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Comment by Endy | Hacker News Reader

I'm sorry, this device profile doesn't really sell me on why I need to upgrade from my Android TracFone; it doesn't even give me confidence that it will work with the networks I need it to. This is part of the problem I've found over the years with consumer Unix-derivatives - too many "figure it out yourself" answers, not enough "just works, or we'll show you how to figure out whether it works or not first". That's the big reason why Microsoft & Apple still are the default desktop OSes, I think.

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https://puri.sm/faq/supported-networks/

They already have a list of LTE bands that will work depending on if you buy the Europe or US variant. That list is only for the Gemalto PLS8-US and PLS8-E. There is another Broadmobi BM818 module as well.

For the US, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile support the 2, 4, 5, and 17 LTE bands that work with the PLS8-US.

All of Europe should be supported on the PLS8-E.

The BM818 mention doesn't specify which version. On the FCC's website, there is a manual that lists bands 2, 4, 5, and 17 so at least it will work in the US.

When buying any sort of unlocked phone, you usually have to check all of the bands with your carrier just in case. When you buying a phone from a carrier, they have already done all of the work for you in terms of checking compatibility.

Thanks, that link was helpful. The US version will work on two LTE bands on my carrier in Canada. I was waiting to order until the radio bands were finalized.

Thank you for the link.

I sure hope that page is meant to be a technical spec sheet and not intended for consumers because it's mostly gibberish terms I've never heard of to me even as a technical person. The frequency check site they link to also has a confusing layout, is US centric and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to use it for.

It would be much better if they could simplify the chart to display country, network and the variants of their phone. This is a very common problem with phone retailers and why I never order internationally. This is the final checklist item before I pre-order.

That doesn't help me since I don't know jack shit about bands. I went to their page and to the page they link to, but I still cannot figure out if the phone will even work where I live?

And if just some bands are supported, may that affect network speeds? I don't think this phone is going to very successful because at the very least they should have made some interactive guide where you simply can select where you live and it will simply display if it will work for you.

If it is that confusing for you, just go buy a Samsung or iPhone from your carrier.

Unfortunately, as long as the standard response is dismissive like yours, that's what the majority will do. When someone expresses confusion, the goal shouldn't be to send them to the mainstream product, it should be to go back and explain your product more clearly. Stop being an elitist and start recognizing that helping people is a basic requirement of supporting a product or service.

Why? What is wrong about having a product dedicated to elitists? Not everything have to be accessible to everyone and it's a good thing. :)

When you have a piece of consumer-focused hardware which could help bridge the gap for mainstream users into a world of Free & Private, what you should be doing is actively seeking ways to bring them in. Besides that, it's an expensive commercial product. It needs to sell very well, or else it will make no impact where it needs to - in the mind of the average user.

Focus on the high-level person if you want. But have a simple version so you extract as much money as you can.

Any mention of "just works" is going to be a lie. It's good to be honest about what you're selling, yet sellers rarely are. Just the fact they're being honest is a major selling point for me.

Oh, I agree about honesty as a selling point. That's the only thing that makes me engaged in this device. However, there's a difference between being honest in a technical sense, and seeking to solve problems from a consumer perspective without lying. And honestly, when it comes to phones, "just works" had better not be a lie, it should be requirement #1.

If Midwestern farmers could get a functional phone exchange working with a few handsets and fencing, we in the modern era shouldn't have more personal setup work than they did.

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