Designed specifically to be dropped

[luvmysuper]

I just finished reading the Adam Carolla book "In 50 years, we'll all be chicks", a funny and irreverent look at many aspects of life.
In it, he makes an assertion of his belief that the iPhone is ergonomically designed to be dropped and thus damaged by its owners, thereby ensuring a constant stream of new phone purchases.

His premise is that it is designed with curvy smooth lines that make it easy to drop, rather than grippy or cross hatched side panels which would encourage a firm hold.
He further says that if Apple had to pay a fee for every dropped phone, rather than making money on them, the very next edition would come with rubber pads, or knurling to prevent dropping.
That's a valid argument. But while loss of revenue is a strong motivational force, I'm not sure it translates into a conspiracy in the opposite direction.

Interesting theory. I don't have an iPhone, but SWMBO does, and the few times I have used it, I can attest to the feeling that if I wasn't careful, it would be in the air like a greased football at a county fair.

What are your thoughts?

 

[bmharold]

I think Apple's focus us visual appeal. Durable products are rarely pretty. I read "Steve Jobs" and the feeling I get was nothing not even hampered antenna performance would stand in the way of.achieving the prefered form.factor. SWMBO has one as well. She has had three. She keeps them in cases that meet the requirements in your book...so it's a moot point.

 

[mretzloff]

Phil, you are starting to sound like my father

He thinks that GM specifically programs their cars to alert drivers that they need an oil change when it is too late so that the driver's engine fails early, that everyone at the airport is out to put a bomb in his suitcase, that all online stores conspire to sell their customers' credit card numbers on the black market, that the IRS will never get your tax return if you e-file it...

 

[mmack66]

I haven't heard of a high rate of droppage for iPhones, so I would likely disagree with the author's assertion.

Then again, I also tend to disagree with the assertion that Gillette engineered their older cartridges so that they wear out sooner.

Also, Apple doesn't seem to have a lack of customers lining up to "upgrade" to the latest iPhone every year, so that doesn't help the assertion either.

 

[global_dev]

If it was designed to be dropped, wouldn't apple have incorporated a lube dispenser into the iPhone?

otherwise its happy coincidence that form over function prevails.

 

[bkfist]

Also, Apple doesn't seem to have a lack of customers lining up to "upgrade" to the latest iPhone every year, so that doesn't help the assertion either.

That line of people waiting to upgrade 1 year old phones to the "latest and greatest" is more a reflection of the kind of people who are at the die-hard core of the Apple fans, those who's image depends on them having that newest model of phone every year. Again, it goes back to the "image" they wish to project to others.

Not making any comments on whether the phone's design contributes to dropping or not, but the "repeat customers" are those that are there for the image or the peer pressure and/or because they are locked into the Apple eco-system (too much invested in chargers, songs they can't easily transfer to other devices, apps etc.)

 

[luvmysuper]

Phil, you are starting to sound like my father

He thinks that GM specifically programs their cars to alert drivers that they need an oil change when it is too late so that the driver's engine fails early, that everyone at the airport is out to put a bomb in his suitcase, that all online stores conspire to sell their customers' credit card numbers on the black market, that the IRS will never get your tax return if you e-file it...

Believe me, it's not my assertion, it's Adam Carollas'

I do think it's an interesting concept though.
Personally, I'm more along the line of thought that they really don't care one way or another if you drop it or not. They were going for a look, even if that look does make it harder to keep your mitts on your phone.

 

[rxonmymind]

How about some of these DE razors with the uber smooth knurling. Now that my friend is not a conspiracy. Wet soapy hands, smooth handle, a gentle shake, ahhhhh!

 

[showcattle]

The Iphone 4 and 4s both have glass screens as well as glass backs, just one more thing to break if dropped. I keep mine in a lifeproof case because i am somewhat hard on equipment.

