Poll: Design vs. Specs or Functionality?

Good design is not just design for the sake of looks and vanity — it is design that also includes functionality.

Dieter Rams demonstrates this principle in his works as an industrial designer, and summarizes them as follows:

http://www.vitsoe.com/en/gb/about/dieterrams/gooddesign
http://designmuseum.org/design/dieter-rams

Good design is innovative.
Good design makes a product useful.
Good design is aesthetic.
Good design makes a product understandable.
Good design is unobtrusive.
Good design is honest.
Good design is long-lasting.
Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
Good design is environmentally friendly.
Good design is as little design as possible.
Copyright Dieter Rams, amended March 2003 and October 2009

Design and functionality are not mutually exclusive. In fact to consider something to be of good design, it *must* be functional.

For me, I often look at the specs first.
I look for the services offered by the brand like Apps, games, and integrated support with other softwares.
Then I also investigate on the brand’s support and services in the country. :P
But of course, OS compatibility with hardware! That’s why I salute iPhone, Blackberry, Nokia and upcoming WP7 for their tight compatiblity with hardware! :D

Laptop: Specs of course but need to check if it’s within budget range.

TV: Specs and warranty. Don’t settle with 1 year since there are already offering 2 or 3 years.

Phone: Specs over design of course.

Laptop – Specs of course, but if you’re using it just for surfing the web, I go for the design..

Smartphone – Specs..

Car – looks..

Smartphone= Design and specs, some phones offer that. Ok, I’m not that of an iPhone fan but they sell not just because of the Apple logo at their back but because of the user experience it can give. The smoothness of iOS is undoubtedly the best. Android is good too, but I think uniformity is a good thing. And mind you, the specs of the iP4 is great.

Car= Would you buy a Honda Jazz if you live in place far from the city? Of course not, functionality is the first thing I think about whenever I buy a car.

Laptop= Specs and design because some can give that. This might be possible but expect the unfriendly prictag on these laptops. I prefer Mac, HP, Toshiba and Sony.

Watch= Looks. (That was easy)

TV= Branded. Oftentimes, the brands says what the quality of the TV is.

Actually, it’s just a matter of thinking what fits your lifestyle. You can get both functionality and design but you’d pay a little bit more though.

Buying a new phone – I prefer a phone with good specs but with a good price as well. On my requirement I prefer to be always connected like checking my email, Facebook, and Twitter even if my trustworthy laptop is not with me. A perfect example of this phone is the Samsung Galaxy Ace. Its got 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a touchscreen. A perfect everyday companion.

When buying a new car its between design and functionality. Last year we are choosing between the stylish Honda CR-V, Mistubishi Montero and Toyota Innova. We picked the Innova because its the best of both plus the price tag of just over a million pesos is not bad considering the features and the Toyota badge.

Buying a new laptop – now this is a dilemma. When I bought my Acer Timeline X, I was choosing this and a tablet like Apple iPad or the Samsung Galaxy S. After a week of reflecting I chose my Acer Timeline X because of the specs. I realized that Im still loyal to Microsoft Windows over Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android OS and Chrome OS. My Acer Timeline is powered by Windows 7.

Buying a new TV – I still prefer to buy the trusty and branded ones like Samsung, Sharp and Sony. Between these three I prefer a Samsung LCD TV since its still cheaper than a LED TV. If the TV makers can make LED TVs lower I guess I could consider it.

SMARTPHONES: I prefer specs over design. But of course with a reputable brand.

CAR: I don’t have one but if I will be buying one, I go for the sporty look like Suzuki Swift. :)

LAPTOP: I’d go for looks. I remember once in Malaysia, I don’t have plan to buy a netbook there. But When I saw the very first Acer Aspire One…I got to have this one! Even if I haven’t read the specs! hehehehe

Wrist watch: I’d go for design. As for the G-shock type or Rolex-type, I am both (for rugged and for formal look).

TV Set: I would go for known brand first before comparing the specs to other known brand.

Design + Specs + Functionality + Support = iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, MacBook Pro, and iMac

for me, functionality and DURABILITY!! :D

Functionality, specs the design…in that order…

I prefer the following when:

•Buying a new smartphone: both form and functionality
•When buying a new car: Looks that could kill
•When getting a new laptop: Mac or nothing
•What about a wrist watch: I’d go for legacy watches like Rolex, i never had trend watches
•How about a TV set: branded ones always has good post-sale support

As a tech geek, I typically look at the specs on paper first with a cursory look at what the device looks like. These days, manufacturers know well enough to encase an impressively spec’d device in an equally impressive body. Once I’ve narrowed down the ones I like according to spec (and of course, have the money necessary to purchase them) that’s when I start going out to give them a hands on to see what they feel like. This is where the design aspect comes in.

Long story short, it’s the specs that attract but it’s the design that clinches the purchase decision.

I’ve always went for no compromise. Form, function, design should go together.

Phone: didnt buy an iphone till the 4 arrived, waited till the specs were good enough, and the industrial design.
Computers: the macbook and the imac
Tv: a 32 and 42inch LG
Watch: Oris, Longines, but my fave to use is the TagHuer Link
Car: a Benz

specs and functionality…

kaya nga diba nag evolve ang phone to smartphone to something what we call mini computer na ngayon dahil sa nadadagdagan ng functionality. I dont need a watch, laptop, mobile phone, mp3 player, sometimes dwd player, pati pa nga flashlight, radio, calculator or even calendar dahil nasa phone ko na lahat diba. kung nasa phone na yung ganung specs tsaka na pumapasok yung design, hindi dahil lightweight, slim or sikat yung manufacturer pero kung matibay ba? design should have quality. I have nothing against Samsung but the specs of their galaxy line are good to great pero made out of plastic…really turn me off. walang tibay na maaasahan.

for cars, it has to be the specs, lesser fuel consumption the better sabi nga eh
i dont own a ferrari
but that doesnt mean i cant get you there…

for cell phones and computers, i prefer functionality and specs over design… latest tech specs means longevity and you wont need to upgrade and update often…

for home appliances, the design and lifestyle matters… i prefer a well known brand cause there is that notion of “getting your money’s worth”…

for accessory trends and fads, it is design and cost since but i dont want to spend too much on them…

ideally for me specs first then design. but both should go hand on hand.

two things for me: iphone 4 and alienware m15x.

Two words: User Experience (UX)

Functionality + Design + Affinity + Story = UX

I think most of the people focus in design over specs, like Apple whose specs is not as good as Sony but Apple’s design is good and innovative unlikely some Consumer Electronic companies…