One Ringy Dingy
Cidu Bill on Apr 28th 2008
Is there enough truth to this to even warrant the exaggeration? I’ve had three cell phones, and I don’t think I’ve had to open the (thin) instruction booklet for any of them. It’s a phone. You press some buttons and you magically get to talk to somebody far away.
Filed in Bill Bickel, CIDU, Garfield, Joe Martin, cell phones, comic strips, comics, humor | 12 responses so far
Keera Apr 28th 2008 at 03:42 pm 1
Er, no. Today’s cell phones surf the ‘net, play mp3s and radio, to-do lists and alarms and recurring events, Office, Adobe Reader, and file transfers - and did I mention take pictures and act as a dictaphone? (I know I’m dating myself.) Not to mention different ringtones and installing same if you’re so inclined. And then there’s language recognition for typing text messages and… So, yeah, you need a manual. If you’re gonna do more than phone, that is.
Cidu Bill Apr 28th 2008 at 04:53 pm 2
Eh, I’m a guy. I hit buttons until the phone (or computer or DVR) bends to my will.
Bah humbug Apr 28th 2008 at 05:21 pm 3
Has anyone recently bought a cell phone with a manual bigger than 4″ by 6″ and thicker than a quarter-inch? That seems about the max for even the most complicated mobile phones these days. I think Jim would only be happy with a manual that fit into a 2″ by 6″ comic strip…
Michael Apr 28th 2008 at 05:31 pm 4
When I read this strip in the paper today I laughed and said, “How true!” My last couple of phones have come with large manuals — or at least, far larger that you would expect for something that *should* be intuitive… Of course, the phones never are intuitive, which is why the manufacturers have to provide the big manual.
Lola Apr 28th 2008 at 06:08 pm 5
Mine came in at least 3 or four languages. So that makes them bigger by about…..hmmmmm….lets see ….about 3 or 4 times.
Lorraine Apr 28th 2008 at 11:41 pm 6
well, there’s the “Quick start” guide, the more elaborate manual, the “welcome” CD-ROM, the “how-to SUPER quick start” card . . .
so I “sort of” get it.
heather Apr 28th 2008 at 11:42 pm 7
Our new phones are quite basic, relative to most of the market — no camera, no video, etc. The manual is around 4×6, true, but is definitely almost an inch thick. And the french manual was separate from the english one.
It’s true you don’t NEED all that for just basic use — it also has a “quickstart guide” that’s just a booklet with the basics — but for all the detailed instructions, yeah, they’re that big.
Powers Apr 29th 2008 at 07:05 am 8
Apparently phones are getting smaller while the manuals are getting bigger.
Lola Apr 29th 2008 at 08:36 am 9
It’s only 4×6 but is a full inch thick. Yes, I dug it out. English, Spanish, Portugese, something Slavic (Russian?), French, something middle eastern (can’t even guess on that one), Korean, and looks like both Chinese and Japanese. Actually, when you think about it, it’s amazing it’s only an inch thick. No German or Italian. They must be feeling left out.
Mark in Boston Apr 29th 2008 at 11:06 am 10
The Apple IPhone user guide is a pdf file, 124 pages long.
DPWally Apr 30th 2008 at 10:40 am 11
That phone is huge. It undermines the apparent joke, phones getting smaller and manuals getting larger.
Unless this is a 15-year-old strip, then it’s about right.
Frank May 1st 2008 at 12:08 am 12
I’ve been working with computers since the days of Fortran and batch processng. Damned if I can master the cellphone or the vcr - too many bells and whistles that get in the way of the stuff I’m apt to use. The phones they advertise in the Sunday newspaper magazines are tempting. Large keys and screens but a bit too bare bones. Want camera - to carry around family photos. External speaker. Addressbook and voice mail. I don’t textmessage, play games,or need music.
I have web access at home and work. I don’t need it anywhere else. If I did, I’d bring a macbook. Mumble grumble piss and moan. ;-(