3G

[mdwh2]

Nlandas wrote:
Doesn't crash.
Can connect to any device automatically and work with it.
It just works.
Runs faster than any other PC.
Is easier to use.
Is better for graphics.
Makes you cool.

Don't forget "It Just Works"

bloodline wrote:
Yes... you want a phone... get a phone... I want a fully integrated mobile personal life style computing device... so I got the iPhone :-)

Wayne wrote:
Now, do I "need" Internet and all that on my phone?  Hell no, though I do send text messages (at 15 cents each) quite a bit.  What I want however is to combine the things normally found in my pocket into one, single device whenever possible, and $200 (even $300) is a small price to pay for that as far as gadgets go.

Note that even most bog standard phones will do all sorts of extra things like Internet and are basically mobile computers now.

JJ wrote:
Suppose its all a matter of choice, but until Apple catches up with UK phones in new technology ( how old is 3G now)

This is a good point - I'm curious why people are amazed by features they think are new in a phone, but it's possibly to do with the fact that US phones seem to be a few years behind technology-wise. This is all old history for people elsewhere such as the UK.

amigadave wrote:
Apple understands the fact that most people don't want to tinker with and configure their computers and they cater to that, they have no intention of trying to change to satisfy the small group of computer users that want to alter the way the system works.  They are targeting the masses and use any marketing they can to attract more market share, including claims that are not completely accurate at times, but that is true of almost every company out there of any kind, they all exaggerate some time.  Don't blame them for being better at marketing lies to those that don't know better.

All companies understand this. But yes, what Apple are better at is marketing.

As I stated before, I want simplicity and ease of use when it comes to my cell phone and mobile PDA/mp3 player/web enabled device. I have not seen or heard of any other product that does what the 3G iPhone can

OOI, what unique features does the Iphone have?

Wayne wrote:
I don't understand your logic at all.  Are you, or are you not going to have a cellphone during that same 24 months?  Most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that we will always have a cellphone bill.  For some, like myself, I use it as my only phone, so your logic is flawed.

Again, the point being missed here may be the US versus UK thing. Here in the UK you tend to *either* pay for a contract, and get the phone free or very cheaply, *or* pay for the phone, and have no restrictions on contract. (And the free/cheap phones you get under contract include high end smartphones, not "you get a basic mobile Phone" as bloodline suggests.)

bloodline wrote:
The thing is, there are only two types of people... Those who want an iPhone and those that have never used an iPhone.

Funny, but unfair - you could say the same thing about all models of phones. Most people don't have time to try every single model of phone, so most people have only really tried the phones they use.

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against the Iphone - I just don't see why people give it so much hype and free advertising over all other phone models, as if it were the only phone that could do these things. It's like Windows 95 all over again.

Re: Video calling, whilst it's true that most of the time people don't want it, I can think of some *ahem* uses where people might want to see each other (consider webcams - you can make the same argument about "not wanting to get made up just to use the computer", but clearly some people like using them) ... The point is, if I'm paying for an expensive phone, it'd better at least have all the features that even basic bog-standard phones have these days. Even if I only want to use the feature rarely, I don't want to have to go "Oh dear, I can't use it because I'm an Apple user", I expect it to Just Work. The same goes for video recording, MMS, Java and copy/paste.

[mdwh2]

bloodline wrote:
If the iPhone is so bad... why is it that EVERY other manufacturer is now playing catch up...

In what sense are they playing catch up? There are large numbers of areas that the Iphone is playing catch up (only just getting 3G). And anyway, why is it wrong if manufacturers copy a feature first in the Iphone, considering that most of the Iphone's features were copied off of all the phones that came previously?

I don't see any other manufacturer bringing out something totally different, or something that has prompted people to want to queue outside stores to obtain!

This is a marketing achievement sure - clearly it wasn't that Apple were first with 3G. But in what sense was the Iphone "totally different"?

In fact I've not seen a single advert for another Mobile that has focused on anything other than the features which the iPhone has...

Which features are these? I suspect they are simply focusing on features that phones have full stop, and you are just assuming that it is a comparison to the Iphone.

It has been highlighted most by what has happened in Japan. The market has been driven by features, but the iPhone has changed all that.

What, by not having features?

Market research has shown time, and time again, most people use  10% of a phone's features 90% of the time!

How does this make the Iphone better?

What Apple do is actually quite simple. Only include the basic minimum features and then make them work in the most natural way possible. They look at how people use devices and then perfect that interface.

If I only want the basic minimum of features, then why would I spend all that money? They 10% of phone features that most people use (which is most likely just phone calls and SMS, and perhaps some simple browsing or taking photos) can be had in a dirt cheap phone.

By assuming that most people want to load up their phones with mp3s and view the Internet on them all day, I don't see this is any different to the other phones that assume people want to take videos/photos ... and play mp3s and view the Internet on them all day. I also find it unlikely that the proportion of people using mp3s and Internet browsing on their phones is higher than the proportion who use MMS.

In summary, I don't think it's true that the Iphone has trimmed down on a core set of features any more than any other phone, and secondly, I wouldn't want to pay more for the privilege of fewer features, when I could pay less instead. (I also find it rather odd that lacking standard features is twisted to be a good thing, but then this is a common argument for Apple products - even bad points are cited as being good points.)