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What about users without computers?

kdarling

kdarling

macrumors P6
Original poster
Jun 9, 2007
17,373
5,925
First university coding class = 47 years ago
If I get my wife an iPhone, she really doesn't care to sync to a computer. Ever. She just wants "it to work".

She's more interested in the phone functions and Google searches / maps. Perfect for her. She *might* also enter calendar stuff, but only on the phone itself.

Now, the way I understand it, you have to have an iTunes account. And you have to connect via your computer, to get updates and music (instead of over the air), or even to activate the phone.

Is this what others understand? If so, it seems to leave out lots of potential customers.

Thanks!
 
kdarling said:
it seems to leave out lots of potential customers.
Click to expand...

No offense, but I think it doesn't leave out many potential customers at all. If you look at all the people who would consider getting an iPhone, I bet 95% of them have a computer in their household. Nearly everyone has a computer or at least computer access.

EDIT: Looks like I took too long replying, someone beat me to it!
 
jshbckr said:
No offense, but I think it doesn't leave out many potential customers at all. If you look at all the people who would consider getting an iPhone, I bet 95% of them have a computer in their household. Nearly everyone has a computer or at least computer access.

EDIT: Looks like I took too long replying, someone beat me to it!
Click to expand...

I bet it's higher than 95%...
 
Yep - the assumption is that you're using some of the space for music/video for the iPod function, which means at least occasional hook-ups to a computer to get the music on, update playlists, etc.

I imagine there are people who would like to use their iPhone without a computer involved, but they'll either need to find a way to make it work, or choose another phone... that's just a phone.
 
kdarling said:
If I get my wife an iPhone, she really doesn't care to sync to a computer. Ever. She just wants "it to work".

She's more interested in the phone functions and Google searches / maps. Perfect for her. She *might* also enter calendar stuff, but only on the phone itself.

Now, the way I understand it, you have to have an iTunes account. And you have to connect via your computer, to get updates and music (instead of over the air), or even to activate the phone.

Is this what others understand? If so, it seems to leave out lots of potential customers.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I can understand her situation, however it might be that you can get updates through iTunes on the phone itself. If not now, maybe at some point in the future.

At this point in time, I don't think it's unreasonable to link the phone to a computer. Ten years down the road it might though.

If she wants to fill her iPhone with music, she really has no other choice to connect it to the computer.

I can understand not wanting to have to connect on a daily or weekly basis, but never? that seems sort of weird to me.
 
jshbckr said:
No offense, but I think it doesn't leave out many potential customers at all. If you look at all the people who would consider getting an iPhone, I bet 95% of them have a computer in their household. Nearly everyone has a computer or at least computer access.
Click to expand...

No offense taken.

Yes, they might own computers, but the latest surveys show 1/3 of USA homes still have no Internet access... and no interest in it. (I know it took me years to get my step-brother to just recently get broadband. Yet he's had a computer since forever.)

This, even though many of these households make plenty of money and are otherwise users of DVDs, digital cameras, cell phones, whatever. All devices that don't _require_ internet access to operate.

Now, this device *does* have its own internet access, and doesn't use it for updates. Okay, I can understand why... with "unlimited access" plans, Cingular would have to really eat it whenever Apple does an update ;)

Cheers, Kev
 
kdarling said:
No offense taken.

Yes, they might own computers, but the latest surveys show 1/3 of USA homes still have no Internet access... and no interest in it. (I know it took me years to get my step-brother to just recently get broadband. Yet he's had a computer since forever.)

This, even though many of these households make plenty of money and are otherwise users of DVDs, digital cameras, cell phones, whatever. All devices that don't _require_ internet access to operate.

Now, this device *does* have its own internet access, and doesn't use it for updates. Okay, I can understand why... with "unlimited access" plans, Cingular would have to really eat it whenever Apple does an update ;)

Cheers, Kev
Click to expand...

Chances are 99.99% of those 1/3 households have no interest in an iPhone either.

