Is the iPhone overhyped?

[Arty50]

Yeah, unlocked phones are stupid expensive in the US relative to the heavily subsidized handsets. Having said that you can get an unlocked N-series Nokia for $400-$750 depending on the model from reputable dealers, or for a more direct competitor an unlocked LG Prada for ~$700 from eBay - the same ballpark as Apple is selling the locked iPhone for without the Cingular contract (I dislike Cingular and I hate locked phones). Some of those phones are closer to want I want in one as well - the N95 has VOIP support, GPS w/nav.. but no wifi syncing (then neither does the iPod)

Last week I spent a bunch of time fondling smartphones at airports. The iPhone is great compared to what's available now in America, and it's awesome Apple will be pushing people to improve phone UIs (the iPod has an awesome interface and is a great product) ... but so far reading the specs the iPhone is not a product I'd spend the money on, it's just not "there" yet. That said who knows how successful it will be - everyone seems to want one. Given how underwhelming the RAZR is, but how massive demand is... gen 1 iPhone could be a big hit.

Yup, it should be really interesting to see how the iPhone plays out.

I've needed a new phone for the last 6 months. After a few years of serious abuse, my V600 is on it's last legs. It's amazing it's lasted this long, and it still works pretty well. But it's been really quirky the past few months. I've been shopping a bit, but there's nothing out there that makes me want to sign a new 2 year contract. And my unlocked options are very expensive. I've kinda resigned myself to keeping my current phone for a bit longer, or convincing my siblings to get an iPhone so they can give me their old phones.

My main concern with any phone right now is durability. What good is a pretty screen when it's exposed to all the elements. My phone lives in my ski jacket or my mountain bike pack with other objects. It gets wet, dropped in snow and dirt, smacked by the occasional tree branch, kneed when I case a drop, scratched by stuff around it, etc. I'm not your normal phone user. I need it to survive my clumsiness in extreme environments.

[hemas]

I'm not your normal phone user. I need it to survive my clumsiness in extreme environments.

Ericsson used to make a really robust cell-phone (r310).

It was the only phone that has survived countless nights of drunken uni-student ideas... Since it was waterproof, the joke seemed to be, dip Henkka's phone in his beer pint.

Not certain, if it was ever available in the states though.

[jibij]

I have every intention of buying the iPhone on day one. I make that buying decision as a frequent first-adopter. I've been that way since 1979 when I bought a $1,000 CD player. I'm a gadget and techno-freak. I understand that I'm frequently going to wind up with an expensive paperweight or boat anchor (that 1979 CD player is in my basement and would make an excellent boat anchor). I don't care. It's not a life-or-death decision. It's just the way I am.

Of course the iPhone is over hyped. It can't possibly live up to everyone's expectations. But, it's a significant product from a company with a hell of a track record for developing cool, useful stuff. I'm in.

You should all sit back and wait to see what happens. That way I won't have to stab any of you who might be in front of me in line on launch day.

[f2f]

well said, jibij. after all, nobody is forcing the iPhone down anyone's proverbial throat.

i'm looking at it not for its phone capabilities, for which i don't care (i got my very first cell phone only a 6 months ago. i haven't bothered to recharge it today so it's turned off. that's how much i care), but if its interface for browsing web pages over wifi is good i will get one just for that. i want my mobile browser: a larger screen, hold the buttons.

of course i'll have to wait for a while before people like jibij have had their play and the prices fall down (one estimate is that the iPhone costs $250 to make, which, if true, will make it a cool toy once the price starts dropping)

[Benny Profane]

of course i'll have to wait for a while before people like jibij have had their play and the prices fall down (one estimate is that the iPhone costs $250 to make, which, if true, will make it a cool toy once the price starts dropping)

True. remember the first I Pod. Wait a little while. Apple is not a stagnant company.

[schuss]

after looking at the ads, yeah, neat interface, but the battery power is what's going to really be a downer on this. Takes a lot of energy to run a big hi-res screen and touch interface.

[skier666]

^^^^^^^^^

Battery life. That will be the killer. As a gadget nerd, I know how long batteries last for my cell, psp, razr, Ps3 controllers, Gameboys...

Saw the ad last night and it does look cool, but we'll have to wait until the reviews come out.

