd for a number of reasons, but as you will see, is something I always consider.
The battery.
Regardless of what or who or when or whatever happened to be said, trying to find a phone I can live with has been 'trying'. Not just because I am a Luddite in a Fedora. Not just because I am picky. Not just because I despise crApple productions with a passion, or think Google is the Divil. (And yes, I know Blogger is run by the Evil of Google. Little did I know then what I had signed up for.) Not just because I am the (Pick your own adjective here) of oddball and old technology.
Put simply, I am a simple man with simple needs.
So after soliciting opinions, thoughts, smartarse comments from every corner, I finally picked out two contenders for the (Far from)coveted title of 'John's First Not Flip Phone'. One was the Blackberry Key2 LE, which is actually made by TCL and is a Hemorrhoid (Android) based phone. The another was another Roid (Android) based phone, the Sony Xperia XA2. Both were going to be costly, as neither is offered through Verizon, so i would have to buy outright. I had the money to buy either, so that was a non factor in this.
After much research, I have hit an apparent snag in the decision making progress. Not the price, nor colour, nor availability is the reason behind the pause in the headlong plunge for a new phone. It is a more simple reason, one I am sure some of you will find absurd for a number of reasons, but as you will see, is something I always consider.
The battery.
As in, needing the full map to Tutankhamun's treasure, plus Cliff's Notes and appropriate digging tools just to change a bloody battery.
Yes, you are reading that: Changing the unprintable battery on either phone I liked is an exercise in insanity.
Yes, you are reading that: Changing the unprintable battery on either phone I liked is an exercise in insanity.
Needing to use a heat gun, and picks/pieces to pry a phone apart is a problem in my book. Needing to take a phone nearly to bits/fully to bits is also a problem in my mind. I know I am crazy, and I know I over analyse things galore, but experience, as detailed below explains my (Probable lack of)logic for this being an issue.
One - I have had phones were the battery was a dud, either from the get go, or not too long into having the phone. At one point, Verizon had a whole batch of batteries that were bad, and had to go through two different batteries before getting one that was not bad.
One - I have had phones were the battery was a dud, either from the get go, or not too long into having the phone. At one point, Verizon had a whole batch of batteries that were bad, and had to go through two different batteries before getting one that was not bad.
Two - I have had phones that I used longer than the battery decided to have life. never in all the years i have had a cell phone has a battery survived for more than two years. The flippy LG Revere 3 I have had since June 2016 is a prime example, as it could use a new battery.
Regardless of the reason for the battery replacement, I was able to pop a cover off, pull a battery out, put another in and pop the cover back on.
So, just for a recap, to change the battery involved:
So, just for a recap, to change the battery involved:
No heat guns.
No breaking a seal of glue around the phone.
No hoping you did not break an antenna, or something else.
No wondering how you were getting the phone back together again.
No sending it/taking said phone someplace to pay money for the privilege of someone replacing the battery for you.
Let me put my logic into a little different focus:
I randomly checked for a replacement battery for a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus.
I found a battery for $10 from a place online. (https://www.unionrepair.com/replacement-for-samsung-galaxy-s8-plus-battery.html)
From Batteries + Bulbs, which you can walk into for things, such as battery replacement for a cell phone, you would pay $69.99 for the battery and the install. (https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/cell-phone/samsung/galaxy-s8-plus/galaxy-s8-plus/drc50261)
Basically, this is $60.00 additional just to get a new battery into a phone.
I know, perhaps I am making something of nothing. But for me, I never just throw something out because it is no longer trendy, or because it needs something simple replaced/repaired that I can do/should be able to do myself. It should not be rocket science/treasure hunting/paying a sizeable chunk of change to someone, just to change a battery.
Picture it this way, if you would indulge me: Imagine your TV/Cable/Entertainment Center remote being like this. Would that make sense?
I apologise for the length of this rant. I suspect most of you are looking for the number of the 'loony bin wagon' to come get me. I know I am dealing in probabilities and the hypothetical, but having gone through it, it is something to consider. If someone finds I am wrong in my thoughts, please let me know so I can take a look. I do have one final thought of absurdity concerning this:
Thinking of it, I'd be better off with a crApple iPorn, as I already know to expect this kind of shxt from the Temple of Jobs. If that does not define some sort of irony, I have little idea what may.
