So, I’m finally out of my contract with Sprint! If you’re curious as to why I’m leaving Sprint after 11+ years, you can read about it here. The all important question posed to you now, my blog readers, is should I give in and finally get the iPhone?
One good friend of mine told me that the iPhone was so revolutionary in his life, that he literally kissed his iPhone - it was that good. Really? Can a consumer product be so life-changing? What do you think? I don’t really get the big fuss around a phone, so if you can help me out and explain it to me, I’d appreciate it! I’ve been getting a good ribbin’ at work lately for still lugging around a 6lb Treo. Honestly, I’ve been pretty pleased with my trusty-old Palm Treo, it’s been a great device and had Sprint been a little more accommodating I’d still be with them with the old Treo in hand. However, I wouldn’t say that the device was to die for, which I hear from so many iPhone users. So, if I don’t give into what all the cool kids have, what phone should I get? The android? How about the blackberry? Or, the all encompassing Nokia?
I am pretty excited to change it up a bit and try something new, so tell me what you think I should do and I’ll let you know what I end up doing. I’m sure it’ll be a better experience than I’ve had in the past!
Hey Andy, I’ve had my iPhone since last July… I really like it a lot. There are times when I think the monthly plan is a bit expensive, but other than that I am pleased. If you decide to get one, I would recommend waiting until June or July, since they usually refresh the hardware around that time. Good luck !
iPhone all the way. Speaking as a 5 year ex-Blackberry user, I switched and can’t live without it.
I got a Blackberry Bold in November, and LOVE it! Don’t get pulled into the hype of the iPhone. Those apps are fun and all, but I don’t need to play xbox games on my phone.
Blackberry is great for business reasons, and has just enough toy apps (facebook, twitter, Qik, Vlingo, etc) to be as much of a time waster as an iPhone.
I use Google Apps for Domains for my email, and run them to my Blackberry via POP access. If email, IM, and texting are primary communication means for you… I suggest the Bold.
iPhone users will tell you that you get used to the onscreen keyboard. But, that is bogus. An onscreen keyboard could never compare to a tactile one (reason why I opted not to get a Bberry Storm).
I love my iPhone. Best phone I’ve ever had. It’s far exceeded my expectations for a phone.
You are leaving just as (presumably) the Pre is about to come out! I’m pretty certain that one is going to be huge. It at least looks like a lot more fun to develop apps for.
Sure Sprint is terrible. I put up with them for 6-7 years, but aren’t you the least bit interested in the PRE? You don’t have to wait much longer. If I were you, I’d stay month to month until you can at least try the PRE.
I had the TREO 300, 600, 650 and 700. I then went to T-Mobile and had the Blackberry Pearl and then the Curve. Solid devices, but if you are at all interested in web browsing, they won’t due.
I’m now a very happy iPhone user. AT&T of course doesn’t seem to have that many bars in that many place, but I put up with it because the iPhone rocks.
Being a QWERTY guy for so long, I was worried the lack of keyboard would be problematic for me. I picked up an iPod Touch and played with it for a few months to see if I could get the hang of the keyboard. I now type as past or faster on the iPhone than I ever did on the BlackBerry/Treo.
That said, if I was in your shoes, I’d go month to month with Sprint until you try the PRE.
Hey Andy,
I like you had all the Treo’s and was with Sprint for YEARS but when my contract was up last November I switched to the iPhone and I don’t think you could pry it out of my cold, dead hands… love it. Easy to use, easy to set up, works beautifully with all systems I have and entertains the child at restaurants…. bonus!
Have you considered looking into high end unlocked S60 devices? Depending on your needs there are several top notch phones that are all unlocked without contract and do much more than the iPhone. Examples are E71, E75 (coming soon), 5800 Xpress Music, N95 8Gb, N79. If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask why I recommend this route.
My gut reaction to hearing the iphone debate would be similar to hearing people discussing if having slaves as a viable option. Are you serious? Haven’t we gotten over this issue already?
but….I understand that not everyone has owned an iphone since the day it came out and has not been as happy with it as I.
From what I have gathered there are two main distinguishing values between people who can’t live without an iphone and people who can. Those two things are simplicity and design. When it comes to my technology and electronics these are very important to me and at least some variation of them are present in anyone that enjoys using an iphone. Some people like coding DOS on their phone and get pissed off by the simplicity that an iphone represents. That is not me. For those people there are many options but for me there is only one.
Until a few months ago, I was with Sprint for around 9 years… I didn’t have the issues other mentioned, in fact, I loved them. I never had the dropped calls or connection issues I heard others complain about with their carriers, ever. Ever.
