Need cell phone help! Should I get an I Phone

[T J]

Hi all, last thread of the day while I wait for my wife to get back into town, I promise.

We're considering getting a pair of I Phones for ourselves. I don't have a Mac or anything so I wouldn't need it to link up. My wife wants a slide out keyboard which I don't think the I Phone has. I think the touch screne keyboards fine (less small stuff to break).

We had thought about a Blackberry but I dunno... I need advice from cell phone users. Which is better? My wife has a super old flip phone I haven't used one for years. We're thinking about killing the hone phone land line altogether soo...

The I Phone is pretty... thoughts?

 

[O'Dib]

Well, seeing as how you're in the States and you can have an iPhone through just one provider that charges its edge services through the roof (and I don't think they can be deactivated), you might be better served by a different smartphone (oh and they fuckin' track you down if you jail-beak the fucker). I know a bunch of people have been switching.. just don't know what to.. Something they call androids? Although this isn't a phone brand, rather the OS they run.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

As an iPhone 3Gs owner, my wife and I both have them. They are invaluable to us, because we share our calendars and have a way to know each other scheduale on the fly. One thing to consider is that will be introducing a new iPhone in June, so if you are seriously considering buying, I would hold out to then.

The iPhone is on ATT and you have to consider coverage in your area. Also you have to consider what you Want to use the iPhone for and does the iPhone match that. Is it the phone you need, what features are important. I personally could not live without my iPhone, a bit of an overstatement for sure.

 

[Amaris]

If you can answer yes to these three questions:

1) Can you afford the iPhone?
2) Can you afford the data/plan service that is required with the iPhone?
3) Really, can you afford the iPhone?

If you can answer yes to all of these questions, you should consider getting an iPhone.

 

[Omnius]

As an iPhone 3Gs owner, my wife and I both have them. They are invaluable to us, because we share our calendars and have a way to know each other scheduale on the fly.

You can do that with Google Agenda too (on an Android phone).

Personally I prefer Google Market because it's not restricted like Apple's App store.

HTC has a great range of phone's that use Android and they look just as spiffy.

Another thing, changing your battery involves taking apart your iPhone and it voids your warranty if you do it yourself.

 

[Kirby]

I've been debating this myself since my current contract with Verizon is expiring soon. I currently have an iPod Touch, which is essentially an iPhone without the phone part, and you can only use it in a WiFi area. I love the applications, e-mail, and everything about the device, the only problem is I have to carry that and a phone.

Talking to my brother-in-law who has an iPhone (who is a tech guy) he mentioned that the AT&T network isn't really a problem, but he had a lot of complaints about the phone itself and he doesn't think it does a very good job as a phone, and with his job he's on the phone a lot.

I'd switch to a Droid or Blackberry or something, but I am hooked on the Apple stuff and have my entire music library in iTunes and I regularly use all of the apps on my Touch, and I really don't want to start over.

 

[trekkiedane]

A slide-out keyboard, an excellent phone, PLUS a fantastic computer integrated in the design... What you need is a couple of Nokia's N900!

I've had mine for about three weeks now and I am so happy I didn't settle for one of those iGadgets.

 

[Kestra]

I've been debating this myself since my current contract with Verizon is expiring soon. I currently have an iPod Touch, which is essentially an iPhone without the phone part, and you can only use it in a WiFi area. I love the applications, e-mail, and everything about the device, the only problem is I have to carry that and a phone.

...

I'd switch to a Droid or Blackberry or something, but I am hooked on the Apple stuff and have my entire music library in iTunes and I regularly use all of the apps on my Touch, and I really don't want to start over.

This is pretty much my situation. AT&T is crap around here, at least from what I've heard, and I don't want to give up Verizon. So I end up carrying my Touch and phone around, and my husband thinks it's ridiculous that I haven't made the switch to a smartphone. Like you, I like the apps and I use iTunes so I'm not sure I want to start over.

 

[Alpinemaps]

I've got some recent experience, so I'll try to help.

We have AT&T (service is great around here). I picked up Blackberries for us a couple of years ago. This was before you had to have a data plan to have a Blackberry. Now, with AT&T, if you use a Blackberry, you've got to have a data plan. (So, remember that as an extra cost).

We liked having BBs, and liked having an actual keypad for typing. We text a lot to friends so it made sense for us.

So, since we wanted to upgrade, we were faced with the same problem you have - what to get?

I have an iPod Touch (iPhone without the phone), so I've gotten used to typing on a virtual keypad. But, it's not the greatest. I'd love an iPhone, but don't *need* an iPhone. And, I don't want the extra cost.

We looked into (and got) phones that AT&T considers 'quick messaging phones' - these are phones that are great for texting, but aren't considering 'smart phones', so no data plan is required. Great if you want to keep your plan at the same cost.

We picked up the new Samsung Starburst, but we're not impressed. We're taking it back this weekend. It's got a virtual keyboard, but it's just too difficult to text on.

We're going to look at something with a fold out keyboard. We like having an actual keyboard to type on.

So, ask yourself whether you want to pay for a data plan, or can get by with just text messaging. I didn't want to pay an additional $50 a month for data plans, especially when we just don't *need* to have that much connectivity to the web.

 

[JonathonWally]

I'm all about my Nexus One with Android over iPhones.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

I know people who have iphone and people who have Droid; it will all come down to the service in your area. If you can wait a year I hear iphone will be available to Verizon peeps. Try to hang on if possible, but it will be your needs that dictate what you do!

