My two cents on the iPhone

[Mr. Gibs]

One of the major reasons why I don't like the iphone, is because of the lack of choice.

Take android for an example. If I wanted an android phone, I get a whole selection of phones. Same with blackberry, windows mobile, nokia and to a much lesser extent palm. Hell, I get to even make the choice of what OS do I want on my phone

Now before I buy a phone, I first think about exactly what do I need out of my phone. I then narrow it down, and then finally decide on what to get. If I walk into a phone store, there's a whole range of choices for me. Maybe I want a full qwerty keyboard, or maybe I want a good camera, or maybe I just need a simple phone that I can make calls with. Regardless of what it is I need, the variety is there and at the end of the day it is me who makes the decision. With the iPhone, it's apple who makes the decision of what the consumer wants.

Now with the OS itself, maybe I don't like the theme, or I would like it to display certain things in a different way. I can do that. Android, windows mobile and blackberry all support themes and customizations. Hell I can make my windows mobile phone look like the iphone, get it to run android etc. For example, on my home screen I would just like to see the important information, such as time, date, any tasks I have coming up, any messages/email left for me, and thats it. Yet again, with the iphone it is apple who makes the choice of how things should look. Not saying the iPhone OS doesn't look nice, it just doesn't suit me.

With apps, its the same thing. Sure the iPhone has tons of apps, but so does winmo, blackberry and android is catching up too. The difference is on the iPhone apple decides what gets to run and what doesn't. With any other device, app stores exist to make your life simpler, but you can just as easily download the installer from a website, copy it to your phone and install it. If I wanted a different browser for my windows phone, I have the choice between opera, IE, skyfire and now firefox, and they all now have flash support too. You aren't limited in anyway.

Sure jailbreaking exists for the iPhone, but apart from the legality (which I don't care about to be honest) you still aren't getting the variety in terms of hardware and to a lesser extent software. And the same people who complain that with "windows mobile you have to flash a custom ROM and it takes up time and I just want a phone to work" will just as happily go ahead and spend the time jailbreaking their iPhone to get it to look/run the way they want it. The exact same reason why people flash custom ROMs on windows mobile, or root their android devices.

Before any of you say, but simplicity is nice. Don't many of you build your own computers? Don't you spend the time researching which hardware you get, what case to get, what OS to run? And don't you like having that choice? I mean if simplicity was so important to you, why not just walk into best buy and buy the first computer you see?

Think about if apple had succeeded years ago, windows didn't exist, and apple follows the same business practice it did today. Imagine walking into best buy, and you you saw was 1 phone, 2 laptops, and 2 desktops. Would you like that? Or do you prefer walking into a best buy today and seeing a whole ton of products, giving you the choice of what to get?

I like having a choice, and I don't like a company telling me "this is what you should use, and there's no need for a qwerty keyboard, etc etc"

Windows mobile, android, nokia and blackberry all give me that choice.

Just my two cents.

If this is in the wrong section, feel free to move it =)

Edited October 20, 2009 by /- Razorfold

[Sikh]

Apple isnt TELLING the consumer what they want, they have laid out a device that they believe will help people.

Personally my iPhone is much better then any of my old qwerty keyboard winmo phones. I love the horizontal touch keyboard. I love the simplicity of the phone. If i wanted a theme jailbreak it. But im fine with it.

Also im very happy apple screens the apps, unlike microsoft where you download something on your zune and if its bad, your zune break then microsoft takes it away for up to 3 weeks.

Yeah em? No, no thank you. I would rather have it tested and approved then just put up there on any website.

[Mr. Gibs]

Apple isnt TELLING the consumer what they want, they have laid out a device that they believe will help people.

So why not give options, like an iPhone with a qwerty keyboard for example?

Also im very happy apple screens the apps, unlike microsoft where you download something on your zune and if its bad, your zune break then microsoft takes it away for up to 3 weeks.

Yeah em? No, no thank you. I would rather have it tested and approved then just put up there on any website.

It's called the reset button. I've never heard of software screwing up the phone so bad that Microsoft or any other company have had to take it in for repairs. And even so, the vast majority of software out there for phones don't really screw your phone or zune up either. Unless of course you're flashing the ROM on it, but then that's a totally different thing.

