Should I Get an Iphone?

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They give you 30 days to try it out dont they? (T-mo does for their phones, not sure about AT/T)
 
Apple's homepage has a video of a presentation which pretty thoroughly explains software updates coming at the end of June, namely the integration of external programs into their SDK platform. In particular, they have a rep. from Epocrates discuss and demonstrate the improvements of their new software for the iPhone. It looks sweet.

I'd try to hold off until the end of June, in case they choose to update the hardware to meet any demands of new programming. That said, the June software updates will be free for existing iPhone users.

*Correction: Firmware update does appear to be coming with the software update at the end of June.*
 
LOVE my iPhone. I don't know how I got along without it.
 
Apple's homepage has a video of a presentation which pretty thoroughly explains software updates coming at the end of June, namely the integration of external programs into their SDK platform. In particular, they have a rep. from Epocrates discuss and demonstrate the improvements of their new software for the iPhone. It looks sweet.

I'd try to hold off until the end of June, in case they choose to update the hardware to meet any demands of new programming. That said, the June software updates will be free for existing iPhone users.

*Correction: Firmware update does appear to be coming with the software update at the end of June.*

What is firmware? is tha something that can be added to an iphone or will i have to have a new iphone to use the new programs?

thanks folks for your input thus far.🙂
 
i'm happy with mine. it is a phone with some nice bells and whistles, and not quite a PDA-caliber smart phone. maybe this will change in the future, but for now it compares more to the high end Nokia phones (the N-series) than it does a Treo, imho. That being said, it is easier to navigate than some reviews led me to believe, the internet application works very well, even quite fast with Edge, let alone the impending 3G technology. I am 90% of the time in range of wifi anyway, so that's a moot point. It's a bit expensive, but i think my book fund covers smartphone/pda/mp3 players so i'll just slap some Audio Blue on there and call it a study aid. have to spend it somewhere, and from what I understand, a 42" plasma TV is not really a computer monitor... 😉
 
What is firmware? is tha something that can be added to an iphone or will i have to have a new iphone to use the new programs?

thanks folks for your input thus far.🙂

firmware is the software that is updated on your phone by Apple, and acts as the basic code for the applications on it. it's analogous to updating your operating system.


"firmware" can also be used to describe Michael Jackson's pants at a Cub Scout convention.
 
Firmware is upgradable after the purchase. However, I think Apple is going to upgrade the hardware as well. I'd be surprised if they didn't announce a 3G iPhone this summer when the SDK is official released. Just my 2 cents, but I'd wait until late June to buy an iPhone. Who knows, they may lower prices for each set of memory too. Then you could get 32GB for the price of the current 16GB model.
 
dont get an iphone! get a blackberry. it doesnt come with insurance, never buy expensive phones without insurance.
 
hmmm. is that true? why wouldn't they offer insurance?

AT&T doesn't offer insurance, but Apple offers a warranty which can be extended with AppleCare.

AT&T seems to handle the iPhone as a "special iPod" instead of one of their usual phones, and defers to Apple for all hardware issues.

Apple offers 1 year of hardware repair coverage extensible to 2 if you pay:
http://www.apple.com/support/products/applecareiphone.html

However, I won't buy into this; if something bad happens to my iPhone after the regular warranty expires, I'm just going to pay to upgrade to the 3G model.

Apple even prepared for people who drop the phone in a toilet and later claim "it just stopped working" with a built-in water exposure telltale:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/iphone-water-se.html
 
I love my iPhone. The things it does, it does very well, and if you enjoy good interface design you'll love it too. That being said, it does have some limitations currently compared with some of the other platforms so if these involve critical features for you, think carefully. It's not a big deal for me and I'm 110% satisfied with it.
 
I love my iPhone. The things it does, it does very well, and if you enjoy good interface design you'll love it too. That being said, it does have some limitations currently compared with some of the other platforms so if these involve critical features for you, think carefully. It's not a big deal for me and I'm 110% satisfied with it.

