Just my little rant and rave over the iPhone

[DVNIEL]

Since everyone is posting their opinions on the iPhone, I did not know where the proper place to put this one, I guess it would get bumped elsewhere eventually. I think the iPhone is one amazing device, and never have I seen so many critics, websites and articles just talking about a product that has yet to be released. However... this reminds me of a few things.

Even though I want one badly, I think I'll pass on this revision/model of the iPhone because this reminds me of the sudden craze that occurred with the Motorola RAZR. Everyone just had to have it, it was the world's thinnest & sexiest phone with a chemically etched keypad and titanium/aluminum chassis. But now, after a whole bunch of remakes, the RAZR now pales in comparison with the even better RAZR series: KRZR and the new RIZR (damn that phone is hot)

Now that everyone is trying to figure out how to get out of their contracts to switch to Cingular, this reminds me of how everyone started ranting all the more about the problems of their MacBook Pro's when the Core 2 Duo's came out, and demanded they get a new C2D, just like they want to get out with no ETF. Pretty soon everyons is going to want the Ultra-thin, Quad-Core, Flash-RAM boot MBP and complain about something new with their C2D MBP

I honestly envy you Verizon people, you have amazing reception and coverage, and you even get signal deep inside basements of buildings. A lot of you, I presume, are businessmen/women and get corporate discounts from Verizon and Sprint. Cingular's discounts are horrible, I work for Kaiser Permanente and with sprint I get a 21% discount, over Cingular 12% discount. Verizon is probably much much better. If you're with Sprint, are you willing to give up your discounts and unlimited incoming calls just for an iPhone? If you have problems with Sprint, speak to their retentions department and have them give you incentive to stay. After nicely speaking to them, I was upped to a 31% monthly discount, unlimited text messaging for $8, and unlimited EVDO (faster than EDGE) internet for $5. Cingular just piles and piles the charges on top of you, really consider what you're gaining and what you're losing

I'm just giving this little shmeel because I know what its like to want the latest and greatest, but honestly in my opinion, Cingular is not the way to go just for a sexy phone. And if you really want it, wait for the next revision to come out because Steve Jobs said there are future iPhone's in the pipeline, and those are going to blow this first model out of the water. My last theory is that Apple has no choice but to now move the iPods into this direction of sensors and widescreens, because if not, the iPhone will just kill iPod sales. So if you want the amazing technology, wait till its implemented into the iPod. Enjoy that Treo you've customized for years, enjoy your corporate discounts, and enjoy an Apple TV if you really need to buy something new right now=).

Oh and btw, with Cingular... goodluck getting that iPhone insured, because Cingular will not insure anything above $400. So if you drop that iPhone, be prepared to call your homeowner's insurance, or buy another iPhone.

Just my $0.02

 

[pianoman]

interesting take. i have Verizon and i get excellent service everywhere i've been. i am not going to switch to Cingular just for the iPhone because i've heard about Cingular's poor coverage. of course, it all depends on where you are and whether one company's service works for you. i'm sure there are places where Cingular has excellent coverage and Verizon has little or none.

bottom line: if you don't want an iPhone, don't buy one.

 

[Counterfit]

The insurance company Cingular uses can go **** itself anyway.

I'm pretty sure that I have unlimited data (EDGE) for free, because my grandmother (who pays the bill ) called up one month, after there was a day of high usage (4.5-ishMB) that I couldn't explain.

And as for going to Cingular for a phone, I went to them because I wanted a S710a.

 

[savanahrose]

I don't know where you live but I get crappy reception where I live in SC using Verizon. I switched from Cingular because of the Customer Service and the Insurance with them.

Just this past weekend, I had to use the company's on call cell phone from Nextel and got great service where I lived.

I won't be going to Cingular just for the iphone. I don't think that I would be going to them at all. I think that is ridiculous but to each his/her own.

I can't stand Verizon due to the fact of the reception at my house, elsewhere it is wonderful, but not at my house. Though I have been told by a rep that I live right next to a tower.

 

[killmoms]

I'm switching to Cingular for the iPhone. It's just that awesome. I don't even care about all the other issues.

Then again, I'm a gadgetphile, so...

 

[savanahrose]

I'm switching to Cingular for the iPhone. It's just that awesome. I don't even care about all the other issues.

Then again, I'm a gadgetphile, so...

I thought I was too. I so wanted the iphone but thought long and hard about it. Maybe if I can afford when it comes out, who knows.

 

[rdowns]

FWIW, I switched from Verizon to Cingular. Cingular works perfectly for me from Queens to Long Island and in Denver where I travel for work. Verizon used to drop calls all the time for me. Cingular never has in 2 years.

