Howdy first impressioneers
A terrible joke before : What is a VIP : Very Impressed Person :-))
I guess with only 120 minutes of starting my FP2 it is far too early for real or complete impressions, so I better call it Very First Impression, or VFI of a VFIP , Very First Impressed person . This joke is about impressions that don’t last e.g. like advertising and commercials.
1. Shipping/Package, Assembly and Go-Live
[+] Delivery as expected: Mail notification yesterday and arrival today. Perfect.
[+] One big bonus to me is FPs choice of DPD (“Deutscher Paket Dienst”) instead of DHL!
[+] The paper “README”: Getting-Started (GS) is pretty worth reading. I honoured that decently.
[0] The battery found already connected without a plastic seperation lug. Not sure if this might be risky ?
Notice the GS: It demands to pull battery out while inserting SIM cards . Did you ? I Don’t have microSIM yet.
[0] As described in GS it really was tricky to switch on the phone after assembling the rubber rims and lugs.
This hard going on/off button may become tedious in situations when fumbling blindly for quick access
Remark: irregular on my behalf is my (still) missing micro SIM card. Unfortunately I have still the big one.
[-] During step GS-8 suddenly screen locking happens first time but too quickly. I guess 20 seconds ?
Sorry, why must this be now ? I need the time here. My impression ? Someone pushes me around or urges me.
[-] After pressing shortly on/off button no reaction of touch sensor any more! Obviously I couldnot release locking!
Rebooting so early ?! what else should I do ? 2nd my impression : slightly panic and demanding early support.
Remark: This incident really didnot impress me and I felt not amused about it.
[0] After rebooting the initial setup procedure procceeded exactly where I left after rebooting, so what (happened) ?
[0] Skipping Google-Service (“yes, I can !”) and connecting my inhouse Wifi was seemless.
[-] Next to Edge-Swipe again it blocked me due to screen locking once more and releasing wasn’t possible somehow
Again, I was forced rebooting. I thought I should have better called FP support. However released locking somehow.
Remark: to see my panic here I removed the protecting thin sheet from the display at this moment hoping in vain that this was no software issue. But it was indeed. Or was it a feature to have screen locking on first setup ?
Interim Result: Starting FP2 became to me shocking. It was quite disillusioning. I was reading on the forum for
other incidents becoming quite grave for persons with starting troubles. This phone maybe tricky and even may has potential risks. Maybe this phone is not only new to me but maybe also still kind of new for it’s developers.
2. Hardware / Look & Feel/ haptic perception
[0] Display size not too big, compact design for later modular disassembling. Resolution, contrast checked.
Remark: Looks OK, no complains. Compared to my former 4" display now 5" before it seems to be a smaller enhancement than expected while I didnot have any 5" before.
[+] Speed of hardware, responsiveness
Remark: Yes , here is a positive remark of mine on the fast Qualcomm-801. Maybe only to me who never felt an expensive smartphone before in his hands for more than a few minutes but I like it now.
[-] Accu/Battery, First impression only: Power supply not from FP for charging, if battery may survive my chargers.
Remark: Charging time maybe no 1st impression. Nevertheless same day it went down to 60%. It lasts significantly shorter than my old LG65 that needs recharging (50%) after 1,5 days. FP2 needs charging every day 2x including longer charging times. This downgrade from my cheap LG65 was unexpected to me.
[0] Blue Cover has been an issue of some official FP-excuses because of postponed delivery for blue covers only
Remark: I am sure I wouldnot have been a much earlier receipient (order #7368). I don want to become unfair but I cannot help pointing out to the missing display replacement for FP1 that is acutally out of stock.
[0] Case-Frame: I remember other more solid, sturdy rubber rims. In fact the FP2 looks smarter without them.
Remark: To me there is another issue about the cover because I am missing better protection against display scrapes.
Yes, other smartphones also has no case, covers or transparent sheets for the display as part of the product.
But Pockets, cases and wrappers as accessories are wickedly expensive though they are cheap from production .
Interim Result: There seem to be not much to say about such a simple “case” or cover of a mobile devices. However the special offer of translucent covers became a symbol because FP covers reveal their modular principle. For all mobiles accessories like wrappers against glass scrapes of the display became a hype and a huge merchandising business of the phone industry. Maybe FP missed to make a point for their campaign for sustainability. Even it was only for 2 thin transparent leaf sheets for a few cents to be a gift for every fairphoner.
3. Software / next (first own) steps after GS
[-] Google apps on Lollipop Android (yawning, boring, what a drag)
Remark: I cannot hide my disappointment due to the lean equipment also for the software. Maybe I should remark that I avoid google services in general. In fact for the moment I transfered my apk apps and config files rather by bluetooth from my old phone than reusing googles play store. Also I prefer F-Droid as far as possible.
[-] Software problems waiting for fixing : The weird and wild jumping cursor while touching and flickering display.
Remark: This already known issues reminds me on the illness restless legs with human beeings. I am not sure if this is software or hardware issue. Because it concerns many of all 1st deliveries and it is also a smoking gun about the stage production (still kind of Beta). Cannot believe how this couldnot be fixed before delivery within 1/2 year.
Final Result: Ooohhh-kay! I bought this phone because I like to improve or replace android with better homebrew android as I did e.g. with Cyanogen (later by Sailfish-OS). FP promised to offer open hard - and software. And this promise was kept as far I could see. I bought it for it’s hardware modular system and at least for fair traded ressources and a pension fond for the chinese workers. I didnot buy it for feeling comfortable on 1st impression.
I have to keep that in mind when I compare my 1st impression with the money for FP2. Because otherwise I would send it back and would nobody recommend to buy this mobile phone that may have made sense in 2014 but not in 2016.
Before voting results in detail I have to conclude that the phones longvity doesnot include it’s battery between too many chargings.
4x [+] … mostly delivery points which is a remarkable compensation due to delivery issue of blue covers. In fact there is one [+] left that impresses me due to the fine processor. I hope it is not responsible for too fast discharging, which is the biggest subtraction to me. If so then effectively FP2 wouldnot have even one single + left.
6x [-] … the most sustaining issue to me comes from the battery usage and charging times.
7x [0] … pros and cons are unbalanced quite significantly. However here only concerning my very 1st impression.