Should I Buy an iPhone? Vote Now
Posted by junger | November 13th, 2007
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Right after we moved into our new place, we discovered a HUGE problem.
Our Sprint cellphones don't work inside.
The walls are so thick that we literally have no signal inside, except a faint signal by the windows. However, outside, we have at least 3 bars of service.
As you can imagine, this is a problem.
Since it took us a few days to get Comcast installed (a whole separate story), we were completely disconnected … except out on the porch. (We use Vonage for our landline.)
It's brought me to this question: should I get rid of Sprint and get an iPhone?
I'm a fan of the iPhone — it's a sweet device — but have held off because of the AT&T lockdown and because I'm in a service contract with Sprint.
But if AT&T works inside — T-Mobile gets three bars, while Verizon's signal is weak — it might be a great choice.
Here are the pros and cons, as I see them.
Pros:
- The iPhone is awesome. I would love to get one, even if I wasn't having signal problems with Sprint.
- Make calls over Skype using iPhone WiFi.
- Potentially have service inside. Don't have to sit out on the porch to make calls.
Cons:
- Have to break Sprint contract and buy new phone.
- Stuck with AT&T's inferior network.
- May or may not grab a signal inside.
- Can't make regular calls over WiFi (see Skype above).
- Price jump in service — from $38/month to $120/month
For what it's worth, I currently own the Samsung m610.
So, should I switch to an iPhone? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
You already know that I think you should hold off on getting one, but that was because I know later generations of the device will perform much better. They likely will also not be locked down with crappy at$t service, which in the DC area is pretty awful (i know because I have it. I cant even use it in my own basement). On that point, Verizon is the king here, like it or not. You can even use it in the metro. Were I you, I would get some other kind of pda that uses verizon service. You'd get almost as many features, great connection to the network anywhere in the DC metro area, and Im sure it would cost you far far less than $120/month. I myself plan to switch to verizon whenever my at$t contract runs out. Heed my words, stay away from the iphone. (even though it is shiny and has lots of fun buttons to press)
NAY!
Firstly, you have more cons than pros, and all of the cons are significant whereas some of the pros are fluffy.
It's a HUGE jump in monthly fees and I don't like that they make you pay that much AND can only use it with AT&T.
The IPhone is sweet. I know it, you know it. But the cost is way too high for what it is. As an ipod the free space is very low for your price and I wouldn't be able to carry with me even a fraction of my music collection, and no one wants to be stranded with the wrong genre of music in an unforeseen situation.
Also, it's only the second generation. This of how quickly the first Gen was replaced by the second. I still think it comes with a ridiculous price tag for a phone. Granted it does do a lot, but for what price.
But if you do decide to shell out the cash…I get to play with it when we visit.
Wow. And that's coming from two guys who use Macs.
There's got to be at least one person who thinks I should get an iPhone, right?
I love my iMac, and I've been very impressed by friends' iPhones, but I won't get one until I can choose my network and have the flexibility to add memory and third-party apps.
As "Eric" commented in an Information Week article: http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/11/apple_more_ipho.html:
"Where's a 3.2 to 5 megapixel camera and flash? Where's the faster internet speeds? I can't stand EDGE loading mobile web pages on my Blackberry 8700. I can't even imagine how long full webpages take on an iPhone. I want to get an iPhone, but until the internet speeds and camera are upgraded, listening to music and making phone calls work just fine on my Razr. My Razr even has a easily replaceable battery and upgradeable memory storage."
So you're considering paying an extra $80 a month to feed the insatiable carnal desire for the latest, sexiest gadgets? Oh an if you're lucky you might get a stronger signal.
Bad idea.
I got rid of Sprint and got an iPhone! And I do like my iPhone. Having a phone, maps, web, weather, pda, iPod… it's a nice package.
Sprint never really worked at my house. I only got service by my work and friend's houses. Then I got another home in NH. And Sprint didn't get service there either! That was the last straw. I began looking for a phone replacement, plus my Treo was getting old.
My advice to YOU would be to wait (like for a gPhone enabled phone), unless there is some really compelling reason for you to do otherwise — like your current phone broke and you have no remaining contract with your current provider. In my case not having a cell phone at home was too much. If you have that same problem, make sure another provider gets reception/service where you want to use it.
I have the iPhone and it's a great device. Edge is pretty bad but still works to pull up maps and webpages when you need them. While you are around a wifi (like at home/office) it is very fast. No phone even comes close and I am a convert from Blackberry/T-Mobile. The iPod aspect also saves me from carrying around two devices.
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