GADGETed Up But Technologically Challenged
Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Gadgets?
How I Spent 2 years, 5 months and 24 days without using my new gadget!
I wrote this on Sunday November 30, 2025, with the intention of posting it on Facebook the same day but only got to type it out today, Saturday January 24, 2026! I’m old school, so I like to write stuff down in a notebook before I create a soft copy version – I guess this is something I should change….
The title I thought of back in November was “GADGETed Up, but Technologically Challenged”. Not sure if I’ll maintain this title by the time I share this on Facebook and on my blog…
Once upon a time I was called a “dot com mom” by my millennial children and their friends seemed to think that the title was appropriate. So, I’m somewhat embarrassed by this confession – I have a gadget that I have not used in 2 years, 5 months and 24 days!
But I have promised myself that I will be using it within the next 7 DAYS
So, here’s what happened….
I always thought of getting Apple devices BUT they were just beyond my budget. I just didn’t have the money, and I didn’t want to get a gadget on credit (I hate debt, but that’s a story for another day).
I kept hearing all the good things about iPhones and stuff, so I convinced myself to buy myself a special birthday gift. So, when I turned 60, I got myself a WHOLE COLLECTION of Apple gadgets!
An iPhone, AirPods, an iPad and a MacBook Pro! I congratulated my 60-year-old self and was very happy!
BUT…
1. They seemed to use up too much data! At least this was my experience with the iPhone and iPad. I was buying data packages, and they would EVAPORATE before I could do anything worthwhile (like learning how to use the gadgets properly).
2. They (the gadgets) insisted that I was in a different country!! We got the iPhone and iPad from Dubai and the settings kept on reverting to contact details in UAE which WE NO LONGER USE. My best efforts and support from a more tech-savvy family member couldn’t resolve this issue!
3. They (the gadgets) did not want to associate with non-Apple stuff. For example, I could not pair the iPhone with my Samsung Note 20 5G to send or receive files using Bluetooth. I could not use the iPhone to connect to a hot spot on the Samsung phone. And when I sent myself songs by WhatsApp from my Samsung to the iPhone, the songs could not be downloaded onto the iPhone
So what did I do?
I just reverted to Android mode to make life easier for me!
I used the iPhone MINIMALLY; I even forgot how to use the AirPods – I wasn’t even sure if they could work with the Samsung phone
AND…
I did not even ATTEMPT to use the MacBook Pro laptop. We got the laptop in the US; it has been to two other countries and is now back in the US. And I have NEVER used it!
So, after 2 years, 5 months and 24 days, I will start using the MacBook Pro laptop this weekend. And it’s about time because this year I am taking my online presence to another level. (More on my online presence here. If you are 60+ and thinking of doing business online, let’s connect and share our experiences).
Since the laptop is back in its country of origin, I don’t expect to run into the issues I had with the iPhone and iPad. Having said that, it’s no secret that boomers are not the most tech-savvy generation, not even those who have previously been labeled .com moms!
So, I will document my experience here and hopefully have some tips to share on “how to transition smoothly between Apple non-Apple gadgets”
A bit more on my non-Apple gadgets…
I am planning to “leave them” but through “no fault of their own”
I absolutely loved my Samsung Note 20 5G. It was a gift from my son, and it had a very good camera. Sadly, it “died” recently and I haven’t yet decided if I should take it to the phone repair shop. The Samsung has newer “relatives” which should be even better. You can check them out here.
Just wondering…
Do we really NEED to switch from Android to Apple? How about just using BOTH? If you made the switch, like I tried to, did you find any challenges? Any tips to share?
Following the “death” of my Samsung phone I’ve been using my iPhone more regularly and I’m loving it. And learning so much. For example, I can now record a video and do some editing on the videos just with my phone!
Congratulations to me (did I mention that I am 60+?)
And so, I expect to do so much more with the MacBook Pro. It’s like almost every video I’ve watched on YouTube was made (or edited) on an Apple device. Still, I’m a little bit apprehensive as I approach the “daunting task” of actually starting to use a MacBook Pro!
Okay, let me renew my mind….
I’m EXCITED to start the journey with my MacBook Pro!
And I will be glad to receive some tips from those of you who are already Pros on using MacBook Pro.
I got mine at a budget-friendly price. It is Apple-certified refurbished. You can check out the option here.
I’ll share how it goes.
Click here if you want to share some tips. I’ll appreciate it greatly!
