Debating iPhone purchase

[jmdeegan]

So, I was hoping to get some more insight to assist my decision. Especially now with the refurbs out, I'm closer to deciding....

1-4gb or 8gb? Anyone out there have 4gb and wish they went 8? got 4 and think it's fine? My logic tells me go 8, but then, I don't know if I need it, really. I do have movies/tv shows that I could put on there, plus music. I have a 30gig 5.5g ipod with all my shows on it and room to spare, but I've also survived on 4gig with no videos. So I am looking for thoughts here (not just "get 8, its not much more")

2-Any word on the next software update? I believe the last was 7/31-ish

3-I've seen bug lists, but are there any lists actually listing the status of said bugs? I don't mind dealing with bugs if I can keep track of what is resolved and what is not, and feel comfortable that the provider is working to fix them. I've had a sporadically rebooting blackberry that has no signs of being fixed....

4-Here's the totally "out there" one for the moment....iPhone or MacBook? My only apple products to date are my 4gig mini and my 30 gig video iPods. I'd like both a MacBook and an iPhone, but can't do both, nor can I really decide on either. I keep flip-flopping.
the thoughts I have that lean me toward iPhone:
its newer, meaning it's probably further away from a refresh I'd be ticked about
its a bit more budget friendly
and going to it would actually reduce my cell bill

5-If I go 8gig, would anyone here call it an adequate replacement for a DVD player say, for a flight (provided of course that I had a power supply). I know it's not a 7 inch screen like a personal player, but without having seen a movie clip in person, I have to ask. It strikes me as similar to the PSP screen, which I've seen and watched movies on, and was OK with for what I was doing.

thanks for the input

 

[bigmac4ever]

So, I was hoping to get some more insight to assist my decision. Especially now with the refurbs out, I'm closer to deciding....

1-4gb or 8gb? Anyone out there have 4gb and wish they went 8? got 4 and think it's fine? My logic tells me go 8, but then, I don't know if I need it, really. I do have movies/tv shows that I could put on there, plus music. I have a 30gig 5.5g ipod with all my shows on it and room to spare, but I've also survived on 4gig with no videos. So I am looking for thoughts here (not just "get 8, its not much more")

2-Any word on the next software update? I believe the last was 7/31-ish

3-I've seen bug lists, but are there any lists actually listing the status of said bugs? I don't mind dealing with bugs if I can keep track of what is resolved and what is not, and feel comfortable that the provider is working to fix them. I've had a sporadically rebooting blackberry that has no signs of being fixed....

4-Here's the totally "out there" one for the moment....iPhone or MacBook? My only apple products to date are my 4gig mini and my 30 gig video iPods. I'd like both a MacBook and an iPhone, but can't do both, nor can I really decide on either. I keep flip-flopping.
the thoughts I have that lean me toward iPhone:
its newer, meaning it's probably further away from a refresh I'd be ticked about
its a bit more budget friendly
and going to it would actually reduce my cell bill

5-If I go 8gig, would anyone here call it an adequate replacement for a DVD player say, for a flight (provided of course that I had a power supply). I know it's not a 7 inch screen like a personal player, but without having seen a movie clip in person, I have to ask. It strikes me as similar to the PSP screen, which I've seen and watched movies on, and was OK with for what I was doing.

thanks for the input

1)Just Pick up ipod and save your self unneeded Iphone headaches


2)Updates are a funny thing.Ever user want's different features added so who knows when that update your looking for will becomes reality.

3)The bug list is the real Deal.I owned the Iphone for about 24 hours and was over it fast.It's does have excellent web browsing that blows WM 5 years away yet it crashes way to much.


4)Go MAC BOOK


5)Why not watch a full movie and save some space.
http://us.slingmedia.com/popup/40sec.html


Good luck

 

[Sobe]

So, I was hoping to get some more insight to assist my decision. Especially now with the refurbs out, I'm closer to deciding....

1-4gb or 8gb? Anyone out there have 4gb and wish they went 8? got 4 and think it's fine? My logic tells me go 8, but then, I don't know if I need it, really. I do have movies/tv shows that I could put on there, plus music. I have a 30gig 5.5g ipod with all my shows on it and room to spare, but I've also survived on 4gig with no videos. So I am looking for thoughts here (not just "get 8, its not much more")

I'd suggest that if you are heavy into watching TV shows and movies on your ipod then get an 8 gig. Movies chew up memory in a hurry.

2-Any word on the next software update? I believe the last was 7/31-ish

Noone knows. If they say they know, they're lying or misinformed.

3-I've seen bug lists, but are there any lists actually listing the status of said bugs? I don't mind dealing with bugs if I can keep track of what is resolved and what is not, and feel comfortable that the provider is working to fix them. I've had a sporadically rebooting blackberry that has no signs of being fixed....

There's been one update so the bugs that are present are not exactly being destroyed on a daily basis. There are people who are bug freaks who will nitpick and complain. The bottom line is that the iPhone, while not perfect by any means, is a very polished product and doesn't suffer from any major problems that impact me on a daily basis.