 

[Arrqh]

The AT&T version of the Nexus One is also compatible with the Rogers and Bellus networks up here, so I'm likely going to be picking one up next week.

I wouldn't recommend older Droid right now... the HTC Incredible Droid which was just announced on Verizon is a much better choice, it's basically just a slightly improved Nexus. Unless you really want a hardware keyboard... but I hear that the one on the Droid is pretty naff anyway.

Having your music in iTunes doesn't mean you have to "start over" with an Android phone, I'm pretty sure there's free programs that will let you export from iTunes to Android, at least on PC. Apps are another matter of course... but you can always keep your iPod Touch around.

 

[nevermore]

Yes. Assuming you live somewhere with decent ATT coverage. But not til the 4G comes out this summer. I have small fingers and love the virtual keyboard; I live in a major metro area, so coverage isn't an issue and also don't use the phone part much, only about 12 minutes a month, so I have little to say about that part; ymmv.

 

[JonathonWally]

The AT&T version of the Nexus One is also compatible with the Rogers and Bellus networks up here, so I'm likely going to be picking one up next week.

I wouldn't recommend older Droid right now... the HTC Incredible Droid which was just announced on Verizon is a much better choice, it's basically just a slightly improved Nexus. Unless you really want a hardware keyboard... but I hear that the one on the Droid is pretty naff anyway.

Having your music in iTunes doesn't mean you have to "start over" with an Android phone, I'm pretty sure there's free programs that will let you export from iTunes to Android, at least on PC. Apps are another matter of course... but you can always keep your iPod Touch around.

doubletwist is considered the "iTunes for Android".

You can just drag and drop into the music folder when your 'droid is connected, but if you're setting up like 8gig and want playlists, doubletwist does it all.




powered by Android

 

[TrekkieMonster]

I went through this same debate a few months ago, and did a ton of research. I agree with the comments above about assessing your needs, usage and whether you can afford the (usually mandatory) data plan for any "smart phone".

If you can, the next thing to consider is the carrier's coverage in your most frequent usage areas: I live in the US Northeast and, unfortunately, once you get outside Boston and other major cities (which I do frequently for work), AT&T's coverage just sucks. That is the primary reason I did not get an iPhone, because all my friends who have them absolutely love them.

So, I was stuck with Verizon (which isn't necessarily a bad thing.)

I went with the BlackBerry Storm 2 for various reasons. While I like the device just fine, I will say that if you're not a techie who likes to fiddle with and keep up with your phone, I don't think a BB is necessarily a good choice. For instance, we all got an operating system upgrade pushed to our phones last week and, for many many people, if they installed it their phones were really messed up (this happened to a few friends of mine; I held off pending reviews of the upgrade). People had to go through a lot of hassles to downgrade and/or otherwise "fix" their phones. Also, if you're not getting it for work and/or your work doesn't have a BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) as mine does not, I thing I'd suggest steering clear of the BB. Again, I like mine fine and have found work arounds that are fine for me, but if you want a phone that just lets you do what you want to do without finding work arounds, I'd go with something else.

Coincidentally, the first Droid was released the day before I bought my BB. I steered clear mostly because it was brand new and I'd heard people didn't love the keyboard. That having been said, I know several people who have the Droid and without exception they all love the thing, and say they have gotten used to the keyboard.

I also hear very good things about the upcoming Droid Incredible, as well and, as someone else said, the iPhone is coming to Verizon before too long.

Oh, and there's the Palm Pre which is now on Verizon. I was pretty jazzed about the device when I first ready about it but, unfortunately, it seems the reality is a little less spectacular than the hype. Still, I know a few people who have it and they all do seem to like it fine.

Sorry to be so long winded, but hope all this helps. Good luck!

 

[Holdfast]

There are loads of good smartphones on the market at the moment, and the iPhone isn't the best, as well as having a couple of features I would find a little annoying, at least at first (it's a good all-rounder though). I like several HTC-based phones better. I just went through the process of researching the market myself as I was due an upgrade. In the end, I decided nothing on the market is particularly better than the smartphone I already have (an older HTC), and preferred instead to negotiate a much cheaper monthly fee on my current phone and renewed the contract for a further 12 months at which time I'll take another look at what's around. YMMV applies, of course.

 

[T J]

Thanks all for the advice, decided on an I pnone; love it! Just got out of an apple store as pleased as I can be. Making this post from it in the car right now! Fracking awesome!

 

[trekkiedane]

Thanks all for the advice, decided on an I pnone; love it! Just got out of an apple store as pleased as I can be. Making this post from it in the car right now! Fracking awesome!

Going on-line anywhere and at any time is indeed awesome

Congratz on your new gadget!

Dunno about the iStuff; getting Trek-BBS search to work on my device was a bit tricky - but well worth the tweaking I had to do - eventually you'll find that this place is even more addicting when you can access it whenever you want

 

[backstept]

(oh and they fuckin' track you down if you jail-beak the fucker)

no . . . no they don't

 

[Small White Car]

Thanks all for the advice, decided on an I pnone; love it! Just got out of an apple store as pleased as I can be. Making this post from it in the car right now! Fracking awesome!

Cool, let us know if you need any help!

For example, do you know a lot about your e-mail account? Do you know the difference between POP e-mail and IMAP? You really want to set it up as IMAP on your iPhone (like, REALLY want to).

Let us know if you need help with any of that kind of stuff.