at least it makes a funny story
Dec. 12th, 2020 06:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marcicatMore technology stories! [Non-important backstory: I have an iphone, because the person at the store correctly interpreted my blank stare and explained that iphones were a good choice for someone who was going to have to look for an online help video every time I needed to do something.]
[[Fun fact: They put the phone in the case for me at the store -- this was back in 2014, so we could still go to stores and touch things -- and I did indeed have to find a video online to teach me how to get it back out again.]]
ANYWAY. This week's example of 'it's too bad that everyone is required to have a smart device, because some of us are definitely not smart enough for them' is embarrassing, but funny! I received my new phone on Tuesday, and in the box was one (1) charging cable. One end is the (of course, proprietary) apple phone connector doohickey, and the other end is a USB-C. 'Oh no!' I thought to myself. 'The only way to charge this phone will be to connect it to my computer!' (Also an apple product.) 'There's no other cord!'
But, you know, not the end of the world. It's fine! It took me until FRIDAY to think, 'heeeeey, wait a minute! I bet I could use the cord that went with my LAST phone!' (That cord is the phone connector and a USB-A.) Which does indeed work just fine. Which is YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE of why I should never, ever make decisions under pressure. I feel the same amount of smart as usual in those situations, but I am not.
ALSO! The BEST, and MOST HILARIOUS part of this whole experience has not been related to charging cords at all, but to the Special Apple Tool that came with the new phone. It had a Special Display Card and everything! What is this Special Tool?
It's a useless paperclip. (As in, it's like half a paperclip -- it could not be used to clip things together, is what I'm saying.) In the Special Apple Way, it did not come with any writing on the card, just sheer blank whiteness. I presume this Special Tool is meant to replace using a paperclip when you have to push the thing that makes the SIM card tray pop out.
My question is this: why does Apple now feel the need to provide such a thing? Here are my guesses: 1) Aesthetically, they wanted three things in the box, and the fake paperclip was WAY less expensive than providing a wall plug for the USB-C cord. 2) With so many people working from home, they can't assume people can steal a paperclip from the office anymore. 3) Apple is Just That Extra.
[[Fun fact: They put the phone in the case for me at the store -- this was back in 2014, so we could still go to stores and touch things -- and I did indeed have to find a video online to teach me how to get it back out again.]]
ANYWAY. This week's example of 'it's too bad that everyone is required to have a smart device, because some of us are definitely not smart enough for them' is embarrassing, but funny! I received my new phone on Tuesday, and in the box was one (1) charging cable. One end is the (of course, proprietary) apple phone connector doohickey, and the other end is a USB-C. 'Oh no!' I thought to myself. 'The only way to charge this phone will be to connect it to my computer!' (Also an apple product.) 'There's no other cord!'
But, you know, not the end of the world. It's fine! It took me until FRIDAY to think, 'heeeeey, wait a minute! I bet I could use the cord that went with my LAST phone!' (That cord is the phone connector and a USB-A.) Which does indeed work just fine. Which is YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE of why I should never, ever make decisions under pressure. I feel the same amount of smart as usual in those situations, but I am not.
ALSO! The BEST, and MOST HILARIOUS part of this whole experience has not been related to charging cords at all, but to the Special Apple Tool that came with the new phone. It had a Special Display Card and everything! What is this Special Tool?
It's a useless paperclip. (As in, it's like half a paperclip -- it could not be used to clip things together, is what I'm saying.) In the Special Apple Way, it did not come with any writing on the card, just sheer blank whiteness. I presume this Special Tool is meant to replace using a paperclip when you have to push the thing that makes the SIM card tray pop out.
My question is this: why does Apple now feel the need to provide such a thing? Here are my guesses: 1) Aesthetically, they wanted three things in the box, and the fake paperclip was WAY less expensive than providing a wall plug for the USB-C cord. 2) With so many people working from home, they can't assume people can steal a paperclip from the office anymore. 3) Apple is Just That Extra.
