Why Shouldn't I get an iPhone?

Page 6 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: Kalvin00
i :heart: my iphone

Me too. The fact that it's now the best selling phone in the US speaks volumes.

Not really. The Razr held that crown for a long time and it was garbage. Its proof that people go with form over function - the Razr was strikingly more attractive than other phones at the time, but feature wise, it is subpar.

You might be able to say that with the Razr, but that is no where near the case with the iPhone. It's full of function, and every manufacturer is trying to duplicate it. The fact that it hasn't been out 2 years, and is now the top dog, is amazing.

I said in my first post that they addressed a lot of the feature issues with the 3G version, but the original iPhone was PURELY on form, and it sold like hotcakes.

not really. There wasn't a massive change in the 2 phones.

For functionality, there is no phone that beats the ease of use on the iphone. The only ones that come close are ones that use the same setup. Is it missing features? Of course, but so is every other phone out there. It comes down to what you use it for.

The email is terrible for business users, but the media/browser/apps beat any other phone out there.

You're kidding, right? 3G, GPS, Exchange support? Those are all HUGE in themselves, let alone together. That's the difference between a full-featured smartphone and every other phone on the market. Other than the touch screen, what did the iPhone do that the average $99 HTC phone or Blackberry Pearl didn't? I'd even say the Pearl was a far superior phone to the original iPhone.
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
The wife and I just upgraded phones through at&t and signed up for a new contract. I'm typically an Apple hater due to overpriced products with fewer features than the competition, also because of the smugness of Apple fanboys. With that said, we briefly looked at the iPhone as upgrade options, because they are actually decently priced for the tech, and god help me for saying this, but the interface looks pretty nifty. However, I hated that I would have been forced into a data plan for 2 years, so it never really was considered.

You guys were arguing packages with data plans earlier, but you didn't bother to mention that the iPhone requires this data plan for the length of the contract. Sure, getting phones like these is possibly pointless to some without data plans, but I like the option to get rid of it if I want without penalty, which gives other phones a plus.
 

ric1287

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,845
0
0
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: Kalvin00
i :heart: my iphone

Me too. The fact that it's now the best selling phone in the US speaks volumes.

Not really. The Razr held that crown for a long time and it was garbage. Its proof that people go with form over function - the Razr was strikingly more attractive than other phones at the time, but feature wise, it is subpar.

You might be able to say that with the Razr, but that is no where near the case with the iPhone. It's full of function, and every manufacturer is trying to duplicate it. The fact that it hasn't been out 2 years, and is now the top dog, is amazing.

I said in my first post that they addressed a lot of the feature issues with the 3G version, but the original iPhone was PURELY on form, and it sold like hotcakes.

not really. There wasn't a massive change in the 2 phones.

For functionality, there is no phone that beats the ease of use on the iphone. The only ones that come close are ones that use the same setup. Is it missing features? Of course, but so is every other phone out there. It comes down to what you use it for.

The email is terrible for business users, but the media/browser/apps beat any other phone out there.

You're kidding, right? 3G, GPS, Exchange support? Those are all HUGE in themselves, let alone together. That's the difference between a full-featured smartphone and every other phone on the market. Other than the touch screen, what did the iPhone do that the average $99 HTC phone or Blackberry Pearl didn't? I'd even say the Pearl was a far superior phone to the original iPhone.

uhh, a SOFTWARE upgrade added Exchange and the decent location finder. 3g was the only massive change.

What it does that other phones don't? I dunno, has a usable media player, a full web browser, and ease of use that doesn't require 15 steps to get the calculator function.

I've owned:
ATT (HTC) 8125, 8525, Tilt, 2125
SMT 5600
BB 8830

None of them are as simple to use as the iphone. The only thing better is the email (and the iphone does have awesome email, but its too simple)
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: Deeko

You're kidding, right? 3G, GPS, Exchange support? Those are all HUGE in themselves, let alone together. That's the difference between a full-featured smartphone and every other phone on the market. Other than the touch screen, what did the iPhone do that the average $99 HTC phone or Blackberry Pearl didn't? I'd even say the Pearl was a far superior phone to the original iPhone.

uhh, a SOFTWARE upgrade added Exchange and the decent location finder. 3g was the only massive change.