Other than the battery thing, is having such a big screen without protection. I like clamshell designs for protection and not accidentally making calls, draining power. I'm waiting for the new RAZR2:

http://www.engadget.com/photos/motor...zr-2-hands-on/

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Other than the battery thing, is having such a big screen without protection. I like clamshell designs for protection and not accidentally making calls, draining power.

^^ second that ^^

my company got me a Motorola Q. the thing is a fucking piece of dogshit...and on top of that....it's got this huge open screen. It sucks to take skiing, riding...whatever. I miss my older clamshell phone...

[schuss]

I just want that new e-ink phone that lasts forever... (black and white, low power consumption e-ink display).

[Altaholic]

Yes!!! Somebody brought this up so I play one of my favorite Conan Parody Ads

[GoldMember]

^^ second that ^^

my company got me a Motorola Q. the thing is a fucking piece of dogshit...and on top of that....it's got this huge open screen. It sucks to take skiing, riding...whatever. I miss my older clamshell phone...

Me too. I got the Q about a month ago. I still just make and receive phone calls with it. The battery life sucks and I even got the bigger battery for it. I keep accidentally turning on the camera option or other shit that drives me nuts. I want to go back to my old phone.

[El Chupacabra]

[Telenater]

I'm not your normal phone user. I need it to survive my clumsiness in extreme environments.

Ain't that the truth...

Me too. I'll never own an iPhone, but I am in need of a new cell phone. Anybody have experience with battery life and durabilty on a razr? Like Arty, I give it good to my portable electronics.

[SuperChief]

True. remember the first I Pod. Wait a little while. Apple is not a stagnant company.

Why? Apple hit the nail on the head the first time, my first Gen ipod still holds close to an 8hr charge.

sucks you hafta be locked into Cingular, probably won't get one, I'd rather spend 500 on a new pair of boots, bindings.

I guarantee the interface is gonna be way above and beyond anything anyone else is doing. Apple hasn't released too many dogs.

[f2f]

APplr hasn't released too many dogs.

well, we never know, the iPhone could always turn to be another


ahead of its day...

[The Jackamo]

well, we never know, the iPhone could always turn to be another [Newton]

ahead of its day...

I think the mobile market is more poised for the iPhone than it was for a PDA way-back-when. The very fact that the Newton was ahead of its time meant that people (i.e. mass consumer market) didn't necessarily see the use for it until it was too late.

With the iPhone, it's different - it's essentially an aggregation of technologies that we've already seen, so it's not as foreign, and the normal consumer sees an immediate use for it and its capabilities.

I think the iPhone will stick closer to the line that the iPod saw in terms of success. I could be eating my words in 5 years, but we'll just have to see, I guess.

[bio-smear]

The poor bastard that they had assigned to writing the handwriting recognition software on the Newton(cutting edge at the time) committed suicide supposedly from the stress. Sad story. My best friend is an enginerd at Apple, and he works insane hours. I can't imagine how they're squeezing the life out of the iPhone team engineers.

[doublediamond223]

I'll stick with my blackberry 8100. Best phone I've ever owned. If that shits the bed, then I'll get an 8800.

[wi3dzmin]

Another phone you can touch...



http://www.htctouch.com/

[Buzzworthy]

^^ second that ^^

my company got me a Motorola Q. the thing is a fucking piece of dogshit...and on top of that....it's got this huge open screen. It sucks to take skiing, riding...whatever. I miss my older clamshell phone...

I needed to get a smartphone, got the Q, sent it back the next day cause I hated it and got the Treo 700W. Love it now, but I hear ya on ski days. I simply don't take my phone anymore.

[hemas]

Another phone you can touch...



http://www.htctouch.com/

Upper lefthand corner doesn't look too promissing.

[Odin]

If anything the iphone is in danger of becoming UNDER-Hyped.

We must think, talk and act more Iphonish.

As a matter of fact.

I am going to take my icar, to the ibank, and then to the iappointment which is good, but would be better with my iphone!

[Buzzworthy]

iMUSTAGREE.

[wi3dzmin]

Upper lefthand corner doesn't look too promissing.

There's something for the likes of you as well.

[cj001f]

Another phone you can touch...



http://www.htctouch.com/

There's no way that phone could be as good as the iPhone, I mean HTC has no experience with smartphones