Though seemingly innocent at first, the release of the new iPhone tomorrow has caused our editors to stop playing nice and are now at each others' throats trying to convince each other whether the 3G is worthy of your money. Feel free to join our discussion as mysterious contributor Kelly, Sonia, Gregory, Peter, and myself all go at it.
Showdown: Our Editors Go Head To Head Over The iPhone 3G
Kelly: I'm going to go out on a limb and be the poster boy for Apple fanboyism. The iPhone is in itself, an ingenious product. By combining almost everything that used to take at least 3 devices into one, Apple has created one of the most desired products on the market by smart design, self-propagating advertising, and value alone. Sure, you may not have everything, but about everything else you can ask for is there.
Now with Apps, even better GPS support, and super speed to get you where you need to go even faster, there are definitely no complaints coming my way for such a great job Apple has done for their product. I've heard complaints about battery life, but even so, learn to live with it! It's already doing so much, keeping your fingers off it for a few minutes or carrying an extra charger is a small sacrifice in comparison. Will I upgrade from my iPhone 1.0? I kind of like the silver, so probably not. However, if you haven't had the cheap thrills of owning this bad boy, I definitely suggest giving it a try. After that, you may be as critical as you want about it.
Sonia: While I have a Macbook and an iPod, for some reason I’m really adverse to drinking the Apple Kool-Aid. I’m sure the iPhone is a great piece of software and machinery, but I feel like buying one would be buying into the hype. I’ve got a Blackberry now, and well, it works just fine for my specific needs.
I’m not the type of person who wants to edit photos and make videos on a 3.5-inch display. And if I want to listen to music, well, there’s my iPod. One of my big beefs with Apple actually is this need to have the newest and bestest every few months. I actually wrote about it for Wired a few years ago. This push to constantly come out with a new iPod, Macbook, iPhone, just leads to more e-waste in my opinion. What happened to the days when you bought a phone and it lasted more than a year?
All I’ve ever wanted is a phone that lets me actually hear my conversations and type out emails and text messages. That’s it. Ok, the occasional Google search in order to mode someone, but that’s really it. I’ve heard the iPhone keyboard is a pain to input into, so that nixes my typing needs. As for sound, well, I’m sure it ain’t bad, but could it really be that much better than what I’m using now?
Right now, I’m proud to whip out my little old Blackberry on a subway filled with Kool-Aid drinkers.
Peter: Can't say much about the new iPhone because it sounds like it is going to be only MAYBE 10% better than the previous version. Still no stereo Bluetooth? How can an iPod not support stereo? No multimedia messaging? I can't believe I am saying this, but it has no video recording! What is going on in Cupertino? I am starting to wonder what all the buzz is about. I think it just happens before anyone knows what they are buzzing about and by the time we all realize how imperceptibly better the new product is, its too late; we are hooked. Well, I am waiting for the 4G and sticking with my current iphone, thank you very goldang much.
Anthony: I can't take any more of this iPhone hype. Sure, it now has some fancy corporate features, GPS (which might get me out of the boonies when necessary), and of course the 3G speed boost, but it's even nicer to know that your friends at AT&T will shamelessly capitalize on the obvious increased data usage by spiking up the rate plans. For the casual user, I highly doubt it's worth those premiums paid.
My biggest gripe, however, is the obvious battery life dilemma! How can Apple make a product that's designed to keep you in touch throughout a workday, but won't even hold a charge until the end of it? Tsk tsk.
Gregory: Haha, the funny thing is I’m on the fence about getting one. If AT&T’s plans were more reasonable, I’d be in line for one tomorrow. But being on a budget, the $60/month minimum has me thinking I’d be better off purchasing a new bike. My shocking secret is I've been without a cell phone now for over 3 years now, because to be frank, I don't need it working at home. But the iPhone has always been a serious temptation with all the additional non-voice features. The iPhone Apps Store has piqued my interest, but I'll likely hold out a bit longer and when the lines fade.
Comments (13)
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their data plan is my biggest beef with it too -- otherwise I'd be all over it.
view kvh's profile
*pricing* that is... data plan pricing
view kvh's profile
My Treo conveniently broke two weeks ago. I'm hoping there is not a crazy line tomorrow at AT&T... (I already fork over $60 a month to AT&T for the Treo, so that won't be a shock to my system.)
view VeronicaLodge's profile
at least you have it better than canada (plan wise)...