What it does that other phones don't? I dunno, has a usable media player, a full web browser, and ease of use that doesn't require 15 steps to get the calculator function.

I've owned:
ATT (HTC) 8125, 8525, Tilt, 2125
SMT 5600
BB 8830

None of them are as simple to use as the iphone. The only thing better is the email (and the iphone does have awesome email, but its too simple)

Ok - why does it matter if it was software or not? You can't just discount Exchange just because it ruins your argument. It was a HUGE feature missing from the first iPhone, just like its a huge feature missing from the G1. 3G is an ancient technology - Verizon and Sprint had 3G over half a decade ago. GPS is also very big in making a phone a full-feature all-in-one device.

The only thing that made the first iPhone different was form. The user interface. Other than that, it brought nothing new to the table - and in fact was MISSING a lot of very standard features. There is no way you can justify the price point. Everyone that spent $500 on the first iPhone got ripped off big time.
 

ric1287

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,845
0
0
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: Deeko

You're kidding, right? 3G, GPS, Exchange support? Those are all HUGE in themselves, let alone together. That's the difference between a full-featured smartphone and every other phone on the market. Other than the touch screen, what did the iPhone do that the average $99 HTC phone or Blackberry Pearl didn't? I'd even say the Pearl was a far superior phone to the original iPhone.

uhh, a SOFTWARE upgrade added Exchange and the decent location finder. 3g was the only massive change.

What it does that other phones don't? I dunno, has a usable media player, a full web browser, and ease of use that doesn't require 15 steps to get the calculator function.

I've owned:
ATT (HTC) 8125, 8525, Tilt, 2125
SMT 5600
BB 8830

None of them are as simple to use as the iphone. The only thing better is the email (and the iphone does have awesome email, but its too simple)

Ok - why does it matter if it was software or not? You can't just discount Exchange just because it ruins your argument. It was a HUGE feature missing from the first iPhone, just like its a huge feature missing from the G1. 3G is an ancient technology - Verizon and Sprint had 3G over half a decade ago. GPS is also very big in making a phone a full-feature all-in-one device.

The only thing that made the first iPhone different was form. The user interface. Other than that, it brought nothing new to the table - and in fact was MISSING a lot of very standard features. There is no way you can justify the price point. Everyone that spent $500 on the first iPhone got ripped off big time.

mmmmk then. You've successfully changed your argument 10 times in that reply.

Exchange was missing, they added it, so its not missing anymore.

Woopee, Verizon/Sprint had 3g five years ago + absolute garbage phones that couldn't do anything productive with the technology...whats the point?

And if you think the form/interface are no biggie, then I'd like to know what phone out there 2 years ago could compete with it. The interface/usability of any device is a pretty massive deal. You can have every feature under the sun + a clunky interface and nobody will use it.
 

RGN

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
6,623
6
81
Originally posted by: Deeko

Ok - why does it matter if it was software or not? You can't just discount Exchange just because it ruins your argument. It was a HUGE feature missing from the first iPhone, just like its a huge feature missing from the G1. 3G is an ancient technology - Verizon and Sprint had 3G over half a decade ago. GPS is also very big in making a phone a full-feature all-in-one device.

The only thing that made the first iPhone different was form. The user interface. Other than that, it brought nothing new to the table - and in fact was MISSING a lot of very standard features. There is no way you can justify the price point. Everyone that spent $500 on the first iPhone got ripped off big time.


Actually, as a first generation device from a company that previously had not engineered a similar product, the iPhone was very good. Apple has continued to improve the device and its market.... making most of this whole conversation pointless. WTF cares what the thing looked like almost 2 years ago. Todays evolutionary device is excellent with no real equal in the consumer space.
 