 

[MisterMe]

....

Even though I want one badly, I think I'll pass on this revision/model of the iPhone because this reminds me of the sudden craze that occurred with the Motorola RAZR. Everyone just had to have it, it was the world's thinnest & sexiest phone with a chemically etched keypad and titanium/aluminum chassis. But now, after a whole bunch of remakes, the RAZR now pales in comparison with the even better RAZR series: KRZR and the new RIZR (damn that phone is hot)....

I'm not sure what you are getting at. The Motorola RAZR was the sexiest phone available for several years. The KRZR is brand new and is as nice-looking at the RAZR, but it is not really sexier. It is a logical evolution of its older sibling.

.... My last theory is that Apple has no choice but to now move the iPods into this direction of sensors and widescreens, ...

Duh! Earth to villanova329, this is not a bad thing.

... because if not, the iPhone will just kill iPod sales. ...

The current iPod has a storage capacity of 80 GB. The iPhone will have a maximum storage capacity of 8 GB. Call me crazy, but I don't think that 8 GB will kill 80 GB.

 

[skubish]

I don't know where you live but none of my coworkers with Verizon can get reception in our office building. Cingular works great for me and I will be looking forward to get a sexy iPhone in June. I don't care how expensive it is. It is just so damn cool looking.

Oh, and who pays for phone insurance anyway? I never have.
Self-insure is the way to go.

 

[shrimpdesign]

Cingular just piles and piles the charges on top of you, really consider what you're gaining and what you're losing

So basically, all I got from your post was "I get a discount from sprint so cingular sux!" ... that was a big waste of time. Thanks for letting us know about your enourmous Sprint discount. I'll keep that in mind when my contract expires and I get to choose a carrier without any discount.

 

[ErikCLDR]

Where I live, generally all service sucks like 1 bar if you are lucky. Verizon is probably the best service wise, but I cannot stand their HORRIBLE OS (which is like on every phone) and how they disable BT on everything except for synching contacts & headsets- no file exchange allowed. They do this so you have to pay to get your pics, vidoes, and music on/off your phone. That is why my next phone will probably be a cingular.

 

[mac-er]

But now, after a whole bunch of remakes, the RAZR now pales in comparison with the even better RAZR series: KRZR and the new RIZR (damn that phone is hot)

Motorola has one of the worst UI's in the phone industry. The address book is not logical at all, and it is probably the worst in the industry. If I have someone that has three numbers, each of their numbers have to be separate entries instead of "nesting" inside of one contact like every other address book known to man. I refuse to buy any Motorola phone simply because of the address book. Plus, I hate the font in their UI...it is really a pet peeve.

Address books should be people-oriented, not number-oriented.

 

[bmb012]

Funny, I always thought the RAZR looked ridiculous (not to mention the fact that the name 'RAZR' looks brain damaged), and was basically not worth looking into as a phone. I want a phone that's easy to use, with easy to press buttons, and an easy to navigate interface. After actually watching the keynote, the iPhone looks like a godsent.

Am I the only one who thinks that the interface will be something truly different? enough to justify that 600 bucks? random access voicemail and tabbed text messages FTW? I don't really care about the look of the thing, but the size is nice...

It's the monthly data plan that would kill me, I really don't care about the internet, though video conferencing with iChat would be fun. Pictures good, video good... bluetooth keyboard and a slim text editing program and I might start taking notes in class digitally again.

 

[SMM]

Our company has been through the whole gambit of phone carriers. We gave some of our employees Cingular i850's (I think that is right). Anyway, it is a top of the line offering with all the whistles and bells, plus email, etc.

Some of them ran up charges of > $1000 over 3 months! That is outrageous. I am not sure we made the best deal, or read all of the small print. Still, there is no excuse for this.

 

[chmorley]

Denver?

FWIW, I switched from Verizon to Cingular. Cingular works perfectly for me from Queens to Long Island and in Denver where I travel for work. Verizon used to drop calls all the time for me. Cingular never has in 2 years.

Is that right? I use T-Mobile in Denver and have been happy with the coverage. I have been thinking about the Cingular switch since the iPhone came out, but have spoken with two people who were unhappy with Cingular's coverage. Where do you go around Denver? How is your coverage toward Golden?

Chris

 

[Rodimus Prime]

For me sprint free incoming just is not that good compared to cingular unlimited mobile to mobile which I get a lot of use out of but I know that varies from person to person. Most of my friends and people I know all use cingular so it a nice bonus. Sprint is the other main company here.

