How do you like your iPhone/Smartphone?

[Barry]

The iPhone 3GS is out and I'm guessing a few of you have got one already! And many more, including me, are starting to think pretty hard about getting one!

And others of you have the now "older" models but have upgraded to the new OS.

So how is it? What do you like? Did they miss any tricks? Is the battery working for you? Is it fast enough? What are your favorite apps?

And if you are dedicated to some other smartphone, why? Have you used and iPhone yet?

I imagine I'll get one eventually, depending on what you folks have to say!

[Tars]

The iPhone 3GS is out and I'm guessing a few of you have got one already! And many more, including me, are starting to think pretty hard about getting one!

Sorry, can't tell you what it's like, as I don't have one. But, like you, I've been struggling with a techie's craving for the gadget.

I've resisted the temptation so far. I have an IPod, which I use frequently; and I carry a cell phone. Beyond that though, I am around my regular PC often enough that I don't need the other programs that the IPhone carries, and for which Apple charges exorbitantly. Mostly what it offers seems to be just a bunch of gadgety features that are mainly good for using up time that could be better used elsewhere.

[C Tut]

A disclaimer: I have never been one to care much for the lastest and greatest gadget to hit the market. I'm no good at following trends, and generally think it is a waste of time to try to keep up with that realm. In fact, I've never really cared for technology in general. Sure it is helpful, but...eh. Let's just say I use it sparingly. I justified the purchase of my iPhone 3G back in February because my old cell crapped out, and since I don't have a TV, iPod or computer, thought "what the heck, it'll be my one gadget", all the while kicking myself for wasting so much money on a cell phone.

That being said, I really, really love my iPhone, and now consider it to be a truly worthy purchase. In particular, I LOVE my podcasts. For this reason alone it was worth every penny. It is also really nice to have all my music with me, and it is great to have only one device to carry. I am also a big, big nerd, so I love having access to information at my fingertips. How long would it take to drive to the Grand Canyon? What day is the moon full? What is the name of those gorgeous flowers again? No need to wonder, I can look it up on the go! Even I must admit that is pretty darn neat.

Although the new iPhone definitely looks improved, I dont think I'll rush out to get one. Sure it would be nice to have video and some of the extra perks, but...eh. The one I have is plenty of technology for this country bumpkin.

[Tars]

As my curmudgeonism condition advances with my age, I find that I'm more interested in functionality and price, than looks.

I see your point C Tut. I'm glad you enjoy your IPhone; on one level I envy you for having it. And, like you, I'd like to reduce the number of gadgets I currently use too, from 2 of them to one.

My main qualm about the IPhone, and Apple products in general, is that I've been spoiled by my PC-centric past. I see that there is now a porn app available for IPhone from the ITunes store, for the low low price of $4.00. Handheld PC users can get all the porn they want for free. They can browse the internet anywhere they can get a cell signal or WiFi. They can get all the applications, music, podcasts, videos, for whatever amount the market provides them. All this without going through the artificial bottleneck that Apple forces on its users by being uber-proprietary.

Some of my Apple disdain comes from having to use the clunky oppressive ITunes software on my IPod. Yuckola. I yearn for the simple functionality of my old Rio, which allowed my to just drag & drop music from my PC. I want that same simplicity and universality from any future handheld device that I buy. My next portable music device will almost certainly NOT be made by Apple.

The IPhone's main advantage that I can see is that it looks nifty. It reminds me of when cell phones were first gaining popularity. It was a status symbol to have a cell phone in your car, and the antenna on top. Same thing with the IPod and now the IPhone. I'd be surprised if some entrepeneur isn't currently selling realistic-looking non-functional plastic IPhones.

I'm happy with my cellphone provider; I've been with them for several years. I don't want to have to switch to AT&T just so I can have a flashy-chrom-y gadget with lots of colorful icons, to impress whomever may be watching.

Sorry again Barry. I know you'd prefer to see encouraging feedback from current owners, to justify your own purchase. The price for an IPhone isn't all that outrageous, even taking into account that you'd have to pay their prices for apps & phone access. If you want the look of the IPhone, then I say pamper yourself my man! But the same functionality offered by IPhone is offered by other brands for a lower price, albeit less glitzy.

[Braggi]

... I see that there is now a porn app available for IPhone from the ITunes store, for the low low price of $4.00. Handheld PC users can get all the porn they want for free. They can browse the internet anywhere they can get a cell signal or WiFi. They can get all the applications, music, podcasts, videos, for whatever amount the market provides them. All this without going through the artificial bottleneck that Apple forces on its users by being uber-proprietary. ...

