From what I’m reading in previews, this thing actually lives up to much of its hype. See reviews on NY Times and MSNBC, for example. Also on the NY Times front page is a funny but informative video by the author of the review.
Even so, I think the drawbacks are enough that I think I’ll wait a while to see how things develop – for one thing, I’ve got a few months on my current Verizon contract, and frankly my Verizon service has been much better than my old AT&T service, so I’m not sure I really WANT to switch carriers.
Ya know, at first I really wanted one. Then I did a bit of research, and I found that the 8525 does everything I want (and does some stuff the iPhone can’t do, yet), and I’ve found one on Amazon for 1/4th the price.
I figure I’ll get the 8525 for now, and wait for the next generation of iPhone. I’ve never had a successful experience with the first wave of new tech, anyway. I think the iPhone will be the phone I want it to be… but I’m not going to spend six hundred bucks to help them work the kinks out.
While this is one of the reasons I won’t be getting one (that and the price tag), I understand why they did it. My understanding is that they went to AT&T and essentially told them that Apple would provide them the iPhone if AT&T would tailor their service to what Apple wanted, so they used the leverage of exclusivity to avoid having to follow the regulations that service providers usually force on phone manufacturers.
ETA: And, yes, I really want an iPhone. But I can afford neither the phone, nor the fees I would have to pay to get out of my current contract. Oh well.
But I will not be getting one. My KRZR cell phone is less than 6 months old, I left AT&T for Verizon a couple of years ago for a reason, and I just (3 weeks ago today) spent $300 on a new PDA. Not to mention the whole Verizon service contract thing. All of which are probably just as well, for the reason the OP mentions: it’s probably best to wait and see what the next 6 months bring. Sort of like not buying a car in its first model year.
I want one that costs about $150, works on the Verizon network and has 3G capability. So, maybe the 3rd or 4th version. Until then, I’ll just stand with my face pressed up against the storefront glass, fogging it up wtih my breath, and drool “someday…”
The iPhone Shuffle, bringing prank calls into the 21st Century!
I got a refurb windows media phone less than six months ago to tide me over. It’s flaky as hell, but I’m not jumping on the iPhone til it holds more than 8 gig o stuff.
I wanted the phone because it looks cool & gagety and thats it. Neat toy, but I will probably will never buy one as I don’t even use my ipod. I can’t imagine wanting to listen to music on my phone. Also I have a wifi plan with tmobile so I can browse the internet anywhere on my laptop and being stuck in tmobile contract doesnt allow me to jump ship. I would like to buy a larger phone since mine is so small I can never find it in my purse. Maybe I’ll get a crackberry.
No thanks… It doesnt do anything my sprint 6700 doesn’t do.
I’ve got a high capacity SD card so I have music, photos, and video.
My web browser can expand to desktop size and I can zoom in too.
My internet (EVDO) network is faster.
I can read PDF’s. Which the iPhone can’t do.
I can connect to my works e-mail server. Which the iPhone can’t do.
I can swap my media cards. Which the iPhone can’t do and doesn’t have.
I can charge and swap multiple batteries. Which the iPhone can’t do. And trust me the battery won’t last under heavy use for a full day. Wi-Fi and bluetooth will suck a PDA/phone battery dry.
I can access flash websites. Which the iPhone can’t do.
I’m curious to know whether the iPhone can sync your phone numbers and addresses with your computer in case you break the phone. If you get a replacement phone do you have to enter everyone’s number into the phone again?
What was this phone supposed to do that’s new and better again?
Ohhh yeah… suck the cash out of your pocket.
Sorry, but the iPhone is for kids. So, I’m going to upgrade to the HTC6800 instead.
I have no interest in getting an IPhone (no stores within 50 miles) and I don’t even have a cellphone.
But just to set the record straight:
The iPhone can view PDF (at least PDF email attachmenets)
It is correct that there is no Flash or Java
The iPhone syncs with Outlook on PC and Address Book / Entorage on the Mac
Sure, I want an iPhone. My current cellphone needs replaced, I’m already on AT&T Wireless, and my iPod recently died on me. So it makes sense. I’m just worried that in a few months Apple will release a new version of the iPhone with much improved features.
I already weighed in on this in another such thread, but here’s a short list of reasons for why I won’t own a [first-gen] iPhone:
No 3G support. Gotta live with EDGE until Apple decides to get in the game. Sucks to be you if you’re not constantly surrounded by wi-fi hotspots. You’re gonna feel like Comcast’s mascot, Mr. Slowski The DSL Turtle.
No MP3 ringtones. No video recording. No memory card slot. Should these be separate line items? Probably, but I’m trying to be nice.
Yet another non-serviceable battery. Sure, someone will figure out a way to swap it out, but that isn’t the point. All cell phones and other mobile devices have serviceable, replaceable batteries. Yet another way for Apple to dime you.
Limited text manipulation abilities. Even the most mundane cell phones manage a cumbersome attempt at cut/copy/paste. Not here. No native integration with corporate mail networks, either. So much for being a PDA competitor.
No Java or Flash support via the mobile OSX implementation? So much for “the internet in your pocket”.
Financial bottom line. $500 to $600 hardware cost + ( $60 to $200 per month rate plan times 2 year contract lock = $1,400 to $4,800 in service) = a $2,000 to $5,000 toy. My laptop didn’t cost that much, and it doesn’t have a monthly charge. My current phone (a KRZR) is three months old and will cost me less than $1,000 to own in the same two-year timeframe. This means that between my new laptop and my new phone put together, I’ll still have less invested after two years than I would invest in owning an iPhone.
It’s a lousy PDA. It’s an undersized iPod. But more importantly, it’s still just a phone. Granted, it has a gimmick: a very neat interface. If it had the features to go along with the eye candy, it’d be worth the price premium, but I’ll hold out until they get more features onto it for less money, and I won’t envy the early adopters for being hype suckers.
Yeah, but I assume that the iPhone is like any other cell phone and can be unlocked and able to run on anyone’s network. Hell, by law it has to be, right?