HottSnow

Member
Nov 8, 2008
97
0
0
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Cuz then you'd be just like all the other drones.

^^^ only reason I can think of to not get one... my bf has one and he loves it... I don't know what he would do if he lost it or someone took it away... he would probably be lost and not know what to do w/ himself... only thing I can think of... hope that helped
 

HottSnow

Member
Nov 8, 2008
97
0
0
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: Jnetty99
I want to get myself one for Xmas. I already have AT&T with my contract ending September 2009. The only thing I don't like is the lack of MMS support.

Have you actually ever sent and/or received an MMS?

if MMS messages include messages with pictures, then yes. I do a few every week and receive a few.

Picturemail isn't MMS - for example sprint handles it internally - the people that you send the picture get a text message with a link in it.

that's very annoying... my bf can never get his to work, so he can never view pictures sent to him via text
 

HottSnow

Member
Nov 8, 2008
97
0
0
Originally posted by: Ns1
Originally posted by: mugs
I've never owned a smartphone, but I've recently played around with a friend's iPhone and another friend's Blackberry (not sure what model, but it's recent). I was blown away by the iPhone's interface, and especially its web browser. I couldn't believe how well it worked on such a small screen. When I tried to use the Blackberry browser to view a wikipedia page, it was barely readable, because an image forced all of the text into a narrow column on the left side of the screen. Even after I scrolled past that, the page was more difficult to read and navigate than on the iPhone.

I think it's funny that when the iPhone came out it was bashed as a gimmick. Now that every other cell phone company is making iPhone knock-offs, the Apple bashers think the knock-offs are the greatest thing since sliced bread. :confused: The iPhone isn't perfect, but it's pretty great.

You try typing a text message? with one hand? lol

I've seen it done... its really not that hard... my bf does it all the time and one of my friends too


Originally posted by: hiromizu
No reason not to. It's an amazing product for people of fine taste.

congratulations, you are now that guy. I didn't know that teens spending their parents paycheck constituted "people of fine taste"


if I owned one I would not be in that category... I pay for my own stuff... but I too poor to get one :(
 

Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
2
76
ostif.org
Shitty service provider.

Also, spending $80 a month for a shitty slow internet connection so you can check restraunt reviews? Or watch youtube on your phone? Are you kidding me?

If youre looking to burn money, upgrade your internet connection. If you want to look like a douche, get 5 collared shirts and pop them all. Either way, an iphone is an inneficient way of doing either.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: Acanthus
Shitty service provider.

Also, spending $80 a month for a shitty slow internet connection so you can check restraunt reviews? Or watch youtube on your phone? Are you kidding me?

If youre looking to burn money, upgrade your internet connection. If you want to look like a douche, get 5 collared shirts and pop them all. Either way, an iphone is an inneficient way of doing either.

3G is not slow. I don't know how the iPhone 3G runs on it but the N95-4 runs awesome with 3G. AT&T is perfectly fine. If you all think it sucks it's probably because you were on old Cingular before they started spreading GSM850.

$70/month is a ripoff but $39.99 + $20 internet is what everyone else pays. The extra $10 for iPhone 3G is unjustified because what I pay (39.99 + 20) is 3G capable already. AT&T rips off iPhone users, but then again iPhone users are as dumb as Razr users.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: Deeko

You're kidding, right? 3G, GPS, Exchange support? Those are all HUGE in themselves, let alone together. That's the difference between a full-featured smartphone and every other phone on the market. Other than the touch screen, what did the iPhone do that the average $99 HTC phone or Blackberry Pearl didn't? I'd even say the Pearl was a far superior phone to the original iPhone.

uhh, a SOFTWARE upgrade added Exchange and the decent location finder. 3g was the only massive change.

What it does that other phones don't? I dunno, has a usable media player, a full web browser, and ease of use that doesn't require 15 steps to get the calculator function.