Apple doesn't only just screen their apps, it also rejects ones that work fine. Such as google voice (though I think they finally allowed it). Or for example another browser like skyfire.

Edited October 20, 2009 by /- Razorfold

[SweetRiverBaynes]

The reason I didn't get any other phone on the current market besides the iPhone, is because they lack a quality I want, their OS turns me off (especially WinMo), and sub-par community compared to iPhone. I've tried WinMo, android and BB, nothing comes close to iPhone's OS. That's why I own one.

[DukeEsquire]

If you want a keyboard than the iPhone is not for you. Simple as that. They're not going to make one with a keyboard after all the R&D and marketing they've put into the touchscreen.

If you don't like the iPhone, get something else instead. I've used Winmo and Blackberries for years and the iPhone is better for me by far.

[Phemo]

So why not give options, like an iPhone with a qwerty keyboard for example?

Because Apple don't believe a QWERTY keyboard is what people want. If you want a QWERTY keyboard, you buy another device, simple.

I don't complain about some cars having only two doors when I need four - I'd just buy a four door car instead. It all goes back to the choice thing - if you don't like a particular product then you don't buy it and instead you buy what does offer what you're after.

[Mr. Gibs]

and sub-par community compared to iPhone

I take it you've never been to XDA-Dev (close to 1.9 million members), or ppcgeeks (300k members), or crackberry (1.7 million members). And there's a whole lot more.

All are filled with apps, customizations for your phone, guides, tutorials etc.

How in any way is that subpar?

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Do you own one? Have you used one for long periods of time?

[SweetRiverBaynes]

So why not give options, like an iPhone with a qwerty keyboard for example?

Apple does not have to give choice to any users. If the user wants a keyboard they can use a different phone. I honestly feel physical keyboards suck, and ones that aren't slide out, take up half the screen, whether you use them or not.

The iPhone touchscreen just works so perfectly for me. I am glad apple chose this route. I would never purchase an iPhone with a physical keyboard, nor would most people.

[Subject Delta]

I don't like on screen keyboards, they are fiddly and annoying. The one on the iPhone is better than most, but i'd personally still prefer a normal keyboard

[theclueless]

after 6 symbian phones, 3 windows mobile phones, now i really appreciate how the iphone just... works (after jailbreak of course)

[veritas310]

I absolutely love my iPhone except for the battery, which is a HUGE negative for me. I can't make it a work day without needing a charge. I've tried to remedy this by using the Mophie Juice Pack, which does help with the battery issue, but why should I need to purchase a $100 accessory to give me normal battery life? Another reason why they should make the battery removable, but since this is not an option at all, I've learned to deal with it. Aside from that, fantastic phone.

[Redestium]

after 6 symbian phones, 3 windows mobile phones, now i really appreciate how the iphone just... works (after jailbreak of course)

Wouldn't that mean it doesn't 'Just work'?

[Shadrack]

Flamebait much, Razor?

As much as you talk about the iPhone, I think you just really really want one.

Apple does not have to give choice to any users. If the user wants a keyboard they can use a different phone. I honestly feel physical keyboards suck, and ones that aren't slide out, take up half the screen, whether you use them or not.

The iPhone touchscreen just works so perfectly for me. I am glad apple chose this route. I would never purchase an iPhone with a physical keyboard, nor would most people.

Indeed. There are plenty of choices when it comes to phone. If you don't want a touchscreen keyboard, then there are other options. Part of the downfall of the other smartphone manufacturers IS there are too many choices. Instead of making the perfect HTC-Whatever, the company divides there efforts into little variations of the same old song.

[protocol7]

You could just take the first line of your post and substitute "the iphone" with "Apple". Apple haven't been about choice for a very long time. It's a closed ecosystem that you either want or you don't. Some people are happy to give Apple that degree of control because it suits them. Others like you and me want a bit more control and the option isn't really there. So as others have suggested, the iPhone just isn't for us. Buy something else :)

[ahhell]

Also im very happy apple screens the apps, unlike microsoft where you download something on your zune and if its bad, your zune break then microsoft takes it away for up to 3 weeks.

