I have to whole heartedly disagree. I was a very loyal Verizon customer for years. I swore I'd never leave, no matter how cool the iphone looked. So when the BlackBerry Storm came out, I bought it on the first day. After barely a month of being totally disappointed in how hard it was to call from the contacts list or how long it took to answer a call, I had to leave. So I picked up the iphone and was instantly happy. I've had it for just a week but no dropped calls to complain about. And I have the ipod touch and it's great, if you have wifi following you. But when you don't, it's frustrating that you can't browse the web, check email, access Facebook or any of the other Internet-driven apps.

Considering I have a website dedicated to apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it's a bit embarrassing to not have an iPhone. However, I don't really need one either.

I almost never use a cell phone. So, why pay extra for the iPhone's rate plan when I can use my cheap-o phone and an iPod Touch. The only thing I'm missing out on is a camera and free WiFi at Starbucks.

The iPhone may get all the glamour and news, but the iPod touch is the real gem from Apple.

My tech friends say none of what you say about current fancy cell phones matters. They say that telephone companies are poised to become the largest providers of computing services there are. Laptop computers and regular computers will be displaced by computer phones (or some type of multipurpose device) so that anything done by laptops or towers will be done with phones or phone attachments. That is the future, period. Anyone not on board is done for. There will be no land line phones and no microsoft, or apple, or any other computer company only phone/computer companies who will handle everything regarding virus problems, equipment, transmission, sales/lease, TV, programming and any other type of communications issues. This is not far off either possibly in the next five years.

This is why Apple have an iPhone and an iPod Touch. They know that the iPhone is not for everyone. Most people say the iPod Touch is better than the iPhone but forget that the iPhone is an iPod Touch with phone and data plan. Not wanting a data plan (because of monthly fee or any other reason) should make the iPhone bad device. I have never experienced any significant amount of dropped calls since I bought my 1st iPhone on Aug 07 and my 3G iPhone on Aug 08.

The iPod Touch is great device but it won't work for me. I need the data plan to have access to my emails (including Exchange) all the time. Waiting to be within a WiFi hotspot to check my emails is not option.

Correction:

Not wanting a data plan (because of monthly fee or any other reason) should not make the iPhone bad device.

If you are a Storm owner thinking of switching, I highly recommend going and getting the newest OS version for the Storm. Just about everything wrong with the Storm is now fixed, and it is vastly superior to iphone in every regard except web browsing\applestore.

Verizon/RIM did drop the ball at launch, and there is no excuse for that - just saying, you should check out Storm with updates if your in that boat, trust me you will be happy you did.

My impression is that our review is both fair and balanced, something rare in the universe of iPhone reviews. I also agree that the iPod touch is a better choice for financial and other practical reasons (e.g., not being tethered to AT&T or paying a penalty for prematurely ending and existing provider contract).

That having been said, the mobile world has spoken: millions of iPhone users worldwide seem to like what they got, and the number is growing.

When compared to the failure rates of other smart phones, the iPhone shines, and not by a little bit. What do make of that?

laptops and computer towers will always continue. Who ever wants to look at things, in such a small screen is crazy. Laptops and computers can be bought or built the way you like it. Cell phone companies are all out to get you into a plan and take your money. All these cell phone companies can build the best cell phone ever with the best parts and components but refuse to build them because they won't be able to beat it and no one will buy cell phones anymore. So they add something good and something bad on them just so people will keep spending there money on something new or something with better looks or added a great camera but the volume sucks. Or the volume and the camera are great but the web software sucks or the keyboard is confusing. It's just a money making business. As for laptops and computers will last you for years doing so many things with it and prices are falling to buy one with an lcd screen. Or would you rather buy a cell phone for $200.00 or $400.00 with a small screen and be paying $60.00 or $90.00 a month for a provider. Then the next cell phone comes out a year latter that you just have to have. and you fork out another $300.00 just to have it or show it of, what a waste. Think people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Joe...wake up.

Do you believe that computer makers are in it for charity? Did Dell and HP starting giving away their products?