3 yr contract, no unlimited data plan, expensive overage charges, plans don't come with caller ID, the list goes on :)
also i still can't get over no back-up battery... that is crazy to me especially since it is suppose to be an ipod phone 3Gdata gaming etc device
view niche's profile
thumbs down for iphone. the data price, at&t's plans are outrageous. an iphone is really a genius invention. i just couldn't afford it.
view oneladybug's profile
I'm a techno junky but I'm hesitating to upgrade to the iPhone 3G. For one thing, I have to drive 45 miles to reach an AT&T 3G network while Verizon Wireless has 3G to my doorstep. Too bad Verizon passed on the iPhone.
For now the Wi-Fi capability serves me better and the Cell Tower / Wi-Fi Triangulation works well enough that I can live without GPS.
view barefeats's profile
If I could buy this phone unlocked I'd possibly go for it, but I'm not going to be held hostage to AT&T for two years. My current cell phone is about as basic as you can get and it costs me $10 a month, which is hard to beat (my needs are pretty simple). I love Apple, but don't feel the need to have every new toy the second it hits the market. I'm still using the same 30 GB iPod that I bought about six years ago; as long as it suits my needs, I don't feel the need to upgrade.
view Sydney's profile
I wish I could comment. I got mine at 8:30 this morning in Maryland. AT&T was not able to finish the activation. I was instructed to finish it at home...2:45p now..and the server is still overwelmed!
I do want to add that I got in line at 7am, and there were only 12 people ahead of me...weird.
view jen64's profile
Maybe I should have gone to Maryland... I couldn't get one in Maine. "Be here at 9 tomorrow," I was told. Maybe everyone will have stopped upgrading or activating by then and I'll actually be able to use the thing.
I do most of my work at home, but love that a cell phone capable of getting email and getting on the internet allows me to leave my home office and no clients are the wiser. When I answer an email, I could be at my desk or sitting outside someone's piano lesson. Fast internet means I can even get into a content management tool and post blogs entries (elsewhere, not here!) from the phone. While I hate being accessible 24/7 ... that's what the "ringer off" function and voicemail are for. The tradeoff works for me.
I'll be in line tomorrow!
view VeronicaLodge's profile
I have the 1st generation iphone. I was hesitant about the increase in monthly fees from ATT then. Now there's 3G and more expensive monthly fees. It's a slippery slope to have the newest gadget from Apple. This time I'm not giving in. I'll stay with my 'OLD' iphone.
view wild-er's profile
I'm still confused why the iPhone elicits such strong opinions from people who have never tried one or don't have any plans to buy a smart phone (or don't even have any cell phone!??!). E.g. the iPhone data plan doesn't appear much pricier than plans for other smart phones, if you look at similar options. "I’ve heard the iPhone keyboard is a pain to input into, so that nixes my typing needs." - that's pathetic. How about asking the "contributors" to the discussion to actually try one and do some research before spouting their opinion? For what it's worth, I've been using a 1st gen iPhone for a year and I'm not rushing to upgrade. It's an incredible piece of engineering that does some things extremely well, doesn't do some other things and doesn't come cheaply. The iPhone software integration (synching, updating, the Appstore etc) is fantastically well done - one of the benefits of a tightly controlled system. Whether one should buy one or not doesn't have anything to do with drinking "Kool-aid", but everything with personal needs, taste, and financial priorities. I shouldn't have expected AT to provide actual facts (my bad), but at least some first-hand opinion, rather than hear-say, would have been nice.
view particlebored's profile
I agree with the sentiment particlebored. As for me I was also against the hype, the plan, the way people would feel free to judge me for the very purchase of the thing thinking that everyone buys it just as a trophy, but it was just to useful to resist.
The fact is this is a great tool, the UI is fantastic and it is truly a functional tool with great information management. I even took a hit canceling my Verizon and I don't regret it to now have an excellent calendar with useful data fields, great contact management (with a search), easy email, web access and GPS/location based services as needed, and access to applications that are very handy and downright fun.
All in all it is just simply a truly useful device that works well and is easy to use to boot. All it could use is copy/paste, flash support, bluetooth syncing (or is this doable already?) and perhaps GPS turn by turn vocal instructions to be perfecto.
view NetAddict's profile
doh, sorry for the typos..
view NetAddict's profile