What the heck is it about cell phone companies that makes them value form over function?
I want a phone that has keys that are easy to use, particularly with one hand or in other awkward, real-life, carrying around situations. My Nokia 8300, with its U-shaped keypad layout is annoying enough. The new 7610‘s keypad layout, swooshing asymmetrically, looks like a nightmare of miskeys just waiting to happen.
But, I suppose, if you’re not making any calls, just trying to look trendy, it’s fine …
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Small keys are definitely a problem. However, for me, small size and weight are primary considerations for a cell phone, and in order to achieve that I’m willing to give up some usability. My phone is primarily an insurance policy so I can call for help if I’m a long way from home on my bike and something really bad happens. So my phone needs to fit in the pocket of my jersey and be lightweight. Even when I’m not on my bike, I want a small light phone so I can carry it in my pocket rather than on my belt (mainly because it gets in the way when on my belt, or falls off and is damaged). I don’t make that many calls, so I’m willing to sacrifice some usability of the keypad for these other benefits. As an aside, I also want something without an external antenna since it is easier to break and makes it harder to get the phone in and out of my pocket. The phone in the photo looks like it had a particularly awkward keypad, so I would agree with you that it’s probably governed by style rather than usability, but I think part of the issue is that phones are really small, and it’s hard to put a keypad on there that’s usable, particularly when part of the phone is going to a display screen. Perhaps phones should head in the direction of voice control.
>>Dave
Too many cases when keypads are needed (passcodes on voice mail, for example) that I don’t think that’s workable. I agree that a small form for a super-portable phone is a good idea; the basic matrix of keys, though, probably shouldn’t be screwed around with, size notwithstanding.
I wanted one of those nokia 3650’s for a while, and I was going to buy one, but when I tried it out in the shop I realised how impractical it would have been.
Wait I just realised I have almost the same phone as you (I have an 8310).
🙂
It’s a small mobile world.
Indeed.
I like my Nokia (an 8265). But even some months after getting it, I find the keyboard still occasionally irritating.
Something you might want to think about http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/340/C2676/ “target=”new”>getting.
Via Boing Boing
I love the fact that the lefty phone will “defiantly” please left-handed customers. What’s next, aggressive customer service? Oh wait, we already have that.
>>Dave
I love the fact that the lefty phone will “defiantly” please left-handed customers. What’s next, aggressive customer service? Oh wait, we already have that.
>>Dave