Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Design Flaw

[gotluck]

here is what is going on, it is all about that little lever just under the end cap of the pen

 

[blairh]

I do think this is a big deal. Imagine someone in a rush or not paying attention and inserting the pen the wrong way in.

 

[tbayrgs]

Stupidity might be one thing, but some people seem to completely discard the group of users with impaired vision and older people. For those groups, this can be a potential deal-breaker. Not everyone who is old (70+) has a bad vision or problems identifying minor differences in shapes, and not everyone with impaired vision is unable to distinguish the top from the bottom of a pen. However, it's ignorant to assume that anyone having issues with inserting an object the wrong way by accident has to be stupid.

The issue with the pen is likely blown out of proportion - like pretty much everything these days - and it affects a very small group of users, but a flaw is a flaw and this oversight by Samsung should fixed, particularly as this is such a premium device.

No, I'm not a Samsung hater. Quite on the contrary. I hold them in very high regard.

Well summarized. I think some are interpreting criticism of Samsung for this flaw as criticism of the Note as a high quality phone. Quite clearly, one can go on using the Note 5 indefinitely without experiencing this issue ever, by just taking some precaution. The issue doesn't limit the functionality of the Note--it's still a pretty remarkable device.

The only point I was trying to make was this was an easily avoidable design flaw, one Samsung was quite clearly aware of and could've taken care of before it was every sold. The shame is that it's a pretty stupid problem--nothing serious to how the device functions. Unfortunately some have made this mistake and it's gained traction in the press. Now, they are going to have to deal with some consequences, regardless of whether it seems foolish to some or not.

 

[sartrekid]

My oh my, how stupid people have become these days.

"My oh my, how ignorant people have become these days", would be more apt. There are going to be quite a few people who'll insert the pen wrongly, and stupidity is likely to be the least of causes for that.

 

[Surf Donkey]

here is what is going on, it is all about that little lever just under the end cap of the pen

This is quite the for pickle samsung too given how difficult it is to fix this issue now that they introduced non-removable glass backing in the latest phones. Swappable batteries and easy access to an optional sim card slot is what made these devices appealing to many users. The teardowns show there is really no way to get it off without breaking the glass:

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

This is quite the pickle samsung too given how difficult it is to fix this issue now that they introduced non-removable glass backing in the latest phones. Swappable batteries and easy access to an optional sim card slot is what made these devices appealing to many users. The teardowns show there is really no way to get it off without breaking the glass:

I think the easiest and cheapest fix would be to redesign the stylus and send out a free one to anybody concerned who can prove they own one. It'll cost them quite a bit in injection moulding tooling but cheaper in the long term if the media start putting people off buying the device.

 

[epicrayban]

Until the one time out of the hundreds that it will be re-inserted. If you're not paying attention every single time and you get it wrong then you're screwed. Good luck trying to get samsung to help you.

Yes, accidents happen. Improper use can lead to improper behavior of said device/technology.

 

[epicrayban]

You have a piece of technology that has an additional piece of equipment that can attach and detach from the main piece. If you insert/attach it incorrectly, it can lead to undesirable consequences.

This is not new.

You people are really stretching calling this a design-flaw. It was designed to be inserted a proper way. Can mistakes happen? Of course. But it was designed to only go in one way; the right way. Any other way is wrong. If it's wrong, it's the user's fault, no matter how easy it might be imagined to get it wrong or how dire the consequences are.

How many tools exist in our world where attaching/detaching it the wrong way leads to a break? Again, this is not new.

You people are stretching. If this is that serious of a design flaw, then it sounds like you're not ready for the responsibilities of a stylus.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You have a piece of technology that has an additional piece of equipment that can attach and detach from the main piece. If you insert/attach it incorrectly, it can lead to undesirable consequences.

This is not new.

You people are really stretching calling this a design-flaw. It was designed to be inserted a proper way. Can mistakes happen? Of course. But it was designed to only go in one way; the right way. Any other way is wrong. If it's wrong, it's the user's fault, no matter how easy it might be imagined to get it wrong.

