iPhone 3G - Recommend?

[kstar]

Island:

You're stating opinions, which is fine, of course. I believe that many of your criticisms are just not issues to most iPhone users.

Actual user data shows that the iPhone is the #1 smart phone (edit: actually #1 overall, which includes all mobile phones) on the web and now the #1 camera phone on Flickr. This is true because the iPhone provides a better, easier to use, interface for the web despite the fact that iPhone exists in fewer numbers than other smart phones, like Nokia.

I am one of the folks who access the web a lot on my iPhone and use its camera a lot, despite it's 2MP res and lack of other "features". These are things not reflected on a spec sheet.

Having said that, the iPhone is not the phone for everyone and some people simply prefer others . . .

Lack of "cut and paste" is a big issue, IMO, and I'll be very happy when it's part of the feature set. Flash, I can generally live without. I do miss some video that's offered via Flash, but Flash based websites are silly and serious sites eschew Flash as the primary UI.

I have noticed recently that many web based videos are now playable on iPhone via YouTube, and QT plays fine. IMO, it is possible a move to iPhone compatible video (not Flash) is underway since not only are the number of iPhone users growing, but iPhone users spend a disproportionate amount of time on the interwebs. It may be sucky for you, but not for a significant majority of iPhone folken.

Just because you think the iPhone screen is too small or lacks enough pixels has no impact on folks like me and the millions of other iPhone users who routinely work the WWW and are extremely satisfied with the experience.

FWIW, I think my praise and criticism of the iPhone is reasonable, balanced and fair. While you offer some reasonable criticism, some of your opinions seem to express some underlying, irrational dislike for iPhone and Apple in general. Just my 2¢.

Take care,

[island911]

Did you write all of that on your iPhone?


Well then, I think my point stands.

[island911]

Originally Posted by island911

... So, if you expect to, say, browse all day and post long-winded replies on Pelican, well, the iPhone is going to suck . ..most any phone is going to suck ...except for some folks who appear to be wearing their bias on their sleeves. <---- I cut and pasted that last part. (try that simple move on an iPhone)

Kurt, I think you are extra defensive for the iPhone. Again, my point is, ALL of these phones are like looking at the web thru a straw. ...i'll give you that the iPhone is a fatter staw than most, but it is still a straw. Then there is the input... A non-tactile tumb-keypad is pathetic compared to a real keyboard, or even the handwritting recognition of a (gasp) Msft product.

What bugs me are those who over-sell the abilities of the device. ...any device.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by island911

Did you write all of that on your iPhone?


Well then, I think my point stands.

What point is that?

If you are arguing that iPhone is not superior to a laptop or desktop computer for web/net access, I would agree with you, hands down.

If you are arguing that iPhone is not superior to other smart phones for web/net access, then I would argue web/net usage data does not support your position. I would also argue that my personal opinion and widely distributed anecdotal evidence does not support your position, but this is of less substantial value in this debate.

I can't argue with your and millions of other's opinions who simply prefer other phones, though. For whatever reasons, this other group may just prefer to not spend so much time on the intertubes and watch video on their doll house screens.

[island911]

arg.

lets go thru this:

Originally Posted by island911

web browsing on a phone is viewing the web thru a straw. It works in a pinch, but really sucks..

(note, I'm NOT singling out the precious iPhone)

Originally Posted by kstarnes

... My experience is that it is great and, as I have said before, I pick up my iPhone to hit the web many times when my MacBook Pro is right at my side. YMMV...,

Contrast that with what you just wrote:

Originally Posted by kstarnes

If you are arguing that iPhone is not superior to a laptop or desktop computer for web/net access, I would agree with you, hands down....

You were (are?) equating the iPhone to that of a laptop, or other. --I call(ed) BS on that.

[dd74]

So, which is better? iPhone or Blackberry?

[island911]

dd

Let's see... If you dislike hardkeys and your money, the iPhone, hands down.

Seriously, better straw . .screen with the iPhone, smaller package with the BB

[RWebb]

how precise is the gps? will it tell you if you are a yard or two from a point?

[island911]

I don't know how precise the gps is, but, the iphone is pretty cool for position locating. It has four modes; GPS, tower triangulation, known tip address location, and inertial. --inertial can takeover for driving thru tunnels, when the GPS craps out.

[87coupe]

IMO, It all comes down to the "must do well" list for the individual. For me there are still a few "must do well" items that the iPhone falls short on. This is a bummer for me as there are a bunch of smartphone functions where the iPhone absolutely obliterates the next closest competitor and would love having it for those features.