 

[Shave_Rat]

It's Apple, I'd not put anything past them. lol

 

[maxman]

This idea is similar to "Planned Obsolescence" where manufacturers design products to have a certain "useful lifespan".
Similar, but not quite the same.
Read about planned obsolescence sometime, it's quite interesting.

I have a Windows phone. It works OK for what I do, but it's waaaaay behind the competition.
the back is rubber. I'll be holding onto it for along time yet.

 

[Legion]

Ive been saying this since the damn things came out. Would it really have ruined the design concept if they had added a small hole in the corner to attach a wrist strap? While I don't really believe they were designed to be dropped, I'm sure the problem was brought up in in a design meeting early on. The concern about it being very slippery was probably met with "Yeah, you're right. Lets add a glass screen." and then lots of high fives all round.

Mine has survived largely thanks to this Gigeresque case from Switcheasy. Without it I would have gone through quite a few phones, I'm sure.

 

[Toothpick]

i agree its not a conspiracy. apple actually makes tough products that dont break easily. I believe their laptops are aluminum and a couple iphones they made were aluminum. Scratching easily sure, breaking easily not so much. i've dropped several different iphones once or twice over the years and they never broke. they have also never slipped out of my hands. i dropped them because i was trying to mange more than the iphone in my hand and doing to many things at once.

when you first pick up the phone i can see how you would think "holy crap if i drop this it will break in to a million pieces". the iPhone 5 is light and thin but built tough. and frankly if an adult is so careless that their phone "slips" out of their hand then they deserve it to break. You have 5 fingers to wrap around the phone and grip it with, come on people. The design is the way it is so you can hold it in one hand and reach every corner of the screen with just your thumb.

 

[ouch]

I just finished reading the Adam Carolla book "In 50 years, we'll all be chicks

Took you long enough-
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-Why-men-are-in-trouble?p=3497744#post3497744

Great book.

 

[SEnSE]

I think people over protect stuff to make up for their lack of care & inability to pay attention. While accidents happen I've never dropped my iPhones & I've had a few (every non-S version). The look & feel of the iPhone are why I like it so, & why I never put them in a case. To case or not is definitely another YMMV.

 

[TheVez2]

Two words: Otter Box. Best case for an iPhone.

 

[Mick]

Last phone I got was a Casio Ravine and it will be the last phone I have as long as I can still get batteries for it. It's been dropped, kicked, sat on, left in the car in freezing weather and in the Arizona sun in July where it got so hot it could not be picked up. Still works fine. I guess it is all in whether you want something that can take abuse or something that looks too cool to survive.

 

[Toothpick]

I think people over protect stuff to made up for their lack of care & inability to pay attention. While accidents happen I've never dropped my iPhones & I've had a few (every non-S version). The look & feel of the iPhone are why I like it so, & why I never put them in a case. To case or not is definitely another YMMV.

i agree. i've never cased any phone i had. except my first one but that was just because i wanted to wear it on my belt so everyone knew i had a cell phone. i was young then. now it goes in my pocket.

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

Off topic but I read that as my "Wheel of Fortune" reading to break up heavier textbook reading and it was just an awesome piece of entertainment . I am almost finished with Not Taco Bell Material and while the first half is a bit more blue and longer winded, the 2nd half is turning out to be just as fun as the first book.

 

[cb91710]

Last phone I got was a Casio Ravine and it will be the last phone I have as long as I can still get batteries for it. It's been dropped, kicked, sat on, left in the car in freezing weather and in the Arizona sun in July where it got so hot it could not be picked up. Still works fine. I guess it is all in whether you want something that can take abuse or something that looks too cool to survive.

+1

Got one for work after my city phone got rained on.
Liked it so much, when our Motorola Razrs finally got to the point that the batteries were useless (and I'm talking NEW batteries would not hold a charge for a phone call, I'm convinced that Verizon hosed the firmware) I bought a pair for our personal phones.

Yesterday, we're cruising Fry's and notice that there is now a G'Zone Droid. Maybe we will move up to smartphones.