Dale Daniels
06-28-2007, 06:32 AM
The reviews have started coming out for those who have the privilege to get an iPhone before the rest of us. As most of the articles have said, this is a much anticipated release and there are people camping out to be the first in line to get theirs. However, initial reviewers are saying exactly what I suspected.
At work, many people know that I am the gadget man. I love tech toys for work and play. The truth is, I need a clear purpose in order to justify laying out hundreds of dollars on a new piece of technology. My Pocket PC was an easy choice, and I have increased its usefulness exponentially since I bought it. I intended it to merely manage my calendar and email, but it now does everything from filling in as a remote control for my TV and surround sound system, to playing MP3s and movies. I can create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents that I find useful in my job on a daily basis. I have been impressed with the wide range of uses one can get from a PDA or Smartphone, and the vast array of available software.
So, knowing that I am a techno-toy person, I have had an incredible number of coworkers ask me when I am getting an iPhone. To be honest, I am tired of the question, and I would proudly wear a T-shirt that displays my general feelings for the device. The fact is, many people who have not researched it completely, see the iPhone as the perfect cross between a Smartphone and an MP3 player. In reality the iPhone doesn’t do either in an exceptional manner.
As for the Smartphone-like functions that everyone expects…I think they will feel a bit let down from the experience. Sure, one can surf the web and check email on the iPhone, but I can do that on my Cingular 8525. With the move to pure Smartphone technology offerings, direct push email provides a level of connectivity that past generations never got to enjoy. But, as I mentioned, there is an advantage to the Smartphone, a vast supply of software that adds an incredible amount of new functionality. Voice commands, email consolidation, instant messaging tools, to name but a very few, make the PDA or Smartphone a great deal. The iPhone does not have new software capability so the user will have to settle for that which is already loaded.
With my HP iPAQ hx2795 I have the ability to switch out SD and CF cards, and the Cingular 8525 uses microSD cards. The number of downloaded music and movies (and software) is only limited by the number of cards I have purchased. The iPhone does not have a card slot so the user is stuck with the 4 gb or 8 gb capacity. You would be surprise how quickly you can fill up that space.
On the other side of the fence we have the MP3 player functionality. My advice? By a Smartphone and a 30 gb iPod. The limited capacity of the iPhone doesn’t allow it to even get close to the number of music and movies that I have on my Smartphone and iPod combined. Why would I need so many? It isn’t about need with me, it is about doing it because I can.
Another disadvantage of the iPhone is its limited battery capacity. Although it was advertised that it had superior run time, initial reports are bit gloomy in that area. Start playing videos and it cuts into that battery time even more. If you find yourself listening to music a great deal, you might find your battery a little flat when you need it on that long call from a significant other. For my PDA and Smartphone I bought extended batteries right away to alleviate that very problem.
No matter what I say, hype sells. Apple had run a successful advertising campaign and there are very few who do not know about the iPhone. Despite my personal views on the iPhone, those who ask my opinion seem to have already made up their mind. Apple pumped them up and got them excited about the iPhone…enough so that many are willing to shell out the $600+ dollars for the device. Some Smartphones fit in that price category, but many service providers offer discounts for signing up new service, or upgrading existing service. No discount will be available for the iPhoneThose who have not experienced the functionality of a Smartphone will probably find it adequate for thier needs. We PDA folk will not be impressed.
At work, many people know that I am the gadget man. I love tech toys for work and play. The truth is, I need a clear purpose in order to justify laying out hundreds of dollars on a new piece of technology. My Pocket PC was an easy choice, and I have increased its usefulness exponentially since I bought it. I intended it to merely manage my calendar and email, but it now does everything from filling in as a remote control for my TV and surround sound system, to playing MP3s and movies. I can create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents that I find useful in my job on a daily basis. I have been impressed with the wide range of uses one can get from a PDA or Smartphone, and the vast array of available software.
So, knowing that I am a techno-toy person, I have had an incredible number of coworkers ask me when I am getting an iPhone. To be honest, I am tired of the question, and I would proudly wear a T-shirt that displays my general feelings for the device. The fact is, many people who have not researched it completely, see the iPhone as the perfect cross between a Smartphone and an MP3 player. In reality the iPhone doesn’t do either in an exceptional manner.
As for the Smartphone-like functions that everyone expects…I think they will feel a bit let down from the experience. Sure, one can surf the web and check email on the iPhone, but I can do that on my Cingular 8525. With the move to pure Smartphone technology offerings, direct push email provides a level of connectivity that past generations never got to enjoy. But, as I mentioned, there is an advantage to the Smartphone, a vast supply of software that adds an incredible amount of new functionality. Voice commands, email consolidation, instant messaging tools, to name but a very few, make the PDA or Smartphone a great deal. The iPhone does not have new software capability so the user will have to settle for that which is already loaded.
With my HP iPAQ hx2795 I have the ability to switch out SD and CF cards, and the Cingular 8525 uses microSD cards. The number of downloaded music and movies (and software) is only limited by the number of cards I have purchased. The iPhone does not have a card slot so the user is stuck with the 4 gb or 8 gb capacity. You would be surprise how quickly you can fill up that space.
On the other side of the fence we have the MP3 player functionality. My advice? By a Smartphone and a 30 gb iPod. The limited capacity of the iPhone doesn’t allow it to even get close to the number of music and movies that I have on my Smartphone and iPod combined. Why would I need so many? It isn’t about need with me, it is about doing it because I can.
Another disadvantage of the iPhone is its limited battery capacity. Although it was advertised that it had superior run time, initial reports are bit gloomy in that area. Start playing videos and it cuts into that battery time even more. If you find yourself listening to music a great deal, you might find your battery a little flat when you need it on that long call from a significant other. For my PDA and Smartphone I bought extended batteries right away to alleviate that very problem.
No matter what I say, hype sells. Apple had run a successful advertising campaign and there are very few who do not know about the iPhone. Despite my personal views on the iPhone, those who ask my opinion seem to have already made up their mind. Apple pumped them up and got them excited about the iPhone…enough so that many are willing to shell out the $600+ dollars for the device. Some Smartphones fit in that price category, but many service providers offer discounts for signing up new service, or upgrading existing service. No discount will be available for the iPhoneThose who have not experienced the functionality of a Smartphone will probably find it adequate for thier needs. We PDA folk will not be impressed.