IPhone

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

So, I was honestly thinking of getting one...am I being stupid...I have been looking and I think it would be cool because of the fact that wi-fi is pretty much everywhere so I would have internet access anywhere. Plus I was thinking about getting an IPod and this would take care of that problem too. but then again 8 gigs doesn't sound like a whole lot either...what does everyone think.

[sanantoniosooner]

8 gigs is quite a bit of music, but if you are interested in more than music it might not be enough for you.

In the apple format that's around 2,000 songs.....give or take a few.

And I wouldn't want one myself.

[soonersponge]

I would like one, but I want to wait a while. They are 6 months behind other phones on features. They will have this with an update in early 08. That will be the time I may get one.

[def_lazer_fc]

i heard the battery life was kinda sucky on these. i for one won't be getting one, b/c i can't even handle a cheap phone without losing it of breaking it.

[Soonerus]

I was advised by my cell phone rep to wait and see how they work, they most assuredly will be improved and the price will fall...

[King Crimson]

i thought about buying one and ****ed a stripper, right away. she was crying as she "climaxed" the 9th time.

it's the real deal. human life will never be the same.

[OzarkSooner]

Just so you know...I BELIEVE that the new iPhones do not have WiFi. You have to access internet via the AT&T network. That is what will keep me from buying this first issue.

Secondly, I heard a reviewer today that said he got around 9 hours of actual talk time....not that bad and something like 2 1/2 days standby time?


From what I understand, a big part of the high cost has to do with the type of battery these things have to have.

The other thing that would keep me from buying is I NEVER buy first issue of any new model, whether it be computer, phone, etc. Just usually not a good ideaR

8)

[TheLurker]

Here's a video review of the iphone from David Pogue The New York Times tech writer. He tries to make it funny but the information is good.

Linky (http://video.on.nytimes.com/index.jsp?fr_story=caed76f16c6132710db58210df3940a fb8a3f7c8)

[Hatfield]

yes...if you want it for wifi i encourage you to not get it...because it ain't got it

[TopDaugIn2000]

IMO, you can get an iPod with a LOT more space AND a phone with much better features for less than $600.

I've also read about the battery. It's trapped inside and a "normal" person can't change it out.

[TopDaugIn2000]

I ran across this article yesterday, thought it was informative.

link (http://tech.msn.com/products/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=5061246)

From a slow data network to a sealed battery, here are some of the drawbacks to consider before you buy the season's hot phone.

Want an iPhone? Of course you do. It looks sexy, it's innovative, and--for a while at least--it'll be the ultimate status symbol. But in the fog of iPhone hype, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the latest Apple sensation will still have its share of disadvantages. We don't have the king of gadgets in our mitts yet, but judging from the information that has already been released, clearly some folks could have problems with the iPhone. So before you dump your current cell phone, consider these issues.

Data that crawls
When AT&T's EDGE network debuted in 2005, it seemed zippy indeed, delivering data at up to 100 kilobits per second. But that was then. Today, with true 3G technologies delivering data at up to several hundred kbps, Apple's decision not to support AT&T's UMTS-HSDPA 3G network seems short-sighted--especially given the iPhone's investment in cool new Web browsing technology that doesn't suffer from the compromises of a mobile browser. In our limited hands-on tests a few months ago, downloading the New York Times' front page via EDGE took quite a few seconds. AT&T has tacitly acknowledged this potential problem by announcing upgrades to its EDGE network in anticipation of the iPhone launch. And of course, the iPhone will support Wi-Fi, which will make Web page downloads much more feasible if you're in range of a hotspot.

Limited third-party apps
Lots of cell phone power users get more value out of the applications they've loaded on their handsets themselves than the often lame or expensive offerings from their carriers. When the iPhone was first announced, third-party apps seemed shut out entirely, a move that prompted one online petition of protest. Now Apple says that developers can create iPhone apps that run in Safari. Only two problems with that: First, those apps may be fairly poky given the iPhone's slower EDGE network connection. Second, many developers seem to hate writing for Safari. As PC World forums member dazeddan said, "As a developer, we have more problems designing around Safari than any other platform. I wish it would just go away."

Where are the keys?
The iPhone's software keyboard, with its on-screen key images, may work fine with Steve Jobs's single-finger hunt-and-peck approach, but it could prove problematic for those folks who have honed their thumb-typing skills on BlackBerry units, Treos, Motorola Q handsets, or other PDA phones with physical QWERTY keyboards. Things did not go well for one PC World editor when she tried typing on a prototype iPhone in January; even the best predictive text entry software would have been stymied by the string of incorrect characters. Plus, what happens when the on-screen keyboard covers up the very e-mail text you're trying to respond to?

