Apple's iPhone-- boom or bust?

[tommyboy]

I'm curious-- how many of you out there already purchased or plan to purchase the iPhone?

[OneAppleMan]

all I have to say is......

Sent from my iPhone....

[queonda]

A few things to read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...070501732.html

I've heard AT&T service is not that fast but why get a 2 yr:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/58173.html

Be aware of the early termination fee but I swear there is a 30day no fee:
http://reclaimthemedia.org/corporate...able_earl=5337

[kramsauer]

This is the wrong audience -- few people who have the desire to build their own PVR will want to turn over control of their phone to Apple.

[mayhem70]

Umm, I just bought my unlocked Windows Mobile phone with builtin GPS, wifi, bluetooth, and quad band for the same price. And I'm playing Age of Empires while listening to music off my 2 gig ultrafast miniSD. No itune subscription, tons of games, a snap to use with BTV, cheaper, and look...I can use a regular set of headphone to plug directly into my unit.

[queonda]

@meyhem,

No att service? Did you use this? New Time Warner Lineup effective today in Dallas?

[Mistergq]

I played with it at the Apple Store. If it was just a video Ipod with wifi ability, I would consider it, but as a phone, no thanks.

[mayhem70]

Originally Posted by queonda

@meyhem,

No att service? Did you use this? New Time Warner Lineup effective today in Dallas?

We have AT&T available, but I'm quite satisfied with T-Mobile. I have heard of someone created a 3rd party unlocking program, not sure what the success rate is. But to me, the iPhone is basically way over priced for the features offered.

[DonK]

I'm happy with my 8125...

It's CID and SIM unlocked now after a little research on the net, and I'm testing out a custom cooked ROM for it that has the HTC Touch interface I'm sorry but the iPhone is strictly iCandy. It's last year's technology with a rather novel interface (which imho is it's ONLY saving grace). They couldn't even put in a user-replaceable battery, and it uses only EDGE, it won't work with other carrier's sims (don't bother taking this thing overseas on a trip and expect to purchase a prepaid sim that'll work in it!) come ON.... And 6 or 8 gig NON expandable memory? No ability to install third party apps? (that'll change soon, someone's already put out a utility to allow you to browse and work in the filesystem)

If you're a techie, this really isn't a "revolutionary" device. I mean yeah it's got a really cool looking interface (I'll tip my hat at that), and multitouch (which doesn't let you use a stylus!) screen, and iPod integration/functionality. In the end, all it really is is a device to combine the functionality of a 5G video ipod and a cellphone with rather limited features. Now instead of lugging two devices around, you have one.

Apple would have been smarter to allow third party apps to be installed and ran on it, even if the apps had to be submitted directly to Apple for testing and then availability through ITunes before they could be installed. That would open the market for this phone for the techies. As such, it's merely an overpriced phone/ipod combination which you can get the functions it does from a much cheaper phone, sans the flip interface.

[btvfreak]

I've got one and I love it! If you haven't held one, then don't dismiss it until you do. I didn't think it'd want one, but my friend had an extra and I couldn't resist. What it does do it does very well. Google Maps loads very quickly over EDGE. I've never had an iPod and I really like its iPod functionality. I use my Mac at work, syncing Entourage with Exchange server, so syncing my meetings with the iPhone is a no brainer. I had a Blackjack and don't miss it at all.

[rugby]

I am waiting patiently for version 2 with 3G. I had a situation about 6 months ago with my old Nokia e70 and had to replace it ASAP with another PDA type phone. I bought an HTC TyTN which set me back $500, so I'm not looking to buy another expensive phone right now. I will be ready when version 2 hits the streets.

I've heard from a LOT of other consultants that despite its' quirks the iPhone is the best device they have ever used. These are not just Apple people, these are businessmen, doctors, lawyers, tech consultants, etc.

[DonK]

http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/...Ciphone_1.html

I like the title of the article... "The $1,975 iPod"

I think this is the first article that actually takes an objective look at the features, strengths and shortcomings of the iPhone, from the pricing/plans of the unit, the lack of features, the closed nature of the product, to the novel nature of the interface.

It's a good read for anyone who wants to get one but hasn't.

FYI, I had the opportunity to play with an iPhone before my original post above, and I still stand by my decision that this device is for the sheeple and not the techies like us, who, like Kramsauer above said, won't want to relinquish our phones to Apple's control.

I like to tinker, I also think it was extremely shortsighted and *very* greed motivated on the design of the product and how it was brought to market through only one provider with a 5 year (!!!) lock-in, with NO subsidy of the phone , which if you went to any provider and paid full price for a phone, you would *not* be obligated to a 2 year contract!

On a personal observation:
Cellular companies are increasingly predatory and arrogant in their whole business model. Please tell me what other communications/entertainment industry (ISP, cable tv, landline telephone...???) requires such one-sided, anti-consumer, onerous means (contracts) to guarantee their revenue model just to sell their products?? The only one I can think of at the moment that is even remotely like it is Tivo, which requires a 1 year committment minimum now, with a 150 dollar "early termination fee".

