Comments on: Is Motorola's cell phone revamp enough?

Handset maker is packing its old phones with new features to revive its brand and reach profitability. But critics wonder if the tactic will work.

[Hep Cat]

Does the interface still stink?

I found that Motorola's cell-phone interface was horrible to use
- five clicks to get to the alarm clock, horrible key feedback, etc.

If it's not usable, it's no use.

I enjoy using my Sony-Ericsson T616 far more than I ever did
the RAZR that I bought as an upgrade - and I went back to the
T616 after six months with the RAZR because I couldn't stand to
use the thing anymore, especially with the persistent backlight
buzz the RAZR has. Most people I know with RAZRs feel the
same way.

If the RAZR2 and other 'new' phones are simply repackaged
versions of the same bad software, I know I won't even give
them a second glance.

[fullmetal pharmacist]

New interface it seems...

From the photos and the article, it looks like Motorola is revamping
the interface to a Linux based one. I agree that their old interface
was terrible. This one looks promising.

[TV James]

Yeah...

Yeah, in the past 10 or so years, I've had:
Nokia 100
Nokia 6000 series
Motorola Startac
Kyocera 3100 series
LG VX300 series
Motorola RAZR

(wow... that's kinda sad when you look at it.)

The interfaces have routinely improved, but the RAZR felt nostalgia, some bad holdovers carried forward from the Startac.

One can only hope that everyone in the interface department had all their Moto products confiscated and each Monday were handed a different competitor's handset.

Otherwise, any improvements will probably be mostly a fresh coat of watered-down whitewash applied to rickety boards nailed (with half the nails missing) to brand new posts in fresh concrete.

I bet Motorola hardware engineers cry every time they release a product to the software/interface team.

[Stormspace]

Agreed

I agree totally. The Sony Ericson interface is much much better and loads more intuitive than the motorola interface which plagues all it's phones.

[Stormspace]

Agreed

I agree totally. The Sony Ericson interface is much much better and loads more intuitive than the motorola interface which plagues all it's phones.

[appledogx--2008]

Software is the key

Motorola might have beautiful hardware; I have a RAZR. But the
software shows lack of effort; frankly, it stinks. Motorola and the
rest should be taking lessons from Apple's iPhone. Motorola makes
elegance, but Apple makes elegance and ease of use. The cell
phone bar was raised to new heights at the end of June. Now let's
see if Motorola, and the rest, can clear it.

[mvl_groups_user]

how about a StarTac 2?

Motorola should seriously consider a "Startac 2".

Talk to many cell phone power-users, and they will say they regret the day they were forced to retire their old Startac. (I had mine until I left Verizon 2 years ago)

Comparing it to any phone I have seen prior or since, no phone came close in reception, interface, or durability.

[jimdext]

StarTac2

You're absolutely correct. The StarTac was a great phone. You
could actually read both the LCD screen and keypad in bright
daylight. Doing either is impossible with the Razr. I checked with
Verizon. I can replace my Razr on 12/22/07 without penalty. If
Verizon doesn't offer a StarTac-type phone, I'll change service to a
provider that does. I suspect a lot of users want a simple cellphone.
I'd even sacrifice Bluetooth.

[Mich4elm4n]

i think moto's battery is a big problem

i think moto's battery is a big problem
____________________________________
http://www.vdownload.org/

[aemarques]

Big branding mistake

The Razr name (and other similar names/brands of Motorola phone) have a HUGE problem: they only work (phonetically) in English speaking markets...!

It is typical American corporate arrogance, to think that the world IS the USA. It is - until they want to sell their products in other markets.

On the other hand, "iPod" is an excellent example of a brand that works in every market, regardless of the language spoken.

[TV James]

Who cares?

They can always call it something else in another country.

It's not like "Pod" is a universal term or the use of "i" to denote hi-teck-interwebby-connectivity. It became international by being a compelling, innovative must-have product.

There are plenty of examples even within this country where different names are used in different parts of the country for the same thing... Safeway/QFC/Vons/Pavillons, Kroger/Ralphs, Sears/KMart(ha), Dryer's/Edy's Ice Cream, etc.

We should all stick to arabic numerals for all products. Then they're universal, except in much of the arab world where hindi numerals are preferred.

They've got different marketing teams for different parts of the world.

Besides, the RAZR and most phones sold in the U.S. aren't sold elsewhere because they're technologically and featurally(if that's a word) inferior to what you can get elsewhere.

[dcardozo]

agreed

that's an impossible brand to market in non english speaking countries (that's where most of the world phones are sold)