The critics have bleated long and hard about their shortcomings but they have largely been silenced by the ringing of the cash register. Here’s a look at just some gadgets that defied their own shortcomings not just to emerge as bestsellers but also redefine their product segments.
Sony PlayStation
The gadget synonymous with console gaming for millions all over the world did have its dark side. Early versions came with poor quality plastic CD trays that wore out too easily, not allowing users to load games. And when some units showed a strange tendency to work properly only when turned upside down, one could have forgiven tech writers for working on drafts for the product's obituary. But the PlayStation still triumphed, simply because it managed to deliver a stunning gaming experience to gamers, sending the cartridge spinning into oblivion. Small wonder that Sony executives were wearing a “been there, heard that'' expression when criticism was initially poured on the PlayStation 3!
Palm Pilot 1000
The first Palm PDA made Palm a generic term for handheld devices. But it was far from perfect-you needed to learn an entirely different language (Graffiti) to be able to write on it and synchronising it with a computer could be problematic. You even needed a cradle to charge and synchornise it. But the Pilot triumphed simply because it managed to be far more stable and solid than its predecessors, most notably the Newton from a company called Apple!
Motorola StarTAC
In 1996, cellphones were considered to be bulky affairs that were functional rather than fashionable. Motorola changed all that with the StarTAC, the first-ever clamshell phone that looked cool as hell and tipped the scales at a mere 88 grams. Yes, it cost a bomb but it was definitely one of the first mobile phones that made a fashion statement as well as a functional one. Users would later discover that its hinge was not really as solid as it should have been and would also complain about the fact that its limited talk time made them lug a second battery around. But it remains one of the cult phones of all time.
Apple iPod
A media player without FM Radio, without recording facility, and not even a bundled direct power charger (you have to buy it separately, forking out an ample sum)-doesn't sound like a winner, does it? Well, call the iPod anything but a winner and it is a fair chance that you will be considered a candidate for the local loony bin. Apple's media player has had its share of problems and issues (heck, its initial versions worked only with Macs-computers that are owned by a minuscule percentage of computer users) but has triumphed over them because of the amazing sound quality and of course, the traditional dazzling Apple looks. You can get more features on even an entry level device but millions of people prefer the cool factor that the iPod packs in. Even the snow-white earbuds have become a cult, although doubts remain about their quality.
BlackBerry devices
Not exactly sterling multimedia, no inbuilt software for editing MS Office formats (you have to shell out extra moolah to get it), limited third-party software, and a stiff price tag-now what kind of enterprise phone is that? But highlight these points to a BlackBerry user and it is a fair chance that you will be greeted with a look of amazement. For, Black-Berry is synonymous with email on the move and enterprise phones for millions of people, even though other manufacturers offer devices that pack in more features at lower prices, and software developers are now offering push mail free of cost. The first BlackBerry with a music player and a camera came as late as 2006! Users were not complaining, though and that tells you just how good the Black-Berry devices are.
Moto Razr V3
Eight years after adding a dash of fashion to phonedom with the StarTAC, Motorola unleashed the RAZR. Arguably one of the best-looking phones of all time with its dual screens and aluminium casing, the RAZR became a runaway hit, adorning the hands of celebrities all over the world. People all over the world scrambled to buy it, even though it cost almost as much as a desktop computer. However, as time passed, complaints began to trickle in about its slow operation, poor camera quality, lack of memory and less-than-friendly user interface. That did not dent the sales, which just proves that sometimes what's within can be overwhelmed by what's without!
Apple iPhone
The ubergizmo of 2007 captivated everybody with its amazing touchscreen and multitouch interface, allowing users to operate a touchscreen without a stylus. And it looked good too. Its release was a hughely hyped event, thousands lined up to buy it, even though critics kept pointing out the absence of 3G connectivity, the limited Bluetooth functionality, the absence of video recording or even a zoom in the camera, the non-removable battery, and the fact that other models offered more at a far lesser price. Users were too busy pinching their fingers to zoom in and out and fainting over the multimedia quality to notice!