Tars, doesn't the iPhone have a browser built in? (Safari)

Seems to me you get everything "free" just like your handheld PC users. The apps typically just have a unique interface with some specific features.
Am I missing something?

I doubt I'd buy any apps if I had an iPhone, but I have to say, the free one the Harmony Festival offered for download was a work of art. I hope you got a chance to see it in action. Real time programming notes, real time location (of your iPhone) on maps, all the details of the printed program including up to the minute edits. It was perfect and bug free as far as I can tell. It was a testament to the usefulness of the iPhone and custom apps. And it was free which is the price this cheapskate is willing to pay.

-Jeff

[Braggi]

... Some of my Apple disdain comes from having to use the clunky oppressive ITunes software on my IPod. Yuckola. I yearn for the simple functionality of my old Rio, which allowed my to just drag & drop music from my PC. ...

Tars, what are you doing wrong? Drag and drop is how I put music from my computer onto my daughter's iPod and vice versa.

Again, am I missing something?

And aren't other music programs available for the Mac and the iPhone? I do think so. Perhaps the bottleneck is your thinking? Think different? (Gods how I hate that statement!!!) Pre-iPod Apple never had an ad campaign that was worth a damn. I think the iPod has proved that Apple marketing is best when it doesn't say anything and lets the product speak for itself.

-Jeff

[Tars]

Tars, doesn't the iPhone have a browser built in? (Safari)

Seems to me you get everything "free" just like your handheld PC users. The apps typically just have a unique interface with some specific features.
Am I missing something?

Heh...ITunes keeps really REALLY wanting to "give" me Safari - the same way Microsoft wants to "give" me their browser. I opt for a different brand. Can you put any browser you want on IPhone? You can on the smaller PCs.

Tars, what are you doing wrong? Drag and drop is how I put music from my computer onto my daughter's iPod and vice versa.

Again, am I missing something?

Yep, you are. You can drag & drop them onto the IPod only after you've gone through the clunky process of adding them to your ITunes program. I have over a thousand albums on my hard drive, for easy access. I have to click the ITunes "manual" option, or ITunes chokes itself and hangs, trying to "sync" with my music collection.

Last week my brother-in-law was in town. He wanted to listen to the Chickenfoot album on his flight home. We tried to load it on his IPhone from my PC via ITunes. No way. I would have to load an ITunes mod, (or complete program, I'm not sure) built explicitly for IPhone. It looked like he would then have to "sync" his IPhone with my PC's copy of the IPhone/ITunes program. I tried using Windows explorer also, just to drag&drop the files on his IPhone, so hew could listen to them later - no dice. I ended up burning him a CD.

My preferred music listening program is Winamp (shareware). Could I put that on an IPhone? Nope. What about my preferred text editor - Editpad Pro? Sorry. Is There an IPhone version of Firebird or Thunderbird (open source - i.e. FREE)? Not that I've seen. What if I want to use my preferred video viewer? Get the point?

My complaint about Apple products in general is that if you want to use them, you have to submit to the tyranny of Apple proprietary software, and the associated hidden, and not-so-hidden ongoing expenses.

Not just trying to pick on little ol' Apple here. The Palm Pre seems to have similar limitations as the IPhone.

Besides all this, I remember in college I could spot the math majors and engineering geeks, because they had a big clunky slipstick in a holster on their belt. The IPhone, et al, require a smiliar holster to be belt-worn if you want quick access. . Try to put a seatbelt on while you're wearing one.

For now, the workable option is having to keep at least two devices, quick-access belt cellphone, and mobile pc/music-player/browser, etc in my shoulder bag.

But hey, if you gotta have the cool-looking colorful icons & chrom-y case, so the whole world can see you're cool like the Mac guy in the commercials, by all means get an IPhone.

[Geni Houston]

I purchased the iphone 2 weeks ago. I absolutely love it over both my palm and my blackberry. much easier to read, move and use. Typing a little slower, but I am not into texting. I use primairly for calendar, contacts and email notices. I previously sync'd my phones with outlook which was superb as I could sync my Quickbooks with outlook, outlook with blackberry and have all clients, contacts and most importantly, calendar in one sweet place. I did ask about Outlook with the iphone and was told "yes" it would work, but I cannot get it to load on my vista and when I google issues, I see alot of problems. Anyone else sync with vista/outlook?