The iPhone is not a replacement for a computer. Its not being marketed to people without a computer. I think Apple and AT&T may lose a few sales due to this, but there are millions others who want it and have a computer.

Personally, I find this silly. If you don't have a computer, then you are living in the past. Which is fine, nothing wrong with it. However, living in the past you won't get the new cool toys.
 
If you don't have a computer or broadband internet access, you are not in Apple's target market.
I think it's as simple as that really.
 
kdarling said:
Thanks to all for your answers (wife 2.0, indeed. ha!).

It seems that the ease of use of iPhone is not meant for the very people it should apply most to: the non-computer owner or non-techie person.
Click to expand...

My 77 year old mother-in-law isn't a techie. She has a Mac, because she doesn't WANT to be a techie, but understands one needs a computer for certain things. She needs it to communicate with others, along with a place to handle her pictures and do some research.

Non-computer owner and non-techie person are two very different things.

If she's not a computer owner, what would she want internet and email access for? The iPod functionality needs a computer to manage your media. So, if you remove iPod, internet and mail, you still have the easiest most intuitive phone ever designed. However, Apple isn't about to sell "just a phone" any time soon.
 
I doubt that Apple will leave these non-techie users behind. I think, much like a Verizon store, that you'll be able to hit up an Apple store for your initial setup and periodic updates.

I think, as much as Apple wants to sell you a phone and a computer, that they'd rather not ditch the swath of market share that doesn't like to hook phones to computers on a regular basis.

For backup purposes, though, I can attest to the benefits of hooking up to your own computer once in a while!
 
gr8tfly said:
If she's not a computer owner, what would she want internet and email access for? The iPod functionality needs a computer to manage your media. So, if you remove iPod, internet and mail, you still have the easiest most intuitive phone ever designed. However, Apple isn't about to sell "just a phone" any time soon.
Click to expand...

Didn't say she wasn't a computer owner. But as you pointed out, owner and techie are two different things.

I did say she needed internet search and maps. She's not much different from lots of people who buy other phones with navigation built-in, some web access, etc. They might not have a personal computer. I know lots of kids, for example, who have very fancy phones but use public library computers.
 
kdarling said:
It seems that the ease of use of iPhone is not meant for the very people it should apply most to: the non-computer owner or non-techie person.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand this comment. The iPhone certainly aims to be simpler than other smartphones, but it is still a more complex device than a basic telephone. I can't really see a market for any device like this for non-computer owners. Not all computer owners are necessarily "techies". Many older relatives of mine are not techies, but they use a computer and could operate the iPhone.

That said, if there was some peculiar reason why someone didn't own a computer but really wanted to use the iPhone, there's nothing to stop them as long as they have a computer they can access to which they could periodically sync.

Seems like the first step is to get a computer, though.
 
kdarling said:
Didn't say she wasn't a computer owner. But as you pointed out, owner and techie are two different things.

I did say she needed internet search and maps. She's not much different from lots of people who buy other phones with navigation built-in, some web access, etc. They might not have a personal computer. I know lots of kids, for example, who have very fancy phones but use public library computers.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the best "of both worlds" would be to use your own computer to do the setup and activation, then - just don't sync. You'll be able to use it just fine the way you describe. You just wouldn't be able to use the iPod portion effectively (you probably can save content from the web on the iPhone, so conceivably, you could access your media through Personal Web Sharing while at home).

Also, as another poster mentioned, syncing isn't just about putting stuff on the iPhone. It's also about backups. I'd feel pretty nervous putting 100 contacts directly on the phone, then needing to restore them for some reason. Web bookmarks are backed up, too.
 
gr8tfly said:
My 77 year old mother-in-law isn't a techie.
Click to expand...

Yeah the older I get 77 isn't that old:) Both my parents are 71 and both own an 80 gig iPod - but they both unfortunately are on Windows (but own shares of Apple:) )


Almost all of their friends BTW have computers with internet access and use them daily. Somehow my Dad still can't use the Microwave or VCR/DVD/DVR however LOL.
 
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