My main point, though, was that it is reasonable to expect something marketed as a phone to have LTE/cellular capabilities. I don’t think “Show HN: an ESP32 with LCD display — think of all the possibilities!” would hit the front page.
It is technically a phone. Just not one many people would want to replace their smartphones with. Home phone or backup phone maybe. We aren't marketing it as a smartphone replacement. The mobile form factor is useful and not just an evil marketing trick.
and yes, the form-factor does make this awesome.
how about calling it a wifi-phone?
it would immediately make the limitation clear and avoid disappointment for those like me who are seeking a replacement for their regular phone.
There is a pretty clear issue with people getting grumpy once they learn it's not a bleeding edge smartphone. I don't know how to solve it. Open to suggestions, but I think calling it a phone is perfectly reasonable and doesn't imply it's a smartphone. Just because all the big phone makers have sold us the idea that LTE and an OS you can play games on is absolutely essential doesn't mean this isn't a phone.
the definition of a phone for me is a device that i can use make phone-calls 100% of the time and send sms messages. today that implies cell phone (GSM) support. it does not imply a smartphone, especially not a bleeding edge one, nor the ability to play games. (although games on the arduino are actually possible)
btw: i have been traveling without a sim-card before (because i did not have roaming) and the success of finding wifi was more like 20% rather than 80%. rather frustrating.
I think you mean 'cellphone.'