Gransnet forums

Chat

The stress of changes

(52 Posts)
Aveline Tue 30-Jun-26 07:48:20

By this I mean relatively small changes. I recently had to get a new mobile phone. Oh boy. What a palaver with online documents etc far less than actually setting up new phone. Just finding all my usual settings for various apps etc meant hours of passwords and pass codes etc.
I daren't think about changing the broadband/TV set up. It took long enough last time.
Obviously, it's a sign of getting older but I don't like change!!

MissAdventure Tue 30-Jun-26 09:25:27

I don't like change at all!!!
I've barely watched tv since i had to buy a new one; despite it having lots more channels.
I liked my old tv, I knew where I was with it, and I feel quite resentful that I let myself be bamboozled into having this new one.

Cabbie21 Tue 30-Jun-26 09:32:04

I am keeping my old tv as long as I can.
This will sound ridiculous but I scarcely dare go on iPlayer in case I can’t get back to my usual channels. So I tend to use my ipad for iPlayer.
I recently changed my iPad which was really easy, but I think changing laptops will be a nightmare.
I used to be quite good with technology but my son thinks I am useless. Things move fast.

Aveline Tue 30-Jun-26 09:33:14

I did persevere with the new TV set up but dread any further changes.
I know change is good for the brain etc etc but I'd rather have a change of weather or food. We're bravely trying new holidays but secretly dreading them!

MissAdventure Tue 30-Jun-26 10:06:57

New phones are my absolute worst thing.
As you can tell by how I've been writing lately on here.
Esrly days - I've only had it six months. blush

petra Tue 30-Jun-26 10:27:31

Cabbie21

I am keeping my old tv as long as I can.
This will sound ridiculous but I scarcely dare go on iPlayer in case I can’t get back to my usual channels. So I tend to use my ipad for iPlayer.
I recently changed my iPad which was really easy, but I think changing laptops will be a nightmare.
I used to be quite good with technology but my son thinks I am useless. Things move fast.

If your on Iplayer what happens when you press the exit on your remote? That takes you back to terrestrial tv.

Tizliz Tue 30-Jun-26 10:34:56

Changing b/b is the worst thing. Think how many items use it - TVs, PCs, tablets, mobiles, Doorbells/cameras. All have to be updated. Took me half a day as some (TV) were troublesome.

Doodledog Tue 30-Jun-26 10:37:58

I wonder whether the reluctance of manufacturers to provide manuals is the problem? My mum struggles with technology, particularly her TV, and pays a fortune to Talk Talk because she understands their interface. We have told her that her (smart) TV has all the channels she can access through Talk Talk and she needn't be paying them all that money, but she doesn't really 'get it', and there is no instruction booklet with the TV. We have shown her how to do it, but she forgets when she's on her own, which is when she really needs to know.

There is probably a marketing opportunity for companies who either produce simplified interfaces on TVs (eg a button to return to live TV from streaming) or basic instruction leaflets that can be kept next to the TV for reference.

Usedtobeblonde Tue 30-Jun-26 10:42:54

We also had new broadband fitted about a month ago, not changed suppliers just upgraded.
I had to have help changing everything, Alexa is still not connected as we forgot about “her” on the day.

Marg75 Tue 30-Jun-26 10:54:17

We're having fibre broadband installation next week according to EE and BT Openreach. They've sent a new hub and a brand new phone. I don't mind changing my existing hub but my landline phone won't fit into the connection so have to use this new phone whether I want to or not! Hopefully it'll all go smoothly but then there'll be a new password to enter into everything. 🤔

petra Tue 30-Jun-26 10:55:55

Doodledog
YouTube replaced manuals 😂

MissAdventure Tue 30-Jun-26 10:56:25

I have to phone my next door neighbour and ask her what my password is.
She once did a lot of sorting out for me, and she can remember numbers and things.

fancythat Tue 30-Jun-26 11:03:51

I applaud anyone who even attempts any of this.

Thankfully, in my family, we have a lot of "techies".
I call on one of them.
Two of the techies are always bang up to date.

Doodledog Tue 30-Jun-26 11:07:30

I realise that this is adding another type of technology, but if you tell ChatGPT what you want to do it will give you a step by step list of instructions.

If you don't have the app, just type ChatGPT into Google and it will come up. It works in a similar way to Google, but is interactive.