Can you please detail these limitations?

thanks,
gasem🙂
 
AT&T doesn't offer insurance, but Apple offers a warranty which can be extended with AppleCare.

AT&T seems to handle the iPhone as a "special iPod" instead of one of their usual phones, and defers to Apple for all hardware issues.

Apple offers 1 year of hardware repair coverage extensible to 2 if you pay:
http://www.apple.com/support/products/applecareiphone.html

However, I won't buy into this; if something bad happens to my iPhone after the regular warranty expires, I'm just going to pay to upgrade to the 3G model.

Apple even prepared for people who drop the phone in a toilet and later claim "it just stopped working" with a built-in water exposure telltale:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/iphone-water-se.html

so is the price for upgrading to the 3G model, less than paying for a brand new Iphone? Damn, this is more complicated than I anticipated. But, one does have to justify spending $500 for a phone.
 
so is the price for upgrading to the 3G model, less than paying for a brand new Iphone? Damn, this is more complicated than I anticipated. But, one does have to justify spending $500 for a phone.

I would assume that it's going to be a while before we see a 3G iPhone, and I'd be shocked if there was an upgrade path other than just buying a new one. I'll have gotten plenty of use out of mine by then anyway.
 
I'd say the main thing is the lack of third party applications.

As of a couple days ago, I think about 100,000 companies/group/developers have downloaded the SDK (think of it as a blue print developers use to make programs for it) for the iphone. So, in the future there should be many 3rd party apps for you to download.....off itunes.....

BUT........................before you spend all that money, consider that 750,000 developers have downloaded the SDK for google's android that will be coming out soon. Just another wrench to throw into your decision making. 😀
 
As of a couple days ago, I think about 100,000 companies/group/developers have downloaded the SDK (think of it as a blue print developers use to make programs for it) for the iphone. So, in the future there should be many 3rd party apps for you to download.....off itunes.....

BUT........................before you spend all that money, consider that 750,000 developers have downloaded the SDK for google's android that will be coming out soon. Just another wrench to throw into your decision making. 😀

damn u husker, damned u. crap. i can barely type straight. i really should lay off da booze booze. stoopid match.
 
As of a couple days ago, I think about 100,000 companies/group/developers have downloaded the SDK (think of it as a blue print developers use to make programs for it) for the iphone. So, in the future there should be many 3rd party apps for you to download.....off itunes.....

BUT........................before you spend all that money, consider that 750,000 developers have downloaded the SDK for google's android that will be coming out soon. Just another wrench to throw into your decision making. 😀

Android is just vaporware at the moment, and the hardware will not be as slick as the iPhone. I love Google and I'm sure Android could grow into something impressive down the road, but I wouldn't worry about it if you're looking at buying something within the next few months.

Also, one of the nice things about the iPhone is that it works...mine almost never crashes and doesn't have other weird software problems like my Treo did. This is the flip side of Apple maintaining such strict control over it. I'd be surprised if Android achieved that level of stability since it is a more open platform and will run on many different hardware implementations. I see it as more like linux: cool, powerful, but something you have to tinker with to get it to work.

Who knows for sure. Certainly not me.
 
Android phones will surely be cheaper than the iPhone, in terms of fixed price and monthly cost. Most people don't know this, but AT&T gives a $15 chunk from the monthly bill revenue directly to Apple, so in addition to paying Apple $400 for the phone, you pay $15 (at least) per month per phone, for 2 years. Another $360.

This will not be the same way as with Android, since there is no "company" to give the kickback to, since Android is an open-source platform.

If you're considering cost in your purchase, keep in mind that Android will be significantly cheaper, and also significantly more open. You would be able to use whatever program that can be dreamed up by the developer, rather than what Apple would deem acceptable to the iPhone.
 
Android phones will surely be cheaper than the iPhone, in terms of fixed price and monthly cost. Most people don't know this, but AT&T gives a $15 chunk from the monthly bill revenue directly to Apple, so in addition to paying Apple $400 for the phone, you pay $15 (at least) per month per phone, for 2 years. Another $360.

