The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone looks like it’s from decades ago but its price was definitely a sign of today’s times. That’s changed, with Commodore’s announcement today that it will drop the price $100 for most models before pre-orders start next week.
The phone caused a stir when it was announced a week ago. First, there was the thrill of 80s computing legend Commodore making a phone. Then the phone being retro in both look and function caught attention, with a flip-phone form factor combined with a focus on privacy. But one of the most unique features of the Callback 8020 is that it runs Android apps on Linux-based Sailfish OS instead of Android. Among all of the praise though, was criticism that a $500 starting price for the basic models was too high.
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Many places are phasing out 3G and even 2G networks which would make the vast majority of pre-smartphone phones unusable. Also, proprietary (but technically replaceable) batteries which don’t hold quite the charge they did 15+ years ago.
There exist new dumbphones, poor reply.
The person I replied to specifically asked “why buy a new one?”.
I believe they meant what’s the point of yet another dumbphone model, not new vs. used. But let’s say they did, it’s not like dumbphones stopped being manufactured in 2007. There’s plenty of newer used models (as recent as you want, including this year) that invalidate your weird statements.
I took their question as “new vs used”, and replied based on that. There are plenty of functional phones out there that you could use if the network still (emphasis on still) supports them, so I don’t think it’s weird to assume that someone might think “why should I buy a new feature phone instead of using my Sony Ericsson from 2000-something?”.
I’ll agree that you don’t have to buy a brand new one to get modern network support, but I also don’t think there’s really much of a used market for them. In the smartphone era, they’re such a niche product that I doubt that there are many people who bought them and are now trying to sell them. I know I would rather keep it in a drawer than go through the hassle of selling it for a price a buyer would consider fair.
It is weird to assume that. I can buy a dumbphone at most retailers, still. And certainly have enough options online. They specifically mentioned “buying any dumbphone out there”. Your own assumption of what you would do aside, do you think that’s what the market would offer, mainly 2000s Sony Ericssons?
This also ties in to your struggling second assumption/flex tape seal attempt. Ebay is not an obscure site.
Alright, I’m not gonna get dragged into a game of “win the argument”, have a good one.
You already played it. Cheers.