A Closer Look at Apple's Next-Generation 'Unibody' iPhone Design

[Geckotek]

If most users are driven by practicality (in other words they upgrade only when they need to) why are there lines outside the AppleStore every time a new product is released?

Explain to me why several of those in line for the 4s had iPhone 4's already? (I never said "need", I said they upgrade for practical reasons. Almost nobody "needs" these devices.) The average Joe cares more about specs on a piece of paper than they do design. That's why we have things like the megapixel and MHz races. It's marketers responding to the market.

 

[Carouser]

Your insults only serve to reduce the credibility of your argument.

You are one whining like a baby. I simply stated a point of view - that I prefer to upgrade my devices when a new design is released rather than updating just for a spec bump. I like new technology and I like new designs.

If you are so immature that you can't handle people holding a different view to yours then you shouldn't come on forums like this. Go back to insulting or bullying people on Twitter or whatever it is you do to make you feel good about yourself.

I'm discussing what others have written, which seems the point of this forum. I found the argument about 'this design is boring and Apple should have made it even more different from their previous model because I'm bored' rather unconvincing and silly, and I explained why. Changing a design for the sake of novelty seems to be short-term, lowest-common-denominator stuff. There's little merit in making up stories about how many people purchase based on this kind of novelty, to the expense of other considerations consumers and Apple might have.

I certainly agree with you on one point: anyone who can't handle disagreement should get off these forums.

EDIT: And the way this conversation is framed, you'd swear Apple hasn't changed the design at all! They have - what more do people want? Curves for their own sake? Carbon fiber or kevlar because "Wow it's different and now I'm not bored", ignoring all the other considerations that have to go into making and selling a phone?

 

[69650]

The average Joe cares more about specs on a piece of paper than they do design.

That is absolutely wrong. I bet if you asked the average non techie iPhone user what processor was in their iPhone or how much RAM it's got they would not have a clue. The average joe really doesn't give a stuff about any of that. They buy based on do they like the design, do they want/trust the Apple brand, access to the AppStore and iTunes, etc. Only nerds and geeks care about the tech specs. That is my whole point.

Apple is famous for it's designs. They make a great play about how great their products look. They spend years perfecting tiny details about the design. And you think people buy Apple products based on a tech spec on a sheet of paper. Unbelievable. I just give up.

 

[Geckotek]

That is absolutely wrong. I bet if you asked the average non techie iPhone user what processor was in their iPhone or how much RAM it's got they would not have a clue. The average joe really doesn't give a stuff about any of that. They buy based on do they like the design, do they want/trust the Apple brand, access to the AppStore and iTunes, etc. Only nerds and geeks care about the tech specs. That is my whole point.

Knowing what processor is in the phone and knowing that the processor is faster than the phone next to it on a shelf with tags comparing specs are 2 completely different things.

NOBODY I know bought an S3 becuase they think it looks good. They bought it on specs.

NOBODY that upgraded from the iPhone 4 to the 4s bought it because of design. They bought it based on specs/functionality.

Apple is famous for it's designs. They make a great play about how great their products look. They spend years perfecting tiny details about the design. And you think people buy Apple products based on a tech spec on a sheet of paper. Unbelievable. I just give up.

All the more reason it takes years (not just 2) to develop a new phone with a radical design change.

 

[Zunjine]

That is absolutely wrong. I bet if you asked the average non techie iPhone user what processor was in their iPhone or how much RAM it's got they would not have a clue. The average joe really doesn't give a stuff about any of that. They buy based on do they like the design, do they want/trust the Apple brand, access to the AppStore and iTunes, etc. Only nerds and geeks care about the tech specs. That is my whole point.

Apple is famous for it's designs. They make a great play about how great their products look. They spend years perfecting tiny details about the design. And you think people buy Apple products based on a tech spec on a sheet of paper. Unbelievable. I just give up.

This is true. Most people don't know or care about specs - they know and care about user experience. Sure, you need to have a competitive product but the highest specs don't lead to sales.

Case in point, look at the console industry. The machine with the best technical specifications has NEVER had the highest sales in a generation. Wii is less powerful than PS3 and XBOX 360. PS2 was less powerful than XBOX, PS1 was less powerful than N64, SNES was less powerful than Megadrive. The same is true for handhelds; 3DS is less powerful than Vita, DS was less powerful than PSP, Gameboy was less powerful than Gamegear.

Specs on a piece of paper don't sell products. The look and feel and the user experience, along with a belief in the brand and the ecosystem of support, software and accessories sell products.

The only people who think specs sell products to the average consumer are tech geeks - and many technology companies let tech geeks design their products.

 

[69650]

NOBODY I know bought an S3 becuase they think it looks good. They bought it on specs.

NOBODY that upgraded from the iPhone 4 to the 4s bought it because of design. They bought it based on specs/functionality.

I would totally disagree with you on both points.

Maybe you should look at the link to the survey below which shows that only 25% of people who bought the S3 did so "to get the latest technology".

36% bought because they trusted the Google brand, 30% wanted the larger screen and 27% wanted access to android apps.

Those who wanted the latest technology came bottom of the survey.

Link: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/apple-survey-reveals-why-people-choose-android-over-iphone-50008891/

 

[gto55]

apple could have done somethinglike this, instead of just extending the screen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eWjVDyneOMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=okRSCej0x2s

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/xiaomi...ean-smartphone-announced-in-china-16-08-2012/

http://www.techinasia.com/xiaomi-m2-new-phone-launch-event/

 

[Geckotek]

I would totally disagree with you on both points.

Maybe you should look at the link to the survey below which shows that only 25% of people who bought the S3 did so "to get the latest technology".

36% bought because they trusted the Google brand, 30% wanted the larger screen and 27% wanted access to android apps.

Those who wanted the latest technology came bottom of the survey.

Link: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/apple-survey-reveals-why-people-choose-android-over-iphone-50008891/

You just proved my point for me...thanks!

 

[69650]

You just proved my point for me...thanks!

I don't see how but nevermind I can't be bothered anymore.

 

[Geckotek]

I don't see how but nevermind I can't be bothered anymore.

Then apparently you forgot the entire point of the argument in the first place.