The fact that you don't like smart phones is no one's problem but your own. It's truly none of your business on what people choose to spend their hard earned money.

Oh well, I guess the iphone isn't for everyone, but:

Amazon App: Allows you to upload photos of items that you are shopping for and get the Amazon price on it. (Hey _______ your HDMI cables are like 60 bucks more than Amazon...why?)

Maps: OK, I want to find a close Italian restaurant, but I don't want the fast food...Oh, there it is and there is the street level map so I can see what it's next to.

The Weather Channel: Well, I guess I'll turn on the Weather Channel on the TV and wait for the next 15 minutes to see what are local weather is...oh, that's right, I have that on my phone for free.

iPod: Doug Stanhope's comedy routine on "No Refunds" is amazingly funny and its on iTunes...where can I watch it when I'm not at home??? Oh, yeah, that's right, my IPHONE!

Look, I know that these dorky situations might not seem like much to you, but for the people I speak to, they want something that works well and will actually make a call as well. The iPhone does this. I live in a mostly rural area and my iPhone doesn't drop calls at all and I'm sure I'll hear from the big city folks that it drops in your town because of all the buildings I don't have in my town...no, I turn mine off once a day for about 5 seconds. That's it. I do it every day, I don't miss, I don't forget, I treat the thing like a computer knowing full well that it is a cell phone and what is the first thing the Best Buy guy told me when I started with Cingular almost 4 years ago? He told me to turn my phone off once a day. So does the customer service people. No one does it but me, but I don't have the issues that other people seem to have.

I don't know when people will figure this out, hopefully as soon as that figure out you have to take out a Blackberry battery at least once a week to reset the phone.

Maintenance people, maintenance. If you want your phone to always work perfect, get a land line and don't ever pick it up, then you can rest assured that it has never let you down...MM

It seems to me that your problems are with AT&T and not the iPhone. Please don't generalise like this and bear in mind that here in Europe and elsewhere we have mature 3G networks. The only times I have problems are at the supermarket as new warehouse-style supermarkets are built like giant faraday cages out of steel frames. Even this is an improvement - my previous Nokias and Samsungs had no reception at all there and were highly unreliable at my house.

looks like your problem is with the network. The iPhone (as a phone) is working out better than any phone I've used in the last 3 years (nokia, sony ericsson, motorola). The SMS bit is a bit annoying but I personally use it rarely. The voice quality rocks. I'm using it with vodafone in India.

Here in the UK outside of London there isn't much free wifi about. Having 3g data is what makes the iPhone a killer device for me. Being able to get email, surf and google information on the move, GPS with Google maps...the list goes on. All not possible without the data tariff.

I have had NO problems with using my iPhone as a 'telephone' - I am a doctor on call for emergencies - all the time. My iPhone has been a lifesaver (literally!). I have no problems hearing or being heard.

Having had BB, Windows Mobile and Treo devices in the past, along with a number of Motorolas and LG on Verizon, all I can say is I have not looked back at all. The iPhone and ATT have been great.

Keep the cellphone you have and get an ipod touch!

This is a terrible article. The Iphone is the best phone on the market. If they were only with more carriers. AT&T doesn't have great service, but that has nothing to do with the Iphone.

Nothing in life is perfect, but the iPhone is the closest thing to it, and my MAIN use is the phone and e mails. 9000 minutes a month on the phone, and it is the BEST phone I have ever had, and I have had every phone ever made, and every Blackbery device as well. So I keep the power up by keeping it plugged into my car and my computer
alot, and would love video, but I am sure it will come soon. the camera works great, e mailing pics is a snap, sms is second to none with its memory of every text you ever sent, the built in iPod is amazing,you can get instant weather all over the world, immediate turn by turn directions, the stock earpieces are louder and better than any hard to hear Bluetooth device, etc. And then you have THOUSANDS of killer apps, many free that allow you dial by picture, dial by voice, Google anything by voice, do 2 cent a minute international calling, have hundreds of radio stations nationwide, and on and on. Why anyone would decide to have TWO devices instead of this one that does ALMOST everything is beyond me. All youi have to do is be a little patient, and I am sure there will shortly be video, cut and paste,
live TV, and anything else you want. Is it perfect, no, but gets better all the time. I run my business through my iPhone, and having two devices instead of one is crazy.