This will not be the same way as with Android, since there is no "company" to give the kickback to, since Android is an open-source platform.

If you're considering cost in your purchase, keep in mind that Android will be significantly cheaper, and also significantly more open. You would be able to use whatever program that can be dreamed up by the developer, rather than what Apple would deem acceptable to the iPhone.

I did look at the AT&T plans. They seem pretty cheap compared to what I currently have with another carrier. I am not too sure that I will actually "feel" that extra $15. I am going to go the the apple store today to look around. I am debating getting one of AT&T's cheap phones until June when this new updated phone will be available. Hmmm...
 
I'm a phone junkie and have owned the following in the past year and half:

Blackjack I
Blackjack II
AT&T 8525
AT&T 8925
Apple Iphone

Yes, I'm completely OCD.

The iphone, simply put, kicks ***... Between the interface innovation, features, functionality, etc.. it can't be beat in my opinion. You truly have to own one and use it for a week or two before you realize just how cool a device it is. I've had mine jailbroken (easy method of allowing the phone to install 3rd party apps and can be reversed at any time) with multiple 3rd party apps on there, but as others have said this will shortly become a moot issue since the SDK is out and developers are jumping on the bandwagon. There will be TONS of official 3rd party apps out this summer so don't let that dissuade you. Epocrates already has a working iphone version of their software that was demo'd during Apple's SDK preview.

Originally, I had really thought I wanted GPS functionality, but I found that it's spotty at best and a complete and utter headache most of the time. I had these frustrations on the AT&T Tilt and the Blackjack II. With the new iphone firmware update, you can triangulate your position on the map based on cell tower signal strength and so it can pinpoint your location to use with google maps anytime. It's almost just as good as having GPS in my opinion and I use the feature all the time.

Load your music, tv shows, movies, etc... on your iphone and watch them in your downtime. The battery life is amazing. I'm constantly on mine throughout the day and I can easily go two days without charging. (New 16gb model)

Yes, the edge network is not the fastest in the world, but AT&T doesn't have 3G active everywhere, so I wouldn't necessarily hold off just for 3G. Edge is plenty fast enough for me. It's mainly slow when you are surfing full graphic web pages with lots of picture content. I only have a few sites that I surf like this, and the rest are mobile versions of websites. For instance, I surf the mobile versions of CNN and msnbc, etc.. for some of my news and these sites load much faster. Some websites also have iphone versions with lighter overhead to increase load times. Either way, it's not a big deal. I had 3G on my other 2 phones and I couldn't even pick up 3G most of the times. (Right outside NYC) Also, keep in mind that the 3G phones will have decreased battery life because 3G utilizes more power.

Anyway, spring for the iphone, you'll love it.
 
I'm a phone junkie and have owned the following in the past year and half:

Blackjack I
Blackjack II
AT&T 8525
AT&T 8925
Apple Iphone

Yes, I'm completely OCD.

The iphone, simply put, kicks ***... Between the interface innovation, features, functionality, etc.. it can't be beat in my opinion. You truly have to own one and use it for a week or two before you realize just how cool a device it is. I've had mine jailbroken (easy method of allowing the phone to install 3rd party apps and can be reversed at any time) with multiple 3rd party apps on there, but as others have said this will shortly become a moot issue since the SDK is out and developers are jumping on the bandwagon. There will be TONS of official 3rd party apps out this summer so don't let that dissuade you. Epocrates already has a working iphone version of their software that was demo'd during Apple's SDK preview.

Originally, I had really thought I wanted GPS functionality, but I found that it's spotty at best and a complete and utter headache most of the time. I had these frustrations on the AT&T Tilt and the Blackjack II. With the new iphone firmware update, you can triangulate your position on the map based on cell tower signal strength and so it can pinpoint your location to use with google maps anytime. It's almost just as good as having GPS in my opinion and I use the feature all the time.

