Once again, Apple marketing rears its ugly head, making people think that what "merely" works for your purposes isn't enough.

This recent article, on BusinessWeek had me shaking my head:

...in the wake of the iPhone launch, many are taking pains to improve their own software and hardware to eliminate the often arduous or non-intuitive task of gaining access to even the most basic information. "The industry has been in need of it long before the iphone came out," says Julie Ask, an analyst with consultancy JupiterResearch.

Rivals, including Microsoft (MSFT), Motorola (MOT), Sony Ericsson, and the Nokia-led Symbian group of developers, have all recently announced investments and features to overhaul how their phones look and feel and how they're used.

Well, I agree that Microsoft, Motorola, and even Sony Ericsson need some work with their interfaces. Windows Mobile is notoriously hard to pick up for smartphone and PDA beginners, while Motorola unnecessarily adds complexity to its menus. Sony Ercisson's interfaces are somewhat better, but nothing compares with the ease and simplicity I've experienced with Nokia products.

Granted, some Nokia models are famous for their lack of responsiveness and hard-to-fathom menus and options. But there's a reason why the company has (reportedly) shipped over 200 milllion Nokia 1100s (original Spanish article translated into English). As a former owner of that really basic, but really useful mobile, I agree with Ben Wood, who said "The 1100 typifies Nokia's ability to function as a lean, mean, phone-making machine."

In short, Nokia has become a mobile leader because it focused usability, which is really important for mobile users. Regardless of what the BusinessWeek article would have you believe, the interfaces of most Nokia phones still work, even if they rely on "old" technologies like numeric keypads. That's because the Finnish manufacturer has always focused on providing something useful.

I'm not saying that the iPhone is useless. But what's irritating is the fact that, thanks to Apple, some people are becoming more concerned about bells and whistles. They run the risk of getting a gadget not because it suits their needs to a T, but because it's what's "in" or "cool."