Shanzhai N-kia E68 Mobile Phone, Chinese Netizen Reactions

N-kia E68, a shanzhai Nokia mobile phone created in China.

The following has been spreading on Kaixin001:

On YouTube:

Comments from Tudou:

wzy20031102:

This is something everyone needs to be clear on:
If tax is paid, it is called “development”. If tax is not paid, then it is called “shanzhai“.
If the government allows it, it is called archeology. If it is private people, then it is called grave robbing.

面椇]敲賥掉:

One thing must be said, China’s shanzhai companies have now created too much shanzhai,
even creating an economy.
Some shanzhai products are even no worse than name brand products.
Shanzhai products are mighty. Don’t know if we should feel regret or what.

bear0330:

Actually, its pretty good, only thing is we don’t know what [mobile operating] system it is.

tudou8281:

This kind of skill and creativity is very NB, and if it were used on Chinese products, then it would be legitimate!

3hhhh3:

The word “create” has always been very profound, and is not something [that happens] overnight. Take it slow, the people on this piece of land do not lack intelligence, it’s just that other people’s industry have had a lead for several centuries. Remember that China’s ordinary common people have only enjoyed prosperity just recently…Ming~Qing~invaded~war~victory~New China~Cultural Revolution (set back 10 years)~around 20 years of bleakness afterwards~up until Deng Xiaoping’s southern tour~the establishment of the first special economic zone. About 50 years, it hasn’t been easy. To the older generation, it is truly a miracle. No matter whether it is shanzhai or not, as long as it is made domestically, it needs our countrymen’s support. Don’t those studying the fine arts have a saying? “Everything starts from a copy!”

你大爹爹:

Our countrymen’s ability to copy is something the entire world recognizes, but it is our ability to innovate that needs to be improved~

lailai98:

Forget shanzhai, open your niubi name brand electronics and see if it says it was made in China.

从此Habit:

If shanzhai is combined with a popular [operating] system, then it would definitely be invincible.

『ゞTezuka﹏』:

Sometimes shanzhai is also a kind of culture. – -

起个屁名 真烦:

Because [we] do not have a culture of independent innovation, we can only shamelessly say that shanzhai is also culture. Sad countrymen, not having innovation is okay, but when there is no integrity left in even one’s bones, then that is truly sad.

上山掉下海:

This shanzhai I like…so cool…

献丶给她的:

China only knows how to copy, not create.

ch-naSMACK p-rsonals.

  • Zardoz

    I’d still prefer the BlockBerry 9500.

  • NoRacistSmack

    The first Chinese commenter was right. People go shanzhai when they don’t want to pay the tax or go through all the government mandated safety regulations. Avoid Shanzhai phones as much as possible since they may have safety issues. However, I believe there’s a strong need of shanzhai products especially in third world countries – about 145 million shanzhai phones exported to the world in 2009 which counted for one ninth of all cell phones sold globally. And sometimes there are truly innovative (and useful) shanzhai or shanzhai-inspired products coming out. Check out this “Apple peel” which turns an ipod into an iphone:

    http://micgadget.com/6994/the-rival-of-apple-peel-520-unveiled/

    Also, there’s a post on bunny’s blog about the “rebellious, individualistic, underground, and self-empowered” shanzhai culture in China. Worth reading.

    http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=284

  • Rafael

    Hey, does anyone know a good web with shanzhai product reviews? I mean an english one that can be read in China.

    I would appreciate so much.
    Thanks

    • NoRacistSmack

      Like the one I mentioned in my previous comment? (M.I.C gadget)

      http://micgadget.com/

      Not entirely shanzhai-centric but they do have a “knockoffs” category.

      • Rafael

        ^^Next time I will read your post… haha, thanks.
        Is Shanzhai as bad quality as people says? I guess they are increasing quality, right? But most shanzhai is crap…

        I found that Shanzhai is funny and imaginative tech.

        • NoRacistSmack

          There is a whole spectrum of them based on quality and price. You get what you pay for, right? I don’t buy shanzhai phones but people do tolerate things — you get a $500 phone with reception problem or a $50 one with crappy LCD screen. The shanzhai companies got multi billion dollar profits from making low end phones so it doesn’t surprise me that the quality and design get better every year.

    • Pong Lenis

      What do you want with that crap? Their aim is to put something out that can sell somehow, not customer satisfaction. They cut corners and go cheap wherever they can.

      Expect:
      Low quality battery, short batt life
      Low resolution LCD
      Low contrast LCD
      Shitty MP3 sound
      Even more shitty headphones with it
      Lots of noisy in GSM connection.

      When I talk to my friends in China I can hardly hear what they talk coz of all the hiss and cracking.

      • Rafael

        Your nickname make me lol, haha nice one!

        • Rollyse

          when am about to read his comment i always confuse his nickname…..Long Penis with Peng Lenis haha

    • Alan no longer in China

      Another one is dealextreme.com They have some shanzhai phones and stuff there.

