Sandman
In article <jnops9t88q2ki7u7lstsmc32u9bmf2pipf@4ax.com>, Eric Stevens wrote:

So, using that definition, what *IS* an external switch to you? Got any good examples of a switch that has no components inside the device?

Eric Stevens
If you really want an irelevant example of an external switch you should see https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31088803/DCBwithFOCS.jpg

Sandman
Where is the external switch? All I see is a power grid relay station (presumably).

Eric Stevens
High-tension switches, out in the yard - external (very). I told you it was irrelevant.

Sandman
Since the topic was moving part in smart phones, I would have expected to see an example of an external switch on a comparable device. Or at least some form of consumer gadget.

Eric Stevens
Sorry to disapoint you. :-)

Sandman
So there will be no such examples? Is this because according to you, no household gadgets exists with external switches? They all have internal switches?

Not that it matters, the topic was that all smart phones today rarely suffer from data loss due to not having any moving parts. The ring/vibrate switch is a moving part, but has nothing to do with the data on the device, so whether or not you want to call that an internal or external switch really doesn't matter that much.

Eric Stevens
It certainly doesn't matter from the point of view of data loss. I was addressing your statement that there were no internal switches.

Sandman
You sure were, and given the link above, I feel you have failed to address it properly. You are free to call the switch an internal banana if you so desire, but I don't think you've made a case that supports your definition of external vs. internal, but perhaps that wasn't your intention either way.

Eric Stevens
I gave the original reference to the internal banana several articles upstream. e.g https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+4+Vibrate+Ring+Switch+Replacement/4334 or http://tinyurl.com/oofzazt

Sandman
And I am disagreeing with you that the images there show any internal switches. But you are free to call them internal switches if it makes you feel good.

I just wanted you to show me what an external switch on a comparable devices looks like, so I know what frame of reference you're coming from. Because it seems that according to you, there exists no external switches on any devices.

Eric Stevens
I find it extraordinary that people should regard a banana which is inside the case as being external simply because the end of the stalk is accessible from outside.

Sandman
That's a pretty good analogy, really. Only, you have it backwards. The banana is the fruit of the banan plant, and it is located easily-accessible on the "external" part of the plant. The plant, however, has a series of roots that extend to an "internal" part. No one calls those roots a "banana", just as no one is referring to the internal components of the ring/vibrate electronics the switch.

I think you'll find that when asked to flip the switch to make the iPhone go silent, few people fear that they need to disassemble the device in order to "get at" the switch.

In short, I think this all comes down to you wanting to call the *microswitch* the "switch", which of course is a perfectly viable definition. A microswitch is a switch, and the ring/vibrate mechanical switch certainly connects to a microswitch inside the iPhone, but as Andreas would say - that's not what people are referring to when they talk about the ring/vibrate switch, which I'm certain that you're aware of.