Buying used iPhone 2g - screenshot & activation questions

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Level 1

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Buying used iPhone 2g - screenshot & activation questions

All,

I'm considering buying an iPhone 2g and I had a few questions:

1) Will the iPhone 2g take screenshots with home-power like new iPhones?

2) If I reactivate with AT&T, will they require me to have a contract, or would I be able to go month to month? Will they supply a compatible SIM card if the seller doesn't?

3) Is there a quick way to test how good the battery is (like while the seller is still around, so I can back out if it'll only hold a charge for 15 minutes)?

Any help is appreciated, and any other buying advice is appreciated.

-->Adam

Windows 7

Posted on Sep 5, 2010 1:59 AM

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Answer 1

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Sep 5, 2010 5:05 AM in response to alevinemi

alevinemi wrote:
1) Will the iPhone 2g take screenshots with home-power like new iPhones?

I believe so.

2) If I reactivate with AT&T, will they require me to have a contract, or would I be able to go month to month? Will they supply a compatible SIM card if the seller doesn't?

You'd have to ask ATT this. You can get a SIM from ATT but there is no reason for the seller to not leave the original SIM in the phone.

3) Is there a quick way to test how good the battery is (like while the seller is still around, so I can back out if it'll only hold a charge for 15 minutes)?

Not really.

Unless the price is really, really, really good, why buy a 3+ year old phone?

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Answer 2

alevinemi Author

Level 1

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Sep 5, 2010 5:41 AM in response to Tamara

Many thanks for the help.

In answer to your question, first is the price (about $100 w/no contract for iphone 2g).

The second reason is that this phone is for a severely autistic 4-year old to communicate with. Given that, I want to buy the toughest darn case imaginable that allows you still use the iPhone while the case is on.

The Otterbox Armor is that case - it's like the Otterbox Defender, but bigger, tougher and survives short-term submersion in water. Unfortunately, it was only built for the 2g iPhone - not the 3g, 3gs, or 4.

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Answer 3

Daiya

Level 4

1,666 points

Sep 5, 2010 10:14 AM in response to alevinemi

Interesting use! (You might want to share that info with Otterbox as well--probably the Armor was too clunky to sell well to most iPhone users but your story might open their eyes to a different sort of market to target, one which seems to be picking up--I'm seeing a number of news stories along similar lines)

DO ask the seller to keep the original SIM in the phone--if you choose not to add an AT&T plan, you'll need that SIM to use the phone as an iPod Touch (it doesn't sound like the autistic child necessarily needs wireless service...)
Apple on using the phone without a wireless plan:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3406

I bought my original iPhone in March 2008, so toward the end of the original iPhone production, and the battery seems to be holding up pretty well on standby (doesn't get a lot of active use anymore). Probably playing video would be the best way to push it.

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Answer 4

alevinemi Author

Level 1

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Sep 5, 2010 1:38 PM in response to Daiya

I read that as well, and will probably shut off the wireless.

But, the ebay vendors I see (the big ones who sell a lot with good ratings), all as policy remove the SIM card. I was probably going to go with NextWorth, as I bought an iPod Classic from them and it was great. I 2g 8GB iPhone is about $115 from these guys.

None of the local Craigslist guys are are responding to me, it seems that these things sell fast and the sellers expect me to text. I don't have a phone that texts reasonably, so I send e-mail or call.

As for the Autism uses, there seem to be a LOT of apps that are useful for Autism. At first, I'm just going to use it with my wireless printer and Teach with Cards Lite (app) to print flash cards on the fly. Then, I'll try to get the kid (who can't talk) to pick the card for what he wants. Later, after I trust him to hold the device, I can do other stuff. But there are (expensive) apps so mute people can 'talk' by pressing icons on the iPhone, if we can teach him how to use them.

-->Adam

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Answer 5

Sep 8, 2010 7:03 PM in response to alevinemi

Yep it takes screenshots.

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