You can type in something like 'I want to connect Alexa to my new broadband system. Can you tell me how to do that? Put the instructions in a list, and do not assume prior knowledge of terminology.'

If you run into any problems, just ask it to help, so something like 'You said the green light would flash, but it is not doing so. What should I do?', or 'what do you mean by Admin password? Where sill I find that?'

Basically, talk to it as though it were a real person, and it will walk you through it.

Aveline Tue 30-Jun-26 11:08:04

When we had to change from BT to EE they sent a young man out to set it all up. We absolutely could never have done it.

loopyloo Tue 30-Jun-26 11:10:31

Getting a new phone is a major change as far as I'm concerned.
Well done.

seadragon Tue 30-Jun-26 11:21:47

At least you have a phone/mobile. I have been trying to get a new one from Tesco since last July as I had been notified that Tesco mobile would be discontinuing 3g support. Long story short..... Our address was not on their system despite us receiving Tesco vouchers regularly for 2 decades.....and, despite several attempts on line and in the local shop their system, alongside a complaint submitted in August, will not accept our address. They eventually cut off my mobile in December!....but did put £76 in 'my' account but I could not access it as ....they would not accept our address even though we updated it with Royal Mail to distinguish it from another house with a similar name. I was then offered a free new mobile phone but it did not arrive till nearly the end of January.....but no address: no Tesco mobile account!! I live on a small island in the far North of Scotland so other options are scarce. BT, out of the blue, offered us a mobile contract of £9 a month which we have just accepted. I now have to figure out how my new mobile works......Interestingly, in the meantime, my "3g" mobile suddenly sprang into action again with all functions available.....!! Curiouser and curiouser.... Next stop Guardian complaints page....

MissAdventure Tue 30-Jun-26 11:23:06

I darent ask my grandson for help with my phone.
Much hilarity, I swear he mumbles on purpose, and it always ends uo with him saying I need an Iphone.

Then i have to shout at him.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 30-Jun-26 11:26:06

I hated the idea of changing my techie stuff, but then realised that I had become too lazy in pursuing something that needed some thought given to it. So I am taking myself in hand and pursuing necessary information and guidance on line. Failing that - there’s always my son😄

Aveline Tue 30-Jun-26 11:41:45

seadragon what an awful frustrating tale. I hope your BT SIM card works.
Meanwhile, I have actually managed to set up my new mobile and get all my favourite apps downloaded and the picture on the first screen. I feel like Elon Musk! It won't last I fear 🙁

friendlygingercat Tue 30-Jun-26 11:43:47

I have a very pragmatic attitude to technology. I just want to use it to make things easier and faster for myself. I am not bothered what goes on inside the black box. My nephew sets up all my technical devices. Yet I use AI extensively and he does not bother with it. I think we all use the parts of technology which are of value or interest to us.

fancyflowers Tue 30-Jun-26 11:46:01

Not the phone, but we have had a new kitchen installed and it's a major change.

The hob is an induction one that I've never used before, and there are flashing lights and you have to turn up the heat by sliding your finger along. Totally alien to me.

At least we've kept the old kettle and toaster.

Then there's the microwave. I'm used to a microwave with a dial that you turn, and a turntable inside. This one has no turntable and once again, blue lights all over.

I suppose I will get used to it eventually but it's going to take quite a while.

pably15 Tue 30-Jun-26 11:58:14

Usedtobeblonde

We also had new broadband fitted about a month ago, not changed suppliers just upgraded.
I had to have help changing everything, Alexa is still not connected as we forgot about “her” on the day.

my Alexa's the same since I changed my broadband,I only use it to listen to music,last time I tried Alexa said she couldn't connect to internet.....I'm still wondering how she could tell me that, well I can't connect her so I'll have to wait for some of my family to do it for me..

Dylis Tue 30-Jun-26 12:08:14

We recently stayed in a holiday cottage with a newly refurbished kitchen. The instruction manuals for the hob and oven were impossible to understand. Everything was "explained" in diagrams and made no sense at all. Lots of beeping and switching off randomly when I tried to turn anything on.
We gave up and ate in the pub!

Aveline Tue 30-Jun-26 12:12:53

I was very reassured when a nice lady told me that her son, an airline pilot, couldn't make head nor tail of the VW manual.