The New York Times’s latest piece on femtocells, small cellular base stations that can be self-installed at one’s home or business, reflects an obnoxious sense of entitlement among mobile phone users. The headline screams it: “Bringing You a Signal You’re Already Paying For.”
Today’s cellular network is outrageously good—so good that we’ve willingly sacrificed clean tower-free sight lines, smooth protrusion-free architecture, and low background RF to get there.
Remember when cellular phones had speakers large enough so you could hear the other person on the line? (Back before half-rate audio became the default.)
Remember when cellular phones had microphones located near the user’s mouth, so the other party could hear you?
Remember when cellular phones had antennas that were large enough to do their job when the tower is more than 100 feet away?
Most people would rather buy something shiny and new than concern themselves with these practical details. Which is fine. But then to complain about it? Come on.