Forum > Sony Ericsson / Sony > Windows Mobile > Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 discussion

On 2009-03-13 12:22:41, doministry wrote:
Heh, IMO N97 is quite bigger than X1...
I must say X1 design is unbeatable as for me...

On 2009-03-14 07:18:29, borisisinvin wrote:


I disagree... I don't think it's THAT much bigger than the X1, and like I said the trade off is negligible. I'd much rather have a slightly bigger phone if it means a bigger screen and fully usable AND ergonomic dpad. I can't help but notice that SE more often than not sacrifices form over function in consideration to there handsets (consider all of the wonky almost unusable control schemes and dpads SE has designed over the years that sacrificed usability for aesthetics, like with the K850 and X1 for example...), where as Nokia has done the extreme opposite of that with there own design ethic almost to a fault (with there bland and pedestrian designs repeated over and over again throughout there new N series phones, which look all look too much alike imho). After about a year with the N95 8GB, and given all of my time with various SE handsets, I've come to the conclusion that I'd much rather take function over form. I just want my phone to do what it's advertised to do, and well. It wouldn't hurt if it looked good too, however what's the use in a good looking phone if the controls are clunky and a chore to use?

On 2009-03-14 22:44:41, borisisinvin wrote:
@ doministry, no one here is questioning SE's design aesthetic. With out a doubt, beside maybe Apple, I'm of the sound opinion that Sony makes some of the best looking consumer electronics in the world. PERIOD. Given there pedigree, I would expect nothing less from SE. I, however, do have to question there design choices sometimes when they consciously make decisions that seriously impact a products usability and ergonomics. I've given up trying to use my X1's dpad for navigation with few exceptions (like when scrolling left to right with the phone vertical to skip tracks while in the music player). It's probably the worst solution I've seen in a long long time (next to one of there other solutions for one of there other phones) and makes me really wonder what the design team was thinking. Didn't they personally test it before hand? While I like the optical joystick, I think given the choice between that and a regular ergonomic dpad, I would have taken the latter. As is, the dpad's pretty unusable as a navigation tool, and that's fact.

What btw is constituted as functional crap? I'm just curious is all... I'm trying to quantify that response into something meaningful and intelligible and am having a really hard time doing so, please elaborate.

On 2009-03-15 20:32:31, borisisinvin wrote:
@ doministry, I would refer to SE's track record again to prove my point. Again, I think that if you look at SE's design choices over the years and there wares you'll see SE more often than not doing just what it is that you say Nokia has done... I think what you're saying about Nokia could more easily be applied to SE and most of there designs. We obviously agree to disagree on this topic, and no matter what either us say we'll never convince each other otherwise. I know what I know, and like to think that it's tempered by unbiased experience (former SE enthusiast who now sees the trees from the forest, and wants the best for his hard earned monies irregardless of brand), instead of being driven by blind brand zealotry. BTW, how many Nokia's have you used exclusively for an extended amount of time (like say 3 months or more), just out of curiosity?

On 2009-03-16 04:58:12, borisisinvin wrote:
Fair enough, and I can respect your honest preference. TBH it was really pleasant talking to you about it all anyways, and for once it was a refreshing change to not have the conversation/debate devolve into a baseless fanboy flame war. Thanks!