It is new in regard to the Note series as its predecessors did not have a design that allowed the user to insert the stylus backwards. It's not a big deal for most but a design oversight nonetheless. It's not a Samsung witch hunt, but a group of tech lovers acknowledging something that had been brought up from consumer testing.

 

[gotluck]

yea this thread should be titled 'what is a design flaw?' because that's what the arguments here are really about

semantics semantics

 

[epicrayban]

It is new in regard to the Note series as its predecessors did not have a design that allowed the user to insert the stylus backwards. It's not a big deal for most but a design oversight nonetheless. It's not a Samsung witch hunt, but a group of tech lovers acknowledging something that had been brought up from consumer testing.

Yeah, for sure. I think it's good it's being pointed out.

 

[Surf Donkey]

yea this thread should be titled 'what is a design flaw?' because that's what the arguments here are really about

semantics semantics

Same goes for all the "gates" honestly. "Don't hold it that way", "Don't insert it that way", "Don't bend your phone and it won't bend".

 

[gotluck]

Same goes for all the "gates" honestly. "Don't hold it that way", "Don't insert it that way", "Don't bend your phone and it won't bend".

yea i hear you there

I happily used an iphone 4 as a daily driver for 3 yrs (with great reception), but I could still death grip it to death and I dont deny there is a problem there. I wont dare to try to qualify what kind of problem it is though

 

[lazard]

One end is blunt, the other end is pointy. Don't stick in the blunt side first. Problem solved.

 

[epicrayban]

One end is blunt, the other end is pointy. Don't stick in the blunt side first. Problem solved.

Wait a second... THAT'S what they mean by "inserting it wrong"? The blunt end first?

I thought inserting it wrong could mean pointy end first, but the button not facing up, and that could lead to it getting stuck.

Can someone clarify, because if it is only about the blunt end going in first, well... the argument is even weaker than it already is that this is a design-flaw. That would just be utter carelessness and stupidity.

 

[gotluck]

Wait a second... THAT'S what they mean by "inserting it wrong"? The blunt end first?

I thought inserting it wrong could mean pointy end first, but the button not facing up, and that could lead to it getting stuck.

Can someone clarify, because if it is only about the blunt end going in first, well... the argument is even weaker than it already is that this is a design-flaw. That would just be utter carelessness and stupidity.

yes, you are correct, blunt end cannot go first. that is the only problem

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Wait a second... THAT'S what they mean by "inserting it wrong"? The blunt end first?

I thought inserting it wrong could mean pointy end first, but the button not facing up, and that could lead to it getting stuck.

Can someone clarify, because if it is only about the blunt end going in first, well... the argument is even weaker than it already is that this is a design-flaw. That would just be utter carelessness and stupidity.

You didn't watch the video that's being discussed then? It is indeed about inserting the blunt end first but the point is the stylus doesn't have to go in far to become stuck and cause damage. The user can be holding the middle of the stylus like a pen and push it in a small distance before a problem arises. If it was designed not to allow the blunt end in first, it would stop partially sighted people, users in the dark, children and those in a rush making an error of judgement. It's not necessarily a stupid thing to do, but an honest mistake.

 

[epicrayban]

I do think this is a big deal. Imagine someone in a rush or not paying attention and inserting the pen the wrong way in.

But that's precisely user error.

It's even in your own words: "...inserting the pen the wrong way."

 

[epicrayban]

yes, you are correct, blunt end cannot go first. that is the only problem

Amazing. Then this whole "gate" is really reaching now.

If anyone thinks this is Samsung's fault, they are not ready for the responsibilities of a stylus.

 

[gotluck]

But that's precisely user error.

fair enough, but the sd card, sim card, battery, and backplate on my S4 can only be put in the right way, not possible to do it incorrectly. Not typical of samsung design at least, considering past notes which have all that stuff and the pen too. They really wanted to forget how to do removable stuff

I wish I didnt have to care about stuff just because it was user error at my job

I jest, the only thing different I'd do is be extra careful about letting people borrow my phone, because you never know.

