Design Flaws of the HP6315—lessons learned (?)

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design: /di·'zin/

n a deliberate plan for the creation or development of an object. vt: to create something according to plan.
good design: /'gud —/ the product of deliberate forethought and careful understanding of the purpose of a subject, resulting in a subject which significantly improves its utility, allowing it to integrate seamlessly and naturally into the role for which it is intended.
false synonyms: fashion, decor.

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Wed Jul 13, 2005 Link to this entry

I've come down pretty hard on the HP6315, and I think I've made my case why. I'm not alone: complaints about the HP6315 are quite abundant on the web. No surprise... the thing really could have been designed better.

But I'm surprised and disappointed by HP's lack of commitment to the device. Sure, they goofed, but the design problems were not insurmountable. A Version 2 of the device could have been a really impressive, once they sat down with the customers and figured out where they could make that second version better.

Instead, HP seems to have orphaned the device, scuttling all the expertise they acquired in its development, simply because they got some blisters on their toes.

In a domino effect, T-mobile no longer mentions the device on their website. Customers were not exactly "givin' luv" over the thing, and since HP high-tailed it, they too cut their losses.

It seems almost un-American to give up like that. Entrepeneurs take their knocks, and try again. It wasn't that bad a device—if only HP had put a bit more design into it up front by considering what customers would want from such a device (and put a bit more design into the customer care infrastructure) instead of just grafting on feature after feature, without regard for usability. But American or not, HP crept off the field, tail between its legs.

Too bad. It really was on to something there....