Service depends on where you are on how good it is. Where I am located most of the year cingular has great service. Sprint service is also pretty good but Verizon and T-mobile are pretty much crap and worthless. But then again that all depends on location.

Insurance it is a given cingular is not going to offer it. I do not think even the other companies would offer it. The phone just cost way to much.

As for the fad. Yeah the iPhone may be come a fad for people who have way to much money to spend. Yeah the iPhone is a great phone but really how much of the extra stuff do you really need or will even use that you will be paying for. I know a lot of people here will be getting it because of all the hype behind it and for these features they will more then likely never will use and just wasting there money on it.

The Razor was a good example. Everyone wanted it and honestly the phone has a pretty high return rate for it being broken. But yeah it was a huge fad and now that fad has people and people just do not want it. The phone I see now being pretty popular is the Sony ericsson z525a and z520a and the funny part is people are choosing that phone on there own. They like the phone and how it looks and it has the stuff people want on a phone like that and a tone of people are buying it. I just find it interesting how the fads in cell phones go. I pick out the z525a because it had features I wanted and only later did I find out a lot of people have been getting that phone and something else that makes it funny is people who get it do not noticed a lot of people have it until after they have it.
The moral to that. Make a good phone and people will buy it with out the fad status.

 

[rdowns]

Is that right? I use T-Mobile in Denver and have been happy with the coverage. I have been thinking about the Cingular switch since the iPhone came out, but have spoken with two people who were unhappy with Cingular's coverage. Where do you go around Denver? How is your coverage toward Golden?

Chris

My time there is spent in the SE. I also drive up to Blackhawk and has worked well there too. It also works well in our old office (Englewood) and new one (Greenwood Village).

 

[Passante]

Motorola has one of the worst UI's in the phone industry. The address book is not logical at all, and it is probably the worst in the industry. If I have someone that has three numbers, each of their numbers have to be separate entries instead of "nesting" inside of one contact like every other address book known to man. I refuse to buy any Motorola phone simply because of the address book. Plus, I hate the font in their UI...it is really a pet peeve.

Address books should be people-oriented, not number-oriented.

I have the RAZR. Multiple phone numbers are nested unlike my wifes Moto phone. The UI still stinks. I will switch to an Apple phone and cingular from Verizon IF the monthly charge is ?<50.

 

[DVNIEL]

So after all the ranting, raving, denial of buying one... I broke down and finally decided to get the iPhone when it comes out. I now join the bandwagon despite my past thoughts on the iPhone.

So here's the progress, I have enough for the 8GB model and my Sprint ETF, now I'm saving up for first and last month of minutes.

Wish me luck!

 

[phungy]

I completely agree with everything you said. Good write up!

 

[eenu]

heh wait for me to get flamed but i think its amusing that the worlds super power has such a poor phone network and is years behind europe.

I have to say its funny watching you all bitch about your poor reception. Its so weird to think you lot have that issue because its not really a consideration we need to make here in europe when choosing a provider.

My ex was from the states and i couldn't believe that she is charged to receive calls! She was on sprint......how backwards is that.

Got to say that when i was looking to get a phone in the states when i thought i would be spending a lot more time there i did look at Cingular.....wasn't to impressed at the coverage map the rep gave me though.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Rants before a product release? Is this a new record?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Motorola has one of the worst UI's in the phone industry. The address book is not logical at all, and it is probably the worst in the industry. If I have someone that has three numbers, each of their numbers have to be separate entries instead of "nesting" inside of one contact like every other address book known to man. I refuse to buy any Motorola phone simply because of the address book. Plus, I hate the font in their UI...it is really a pet peeve.

Address books should be people-oriented, not number-oriented.

Address Book -> Setup -> View -> Primary Contacts
That should fix your address book issue.

 

[zap2]

Verizon sucks...they have given us so many problems. I can't wait for the iPhone...and I don't even get Verizon service at my house

 

[iZealot]

For all you shmucks Cingular is the new AT&T...we all know how much of a failure AT&T was back when they were also in the cell phone game and they were one of the "big" companies at the time...

On the other hand cingular pulled themselves out of a slump and made it. Lets see a failure takes over a success..........hmmm i see where this is going for AT&T.

Verizon is the ultimate giant in the industry. Most towers in this continent are owned by Verizon. Clearly a superior company to Cingular. Sprint is just the 3rd runner up.

I'd never buy a 1st gen of anything...iPhone is no different than any PDA phone out there. You are all buying in to commercials and ads like idiot bitches.

If you don't have a PDA phone right now you do not need an iPhone. Alas i[m so happy that its very expensive, i am gonna enjoy seeing you dumbasses spend your money.