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Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

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21–30 of 268 posts

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#21
post #3
post #2

It seems like the people who say the "new" one is thinner, lighter, more elegant, etc, all have cases on their phones. So in essence, the case sets your phone back a generation or two.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

My iPhone 4S which dropped down the stairs last week could tell you some stories. Plus now I can sell it at a better price. Plus my case is also a bottle opener, that helps :)

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#22
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

It's not about preserving it in mint condition, it's about preserving it in usable condition. I can't speak for others but my case has saved my phone from a smashed screen on several occasions. EDIT: Should possibly also add that I have small children (1 and 3 - that's their ages rather than their names) who use it and I'm damned if I'm giving it to them without a case on...

Likewise. Mine has taken more than a few spills and the case has saved it. I may just be a klutz.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#23
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

true but if you are like me and your phone falls on the floor like one time per week on average, it's better to have a bumper... IMHO the problem of the iPhone (and many other similar designs) is that's not designed for people with average care for their stuff (after all I live with my phone, I don't want to be obsessed) without using a bumper. It would be interesting, but not marketing wise, to get real and design a…

You can throw many Android phones around without worrying, but a lot of people write them off as "plasticky". I personally don't mind plastic if it's done well (eg. SGS2/3), but metal and glass does feel nice in the hand.

Yep I used to have a nexus one at some point and it felt a lot more "fall resistant" than the iPhone indeed... I also don't care too much about plastic VS glass. Actually I like technology stuff made of good plastic cases, like 80's home computers ;)

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#24
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point in "preserving" your iPhone is so you don't have to purchase another one, at full cost if you accidentally drop it and it breaks. My slim case while more simple than most, has saved my iPhone countless times. I could care less if my phone gets dinged, or scratched a bit, but complete failure is an expensive fix.

> at full cost Apple will actually send you a new/refurbished iPhone 4S for just $199, much much less than the cost of a new unlocked no-contract phone. You just mail in the broken one. http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=Un... I recently broke my iPad's screen (dropped it, completely smashed) and got a new one for about half the original price.

For most Americans, that is full cost for an iPhone. Even though it's technically the cost with a contract, I'd wager that 98% of all people who purchase iPhones purchase them subsidized by carriers with contracts.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#25
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

Make something covered in glass that people are going to carry in their pocket. This makes people worry about scratching the phone, they want to take care of the phone, to protect it. This triggers an emotional bond with the product.

I never understood glass protectors. They cover this difficult-to-scratch glass with an easy-to-scratch plastic coating.

A much better approach is to switch to a better laundry detergent: http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/08/your-smartphone-is-bein...

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about preserving it in mint condition, it's about preserving it in usable condition. I can't speak for others but my case has saved my phone from a smashed screen on several occasions. EDIT: Should possibly also add that I have small children (1 and 3 - that's their ages rather than their names) who use it and I'm damned if I'm giving it to them without a case on...

Depends where you set the bar for usable. I'm continually surprised at how many people I see using iphones with smashed screens on trains or the Tube.

Same here though personally I set the bar somewhat higher than that.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#27
post #3
post #2

It seems like the people who say the "new" one is thinner, lighter, more elegant, etc, all have cases on their phones. So in essence, the case sets your phone back a generation or two.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

To protect it for a future online auction?

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#29
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

true but if you are like me and your phone falls on the floor like one time per week on average, it's better to have a bumper... IMHO the problem of the iPhone (and many other similar designs) is that's not designed for people with average care for their stuff (after all I live with my phone, I don't want to be obsessed) without using a bumper. It would be interesting, but not marketing wise, to get real and design a…

You can throw many Android phones around without worrying, but a lot of people write them off as "plasticky". I personally don't mind plastic if it's done well (eg. SGS2/3), but metal and glass does feel nice in the hand.

I've personally seen MANY shattered SGS2's and already 1 shattered SGS3.

If you buy a glass front Android device because it's "more durable", you're going to have a bad time. They use the same or similar glass suppliers, and it will break very easily.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#30
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

Particularly the iPhone 4(s). It's got probably the best form factor of any phone ever made, but people put those massive black rubber things on them with a circle cut in the back to show the Apple logo. Absolute abomination.

Considering the number of iPhones with shattered screens that I see, I'm not sure "full glass" is the best form factor.
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