I've owned:
ATT (HTC) 8125, 8525, Tilt, 2125
SMT 5600
BB 8830

None of them are as simple to use as the iphone. The only thing better is the email (and the iphone does have awesome email, but its too simple)

Ok - why does it matter if it was software or not? You can't just discount Exchange just because it ruins your argument. It was a HUGE feature missing from the first iPhone, just like its a huge feature missing from the G1. 3G is an ancient technology - Verizon and Sprint had 3G over half a decade ago. GPS is also very big in making a phone a full-feature all-in-one device.

The only thing that made the first iPhone different was form. The user interface. Other than that, it brought nothing new to the table - and in fact was MISSING a lot of very standard features. There is no way you can justify the price point. Everyone that spent $500 on the first iPhone got ripped off big time.

mmmmk then. You've successfully changed your argument 10 times in that reply.

Exchange was missing, they added it, so its not missing anymore.

Woopee, Verizon/Sprint had 3g five years ago + absolute garbage phones that couldn't do anything productive with the technology...whats the point?

And if you think the form/interface are no biggie, then I'd like to know what phone out there 2 years ago could compete with it. The interface/usability of any device is a pretty massive deal. You can have every feature under the sun + a clunky interface and nobody will use it.

I didn't change anything. It IS a big deal that it didn't have Exchange. There was also nothing that said it ever would have it. Just like a lot of people aren't buying the G1 right now because it lacks Exchange, even though it probably will be added, it was a great reason not to buy the iPhone.

How can you not see the point? 3G is an OLD technology that was standard on CHEAP phones, and the iPhone lacked it. Kinda like MMS...oops, even the new iphone can't do that.

There is no way in hell the first iPhone was worth $500. No way, no how.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
Originally posted by: RGN
Originally posted by: Deeko

Ok - why does it matter if it was software or not? You can't just discount Exchange just because it ruins your argument. It was a HUGE feature missing from the first iPhone, just like its a huge feature missing from the G1. 3G is an ancient technology - Verizon and Sprint had 3G over half a decade ago. GPS is also very big in making a phone a full-feature all-in-one device.

The only thing that made the first iPhone different was form. The user interface. Other than that, it brought nothing new to the table - and in fact was MISSING a lot of very standard features. There is no way you can justify the price point. Everyone that spent $500 on the first iPhone got ripped off big time.


Actually, as a first generation device from a company that previously had not engineered a similar product, the iPhone was very good. Apple has continued to improve the device and its market.... making most of this whole conversation pointless. WTF cares what the thing looked like almost 2 years ago. Todays evolutionary device is excellent with no real equal in the consumer space.

All I'm saying is that it was horrendously overpriced. Whether it was done well for a first device or not is irrelevant. It still lacked way too many features to be worth the price.
 

Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
2
76
ostif.org
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Acanthus
Shitty service provider.

Also, spending $80 a month for a shitty slow internet connection so you can check restraunt reviews? Or watch youtube on your phone? Are you kidding me?

If youre looking to burn money, upgrade your internet connection. If you want to look like a douche, get 5 collared shirts and pop them all. Either way, an iphone is an inneficient way of doing either.

3G is not slow. I don't know how the iPhone 3G runs on it but the N95-4 runs awesome with 3G. AT&T is perfectly fine. If you all think it sucks it's probably because you were on old Cingular before they started spreading GSM850.

$70/month is a ripoff but $39.99 + $20 internet is what everyone else pays. The extra $10 for iPhone 3G is unjustified because what I pay (39.99 + 20) is 3G capable already. AT&T rips off iPhone users, but then again iPhone users are as dumb as Razr users.

Im talking about internet service on your phone period.

Welcome back to DSL speeds at 1997 prices.
 

venkman

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2007
4,950
11
81
Originally posted by: Ns1
Originally posted by: LS8
Originally posted by: Ns1
Originally posted by: aceO07
Originally posted by: her209
Because you have to pay $80/month for service.

Yup. Unless you need all the services, it's a lot to pay every month.

To be fair, the price is no different than any other voice + data plan from the other providers

Are you insane? I have voice+data from Sprint and it is no where near $80/month.

sigh

I shouldn't be doing this but...