I got an iphone and I love it, but realized from what I read that connectivity would be an issue… even in the middle of LA. It hasn’t been an issue so far, but sometimes I’m shocked at the places I find myself with no bars… I mean I don’t ever recall having no bars with sprint… ever…on the west coast….
That being said, I really have no regrets so far about the iphone. I want things to work (thus my switch to a mac this year) and my iphone is pretty seamless with my gmail, contacts, etc….. my recommendation would be to go for it.
No, Get a S60 device like Sloan said. I have a N95, which blows the iPhone out the water.
The problem with the iPhone is the contract. why tie yourself to a 2 year contract, if you don’t end up liking AT&T.
Granted AT&T works great up here in the valley of Sacramento, but I’m not so sure about the South Bay.
if you can wait, Sprint is set to release the Palm Pre (w/ the WebOS platform) which is suppose to be pretty awesome. For me, I’m sticking w/ Sprint b/c no other carrier can beat the rate plan and goodies I have…
But, the minute the iPhone becomes available on Sprint, I will be sign my life over the Steve Jobs.
I have the latest Samsung smartphone with Windows Mobile on AT&T and it is great for business use. I love having all my contacts and schedule synched across email & phone. I have an unlimitted talk plan for $100 and unlimitted data for $30. I don’t know if the iPhone plans do unlimitted or not. What’s not so great about the phone is the browsing experience and touch screen. So if you are a heavy browser you might want to look elsewhere.
Hey Andy,
I would recommend you get the iPhone. I have one and it’s my favorite possession by far! Good luck and I hope you make the right choice (iPhone) hahaha.
- Derek
Andy…
After using the Treo (Windows version on Verizon) for some time, I switched to the iPhone and love it! Browsing is easy and fast, the email and calendar apps work, and the apps/games are handy and fun.
FYI, my friend Brad (the guy that did the AV/Automation in my house) just got the new “clicking” touchscreen blackberry… and HATES IT! He says the browsing sucks and the call quality is terrible.
– Garrett
Andy -
I would definitely switch to the iPhone. Although there’s no “trying” it out as you need to opt in for an extended contract. You could buy a used one and jailbreak and not be tied to just AT&T.
For me the benefit of the iPhone comes with the mobileme service which allows me to sync all my calendars, contacts mail etc in the cloud and get instant changes on all my machines and phones (my wife’s iPhone as well).
The iPhone is a remarkably elegant solution for mobile semi-computing. The web browsing is by far the best on any mobile device. It’s become integral to my life and I certainly wouldn’t be without one.
Hope you find a good solution.
Andy, when we were at InfoSpace, designing the wireless web, we imagined a day when you had data rich applications in the palm of your hand. This day has finally come. The iPhone has delivered it. There are going to be copycats, but you’re going to want to tell your children that you were there when the web changed. To say that, you’ll need to carry an iPhone.
Hi Andy,
Interesting questions. I was in the same boat until recently. I was torn between getting the BlackBerry Bold and the iphone. I went for the iphone and I believe I have made the right decision. They are both excellent choices in their own right, but the apple design and attention to detail, along with fantastic functionality makes the iphone a winner in my book. Along with all the ‘fancy’ features - it is also a great business tool. I am regularly on the move and checking and sending emails is so simple. The touch screen keypad is a breeze to use, and all the little ‘added extras’ are fun to divert attention when you ‘take 5 minutes to breathe!’
Best of luck with whatever you choose.
Wait until June or July. I’m expecting Apple to make a new phone announcement. Not sure that it will be a 3G replacement though.
I’m still excited about the Palm Pre myself. Although I do have hurt feelings about Palm sucking for the past 3 years.
I have iphone now and I have used Nokia E61i. The thing that I missed about Nokia is the buttons that give tactile response. How to “click” on the right “button” without looking when everything is a smooth piece of glass?
I used to do “SpeedDial” on the Nokia without looking at the phone, but I can never do that with the iPhone.
I can pickup or reject a call without looking at the phone, but now I can’t.
The good thing about iPhone? Is the iPod sound quality and useful Apps. Things and Road Trip are my favorites. Complete iCal sync (with calender grouping) and Contact sync (with calendar grouping) are big pluses. iPhone OS 3.0 will make the phone much better with the much awaited copy-paste and SMS forwarding.
The touch screen keyboard is crap and you will hate it. That is the sole reason I have not gone with the iPhone. I have been lugging a Treo 700 and then 755p around for a long time and I am like you, I like. Its trusty and does just what I need it to, and more. I am waiting to test out the new Pre because it seems like a great touch screen with a promising base of developers for its new WebOS platform. So I can see really great apps coming out for that phone just like the iPhone has! And it has a regular keyboard.
