Code Red: Discussions with two non-techie mobile users

Yesterday evening, I attended Code Red, an event looking to raise awareness and support for efforts at empowering the Arewa Girl – a reference to the northern Nigerian young girl. Did you know that 1 in 20 northern girls dies in childbirth? Girls; not women. Pulled out of school and married off at between 12 and 14 years of age. You can get more information at www.GirlEffect.org.

I made quite a number of acquaintances at the event, including: Blossom Nnodim, Dupe Macaulay, Emilia Blessing Tobi, Ruth Olurounbi, Izegbua, and Toyin Arowolo. But I also ran into some old ones, including the lovely Subomi Plumptre, as well as Babs Okubote, who I haven’t seen in two years. Before the event proper started, we got talking about mobile devices at separate instances. Both discussions were triggered by interest in my Lumia 1520.

Subomi mentioned how she gave Windows Phone a brief try not too long ago and found it unintuitive. One of the oddities she remembers was looking for the reset button all over the phone and being unable to find it. After searching for the info online, she discovered that it was located under “About” in the settings.

“Who puts a reset button under About?” she asked incredulously?” That is the last place anyone would look for that.”

I agree. That seems an odd place to put it. Anyway, she finds Windows Phone unintuitive enough for her. She absolutely finds the iPhone frustrating and proudly wears the Android OS badge. Subomi rocks a Samsung Galaxy Note 3. She certainly is up-to-date.

Babs uses an iPhone 5, but says that he has a Samsung Galaxy Tab that he dumps the iPhone for once he is at home. He loves Android for the apps and for the freedom it offers. Oh, and he finds the iPhone much of a nuisance because of the limitations in the OS. He admits to being an app junkie, downloading apps, installing, and uninstalling them once he gets bored.

Babs says that while not a fan of Windows Phone, he finds it interesting that everyone he knows who uses one is happy with it. I certainly am very happy with my 1520, and I know a number of other Windows Phone users who are satisfied with their devices.

Both Subomi and Babs are not techie users. I, on the other hand, have tech running in my blood. I believe that phone preference is like gender attraction: some men love robust ladies. Some others prefer slim and light. Some others prefer petite. What appeals to one may not strike another as anything pleasurable. But then, that is the way of humans.

Author: Mister Mobility

Master storyteller and founder of Mobility Nigeria, Mister Mobility, has used and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.