september.org> F1D9FB4C   
   From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 29-Jun-14 08:10, bob wrote:   
   > Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >> Digital phones can have lots of lines, limited only by the number   
   >> of buttons on the phone.  But more buttons still costs more money;   
   >> in most cases, the typical desk phone only has 2-3 line buttons,   
   >> and only a receptionist's phone has more (one for every user's   
   >> extension).   
   >   
   > Surely a modern desk phone would have some sort of display and menu   
   > type system so that an arbitrary number of "lines" could be   
   > accessed?   
      
   That's too complicated (and slow) for the average user.   
      
   Touch displays make it a bit easier since you don't need a physical key   
   for each line, but you still need to burn screen real estate for them,   
   and the minimum size is constrained by the need to put enough text on   
   the "button" to identify the line, e.g. an extension number or name.  In   
   practice, the vast majority of users never need more than one line   
   anyway; even secretaries only use two or three.  That's about the limit   
   of how many calls a typical user can mentally keep track of anyway.   
      
   The main exception is attendants, and they get special phones with lots   
   of lines and/or big screens--and training in how to use them.  A normal   
   phone is expected to be usable with zero training, and that limits how   
   complicated the interface can be.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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