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John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

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Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#41

Post by rubidium »

jacquesm wrote: post #31
rubidium wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Anyone who texts shouldn't buy this phone. However, I would say that it's not aimed at SMS'ers and as such is not executed poorly. Strikes me to have two major markets: (1) people who only want to talk to people via phones (e.g. some of the elderly) and (2) as a fashionable item. The gold one would be a head-turner and topic of conversation. Some people want to get rid of SMS from their way of life (or never…

> hark back for simpler times. When it comes to phones I go through alternating phases of high-tech and as simple as it gets, mostly because I get frustrated at how bad high tech phones usually work as phones (they're great little computers, but I mostly use my phone to call). SMS is no longer optional, even if you want to get rid of it, typically service messages are only sent using SMS, not voice and people will si…

>SMS is no longer optional.

False! Perhaps for your way of life, but there's the age-old 'you != everyone'. Once your friends know you don't text, they stop texting you. They may think you're a Luddite, but that's another issue.

Even though you (and me for that matter) may want SMS on phones, I don't think it was a poor design choice to skip SMS on this phone.

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#42

Post by nadam »

jacquesm wrote: post #14

This is a very good idea executed poorly. SMS has become a way of life and you'll be receiving messages that you can not read, also a paper phonebook requires that you carry a pen with you. Play it again, John, this time with a pager sized (text) display and I'll buy one. edit: added the (text), it does have a display but can't display text messages.

But in that case (if SMS is necessary), why is this phone a good idea at all? There are good old-fashioned simple and cheap phones on the market. For example:

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Nokia_1100__Review_5583589

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_1100

If it had SMS capability and a small display how would this John's phone be better than for example Nokia 1100?

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#43

Post by unwind »

jacquesm wrote: post #14

This is a very good idea executed poorly. SMS has become a way of life and you'll be receiving messages that you can not read, also a paper phonebook requires that you carry a pen with you. Play it again, John, this time with a pager sized (text) display and I'll buy one. edit: added the (text), it does have a display but can't display text messages.

There is a pen, the phony body includes a "silo" for the pen and a flap that folds out to reveal a pocket that holds the address book. Both pen and address book are included with the phone.

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#44

Post by Peaker »

nadam wrote: post #42
jacquesm wrote: post #14

This is a very good idea executed poorly. SMS has become a way of life and you'll be receiving messages that you can not read, also a paper phonebook requires that you carry a pen with you. Play it again, John, this time with a pager sized (text) display and I'll buy one. edit: added the (text), it does have a display but can't display text messages.

But in that case (if SMS is necessary), why is this phone a good idea at all? There are good old-fashioned simple and cheap phones on the market. For example: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Nokia_1100__Review_5583589 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_1100 If it had SMS capability and a small display how would this John's phone be better than for example Nokia 1100?

Maybe you can start the loudspeaker on a call without staring at the screen while it's dialing :-)

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#45

Post by bambax »

jacquesm wrote: post #14

This is a very good idea executed poorly. SMS has become a way of life and you'll be receiving messages that you can not read, also a paper phonebook requires that you carry a pen with you. Play it again, John, this time with a pager sized (text) display and I'll buy one. edit: added the (text), it does have a display but can't display text messages.

It's also very expensive.

Basic Nokia phones that don't do much more than calls and SMS and that are very simple to operate and very sturdy, can be found (new) for around EUR 20.

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#46

Post by swombat »

scrrr wrote: post #6

It's good for old people and aggressive people that frequently like to throw their phones away, because they are cheap. Nobody else will buy it just because its got a "minimalist design". The iPhone has only one button.. seems even more minimalist.

This would have worked if it was dirt cheap. If they sold it for $5 or something, then yes, i can see a use for it.

At 99 euros, they can forget it.

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#48

Post by jacquesm »

rubidium wrote: post #41
jacquesm wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> hark back for simpler times. When it comes to phones I go through alternating phases of high-tech and as simple as it gets, mostly because I get frustrated at how bad high tech phones usually work as phones (they're great little computers, but I mostly use my phone to call). SMS is no longer optional, even if you want to get rid of it, typically service messages are only sent using SMS, not voice and people will si…

>SMS is no longer optional. False! Perhaps for your way of life, but there's the age-old 'you != everyone'. Once your friends know you don't text, they stop texting you. They may think you're a Luddite, but that's another issue. Even though you (and me for that matter) may want SMS on phones, I don't think it was a poor design choice to skip SMS on this phone.

> Once your friends know you don't text, they stop texting you.

I really really tried, but apparently your friends respect you better than mine do me :)

I don't mind being known as a Luddite ;)

Re: John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

#50

Post by jacquesm »

unwind wrote: post #43
jacquesm wrote: post #14

This is a very good idea executed poorly. SMS has become a way of life and you'll be receiving messages that you can not read, also a paper phonebook requires that you carry a pen with you. Play it again, John, this time with a pager sized (text) display and I'll buy one. edit: added the (text), it does have a display but can't display text messages.

There is a pen, the phony body includes a "silo" for the pen and a flap that folds out to reveal a pocket that holds the address book. Both pen and address book are included with the phone.

Typically such items get lost pretty quickly, so you'll end up carrying one along.

Maybe you're more careful than I am, but when I used PDAs I ended up buying several replacement styluses because I kept dropping them in weird spots and losing them in spite of being careful not to.

If it's not attached to the device permanently it tends to get lost over time.

I really think that a paper phonebook is cute but impractical, and this phone strikes me as aimed at practical people, not people looking for 'hello kitty' like cute little phonebooks.

Also, my handwriting is atrocious :)

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