It costs how much?!
You've probably already heard about the iPhone's astronomical price: $500 for a 4GB model and $600 for 8GB. But you may not have calculated all the other costs associated with buying one. You'll have to make a two-year commitment to AT&T at a per-month cost that starts at $60, recent reports say (though that includes unlimited data access, something AT&T often charges $40 for on smart phones). And unlike with pretty much every other phone in the world, making that commitment doesn't knock down the price, it's just a requirement. Plus, if you're in the midst of a prior two-year commitment with a competing carrier, your cost of iPhone ownership could be further inflated by the early termination penalty you'll pay your current carrier. And finally, AT&T doesn't always receive high marks for its service. You may be okay with the deal now, but how will you feel in a year if the iPhone is no longer the coolest handset on the planet?

Businesspeople need not apply
It's a safe bet that many professionals will want an iPhone. But BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian smart phones offer a long list of business-related features that the iPhone apparently won't, at least upon release. Included on the list are support for Exchange and Domino servers, the ability to view and edit Office documents, and industrial-strength data security options.

Unplugged Web plug-ins
The iPhone's Safari may turn out to be the most desktop-like browser ever to appear on a phone. But it won't offer the full complement of plug-ins, players, and other enhancements that today's sites require. And an iPhone without Java, Windows Media, Real, and Flash Video support will fall short of delivering an uncompromised Web experience. (Even its much-touted YouTube capability won't let you watch the full catalog of YouTube videos, at least initially.)

The battery life question
Apple says that the iPhone's battery will survive up to 8 hours of talk time, up to 250 hours of idle time, up to 6 hours of Internet use, up to 7 hours of video playback, and up to 24 hours of audio playback. And to explain how it came up with these numbers, the company has posted a list of footnotes and disclaimers that rivals the rules you find on a "free trip to Hawaii" sweepstakes form. We won't know the reality until we're holding the iPhone in our trembling, multitouching fingers. Apple's spec page says that the 8 hours of talk time was achieved when "the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks was turned off." So how disabled was the Wi-Fi when talk time was tested? Apple also doesn't make clear what combination of 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and EDGE was employed to achieve the 7 hours of Internet use. Macs have pretty good power management settings. What will the iPhone offer? Until more is known, be prepared to carry around the phone charger.

Off-limits battery
While we're on the subject of the battery, it's worth noting that, like the original iPod, the iPhone has its battery enclosed in a superslim case among tightly negotiated electronics and behind a top surface of glass--reducing the chances of a DIY battery replacement to next to nil. (Plus, we suspect that attempting a replacement voids the warranty.) So if your battery life dwindles to roughly 6.5 minutes per charge, or the battery malfunctions, you'll have to send your iPhone in for repair.

Finally, a few other issues that probably aren't deal-breakers but are still worth considering:
It's a thief magnet: Everybody wants an iPhone, including people who aren't above stealing yours.
Multismudge screen: You can use all five fingers on the screen at once? Better wash your hands first.
OMG no IM: Inveterate chatters won't be so :) about being limited to SMS.

[TheLurker]

Where'd you guys here that it doesn't have WiFi?

[C&CDean]

We herd it right hear.

[OzarkSooner]

This article is the first thing I've seen that said the phone would do wifi. I have seen two different reviews that says it doesn't...go figure.

[TheLurker]

It has wifi. The problem is if you're not around a "hotspot" then the iphone uses the old cingular EDGE network. Most new phones use the 3rd Generation 3G system when delivering data over the actual cell network. Apple didn't include 3G because they couldn't find a good balance between the battery life issues 3G would cause against the benefit in speed.

[Legend of Ron Mexico]

I've read that it has Wi-Fi. One of the video demos I saw showed them connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

When you buy it, you have to get a plan that has unlimited data transfer. It connects to AT&T's EDGE network which is their slower network. The speed on this network was around 40kbps. Supposedly AT&T added extra capacity to the network and I read that they expect IPhone and Treo users to get a minimum of 80kbps. If you're near a Wi-Fi connection, it'll pick it up and you'll have a lot faster transfer rates.

Later versions of the phone are expected to connect to the 3G network which is, I think, around 200k-400k. The only problem with that network is that it isn't nationwide yet.

I think it looks very cool but I'm not in the market for a $500 phone right now.

[Hatfield]

Where'd you guys here that it doesn't have WiFi?

the computer dork at my jobby job was outlining the negative issues...no wifi and something about no 3g or some such higher speed thingee mabob