Amicus:
[quote] You are a fool who needs to go do more research. It’s better for the devices to have plastic instead of metal. You get more connectivity with Wi-Fi, GPS and mobile network through the plastic. The Samsung products have more features that people really need n their lives so they’re better in terms of software and with the new designs every year, they are really made to fit into your palm and not slip out (unlike the iPhones). Apple didn’t lose its touch, it never had a touch.[/quote]
I received the above comment from Amicus, defending Samsung’s use of plastic in their mobile devices. Amicus was responding to my Has Apple Lost Its Touch With The iPhone 5? article.
I believe Amicus found this part of my article really upsetting:
[quote] Here is what Ron Amadeo of Android Police had to say about the built quality of the Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet.
This is a Samsung device, so you just know things in this department are going to be bad, but I never expected they would be this bad. Sure, there’s the usual, tame stuff. You get, for instance, the same nasty looking corner construction I complained about in my Galaxy S III review. But this time, Samsung went all out and invented a new, even more horrible form of plastic.
The Note 10.1 is wrapped in the trashiest, most awful, cheapest-feeling plastic I’ve ever experienced. Sure, the finish is Samsung’s usual glossy-plastic junk, but this plastic isn’t even rigid. It’s squishy.[/quote]
Plastic Has Its Use
Firstly, I agree with you that for connectivity plastic is much more convenient to use in wireless mobile devices than metal.
However, Apple has no interest in just making the run-of-the-mill mobile devices. The company believes in aesthetic in designs and creating premium quality products. According to Wikipedia, “Aesthetic ethics refer to the idea that human conduct and behaviour ought to be governed by that which is beautiful and attractive.” This philosophy is in Apple’s DNA. That is why Sir Jony Ive is the most important/powerful executive at Apple. As Steve Jobs said in his biography, nobody can tell Jony Ive what to do. Design comes first at Apple, the engineering, operations and marketing team have to work with whatever Jony’s team comes up with.
Plastic by its very nature cannot create this premium feel in a product in most cases. Even the most die-hard Samsung fan will tell you this. Please read this Galaxy 10.1 review again. Apple will never do a product like this.
You can argue that in Apple’s pursuit to create beautifully design products things can go wrong. This was the case in the antenna issue that plague the iPhone 4 a few years ago.
But, Plastic Is Not The Future
Fast forward to 2012 and read the reviews of the LG Nexus 4. This smartphone has the same design language used by Apple in 2010. However, LG has learnt from Apple’s experience and is using a ‘rubbery material’ instead of the steel band.
Once again you have Apple leading the innovation in term of material used in mobile devices. Using plastic in mobile devices are easier and cheaper options compare to using metal. You should be applauding any company that is willing to innovate and create premium feeling products for users.
Look at the Microsoft’s Surface, Nexus 4, HTC One X etc. Very soon Samsung would not be able to sell cheap plastic junk to consumers if they see more review similar to that of the Galaxy tab 10.1 from Android Police. However, by the time Samsung move to Aluminium, Apple will be changing the game to Liquid metal and Carbon fibre casings in their future products.
You really need to get with the times Amicus, Plastic is so ‘1990.’
