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But all these devices are useless after 2 or 3 years anyway... why would anyone care about scratching up the metal a bit? These aren't collectors items.

by maqr 15y ago

silencio 15y ago
It helps resale value, but more importantly, it protects you from rubbing your fingers on a scratch in the glass (nothing dangerous, just irritating) or having an unusable part. Like the plastic covering the rear camera lens. I got a case for my 4S ($10 on amazon, almost unnoticeably thin) because my 4's camera became increasingly unusable over the course of a year and change since I kept putting it down on tables, while the rest of the iPhone was in good shape for being naked (even considering I drop it at least once a week). I probably noticed the first scratch on the plastic lens cover bit a month into owning the 4, while right now there are no noticeable scratches on my 4S's which was purchased in mid-October. Compare http://twitpic.com/6n1o1b http://twitpic.com/6n1o1b and http://twitpic.com/6ubjq2 http://twitpic.com/6ubjq2 (can't even really see faces anymore, and that was with an attempt to focus and decent lighting) to http://pic.twitter.com/gHK0yi5g http://pic.twitter.com/gHK0yi5g or http://pic.twitter.com/7U1lNoA9 http://pic.twitter.com/7U1lNoA9 (where you see a little too much detail ;) ).
nlawalker 15y ago
>> These aren't collectors items. That's in the eye of the beholder. I don't think cars, stamps, watches or baseball cards are collectors items, but the slightest imperfection in any of them is a tragedy to some people. I don't think a lot of people out there "collect" devices, but the same instincts apply. A watch actually might be a fairly good analogy here. When you pay hundreds of dollars for a shiny, shiny device, it's natural to want to keep it in its mint state. The primary difference is related to, of course, the original topic - watches just get extra care, devices get plastic wrap put on them. I would attribute this to the fact that watches are generally inert, and can be chosen for an occasion. A device, for many people, is something that's always carried and is frequently set down, picked up, manipulated and pocketed. Additionally, device screens are precise, touch-sensitive instruments with increasingly high resolution. A small scratch in the right place can substantially diminish the experience.

But all these devices are useless after 2 or 3 years anyway... why would anyone care about scratching up the metal a bit? These aren't collectors items.

by maqr 15y ago

But all these devices are useless after 2 or 3 years anyway... why would anyone care about scratching up the metal a bit? These aren't collectors items.

silencio 15y ago

It helps resale value, but more importantly, it protects you from rubbing your fingers on a scratch in the glass (nothing dangerous, just irritating) or having an unusable part. Like the plastic covering the rear camera lens. I got a case for my 4S ($10 on amazon, almost unnoticeably thin) because my 4's camera became increasingly unusable over the course of a year and change since I kept putting it down on tables, while the rest of the iPhone was in good shape for being naked (even considering I drop it at least once a week). I probably noticed the first scratch on the plastic lens cover bit a month into owning the 4, while right now there are no noticeable scratches on my 4S's which was purchased in mid-October. Compare http://twitpic.com/6n1o1b http://twitpic.com/6n1o1b and http://twitpic.com/6ubjq2 http://twitpic.com/6ubjq2 (can't even really see faces anymore, and that was with an attempt to focus and decent lighting) to http://pic.twitter.com/gHK0yi5g http://pic.twitter.com/gHK0yi5g or http://pic.twitter.com/7U1lNoA9 http://pic.twitter.com/7U1lNoA9 (where you see a little too much detail ;) ).

nlawalker 15y ago

>> These aren't collectors items. That's in the eye of the beholder. I don't think cars, stamps, watches or baseball cards are collectors items, but the slightest imperfection in any of them is a tragedy to some people. I don't think a lot of people out there "collect" devices, but the same instincts apply. A watch actually might be a fairly good analogy here. When you pay hundreds of dollars for a shiny, shiny device, it's natural to want to keep it in its mint state. The primary difference is related to, of course, the original topic - watches just get extra care, devices get plastic wrap put on them. I would attribute this to the fact that watches are generally inert, and can be chosen for an occasion. A device, for many people, is something that's always carried and is frequently set down, picked up, manipulated and pocketed. Additionally, device screens are precise, touch-sensitive instruments with increasingly high resolution. A small scratch in the right place can substantially diminish the experience.