Load your music, tv shows, movies, etc... on your iphone and watch them in your downtime. The battery life is amazing. I'm constantly on mine throughout the day and I can easily go two days without charging. (New 16gb model)

Yes, the edge network is not the fastest in the world, but AT&T doesn't have 3G active everywhere, so I wouldn't necessarily hold off just for 3G. Edge is plenty fast enough for me. It's mainly slow when you are surfing full graphic web pages with lots of picture content. I only have a few sites that I surf like this, and the rest are mobile versions of websites. For instance, I surf the mobile versions of CNN and msnbc, etc.. for some of my news and these sites load much faster. Some websites also have iphone versions with lighter overhead to increase load times. Either way, it's not a big deal. I had 3G on my other 2 phones and I couldn't even pick up 3G most of the times. (Right outside NYC) Also, keep in mind that the 3G phones will have decreased battery life because 3G utilizes more power.

Anyway, spring for the iphone, you'll love it.

Dude, awesome post. I really appreciate it.🙂
 
Complete vaporware.

Android already has major support from most hardware manufacturers and several mobile carriers. The SDK was released completely several months ago. Hardware has already been made which uses Android, but not yet commercially available. Hardware and Android will be commercially available in a few months. Real software has already been written and used on actual Android hardware.

You don't understand what vaporware is.
 
ANybody have the ipod touch?

I do. It's awesome. Went to the Apple Store to check it out in person. But I warn you: after getting the ipod touch, you're gonna want an iphone really bad. never even thought about getting the iphone before, but after using the interface, i was sold.

the touch is much more functional if you have wifi access at work and home (access to email, the internet, youtube, weather, stocks, and itunes). without wifi you still have the calendar, notes, music and videos (videos look amazing on it), contacts, and, of course, calculator. i would imagine that all the cool and functional (Epocrates) applications coming out for the iphone will be readily available for the touch, too.

i suggest the 16 gig model. i thought, "i'll never use 16 gigs." but after downloading my music and videos, i only had 3 gigs left. in fact, they have a 32 gig out, right? might want to get that.

if you're skeptical like me, though, go to the apple store and check it out. i must have spent a good hour trying to find something wrong with it, but only liked it more and more.
 
I do. It's awesome. Went to the Apple Store to check it out in person. But I warn you: after getting the ipod touch, you're gonna want an iphone really bad. never even thought about getting the iphone before, but after using the interface, i was sold.

the touch is much more functional if you have wifi access at work and home (access to email, the internet, youtube, weather, stocks, and itunes). without wifi you still have the calendar, notes, music and videos (videos look amazing on it), contacts, and, of course, calculator. i would imagine that all the cool and functional (Epocrates) applications coming out for the iphone will be readily available for the touch, too.

i suggest the 16 gig model. i thought, "i'll never use 16 gigs." but after downloading my music and videos, i only had 3 gigs left. in fact, they have a 32 gig out, right? might want to get that.

if you're skeptical like me, though, go to the apple store and check it out. i must have spent a good hour trying to find something wrong with it, but only liked it more and more.

It looks solid but its just too pricey right now and it doesn't have nearly enough storage for my music alone. Never mind all the other stupid aqua teen hunger force and southpark episodes I have....yeah, I'm classy like that.

I'm also worried that I'll just be goofen around on that thing all day distracting myself from other more important or worthy causes.

I mean, how much more crap do I need? None. How much more crap do I want? Its endless. Total consumer.

Oh yeah, I just bought an 80gig classic IPOD from amazon instead of the Itouch. Its in the mail. Also picked up some QJAY ear-bud headphones. Expensive as hell, incredible reviews, but have 2 speakers in each ear piece and they are the smallest things out there.
 
God I love technology. It must be sinful if it makes so many feel oh so good.

🙂

I WILL be getting an iphone AND a dog. Come on Thursday so that I can figure my life out.
 
Yay! I would go for a cat though, they are much easier. We just left ours for the whole weekend with a big bowl of food and a clean litterbox. Try that with a dog!

