buying iphone but with questions

[blinds122000]

hi everyone
first post to this message board

my current phone has broken so im in need
of a new phone and had my eye on the iphone
since it came out.. but was going wait til it was
maybe released on other networks, but because i need
a new phone now, iits the iphone i want!

i was thinking of buying one off ebay that has already been
unlocked.

my main questions are...

is it easier to just buy a iphone from a shop then unlock it?

can i still connect the iphone to my mac and add applications,
add music etc.. without the phone updating itself?

are there any differences between a unlocked phone and normal
iphone?

im live in the UK and hoping to use my old orange sim

any answers would be great

cheers

 

[elmo151]

rumors of a second generation iPhone are active. It was expected last week in SanFrancisco.

Why unlock the phone at al? If you are going to use it with the authorized vendor I do not see the advantage.