My old phone has been wanting to be put to pasture for almost a year now, and cheapskate (I prefer to call it ‘practical’) man that I am, I’ve been holding off on buying one for just as long.
Well, there’re other reasons actually. And they’re also the reason why I’m using a five year old+ phone. I’ll try to list them down:
- It’s sturdy as heck.
- It’s small and easy to grasp.
- Texting and calling is easy – Everything is a one-hand only affair.
..and that’s it. I should be able to twist it into my jeans pocket even while sitting or driving, where it wouldn’t scratch, bump or hit on anything. I want to be able to pull it out anytime, and feel free to chuck it off to my bed, couch, (or any soft surface) like I usually do most plastic things. I should be able to read it easily, understand it completely (no unnecessary stuff or features used sparingly). I can get somewhat careless with these things (except of course to those lent to me), and I don’t like putting any more extra effort in its care. Most especially, I should afford it, and preferably not pay any more than what I make in a month for it. Any more and it’ll just take a hit on my wallet, and I don’t like things that announce their presence via a bill every month.
To find a word for it, I want a ‘cowboy’ phone.
Mind you, those are my preferences, and not necessarily applicable to most people my age, gender or financial bracket.
See, the key to choosing a proper device, whether it be notebook, phone, pda, what have you, is that a. you know what kind of lifestyle you lead, and b. you trust that somewhere out there is a gadget built for that lifestyle (or at least approximates it).
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what in a nutshell all the websites, magazines, brochures, advertisements, etc. have been saying to you all along. This is why all these gadgets have been going to the lifestyle sections of the newspapers (lucky me), and which is why they’ve been ending up in my possession for testing.
It’s not so much that I am more technically inclined or capable than any other writer out there, it’s just that I am aware of those two main things. In this age, we all lead more or less the same type of lives, and our phones and other devices should complement (as opposed to overwhelm) it, and should help us lead better lives by doing so.
Not solely by itself, mind you, but whilst in the midst of our daily pursuits, when and if we need them, we pull them out, they do their job like they’re supposed to, and voila we’re happy. For the most part, most people will agree that’s all we ask of them. Any more or less to that effect, and it fails us. I don’t care if it’s chockfull of features, if it can’t provide what we ask of it, then it’ll fail us.
Mind you, the purposes to which we buy these things are not limited to what kind of life they lead. Some people like to, in the midst of conversation with peers, pull out the latest and greatest and (inadvertently or otherwise), show it off. To the manufacturers, I suppose this is just as valid an opportunity to design and market phones, because admit it, the way these things cost, and the way they’re marketed, it’s made to appear that owning the cutting edge will make them look like they’re somehow better in some way, than most folks.
However, whether as a result of having been privileged to have tested tens of different high tech gadgets over the years, or whether it’s because I’m just plain old fashioned practical, I’ve reserved my best praises not for people who own the greatest and latest things. Rather, I’ve observed I am most excited, and have developed most respect for the people who use technology to complement their lives. Not overwhelm it. Not because they want to impress people. Not because they like to listen to bells and whistles. But because it serves the purpose for which they bought it for.
After which, they go about the rest of their business, with nary a thought to the contrary, trusting, content and happy in the fact their job is done. To these people, I take my hat off, because they bought themselves exactly the right gadget that they need. No more or less.
Likely they are not even aware of it, since it’s my belief that successful technology should be in the background, as opposed to the fore like the manufacturer’s ad dollars make it appear.
But heck, that’s something I can do nothing about.
For the moment, my goal is to look for a phone that performs similarly to above checklist. After which my job should be done.