The big ones for me that are still missing are:
*tethering over bluetooth
*replaceable battery
*Copy/Paste (absolutely the dumbest development decision I have ever seen - and they did it twice)

My current phone is the Motorola Q9h which I hate. WM6 is a turd, web on it even with Opera mini is a joke, proprietary motorola USB afterbirth that won't charge through most computers USB port, the list goes on. The bottom line though is that this phone passed my "must do well" list, even with all it's shortcomings.

If Apple fixed the BT tethering, and the Copy/Past issues (both doable as a soft update) I would probably buy one in spite of the no easily replaceable battery issue. I am around live USB ports all day and could easily get into the habit of plugging in more regularly while I'm stationary. I should note that there was a tethering app that showed up on the app store but was summarily taken down (although I believe it still used WiFi for comp<->phone). Going the jailbreak route w/ ad-hoc WiFi is equally lame.

My $0.02

[kstar]

Originally Posted by island911

arg.

lets go thru thisnote, I'm NOT singling out the precious iPhone)



Contrast that with what you just wrote:

You were (are?) equating the iPhone to that of a laptop, or other. --I call(ed) BS on that.

There are times when the iPhone is a better option for me when my laptop is sitting next to me. For instance, when I wake up in the morning, I grab my iPhone at my bedside and browse email and check some news sites; this is easier, and the iPod is good enough to keep me from popping open my laptop.

Is iPhone a superior, all around computer when I am at home? No. But there are times and circumstance at home when I prefer the iPhone. My point is that the iPhone, for me at least, is good enough and easy enough to use that I actually choose to use it when I have the option of using a full blown machine. If I need to type several paragraphs, then I choose the laptop or desktop, so you got me there.

The simple point is that the iPhone does web, among other things, really well and this is reflected in web user data.

Best,

[kstar]

Brandon:

Tethering on the iPhone is possible; it can be done with apps on a Jailbroken phone and via an app called NetShare (which I have) which was briefly available at the App Store.

The problem is that ATT's TOS disallows tethering on iPhone!!! They don't even offer a tethering data plan, which does suck. Yes, this is a material problem with iPhone.

The other two you list are also reasonable gripes and I hope all three are addressed very soon.

Best

[kstar]

Originally Posted by dd74

So, which is better? iPhone or Blackberry?

Depends on your needs. Best thing to do is spend some time with both phones; different strokes for . . .

Best,

[87coupe]

Most of that was covered in my post (tethering via jailbreak and the app store option that went away). I'll be interested in knowing if NetShare continues to work after the next update.

I don't really care what AT&T says about allowing tethering, they don't "allow" me to tether w/ my Q9h either but that hasn't stopped me. Still hoping for the best as I really do want an iPhone

[kstar]

Originally Posted by 87coupe

Most of that was covered in my post (tethering via jailbreak and the app store option that went away).

. . . snip . . .

Yup, sorry I did not read more carefully.

And yes, NetShare does use WiFi for the tether.

How long have you been tethering on ATT with the Q9h? I'm worried ATT would notice the non-iPhone traffic on my iPhone and cut me off. I guess I could change the user/agent setting on my laptop browser to "iPhone" but I would still be concerned that ATT could sniff me out and snuff my account.

[87coupe]

I have been bluetooth tethering with AT&T and Cingular before that for about 4 years now on three different devices over that time. I wouldn't worry about it too much. They know it's BS to try to charge extra for using the data connection you've already paid for and based on my experience I doubt they are actively looking to stop those of us who circumvent. YMMV

[dtw]

Case in point where I pick up the iphone instead of the lappy: email. One-touch email versus open the laptop, wait for it to wake up and pick up a wifi signal, log in to client, download mail. My personal email usually only requires a brief reply which I can quickly bang out on the iPhone qwerty touch-screen. I am much faster using that keyboard than I had anticipated. It is not nearly as klunky as it looks. Must admit I was very skeptical about that.

[RWebb]

what is Tethering ??

[kstar]

Originally Posted by RWebb

what is Tethering ??

Tethering in the context of this thread involves using the mobile phone as a modem for a laptop computer.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by RWebb

what is Tethering ??

+1

Also, can either the iPhone or a BlackBerry be used as a modem. Sometimes I'm in places with a laptop (an Apple or a Dell) that have no internet access. Is there a way to plug one of these phones into my laptop and use it as a modem?