I agree with Justin. It's not the iPhone's fault that AT&T sucks in your area (you must live in a cave). My family have had a collection of cell phones in the past, since acquiring the iPhone, we'll been more than thrilled at its capabilities and AT&T's service in Austin, Texas. Still not recommending the iPhone, sir? You're on crack.

Bloggers with absolutely no professional training on the subject matter trying to sound like a subject matter expert.

This 'blogger' uses qualitative results to try and make his point and qualitative results mean NOTHING. Can he back it up with quantitative results? Probably not, this blogger doesn't know what quantitative means.

Just disregard this 'blogger' (and the eWeek website), he and the website will dry up and go away soon enough.

Ein was für unbrauchbarer dummkopf. Ein was für abfall der Bandweite.

Dropped calls? Like others have stated, your problems sounds more like a problem with AT&T rather than the iPhone. I live in Boston and I've had 1 dropped call ever, and that was because I went into a tunnel.

I agree with this blog. I made the plunge for an iPhone 3G last summer. It took !6! (SIX!) days just to get activated due to Apple's perpetual activation debacles. I live in manhattan and after the dang thing finally got activated, about 30-40% of my calls dropped - and those that went through were very static-ridden. But the straw that broke the camel's back was the 2 recharges I needed PER DAY and no chance of swappable battery. Upon bringing it to Apple store and asking how to improve battery life, the Apple 'genius' (lol) recommended (quite seriously) that if I didn't use the phone, the battery life would be much better. To which I replied "well, then, they should have just named it the 'i'. I returned the phone, went back to my tried and true bb curve (thank you, 4-5 days worth of battery, and I can type far faster on my bb than anyone I've seen can on the 'i' including myself), and no dropped calls on TMO. The iPhone is like a Miata...cute, fun, playful, but not up to the task of those that live/die by true push email (another gripe I had, the constant 15-30 minute delays in getting work emails) and need for phone service without charger wires constantly danglnig from your pockets (and the mad futile search for outlets in airports to recharge at). It is a 'weekender' phone as the miata is a weekender tennis car.

I have had no issues with the iphone (3g) so far, it is the best cellphone that I have ever used.

I have had many over the years (Nokia, Mot, Treo, WMobile device, BB curve). Hands down the iphone wins!!!

There has been no dropped calls so far. For the first time I am using the cellphone even more than the landline.

It could be ATT service in your area. I live in the bay area and it works great. I cant live with 2 devices, too much hassle. Convergence is it.

Apple creates products which target 80% of the market.

Obviously, you are among the 20%.

As for myself and millions of very satisfied iPhone users, what I can say is that the iPhone has been THE BEST CELL PHONE I have ever used. PERIOD.

Everything else is compared to the iPhone. Yet there is NO BETTER SMARTPHONE than the iPhone. There is no iPhone killer. Everything else is second rate.

I didn't think I would want or need an iPhone. My wife actually talked me into it. It has changed my life. I am able to run my online business from my while walking down the street in NYC. Back home in Hawaii I feel like I can get out.. and still take care of things. A iTouch could not do this.. I need the conectivity.

Its a marvel as far as I am concerned.. Love the iphone.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you for the many gifts for my birthday and most recently for Hanukah. A real Thank You card is forthcoming. However, an email update is necessary.

Humor is important, and when humor and truth intersect, all is well in the universe. And in that vein, and as you both know, "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished." And so it is with your wonderful, kind, thoughtful, fun, technically sound gift of an I-Phone 3G gift card this week (Thank you!).

The I-phone gift card is, on its face, a wonderful gift. If, however, you live in the middle of Cow Country like I do, it is a real challenge to use. Actually, using it is a near-impossibility.

The I-Phone card can only be redeemed at an Apple store, which are few and far away from Harrisburg. Lancaster is an hour away, and I have not been there in a year; it would cost about 90 pounds of carbon emissions just to go there for the phone, so I am deterred on that alone. Forget the time expense...

