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Someone has too much time on their hands.

Nutso wrote:Kirk and Spock visit 2014

"Do your 'phones' reach a ship in high equatorial orbit? No? Losers."

They probably could.

I always think that when someone says that TOS communicators are primitive compared cell phones today. Let's not equate multi-functionality with superior technology.

Vic wrote:when someone says that TOS communicators are primitive compared cell phones today.

Aside from the above joke, I've never heard someone say that.

We still haven't figured out how to control all of a high-end item's (phone, computer) with just a single dial or just a few yellow or blue buttons...

Yeah, TOS communicators don't do a lot... because they're not designed to do a lot.

Jim wrote:We still haven't figured out how to control all of a high-end item's (phone, computer) with just a single dial or just a few yellow or blue buttons...

Last time I looked at my iPhone it had only two button, other than volume control which are only there for ease of access.

IanKennedy wrote:

Jim wrote:We still haven't figured out how to control all of a high-end item's (phone, computer) with just a single dial or just a few yellow or blue buttons...

Last time I looked at my iPhone it had only two button, other than volume control which are only there for ease of access.

The touch screen has a bunch of buttons.

A TOS communicator can call other communicators, or the ship in orbit - only it can do so without the extensive network of relay towers that modern phones need.

A TOS communicator can send precise coordinates to the ship - only it can do so without the extensive network of GPS satellites that modern phones need.

A TOS communicator can emit a sound wave powerful enough to shatter rock from dozens of feet away.

All in all, I think it has current mobile phones beat by a fair bit.

Plus no year long contracts.

Graham Kennedy wrote:A TOS communicator can call other communicators, or the ship in orbit - only it can do so without the extensive network of relay towers that modern phones need.

A TOS communicator can send precise coordinates to the ship - only it can do so without the extensive network of GPS satellites that modern phones need.

A TOS communicator can emit a sound wave powerful enough to shatter rock from dozens of feet away.

And on top of all that you can even use it to talk to people. Beats smart phones.

Weren't there a few instances of them using the communicators to talk to the ship while it was further out in a system? I swear I remember it, but cannot cite specific examples.

Jim wrote:

IanKennedy wrote:

Jim wrote:We still haven't figured out how to control all of a high-end item's (phone, computer) with just a single dial or just a few yellow or blue buttons...

Last time I looked at my iPhone it had only two button, other than volume control which are only there for ease of access.

The touch screen has a bunch of buttons.

No it doesn't. Turn it off and show me one?

Graham Kennedy wrote:A TOS communicator can call other communicators, or the ship in orbit - only it can do so without the extensive network of relay towers that modern phones need.

A TOS communicator can send precise coordinates to the ship - only it can do so without the extensive network of GPS satellites that modern phones need.

A TOS communicator can emit a sound wave powerful enough to shatter rock from dozens of feet away.

All in all, I think it has current mobile phones beat by a fair bit.

Seems to be simple enough to use and a powerful enough on board computer that can recognize voice patterns to a high degree.