Originally Posted by
rekmeyata
I hear you on the phone thing, it's one my pet peeves, why do manufactures make a phone knowing that it's going to be outside where the elements will eventually get to it but not make it waterproof? and design the screen so it can't be broken? This is just plain insanity. But it's not about other factors in this case, it's about getting you to either buy another phone or redo your contract sooner, in other words it's all about the money, because you and I both know they can build a phone to be virtually indestructible.
It's nearly a perfect analogy to bikes. Yes, of course, they can make phones more rugged and bikes more durable but there are tradeoffs. Phones become bigger and uglier, bikes become heavier. These products are available but they don't sell as well.
I recently returned a bent iPhone with a shattered screen (out of warranty) and ended up getting a new phone. I then encased my phone in a waterproof, shockproof case. It's butt ugly now but should last longer. I'm fairly certain they wouldn't sell as many if they all were as butt ugly and big as my phone+cover.
There are cell phone manufacturers who make rugged phones (
Sonim Technologies Inc. | Rugged Smartphones, LTE Smartphones, Critical Communication Solutions) but you've probably never heard of them and if you gave one of these to your kids they'd just give it back