4-Here's the totally "out there" one for the moment....iPhone or MacBook? My only apple products to date are my 4gig mini and my 30 gig video iPods. I'd like both a MacBook and an iPhone, but can't do both, nor can I really decide on either. I keep flip-flopping.
the thoughts I have that lean me toward iPhone:
its newer, meaning it's probably further away from a refresh I'd be ticked about
its a bit more budget friendly
and going to it would actually reduce my cell bill

It's a glorified cell phone. In 2 years, it won't be obsolete but it's going to look plenty dated. Think about new phones 2 years ago and how attractive they are now.

I have a Dell Windows based laptop and an iPhone. If I had neither one, I would definitely get a laptop first, even though I love my iPhone.

5-If I go 8gig, would anyone here call it an adequate replacement for a DVD player say, for a flight (provided of course that I had a power supply). I know it's not a 7 inch screen like a personal player, but without having seen a movie clip in person, I have to ask. It strikes me as similar to the PSP screen, which I've seen and watched movies on, and was OK with for what I was doing.

thanks for the input

It plays movies and TV shows pretty nicely. Obviously yes, it's a rather small screen, but it is a very high quality screen. As a replacement for a personal DVD player I think it would do just fine. Then again, if you got a laptop you could play the movies on that.

 

[scaredpoet]

1-4gb or 8gb? Anyone out there have 4gb and wish they went 8?

If you have the extra 4100 to spend, I would go with the 8GB. i was on the fence as well with this when I finally made the decision to get an iPhone, and I ultimately decided that I didn't want t get a 4Gb and regret the choice I made later. If you want video, definitely go with 8.

2-Any word on the next software update? I believe the last was 7/31-ish

No word on the next software update, but there are rumors which make sense, that a new update will likely happen around the time Leopard (OS X 10.4) comes out for Macs. That release is slated for sometime in October. Seeing as the iPhone essentially runs the same basic OS, Leopard's release will likely involve patches and updates that apply to the iPhone as well.

3-I've seen bug lists, but are there any lists actually listing the status of said bugs? I don't mind dealing with bugs if I can keep track of what is resolved and what is not, and feel comfortable that the provider is working to fix them. I've had a sporadically rebooting blackberry that has no signs of being fixed....

Apple doesn't doesn't open its bug tracking activities to the public. however I will say that Apple has done a good job with previous product lines in addressing bugs with regular software updates as needed, and I don't see why the iPhone would be an exception.

There was a previous poster in this thread who basically said you should stay away from the iPhone on bugs alone. Really, if you want to, you can apply that same argument to any Apple product, and then you'd never use Apple at all. And if you really wanted to be a purist, you'd never use Microsoft, either. The truth is, products new and old develop bugs these days, and in reality, you have to determine if you are willing to tolerate those bugs.

The iPhone, being that it costs as much as it does, simply gets more attention for its flaws than a subsidized Blackberry would. And while these people whine loudly about that, logic also dictates that Apple is more motivated to fix these problems than Blackberry, Palm or Motorola has been motivated to fix their many issues (I know them well, I've tried all the major smartphone OSes out there).

4-Here's the totally "out there" one for the moment....iPhone or MacBook? My only apple products to date are my 4gig mini and my 30 gig video iPods. I'd like both a MacBook and an iPhone, but can't do both, nor can I really decide on either. I keep flip-flopping.

It really boils down to this: what do you need more? A new computer? Or a new phone? If I had to make the choice, the new working computer would be more of a necessity to me than a snazzy iPhone. But, I already have a relatively new (4 month old) MacBook Pro, so when I got a windfall of cash, getting the iPhone was not a hard decision. If your situation is similar and you're fine with the computer you have now, get an iPhone.

If on the other hand, you're struggling with Windows, then get a MacBook.

5-If I go 8gig, would anyone here call it an adequate replacement for a DVD player say, for a flight (provided of course that I had a power supply). I know it's not a 7 inch screen like a personal player, but without having seen a movie clip in person, I have to ask. It strikes me as similar to the PSP screen, which I've seen and watched movies on, and was OK with for what I was doing.

I'd call it an adequate replacement, and a more functional one at that. Especially considering how cramped planes are these days; the fewer things you ave to carry, the better.

 

[gceo]

I have an 8gb and love it, but the thing that really makes it work super well for me is that I was already embedded in the Mac platform. I use extensively iTunes (podcasts, playlists, etc.) iPhoto, iCal, Mail, Safari, etc... and if you already use these apps, then the transition to the iPhone will only take about 20 minutes.

Get yourself the MacBook first and get to know the OS and the Apple way. Use the free apps that come with it. When you're embedded in the OS and apps, then get an iPhone, you'll be amazed at how simple and fast it integrates into your pre-existing information....

 

[brinycbri]

if ur main concern is to listen to music, and be organized and make calls, iphone is for you..if you want to do crazy stuff and play games then maybe some other phone..

whati would do is get the 8gig refurb for 100 bux off

 

[vader26]

1) i got a 4 and have no regrets, however i do not plan on using it to watch many videos. As stated before, if you plan on watching many videos (especially movies) go for the 8, or you will regret it.

2) no one knows.

3) I would feel pretty confident that apple will do their best to make sure a high profile product like iPhone gets to be pretty bug free.

4) I can say that since i got my iphone i use my MBP a bit less and find myself taking it with me less places. That said, it is my no means a replacement for a computer, so if you need a computer get that and wait till you have money saved up again for the iphone.

5) can't say i have watched a movie on iphone, but the brief tv show clips i have watched on it are great.