Re:Google shelves plan for phone with interchangeable parts
by jstandard on Friday September 02, 2016 @11:20AM
(#12413607)
> modularity is now unattractive for most users.
It's not that modularity has become unattractive, it's that smaller form factors have become more attractive.
A larger form factor is a potential side effect of modularity.
I don't think modularity was ever very attractive in most consumer electronics for the "average joe" who just wants something that does the job they bought it for.
This is probably mostly right, except that the size and weight of current mobile phones is probably largely determined by display, battery and case design/protection. I'd like to see some real numbers here. My guess is that 5-10g of plastic and connectors wouldn't make much of a difference and could easily be compensated with a slightly smaller battery and screen if size/weight become an issue.
> Modularity worked in desktop PCs because they have gobs of space and an AC power connection.
Many things have changed since the 80s, modularity is now unattractive for most users.