 

[Technarchy]

I don't own a Note 5 and have no plans to get one, but I don't see this as a problem I would have.

I put this in the non-issue category.

It's about as much of a design flaw as every shirt on the planet, which can be put on inside-out if you aren't paying attention and then getting permanent deodorant streaks as a result.

 

[epicrayban]

I don't own a Note 5 and have no plans to get one, but I don't see this as a problem I would have.

I put this in the non-issue category.

It's about as much of a design flaw as every shirt on the planet, which can be put on inside-out if you aren't paying attention and then getting permanent deodorant streaks as a result.

Exactly. How many things would be "design flaws" if this is the basis of what constitutes a design flaw?

We could make anything into a "design flaw" then. How many times have we seen videos of careless drivers putting their car in Reverse by mistake thinking they're in Drive (or vice versa) and going the wrong way? It doesn't matter how much of a rush he's in, or how little he's paying attention to his own actions, or how worried he is about X thing in life; it's still his fault for putting the car in the wrong gear.

Every scenario that says "what if X is happening, and the Note 5 user puts it in the wrong way?" is basically describing user error. It's even in your own words "... wrong way."

Definitely a non-issue. As I said early, reaching.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But that's precisely user error.

It's even in your own words: "...inserting the pen the wrong way."

Nobody is saying it's not user error, but it's also a design oversight by Samsung by not closing this sort of thing off. They designed solutions that stopped you doing this on the previous 4 Note editions, so why not this one?

Designers have to consider many aspects when designing a product. Stupid people, careless people as well as health and safety are always in the criteria. Not everybody is as perfect as you and in love with a brand that they can prevent themselves having that one brain fade moment.

I'm going to do something almost unheard of among you brand loyalists and make a critical observation. My iPhone 6 is far too slippery out of the case and if dropped will smash costing me a lot of money. The glass curves right to the very edge meaning there is very little metal to absorb an impact point. I think that is a design oversight on Apples part because it provides such a harsh punishment for such a simple mistake. I shouldn't drop the phone but then again I am not perfect. I wish designers in the mobile industry gave more thought for accidental damage caused by minor knocks. I also know the repair industry is a business in itself so perhaps it's something Apple and Samsung have thought of and decided to exploit?

 

[Surf Donkey]

Exactly. How many things would be "design flaws" if this is the basis of what constitutes a design flaw?

We could make anything into a "design flaw" then. How many times have we seen videos of careless drivers putting their car in Reverse by mistake thinking they're in Drive (or vice versa) and going the wrong way? It doesn't matter how much of a rush he's in, or how little he's paying attention to his own actions, or how worried he is about X thing in life; it's still his fault for putting the car in the wrong gear.

Every scenario that says "what if X is happening, and the Note 5 user puts it in the wrong way?" is basically describing user error. It's even in your own words "... wrong way."

Definitely a non-issue. As I said early, reaching.

Slippery slope argument

Samsung changed the design. The stylus could go in either way on the Note 4 and wouldn't be an issue. It literally could only go in one way on the other versions. Imagine if now the iphone broke if you put your charger in "the wrong way" in the iphone 6S and you could no longer charge your phone. You would be a bit pissed off because there wasn't a functionality breaking "wrong way" on any previous generation, but now there is.

And no, Samsung's lack of QC for this isn't covered by a line in a manual (which you don't even get with AT&T).

 

[gotluck]

I'm going to do something almost unheard of among you brand loyalists and make a critical observation. My iPhone 6 is far too slippery out of the case and if dropped will smash costing me a lot of money. The glass curves right to the very edge meaning there is very little metal to absorb an impact point. I think that is a design oversight on Apples part because it provides such a harsh punishment for such a simple mistake. I shouldn't drop the phone but then again I am not perfect. I wish designers in the mobile industry gave more thought for accidental damage caused by minor knocks. I also know the repair industry is a business in itself so perhaps it's something Apple and Samsung have thought of and decided to exploit?

That is way too cynical - I am proud of you!

I wouldnt mind an iphone that could withstand more punishment myself