iPhone
Posted by delta on July 3rd, 2007
You know, I was gonna get two of these things. One for myself and one for my wife. We are with Nextel right now and ever since Sprint bought them the whole thing has went to crap…
I was stoked when Steve Jobs announced the iPhone. It appeared to have everything we needed, and it looked like it was gonna save us a little money too. but the most important reasons for getting an iPhone have dissappeared…
1) We pay $120/mo for our existing thing and we have direct connect (which you can’t beat when wanting to talk to each other quickly). Initially, it looked like the iPhone was going to save us money because the monthly was only going to be $80 for the both of us. Once the iPhone came out, suddenly an astericks appeared next to the “Monthly Price” and when you look down is says the following:
“*Price reflects one line. A minimum of two lines are required. Additional iPhone lines are $29.99 each. Family plans for two iPhones start at $109.99.”
So much for saving money on the monthly bill…
2) Another thing which suddenly appeared when they went for sale is the fact that they force you to buy a data plan. I have wireless access everywhere I go, why do I need to buy this? Why can’t I just get a regular family plan and use my existing wireless networks?
3) It doesn’t come with a case/cover. So, what? You have to carry it around in your pocket?
4) I think I like the idea of using a pen better than the idea of using your finger. If it was a tablet sized device, then yeah, it would work – cause it would only be used on breaks (after I have my hands washed) anyway. But a phone that I have to touch on the face to use, just won’t work for me. Mainly for two reasons…
The first is because, in my business, my hands are always getting dirty and I would be afraid to touch the damn thing for fear of mucking it up (it would be covered in dirt by midday). I wash my hands (if water is available to us) at least once an hour (yeah they get that dirty), but I simply would not be able to pick this thing up and talk on it (or make a phone call) in the middle of something (which we do quite a bit cause we need someone to deliver this or that) without first finding a place to wash my hands (which can be quite a hike if you’re out in the middle of a golf course setting up a concert). My phone usually rings when I’m 25-50ft in the air hanging a projector/speaker – I can’t stop, get down, wash my hands, and answer the phone…
Secondly, aside from not being able to see the screen after mid-morning, this thing has no protection – if dropped on it’s face, or if you use the wrong soap or hand lotion, the screen will be dead. If you get grease on your hands, then you’ll kill the thing – I know a few mechanics who are gonna be pissed when they kill their phones after a week. The thing is way too delicate…
5) If I get an Axiotron Modbook I would save myself money. Figure this:
$110/mo for 24 months = $2640
plus 2 iPhones at $600 = $1200
Add the two = $3840
Why in the hell would I want an iPhone when I can have almost two ModBooks for the same price?
6) It syncs contacts, calendars, and bookmarks from your computer to iPhone and from iPhone to your computer (so if you add, change, or delete them on iPhone, they are changed on your computer, and vice versa); but email account settings, music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos are synced one-way, from your computer to iPhone (though you can import photos taken with iPhone to your computer).
My main reason for getting this devide would be to not have to bring my laptop with me on the road. I can check my email, download my podcasts, and tv shows and do all the things I have to do, and when I get home I can sync it to my computer – and when working from home I can do what I do and before leaving I can sync it to my iPhone. I don’t need this to go one-way (from computer to iPhone), I need this to go both ways…
7) From the get-go, I was hoping that Apple would come out with something similiar; but, hold the phone part. I don’t need/want the phone part of this equation, and I really don’t know anyone who does. I want something in the form of a tablet with a larger screen, full OSX OS, full bays for peripherals, and the same type of multi-touch functionality. Basically, I want a modbook made by Apple, with multi-touch capability…
8) You know the one they announce in January is gonna have everyone who bought one this last week kicking themselves for spending $600 on a paper weight…
9) AT&T is the carrier – need I say more?
10) AT&T’s Edge Network – whatever…