5 ms·
My theory is that big phones are best for single device users. Most of my social circle has a computer at home and at work, and they often carry a laptop or
by lsc 8y ago
My theory is that big phones are best for single device users. Most of my social circle has a computer at home and at work, and they often carry a laptop or tablet. The phone, in that case, really is a mobile device, and especially if you are carrying around a bunch of other crap, a small phone is awful nice.
My theory is that big phones dominate because a lot of people don't have reliable/maintained computers other than their cellphone. If that was true of me, I'd want the biggest cellphone I could get, too.
Personally, I think if this is true, and phone companies figure it out, you'll see phones begin to be priced like turn-of-the-millennium laptops. The giant and clunky "desktop replacement" units should be giant and priced at the bottom of the market. The small units should have all the premium features and be way more expensive.
The fact that there are very few small smartphones being made and that none of those are 'premium' smartphones would indicate that either I am wrong or there's a market opportunity that the major cellphone manufacturers are missing.
- Damogran6 8y agoI like my big phone because a) I'm going blind in my old age, and b) the security requirements at the work keep my private life on my big phone, seperate from the network at the office.
- walterbell 8y agoStaring at a phone is not good for your eyes, due to the short distance. A small SE phone for critical/mobile tasks and iPad for reading is a practical combo.
- lsc 8y agois that true? I mean, that staring at a screen degrades your vision? I haven't read anything convincing on the subject.
- walterbell 8y agoIt's a complex topic, depends on age, genetics, corrective lens or not, nature of your work and neuroplasticity. However, the eyecare industry agrees that max period for continuous closeup work (screen, paper, objects) is 20 minutes. https://opto.ca/health-library/the-20-20-20-rule https://opto.ca/health-library/the-20-20-20-rule 2018 thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16146106 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16146106
- isostatic 8y agoMy parents always said I'd get square eyes if I watched TV too much
- Damogran6 8y agoHaving 50 year old eyes is bad on your eyesight. :)
- walterbell 8y agoWe are still learning about eye health. The most profitable lenses for the optical industry are "progressive" lenses for 50+ and these should be avoided for computer use. See previous thread on alternatives: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16194580 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16194580
- anongraddebt 8y agoBought my first smartphone in college and with each upgrade felt the need to continue increasing the screen size. As screen size increased, I spent more time on my phone for both leisure and productivity. This roughly decade long experiment has resulted in an aversion to doing work on my laptop. For better or worse (most likely worse), my phone has become an extension of myself and performing tasks without it - or not having it on my person - feels unnatural, awkward, and discomforting. The only consolation is that maybe I can better understand and relate to generation Z than my peers. Not much of a consolation. ----- I spend ~6-7 hours each day on my phone. On weekends, this use increases. I am now averse even to work flows that are better suited for laptop use. I will use my too-big-to-use-with-one-hand phone for tasks that would take half the time on my laptop.
- rythie 8y agoI totally agree with this and on top, for me personally, I don’t care about the obsession with better cameras in these phones (now multiple modules adding to the cost). I always carry at least a compact camera (RX100m3), and often a full frame mirrorless camera.
- sokoloff 8y agoFor me, camera upgrade was a significant driver in the upgrade from a 5S to an 8. I also have a compact and dSLR, but the best camera is the camera you have and that’s often my phone. I have a lot of pics of my kids that were unfortunately taken on an iPhone 4 or similar era touch and are noticeably terrible.
- rythie 8y agoI'm sure it is for most people. I've always taken pictures of my niece and nephew on a decent camera, I'm pretty sure they'll last the test of time. Every new phone claims to have a good camera, when to me it's still not good enough and doesn't justify the £700+ for a new phone.
- simonh 8y agoFor me it’s age and hand size. The SE is great, both my daughters have one and love them, but I find them hard to read text on these days and too fiddly for my fingers (though my hands aren’t exactly huge). I had a 6+ for a while and got on with it fine but it’s a bit big. My 6s is just right. It is a little big for reaching on screen controls sometimes, but I’d hate to lose the readability so it’s a trade off.