Yeah, but I grew up with dogs only. Cats are so weird and crazy and scratchy and bitchy. Dogs are fun, playful, sweet, loyal and cute. And at least they give you a warning before they attack. My friends' cat loves to pounce on me and scratch the hell out of me. Damn cats.
 
have you considered getting a sweet bag phone like this one? you can carry it in a satchel or man-purse, and you only need to charge it a few times per day.

BagPhone-137.jpg
 
Yeah, but I grew up with dogs only. Cats are so weird and crazy and scratchy and bitchy. Dogs are fun, playful, sweet, loyal and cute. And at least they give you a warning before they attack. My friends' cat loves to pounce on me and scratch the hell out of me. Damn cats.

Your friend's cat sucks. A good cat is much easier to take care of than any dog around.
 
Should I? Do you have one? Are they really as cool as they seem?

NO, they are way too expensive $400 for the phone plus about $100 per month to use the phone. Thats almost three thousand dollars wasted in just two years.

If you were to save that money for retiement you would have $30,000 to $40,000 extra at retiement.

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. " -Thoreau


Android phones will surely be cheaper than the iPhone, in terms of fixed price and monthly cost. Most people don't know this, but AT&T gives a $15 chunk from the monthly bill revenue directly to Apple, so in addition to paying Apple $400 for the phone, you pay $15 (at least) per month per phone, for 2 years. Another $360.

This will not be the same way as with Android, since there is no "company" to give the kickback to, since Android is an open-source platform.

If you're considering cost in your purchase, keep in mind that Android will be significantly cheaper, and also significantly more open. You would be able to use whatever program that can be dreamed up by the developer, rather than what Apple would deem acceptable to the iPhone.
 
NO, they are way too expensive $400 for the phone plus about $100 per month to use the phone. Thats almost three thousand dollars wasted in just two years.

If you were to save that money for retiement you would have $30,000 to $40,000 extra at retiement.

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. " -Thoreau

The iPhone is so worth it. What's the point of having money if you don't spend it on cool toys that make you happy 🙂
 
NO, they are way too expensive $400 for the phone plus about $100 per month to use the phone. Thats almost three thousand dollars wasted in just two years.

If you were to save that money for retiement you would have $30,000 to $40,000 extra at retiement.

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. " -Thoreau

Where are you coming up with $100/month to use the phone? AT&T's plans start at $59.99/mo for the Iphone. Right?
 
So my last year's big purchase was a Palm Tx. That was like $300. People said not to buy it because I didn't "need it." I love that damned thing. It totally got me through 3rd and 4th year. It gave me helpful info. at key times, made me look like a star during rounds, AND gave me something to fiddle with when I was bored.

So along that line of reasoning, it is only fitting that I make another big purchase this year, in the form of an Iphone.

Like my rationale?🙂

FYI: I am really just waiting for the stoopid apple store to get a new supply of 16GB phones. The rest of this philosophizing is to keep me from changing my mind in the meantime.
 
The iPhone rocks......got out of verizon early (the treo was ok), paid the dues, but it was well worth it!!! Music, movies, and best of all AUDIO BIG BLUE!!!!👍
 
Should I? Do you have one? Are they really as cool as they seem?


I gots to weigh in on this discussion. I got mine for $600, then got the $100 dollar rebate. I am happy I did.

First of all, everyone that has a blackberry or any of that other stuff will tell you that it has the internet just like the iphone. The iphone has 28% of the market share for smartphones, and the iphone accounts for 71% of U.S. Mobile internet browsing. What does that tell you? It says that either browsing the internet on all those other devices suck, or that browsing the internet on the iphone is very easy and enjoyable (at least do-able).

The ipod feature is great. I don't know of other devices that can play movies that you can output it to a high def or regular TV, so essentially, you have a portable DVD player that fits in your pocket and it has an incredible battery life as already mentioned. My video ipod can watch maybe one movie, but I can watch about 8 hrs of TV and video on my iphone (maybe more).

The touchscreen functionality is revolutionary. It truly is amazing, coupled with the position sensor.

