I saw an iPhone commercial this weekend. The iPhone is Mac’s newest gadget that is being marketed by people who like to all be different in the same way. I can’t decide which new product is worse, the iPhone or the Palm Foleo. Perhaps they are equally bad for the same reasons.
Both devices are marketed as the next step in portable data evolution. Both devices make this claim as they are left in the dust by devices without the brand name on the outside that do much more.
The Treo was marketed as a phone first and PDA second. The iPaq was a PDA with phone capabilities. The BlackBerry is a email device with phone and PDA functions.
Take the function out of the Treo, the function variety out of the iPaq and the simplicity out of the Blackberry and you have the iPhone.
Samsung once had a pretty nice phone called the i330. It was a Palm/cell phone with a touch screen interface. If this phone had been updated with time, it would be a very strong competitor to the iPhone. However, Samsung dropped the i300/330 line years ago.
Here is a list of pros and cons for the iPhone:
| Pros | Cons |
| Plays iTunes music like an iPod | Dial pad numbers difficult to see in direct sun light |
| Pretty icons and interface | Only offered by GSM provider AT&T/Cingular |
| Listen of voice mail in any order | No hard buttons for dialing |
| Pretty screen for videos | Not compatible with high speed data/Internet |
| It makes you cool | Only approved third party applications can be added |
| It’s shiny and |
Battery time is expected to be less than 10 (5?) hours. |
| It’s made by Apple | Treo <$300, LG Chocolate <$100, RAZR <$100, iPhone $500. |
I would have listed more, but I wanted to stop when I ran out of "Pros."
Related articles:
- Is the iPhone another Newton?
- First iPhone setup
- The missing iPhone disclaimer
- What I learned in the first 4 days of my iPhone 3G
- My iPhone applications after 10 months
Tags: Apple, battery, email, Internet, iPhone, iPod, Mac, music, update
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HelpMeRick.com started as a monthly tip site for beginners in 1996, and now supports our popular call-in computer show, and hosts thousands of useful computer tips and links.
My XV6700 is almost two years old and will smoke the iPhone with features and usefulness.
“It’s shiny and white”
It’s F’ing Black and silver! no white.
And damit its not only the functionality and the design! its the f’ing ease of use! Do you have a program as simble as itunes or the itunes music store on your Treo, Razr, or XV6700 crap? NO! you have to f’ing download reinstall reconfigure and stuff! APPLE FTW!
You are correct. As an iPod, the iPhone is superior. However, as a converged device it is terrible. I can type over 20 words per minute on my Treo – how fast can you do that on your iPhone. It is really easy to test, just find a third party app that lets you check your typing speed. Oh wait! The iPhone doesn’t support third party apps.
If I had an iPhone, I would probably spend most of my time watching YouTube videos while I wait for my meals at restaurants. Oh wait! I don’t eat anywhere that offers WiFi and you can’t watch YouTube on EDGE. Maybe I will just stick with broadband speeds on my Treo for $15 per month unlimited with Sprint. Perhaps I will use Kinoma player to watch YouTube videos and even listen to Internet radio.
The problem I have when calculating the tip for my meal is I can’t decide which one of my 5 third party calculators to use but at least I can open up an Excel spreadsheet and track my expenses.
When I get lost I can link my contacts and calendar to Google maps so that I know where I am headed. It is only three presses of a button while I am driving. I can even do it without looking at my screen. I can feel the buttons by touch.
When I am writing an email and I want to attach a photo, I simply click on the attach button in the email program and guess what comes up – a file browser. I can attach any file on my device.
I can’t sync it with iTunes, but I can sync it with Windows Media Player, Rhapsody, Napster, Media Monkey etc. You can’t do that with an iPhone.
I am sorry I called the iPhone white. I hope you understood this comment OK. Most of the words exceeded four letters.
I just sent that from an iphone
sorry for my crazy apple fanboy to come out!
(Have you even ever used one?)
I’ve setup four iPhones to date, but like Adam am a long time staunch Treo user. The physical keyboard and ability to add applications is HUGE for me. Especially with the Treo 755p and now possible the Centro, I can’t see a smartphone out there that holds a candle to the usefulness and flexibility of a Palm handheld (non-windows based).
Saying all that, I am impressed with the iPhone. However, I think it is definitely a first generation device. I know Apple will improve upon it in the future. As far as add-on apps for the iPhone, of course the programming community has risen to the occasion and created some great online apps specifically for iPhone users (including my favorite Zoho) and they work and act great. When Apple throws their hat into a ring, people pay attention and that’s good for not only the iPhone, but for all SmartPhones.
The iPhone’s rotating screen (which is gorgeous) and web browsing experience(multiple windows) is awesome on wi-fi, but I still can’t understand why ATT/Apple didn’t add the faster cellular data.
The lack of a physical keyboard makes the iPhone less than ideal as a car-phone (which might be a safety advantage), but let’s face it we all use our phones (safely) in our vehicles.
In response to a recent post here who uses a regular cell phone and MP3 player, there is NO substitute for the flexibility, usefulness and power of having a converged device. Carrying a device that can handle 3-5 functions in one small unit is fantastically useful and addicting.
The iPhone will help propel and push all smart phone companies into producing better and more innovative solutions, and that is a good thing for all of us.
I totally agree with Rick… EXCEPT… on February 3rd party apps are on the iphone.
it is truly the god phone
When the I-Phone sells for under $99 with no commitment and is compatible with ALL major cell phone carriers…I might purchase it.In the meantime I’ll just have to rough it with my plain cell phone and my trusty $29 MP player….