Name one ****ing app you can download and install on the Zune.

[majortom1981]

I dont care for apples desktop and laptops (why do they insist on having no quad cores in any system under $2000) but i love the iphone. I also have an att fuze.

If you jailbreak the iphone you can customize it the way you want.

I love the iphone because everything is right there. Its easier to access everything. The thing that people bash microsoft about is the thing i misss though about my att fuze. The registry makes it so easy to modify a windows mobile smart phone.

[Brendando]

For me as well, the iPhone 3Gs has been the best phone I've ever owned. The only quirk I have is indeed with the battery life; I do wish it would last longer, but that's not too bigger deal in the overall picture. As other's have said, if choice is a huge deal, Android or WinMo is probably right for you. Although I don't understand why you needed to justify why you don't want one; (it's fine if you don't like it :p) I like the sense of security and clarity the closed eco-system brings.

[techbeck]

after 6 symbian phones, 3 windows mobile phones, now i really appreciate how the iphone just... works (after jailbreak of course)

If you have to jailbreak your phone, it doesnt "just work"

[ToneKnee]

I feel Android is the future to be honest, sick of Apple charging so much for their phones. The iPhone 3G hasn't dropped in price in over a year.

/iPhone user.

[Ohwhyme]

I've had both an iphone and a nokia n97. Software is easily obtainable for both if you know where to look but I felt that the n97 had more features hardware wise. I sold the iphone because everyone has one and most of the apps weren't that interesting. I wanted useful phone features and the N97 basically had a lot of gps software available for it. The best part is that I could sync my itunes music with the phone. I was going to miss that with the iphone. Also the sound on the n97 is very good. Mind you that I am a little biased because my first iphone broke. A part of the screen doesn't work anymore. I've had both the iphone 3gs and 3g and couldn't tell a difference besides the speed. I found the voice control and compass a useless feature. The video quality was nice but the pictures weren't that great compared to other phones. But then again my N97 also had its faults. It would freeze up sometimes as I have a lot of software installed. My next phone will be the N900. Maemo 5 looks very promising. I'm going to give my n97 to my parents for gps navigation :D.

Btw nobody said you guys have to stick with just one phone hehe.

[acnpt]

Well Android, Web OS, and WinMo havn't been available for long.

The iPhone isn't the best because of it's hardware, but how well that hardware works inconjunction with the OS, applications and the internet.

I've owned phones with better cameras etc, but on the iphone within a couple taps I can have train departures, listen to my favorite online radio station, an app which shows when my favourite tv shows are on, and I can even watch live british TV on my iphone now.

The majority of the time i'm using my iphone isn't calling/texting/email, but using the fantastic applications for it.

[Growled Member]

Because Apple don't believe a QWERTY keyboard is what people want. If you want a QWERTY keyboard, you buy another device, simple.

Which is exactly what I did. The iPhone is nice but it's not for every taste. Just use what works for you.

[fix-this!]

The reason I didn't get any other phone on the current market besides the iPhone, is because they lack a quality I want, their OS turns me off (especially WinMo), and sub-par community compared to iPhone. I've tried WinMo, android and BB, nothing comes close to iPhone's OS. That's why I own one.

you fail... the winmo and android community is very large. the iphone to me is nothing more than eye candy and the"in thing" that will die out.

[theclueless]

windows mobile phones (mainly from htc), they all lack the proper graphic driver and age-old CPU which makes the phone NOT a multimedia phone, and WM itself is quite crippled... cant wait for tegra phones with WM7

nokia symbian phones... limited update cycles, and they took graphic chip OUT of n96 and n97... n95 8GB is still the king with limited ram and no more updates...

didnt try android phone because it is from htc too... learned my lesson

iphone keeps on stopping ppl from jailbreaking, come on, we need our backgrounder and 3g unrestrictor! and horrid battery life... have to carry the cable EVERYWHERE i go... but the apps are nice, cant find the same quality games on other phones; but it is definitely not a business oriented phone