Another thing is, I hope someone on Capital Hill remembers that not too long ago it was declared that if a user wishes to Unlock their phone for use on other networks, that the providers are obligated to fulfill that request. In this case, AT&T and Apple have *no* defense in the regard that the iPhone is *not* a subsidized phone. You pay full price for it, with the additional onerous 2 year contract with plans that are 1) overpriced and 2) very limited.

As a consumer, even if I were more impressed with the iPhone, I can't consciously validate the logic that this device should be so restricted to just one network. Apple's making a HUGE mistake with the exclusivity contract.

[mwottle]

Originally Posted by DonK

http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/...Ciphone_1.html

I like the title of the article... "The $1,975 iPod"

I think this is the first article that actually takes an objective look at the features, strengths and shortcomings of the iPhone, from the pricing/plans of the unit, the lack of features, the closed nature of the product, to the novel nature of the interface.

Actually, it sounds like you like the article because you agree with it. The funny thing is, if you look at the cost of a blackberry on AT&T over the same period, it will run you even more (since the blackberry will run you $15 more for the data plan per month) Also, if you want wi-fi on your blackberry, you must get the curve, which is a $300 phone. Yet, I haven't seen any articles entitled "The $2100 Emailer"). To imply that the potential customers of the iPhone wouldn't have to pay for cell service elsewhere is ridiculous. Also, the people that are going to buy an iPhone are the same who buy iPods instead of Zunes. Not "sheeple", but people who like things to work well.

I have used Windows Mobile and Symbian devices in the past and I agree that the allow you to "tinker". However, the symbian device was so slow it was barely usable and the windows mobile device had too many problems, which necessitated you to constantly tinker with it. Not to mention the fact that none of the applications worked together. I now have the iPhone and am very impressed with the level of seemless integration everything has. Even 3rd party web apps are better integrated with the built-in apps (such as the address book and google maps) than anything I saw installed on my Windows Mobile or Symbian phones.

I know I sound like a fan boy, but I have 4 Windows PCs (3 running Snapstream), and am a developer who loves writing my own apps in my spare time. I love messing around with stuff as much as most in these forums, but I can appreciate a device that works well without the need for tinkering. Heck, if Snapstream worked like Tivo, I would be fine without constantly fiddling to get my HDTV playback to look perfect.

Anyway, I had to balance it our because I think that while the iPhone isn't perfect and it has it's flaws, the article is clearly biased and the iPhone is certainly a better choice for a lot of people than a blackberry or a treo.

[ZetaVu]

I have played with pda's and smartphones for a while. I still prefer separate devices to an all-in-one, but that's just me. I can use my pda as a gps, portable computer, mp3 picture and video player (up to 16 gb storage from cf and sd cards) internet browser, game center, even a phone if I wanted. However, I like having my phone separate so it doesn't interfere with what I'm doing on my pda. I also typically have a small flash mp3 player (or my 60gb Nomad with my whole music collection) which I can run separately.

So, I fail to see what makes the iphone so great. I mean, so it has a touch interface, big deal, so does my pda and most smartphones. The interface grant it looks cool, but how long before someone makes one identical? (I could probably do it now). You can get google maps but no gps, what's the use of that? No sd slot, here's the real killer YOU CAN'T REPLACE THE BATTERY! You have to send the unit in, get a loaner, and pay for battery and a replacement fee. No freakin way, that's why I never got an ipod (and I refuse to call mp3 players ipods, ipods are mp3 players, not the other way around)

Oh, and I have a nice 6MP digital camera that fits in a shirt pocket if I want to take pictures or video, who needs a crappy camera that takes crappy images (and no video).

Basically, for $600 you get $220 worth of hardware, locked into a lame 2 yr contract, and are restricted on how you use it and missing what I consider key features. Me, I have a $300 PDA with full GPS, wifi bluetooth, 6gb storage upgradable to 16, keyboard and card reader attachments, and a separate cellphone (free from service) at a 40% lower rate than the iphone, handles internet and has space for songs and pictures as well, then a $100 6MP digital camera, and a $120 4gb mp3 player. Total cost, $550, but about twice the space and functionality of the iphone. Sure, I spread them out over a couple pockets, but each does it's function, each has its own replaceable battery, each is superior in every way to the iphone in its function.

Now, if someone made a PDA phone, doubles as a psp, maybe a keyboard in the metal case (Rhinoskin!) built in 1" or 1.8" hard drive (I like the removable CF ones) decent built in camera and lens, GPS by bluetooth is fine, optional antenna, replaceable battery, works with wifi stereo headphones, and has a usb host (let me plug in additional harddrives or devices) with full control, oh yeah, and works on the new Tmobile plan that automatically switches between cellular and wifi phone, then that would be a product that I get excited over. Short of that, all hype, no substance.

[mayhem70]

Check out the E-Ten line of Pocket PC phones. www.mobileplanet.com
Of course, no PSP...