Re: I would NEVER buy a product that is so massively produced in quantity and of ONE
You're missing the point... (And, my response is to the abusive, knee-jerk responders who down-mod someone based on the person's personal position rather than consider the person's feelings about choice/preference...)
When I buy shirts or pants, they rarely have labels. So, a plain white shirt or a green one being one of a millions copies is not the point. I expressly don't buy clothing with makers' labels emblazoned on them. If they cannot differentiate their goods sufficiently, that is not my problem.
A laptop, that's different. Each one is made in limited runs. And, they change in months, if not weeks, with features that may be GONE or a sales price that may EVAPORATE if not bought soon. There are not 5 million identical models of my chosen laptops. They all have some limited increments, partly due to technology advancing daily, partly due to marketing. Some are recognizable despite minor changes, but at least they are changed. What does Apple do with iPhones and iPads re visual appearances?? Would most laptop makers crank out the very same case and argue that the innards are what matter? If they did, their sales might plummet.
With the iPhone, it changes in appearance only once a year or two. Cars, laptops, mp3 players, LCDs, desktops, blenders, battery-powered drills, autos, and more change in weeks or every 6 months. iPhones? Apple is too successful and artsy with great talent to fuse tech with beauty, but is drunk on its own 3 successful models, milking them bone dry. If they don't offer up new simultaneous models, then they INVITED and deserve assertions that they are stagnating in design. They are forfeiting the chance to be subject to consumer scrutiny beyond a solitary style change every 18 months or so. They're being uuber cautious, maybe needlessly too cautious.
But, as for a phone, one would have to be an absolute moron to suggest I ignore the sheer multitude of a given model in the hands of millions of drones (doesn't matter whether it's Sony, Sanyo, Apple, Nokia, or HTC or Samsung). When I bought every model, I considered what I wanted in a phone, how it fit in my hand, whether it was likely easy to slip from my hand, how scratch resistant it was, how shitty or ugly the power charger looked or how bulky it was, and how removable the battery and (later) the data card was. THEN, in the final consideration, I asked myself "How many others are whipping this model out?"
WTF should I willingly purchase any phone model that is in the bazillions? As for a car, I don't have one. But, I've owned a silver Honda Civic, a metallic blue Acura Integra, a forest-green Honda CRV, and a similarly green Nissan Altima, and in two cases, where I outright purchased the vehicles new, I picked colors I saw very few of. In the case of the Altima, I ditched the gaudy/gang-attracting rims and replaced them with the more staid set the owner sold me with the car (he had 1 set on the car and 2 separate sets of differing styles).
How fracking DARE anyone downmod me for making a personal choice. I buy goods, but goods come in variety. They are varied because makers have a motivation to vary them. People want variety. WhyTF can I not have a free will to have variety, express it, and defend it without insensitive people jumping in like juveniles without truly using their brains? I don't expect Oreo cookies to be varied in color and shape. Lucky Charms? Fine as they are. Froot Loops? Fine. Big Macs? Don't assume I want BMs to be sold square or star-shaped. Dockers? Most I don't like, unless they fit well, since I don't like gaudy, baggy clothing. Jackets? I flip through every last damned jacket on a display before settling on one by color, fit, and number of times I have seen it on a transit vehicle. In some cases, I do buy one that I have seen and like, but is not going to be one that I see in the dozens every day in my walking and riding. If that hurts the big labels, TOUGH.
As for "extremely shallow life"... Is that what readers are thinking of me? I have a phone because it is a useful device. But, if I'm going to be looking at my phone all day, I don't want regrets. There are plenty of Android phones i WILL NOT pay for nor use if won -- just because some of them are not my style. It's not as if I'm a cop or soldier or paramedic who has to work with equipment as it is issued. I make a PURCHASE, and we all as consumers have a right to choose from the available variety, do we not?
I really feel that pissed off apple and android fans got pointlessly polarized over my comments. Unfortunately, for them, I am unwilling to embrace the concept of BUYING an Apple phone. I've previously stated in other threads that the damned phone IS kewl looking it IS attractive. I simultaneously love the looks, but not the size. I admire the loyalty, but loathe the obsequiousness it garners. But, they (the virulent ones, that is, not the utilitarian ones) cannot accept that I won't BUY one. Would they marry or date someone who has an identical appearance? Imagine holding hands with your throb, only to every other block seeing 825 duplicates of the "model" of your wife or girlfriend or boyfriend. Imagine that. Then, reflect on my comment about phones' appearances, especially if your car or house are under orders to be repainted to be identical to dozens of surrounding neighborhoods.
Once again, Apple has deep enough pockets to sell alternative, attractive models. Wait til the 4.5" or so model comes out. Care to guess how many iPhone 4/4S users will ditch their current model for more display, despite their idol saying the phone was perfect as it was?
Sheesh,
Oh, and yes, THIS down-mod is (IIRC) my first EVER downmod in any kind of forum. I'm sick to death of assholes who do drive-by downmods when the content they're downmodding was about someone's PERSONAL choice, rather than a threat or outlandish position. My position is I choose to be different when available choices permit me to be different. Yet, hostile opponents construe my position into my being some sort of no-life hermit.