What We Really Want in a Cell Phone
I have to agree with the reply posted on David Pogue’s NYTimes blog, which contends that cell phone providers are too busy selling and not spending enough time creating a decent service. Cell phones, not unlike the Motorola ROKR, are just too feature packed. Instead of building an easy to use, worthwhile product, companies and providers work together — conspire? — to continue adding bullet points to the list of things included with the phone (which you will never use). Am I the only one who doesn’t want my network-limited, already-obsolete cell phone to be my main digital device? It seems I’m not alone:
“Will we ever use it as a primary camera? Music device? Oven? No.
Their refusal to develop a product we all actually want is maddening. It’s even more disgusting when they take a decent phone and botch it with their revenue-focused software. My LG VX8000 is supposed to be an mp3 player, but thanks to Verizon can really only play ringtones. Great”
November 15th, 2005 at 9:47 am
I’m with you one this: I hate the idea of an all-in-one device.
What if it breaks? You’ve lost your phone, camera, MP3 player and portable walrus cleaner in one foul swoop! And what if someone wants to borrow your camera for the weekend?
For my latest mobile handset I went for the simplest one I could get - a Nokia 6021: it doesn’t have a camera and it doesn’t play music. I’m a bit peeved that I couldn’t get one with a grayscale screen …
November 15th, 2005 at 2:32 pm
Amen, all I want is a small *phone* that won’t drop my calls when the slightest bit of urban interference rears its head (listen up Verizon & LG). I much prefer Nokias for this, as there is a large enough product line to offer the options you want in a quality device, most of the time. Sadly my carrier doesn’t offer many of them….
November 15th, 2005 at 8:16 pm
I agree in the fact that I think that cell phones need to be more simple, but i disagree in the fact that I think that sometimes it is just more convenient. For much of the youth today, it is all about convenience. With so many people using MP3 players, for not only music but for information, these devices will give you that option. How many times have you gone somewhere and wished you would have taken you camera, while at the same time, how many times have you gone somewhere and forgot your phone. That is the whole purpose behind these devices, they give you the ability to have these features on demand. Sure they are not always the simplest devices, but they do go you that added option of convenience.
November 16th, 2005 at 7:01 am
Nokia does have a model in their collection wich does what it has to do, very nice design and functional (ok the butler button is maybe too much, but can be handy). Too bad the price is way too ridiculous, otherwise i would’ve bought one right away. Maybe someday http://www.vertu.com