Of course HTC makes great touchscreens and is supposed to be coming out with some great new phones that have the big touch screen as well as the slide out keyboard. And I know that there are new phones for the Android coming out as well.
I am going to test out the Pre and if I don’t like it I will wait for something better. Don’t fall for the iPhone hype, you will hate the keyboard and that is a critical part. Wait it out, there are a slew of new cool phones coming out.
Personally, I find myself repelled by the iPhone because of the fanaticism of its users, but attracted to it at the same time because…well, it’s just plain cool. I haven’t even gotten to play with one yet, but just seeing it from a distance is awe-inspiring.
If you have no problem with the “crowd” mentality, then I say go for the iPhone. 10 billion fanatic, satisfied users can’t be wrong, right?
Check out the G1 phone. from google/t-mobile. I got it in January after first trying the iphone because I like the keyboard.Now I love it. Lots of cool apps too and the platform is open unlike the iphone.
I have an iPhone and I like it, but its not the end all in any way. Pluses: The Web Browser, Applications. Minuses, Actual Hardware is just average (no video, 2MP camera, no memory card slot), battery life isn’t that great either (I charge each night). They have a 3.0 update is coming out in summer to resolve issues like no cut and paste, and no email search. The reason I keep it is because it has some apps on it that I can’t find anywhere else.
I’m also waiting for my Sprint contract to run out and I’m rolling with a Treo, after getting an iTouch at Elite Retreat, I think I’m sold about the ease and utility of the iPhone. The Treo has been great but the iPhone’s interface is light years better.
The rumor on the street is that there will be a new iphone in june. (not just new software) Logically you should not make a switch before that. Plus the Palm Pre is coming out and so is the G2 (htc magic with android).
If you go for blackberry, stay away from the storm!
I LOVE my iphone. I honestly am not the type to love eletronics (although I love my mac too) but the push technology in the iphone makes my life so much easier. All of our calendars are synced without having to manually sync and it syncs seconds after you enter the data onto your iphone. It really is amazing. Love all the apps too. Everthing from the practical apps to the fun games makes sure that you never have any “wasted time”. The only downside is that AT&T service is mediocre and I tend not to talk to clients on the phone unless I am in a stationary place because chances are, you’ll be knocked off. It’s actually frustrating at times.
Have been using Nokia E71 for about a month now, it’s a great device with full qwerty keyboard and wi-fi support. I really like it. I was quite hesitant to buy iPhone because of its touch-screen keyboard, because usually you need both hands for touch-screen phones - example: it’s quite difficult to make a quick call or type short sms when you are driving (not that you should do it, but sometimes out of necessity it happens).
If you have loved you palm the past 5+ years, check out the Palm Pre…. it is supposed to be the Iphone killer. It comes out on Sprint in the next couple of months. I’m a loyal Palm user too, I love the keypad and hope that the Pre comes over after the exclusive runs out with Sprint. Maybe I’m just bitter the Iphone is not on Verizon, and I’m still lugging my 6 pound Palm Treo. Also heard rumor about a new 4G Iphone going to Verizon in 2010, after the exclusive runs out with ATT. Good searching!!
I’m a big fan of the T-Mobile Blackberry Curve 8900 - a great business-class smart phone. Om did a great review of it on his site after he ditched his iPhone. I do carry an iPOD Touch for playing games, listening to music and I use the wifi to browse the web.
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/09/why-t-mobile%E2%80%99s-blackberry-curve-8900-is-worth-buying/
Great article for all those in iphone or no iphone dilemma.. I do not say that i completely agree but its difficult to refute a few points..
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
I have a personal iPhone and a corporate Blackberry. The Blackberry is a decent email device, but that’s about all. The iPhone is far more useful to me. Your Mileage May Vary, of course. Either way, there is a big change in your usage, so test it well, and make sure you have the option to return a device if it doesn’t work for you.
And IMHO, don’t touch Windows Mobile. My wife has an AT&T Tilt, and I’m the designated fix it guy. I want to throw the damn thing through the window after five minutes in frustration. As one commentator put it, it is “Windows 95 on the small screen”.
The iPhone user experience is fantastic, only tempered by the fact that your carrier has to be AT&T, whose service sucks - lots of dropped calls, or ones where you hear yourself as an echo, and plenty of No Service status indicators at the worst possible moments. If you use WiFi at home, the experience will be much better. I mean really, Skype on your cell phone? Wow. Apple Remote and Airtunes? Fantastic. True integration of your contact info between your computer and phone? Priceless. The Apple user experience is so much better than the PC/Windows/Average Smartphone experience that it’s not even a conversation topic any more. It’s a GIVEN for me.
Gotta weigh the negative of using AT&T though. I came from Verizon, and really learned what it means to take something for granted after switching over.