Sprint: Everything Data: 70 bucks/month, unlimited data + 450min
VZW: PDA/Smartphone Nationwide Email: Monthly access starting at $79.99
TM: Internet: 40, Voice, starts at 30 = 70

ATT: Data + 450 = 70 bucks


Thanks for playing.


(SERO doesn't count, thanks)

It counts for me since I have SERO. I think my sisters iphone is great and I love my ipod touch, but going from my Touch Diamond to the iphone for an extra $45 a month for the same service?
'
yeah right.

Now, if Sprint ever pulls the plug on my SERO account, i'll probably end up getting an iphone since it is one of the best toys out there and i'm too hooked on data to ever give it up. It would still be tough though as I get MUCH better coverage with Sprint than AT&T.
 

HottSnow

Member
Nov 8, 2008
97
0
0
Originally posted by: Acanthus
Shitty service provider.

Also, spending $80 a month for a shitty slow internet connection so you can check restraunt reviews? Or watch youtube on your phone? Are you kidding me?

If youre looking to burn money, upgrade your internet connection. If you want to look like a douche, get 5 collared shirts and pop them all. Either way, an iphone is an inneficient way of doing either.

depends on where you live and where you go... you live on a campus where they have wifi and fast to boot then its worth it... if you spend a lot of time in places where they have free wifi then its worth it... my bf only has problems w/ his iphone when he goes to shitty towns that don't have like any wifi or really slow wifi which is rarely ever
 

state 08

Platinum Member
Jun 6, 2005
2,009
0
0
For me, the deal breaker on anything other than a phone for the Sprint Network is my SERO plan.

$30/month, is just way to good of a deal to pass up for everything.

Unlimited Internet
Unlimited Text
Unlimited Sprint to Sprint and Sprint to Nextel
Unlimited Nights and Weekend that start at 7pm
Unlimited Roaming

oh and 500 Anytime (which I personally never go over). I don't even want to know what the ATT equivelent costs.

Using a Centro right now and it serves all my purposes. EMail, IM, Google Maps, and great reception in the Metro Detroit area. Also, the Palm has my favorite app, which is CallRec (automatically records all incoming/outgoing calls to the MicroSD)
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
Originally posted by: state 08
For me, the deal breaker on anything other than a phone for the Sprint Network is my SERO plan.

$30/month, is just way to good of a deal to pass up for everything.

Unlimited Internet
Unlimited Text
Unlimited Sprint to Sprint and Sprint to Nextel
Unlimited Nights and Weekend that start at 7pm
Unlimited Roaming

oh and 500 Anytime (which I personally never go over). I don't even want to know what the ATT equivelent costs.

Using a Centro right now and it serves all my purposes. EMail, IM, Google Maps, and great reception in the Metro Detroit area. Also, the Palm has my favorite app, which is CallRec (automatically records all incoming/outgoing calls to the MicroSD)

Last I checked it was right at $100 and AT&T doesn't offer 3G around here and has no plans to. I'll deal with the crappy CS at Sprint until they pull the plug on SERO.
 

A5

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2000
4,902
5
81
I've had a Centro and HTC Touch, and my brother has a iPhone 3G. The Centro was a good phone and e-mail device, but it's awful for web browsing. I like my Touch, but it's really sluggish compared to the iPhone...Safari destroys Opera Mobile, the on-screen keyboard is way better (full QWERTY requires a stylus on the Touch), and the iphone touchscreen "feels" much better than the one on the Touch. I'm not sure how much better these are on the Touch Diamond/Pro...that said, I'm not leaving Sprint until they take away my SERO plan or AT&T offers something like it (not gonna happen).
 

Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
81
Nothing beats the iPhone's browser. It is amazing, as is the easy to use UI. Bow down to the iphone.
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Nothing beats the iPhone's browser. It is amazing, as is the easy to use UI. Bow down to the iphone.

Hmmmm, another reason for me to hate Pats fans.....