I was driving around in the woods in the middle of NOWHERE one day and I was flying out of town the next day on Southwest. At the 24hrs prior to me leaving, I told my wife to use my iphone to check me in. 5 minutes later she tells me, okay, you are in the boarding group A. Later when I was leaving I was in the airport taking to her on the phone and she said, what is that song we heard on the radio? I like that song. I said, I don't know but let me try to find it. I knew some of the words....a google search later on my iphone, I found the name, did a search on itunes store (on my iphone), hit the purchase button, it downloaded to my iphone and 5 minutes later, I was jamin to the song. How cool is that?

You may be suprised to know that the iphone is in our anesthesia literature.

Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Feb 28 [Epub ahead of print]Links
The 'iPhone' induction - a novel use for the Apple iPhone.

Low DK, Pittaway AP.
I have a copy of a regional block video on mine. It is fun to show at parties (and remember, this is my phone).

How about them apples, you non-apple companies?
 
You may be suprised to know that the iphone is in our anesthesia literature.

Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Feb 28 [Epub ahead of print]Links
The 'iPhone' induction - a novel use for the Apple iPhone.

Low DK, Pittaway AP.
I have a copy of a regional block video on mine. It is fun to show at parties (and remember, this is my phone).

How about them apples, you non-apple companies?

That is AWESOME. My new favorite frivolous paper.
 
I gots to weigh in on this discussion. I got mine for $600, then got the $100 dollar rebate. I am happy I did.

First of all, everyone that has a blackberry or any of that other stuff will tell you that it has the internet just like the iphone. The iphone has 28% of the market share for smartphones, and the iphone accounts for 71% of U.S. Mobile internet browsing. What does that tell you? It says that either browsing the internet on all those other devices suck, or that browsing the internet on the iphone is very easy and enjoyable (at least do-able).

The ipod feature is great. I don't know of other devices that can play movies that you can output it to a high def or regular TV, so essentially, you have a portable DVD player that fits in your pocket and it has an incredible battery life as already mentioned. My video ipod can watch maybe one movie, but I can watch about 8 hrs of TV and video on my iphone (maybe more).

The touchscreen functionality is revolutionary. It truly is amazing, coupled with the position sensor.

I was driving around in the woods in the middle of NOWHERE one day and I was flying out of town the next day on Southwest. At the 24hrs prior to me leaving, I told my wife to use my iphone to check me in. 5 minutes later she tells me, okay, you are in the boarding group A. Later when I was leaving I was in the airport taking to her on the phone and she said, what is that song we heard on the radio? I like that song. I said, I don't know but let me try to find it. I knew some of the words....a google search later on my iphone, I found the name, did a search on itunes store (on my iphone), hit the purchase button, it downloaded to my iphone and 5 minutes later, I was jamin to the song. How cool is that?

You may be suprised to know that the iphone is in our anesthesia literature.

Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Feb 28 [Epub ahead of print]Links
The 'iPhone' induction - a novel use for the Apple iPhone.

Low DK, Pittaway AP.
I have a copy of a regional block video on mine. It is fun to show at parties (and remember, this is my phone).

How about them apples, you non-apple companies?

Awesome post man. I appreciate it. I am all set to go pick one up this weekend. 😀
 
Awesome post man. I appreciate it. I am all set to go pick one up this weekend. 😀

Another thing, apple is a pretty good company. I had a small, very insignificant defect on the phone screen. I took it in just now and they gave me a new phone no questions. I plugged it in to my computer and it restored all my contacts and settings.
 
That is AWESOME. My new favorite frivolous paper.


Maybe frivolous, but I have a friend fellow at Childrens in seattle, and he said Dr Low's induction with the phone is very cool. He has the child watch a movie on the phone while he proceeds to induce. He has different movies depending on the age of the child.
 
Maybe frivolous, but I have a friend fellow at Childrens in seattle, and he said Dr Low's induction with the phone is very cool. He has the child watch a movie on the phone while he proceeds to induce. He has different movies depending on the age of the child.

No, I didn't mean to knock it. It's a good idea and I'm sure it helps a lot. It's just funny that there's an iPhone in a medical paper.
 
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