  • http://www.地球.cn Kedafu

    Song of the article,

    I Just called to say I love you
    -Stevie Wonder

    五毛党

    • NoRacistSmack

      Or a Chinese one

      想说爱你不容易
      -王志文

      http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNzc3MjE3MDA=.html

      xD

      • http://www.地球.cn Kedafu

        I just downloaded it on QQ

        不错了

        如果 有 那个加的手机 (if I had this fake phone)

        It would be my ringtone

        Respect for U

        没有RacistSmack, I like that!

        + 五毛党

  • StrangerUK

    It’s not true that China can only copy. China invented recycling of sewage water to make cooking oil, China also invented the baby milk powder that makes babies breasts grow, China also invented children’s toys made of toxic materials, and how to build bridges out of garbage, and I could list more for hours. Truly the masters of recycling.

    • Bob

      After investigations, the growth of breasts in the babies were not attributed to defects in the milk powder.

  • Zardoz

    North American Marlon Brando Looks Alikes?

  • Alikese

    I once got a bottle of shanzhai red wine. If Great Wall was bad then you can only imagine what a bottle of Greet Wall tastes like.

  • Steven Hunter

    China should really learn some marketing skills. The technology to make new gadgets is already there. The funding for research & development is also there. Stop copying product labels or trying to make your products look like brand-name goods. It’s silly. It only cements the image that China is a copycat country. It’s not good at all. Invest in long-term marketing strategies, pay attention to quality and brand image. It will pay off in the long term. Who knows? The next Sony or Nike or Apple might be a Chinese brand. Haier is a good example.

    • Puru

      We do have a Haier store in our town. Its front banner says, “Made with German Technology”. Even Haier itself doesn’t believe the marketability of the term “Chinese Technology”.

      • NoRacistSmack

        Their technology was imported from Germany first in the 90s but most others are developed in China later on. Today Haier is an internationalized company that has “research, design, and development centers in Italy, Holland Germany, and Denmark” so it doesn’t surprise me that some of their products are marked with German technology. Read more here

        http://www.haier.com/abouthaier/haierworldwide/Introduction_eur.asp

        • elenore

          Who cares? Even Toyota has a R&D facility in Michigan.I believe it’s in the Lansing area.I bet GE and others have R&D outside the U.S.Technology is universal but stealing patents that’s why people call China Thieves.There are a lot of R&D in Michigan not as much as California.My grandfather was a mechanical engineer for a R&D company back in the 60′s ,when people don’t pay for patents they have less money for new developments.A lot of the companies themselves sell patents to bigger companies.The transistor that made Sony buckets of Cash wasn’t invented in Japan,Good ideas are universal.But Chinese Companies need to buy good patents and R&D where ever it comes from instead of limiting themselves to just Chinese intellect that’s what most Companies do.

  • Michael

    All they need to do is band themselves a bit better, market themselves, maybe improve their design a bit, and their products are no worse then any of the established brands. Theres absolutely no need for them to shanzai anyone

  • lordofreimes

    I always thought that since Android OS is open source, the shanzhai market sould have exploded in size – as it solved the problem of bad operating systems. Eg the Iped…

    • Alan no loner in China

      Nah, the hardware requirements for Android are too high. Though we are getting lower cost Smartphones like Huawei’s new phone coming out soon for Under $200 for a fully featured, 3G smartphone.

      Shanzhai phones are usually using POS processors that are a few hundred megahertz. It’s just easier for them to go with a proprietary OS.

  • DRaY

    As a foreign designer working in China. Chinese brands are too afraid to be different. They are more comfortable showing the customer something that is proven as opposed to showing the consumer something new and different. I play tricks all the time with my customers, telling them my original design is a copy of something and then they like it …… Chinese people need to use their “gut” and stop playing it safe looking for someone to blame if an idea doesn’t work. Make great looking product that works (within the capability of its price range) and people will buy it.

    • StrangerUK

      100% Agree a friend on mine is a fashion designer from China and her clothes sell nicely in Europe and US, because she has her own style and does not try to copy other brands.

  • krdr

    This phone doesn’t looks like E68, although it copies Nokia’s look and feel. This phone is much more cooler than original E68. Designers expressed their skills with unusual screen solution. Idea should be refined further.

  • Nanyang Nelly

    Good post fauna.

    What cracks me up is the fact that some people are still lauding “creativity” in the shanzai products.

    They are definitely funny. But it doesn’t take creativity to STEAL and then SLIGHTLY MODIFY other peoples’ designs — especially when they are your former business partner.

  • Zimbardo

    NO THANKS I’LL STICK WITH MY SUMSANG AND NOKLA.

  • Leeyue

    In the second comment, “even creating an economy.”
    Should be translated to “they are experienced in doing it”.
    Plz correct it, m8.
    But at least I know that this should be translated by some real human, google shouldn’t make this kind of mistake anyway.

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