There are circles among cellphone users. One largish group consists of people who use Nokia phones. These people who look upon everyone else as “idiots who use junky Korean phones”.
Of course, the junky Korean phonesidiots look upon the Nokia lot as snobs. But as with all circles, there are smaller circles within the bigger ones.
There are circles among cellphone users. One largish group consists of people who use Nokia phones. These people who look upon everyone else as “idiots who use junky Korean phones”.
Of course, the junky Korean phonesidiots look upon the Nokia lot as snobs. But as with all circles, there are smaller circles within the bigger ones.
In the Nokia circle, there is a growing force of sensible people who use the Nokia 1200 and related models. The Nokia 1200 series can only be described as basic and uncool.
These phones are completely useless in many respects: they have no camera, no 3.5gig, or even GPRS access.
However, they make up for their lack of modern features in many ways. Their main attraction is the life of the battery, which can last for over two weeks when new.
They are also durable, and exceptionally user-friendly. They often get returned to the owner when they are stolen (even people who have nothing wouldn’t be seen dead with a phone like that), and they never freeze, crash, or simply don’t work.
The people in this ‘cheap’ phone circle are usually arrogant. When they see someone with the latest offering which is more often than not close to indistinguishable from a miniature laptop staring at his blank screen and shouting: “But I charged it up this morning!” they would like to tap him on the shoulder and whisper snidely, “I hardly ever charge my Nokia 1208.
In fact, I throw my charger away after every use, and buy a new one when I need it. And, guess what? My phone has a torch.”
“But it has no 5 meg camera,” the fancy phone guy will explain patiently. “You cannot check your email on the go, and it’s just not cool.
I could never give my phone up for that piece of junk!’’ “Yes,” we reply, “But it works. And it doesn’t give me high blood pressure.
And I, unlike you, don’t risk being arrested for indecent behaviour in a public place.” At this point, Mr I-can’t-live-without-myexpensive phone generally walks away, muttering about people who just don’t understand.
Occasionally, he’ll go into the nearest clothing store, buy the same phone we’ve just been showing him, change his SIM card and breathe a sigh of relief.
This doesn’t happen often, but, when it does, it inspires the my-phone-mightlook- crap-but-it-isn’t people to carry on with their quest of enlightenment.
Another thing we point out much more than is socially polite is that, several years ago, all the snobs with their expensive phones were paying small fortunes for phones which had worse specs than the ones we now pay R149 for.
The point of the matter is that expensive phones don’t work. They have been created too quickly. Companies have rushed their latest products through the research division in order to bring out their new gadget before their competition manages to.
The big companies are hanging on the edge. One small slip and they’ll be forgotten forever – the smallest lack of advance and they become another IBM. Gone.
However, there is another group of people, the Apple people with the slogan “Apples just work.” And here I am not talking about those red and green crunchy things, but the technological marvels made by the large American company.
Somehow I doubt that Apples just work no technology just works, but as I have no first hand experience with Apple products, if someone were to give me the new Apple iPhone 3GS for free… Well, let’s just say that I’d drop all my ‘cheap phones are good’ morals immediately.