Having spent 1.25 hours at the AT&T store here in HBG yesterday, where I am an existing customer, and where I COULD have walked out with the I-Phone after 15 minutes, and having spent today another 45 minutes on Apple.com and speaking with an Apple representative in the 5th Avenue store, it turns out that even if I go through all of the Apple on-line paperwork to front load my purchase, there is no guarantee that when I arrive at the 5th Avenue store this Friday that a phone will actually be waiting there for me. Moreover, Apple cannot mail the phone in the instance that I do arrive and they are out of stock.

The I-Phone card is not redeemable at the AT&T store, even for an I-Phone, which is made only by Apple.

So, because I am unlikely to go to Lancaster any time in the foreseeable future, and I am only going to Manhattan this week, where I am not guaranteed of getting a phone (even unlikely due to the new gift cards being sold and then redeemed), I would like to make this as easy and as fun as possible.

I really do want to get the new I-Phone. In fact, I am feeling challenged by this whole experience and am now bound and determined to win against Apple's attempts to make my gift un-fun.

Please let me send you the gift card. Get a refund at the store where you bought it. Send me an AT&T gift card, or a check, for that amount, and from there I can get the whole thing quickly done, through one-stop-shopping, here at the AT&T store in Harrisburg. AT&T has a partnership with Apple revolving about the I-Phone, and AT&T seems to be the only member of the partnership that has it together on this venture.

If you are not OK with this, please shoot me and put me out of my misery. Never before have I witnessed a company so determined to force people to make uncomfortable choices about something ostensibly positive as is Apple. For rural citizens like me who want to enjoy their I-Phones, there has to be a better, more customer-friendly, more USER FRIENDLY (to quote Apple's founding documents) way to get the danged thing into my hands.

Please forgive me. I love you both and appreciate your gift.

Josh

In reading the 25 comments so far, a consistent theme emerges: The iPhone is a great portable computer. As a portable computer/data-connected device, I would describe iPhone as "life changing." It's a remarkable product for data. But I stand by my contention that iPhone 3G is a mediocre phone.

So it's a question of priority. Is a smartphone a phone or data device first? If a phone, then telephony should be best function and no other feature should detract from it. If it's a data device first, then 3G performance, Web experience and applications should matter more than telephony. But if it's the latter, why pay carriers like AT&T for telephony and data services? That question is for individual buyers to answer, in choosing iPhone and/or iPod Touch.

Happy Holidays,

Joe

I think the theme, Joe, is that most people aren't having the dropped calls your family experienced anymore. My wife and I did suffer through a bout of dropped calls, but that has subsided now with the most recent firmware updates.

You may be suffering still in a particular location, but you're extending your local database to a worldwide audience and it seems that it isn't predictive or reflective of other's experiences anymore. I'd agree with the others on the thread that your current beef is with AT&T, not Apple.

1) no /dropped/ calls in my service area (seems to be a problem with AT&T) ... but strangely, very occassionaly there is no voice network & somewhat more often there is no data network available at all in order to /start/ a session.

2) rather, the big showstopper for me is that safari is still crashing!!! (other webkit apps also effected - newyorktimes, appkit, sometimes also bloomberg).

3) however, whilethe other usual suspects are not deal-breakers, they surely prevent me from recommending the iphone without reservation to friends ...

ie the well-known brain-dead gotchas like: no cut&paste, no global find, no video, no tethering, bizarre policies at appstore, no sync for notes etc, lack of a full remote control app for host (mac), no built-in ssh, no tts/vox reco or OCR for barcodes, a closed Bluetooth stack (stereo av, e-pens, etc), no real push services, no background apps (eg media players), inconsistent media format across all apple devices (SD 480p is NOT downsampled to fit different displays), no turn-by-turn directions for gps, no voice-dialing, no mms, no universal media streaming client (across inet from home server), no backup with time machine, no USB mass storage, no FireWire option (for fast charging & fast media sync), no crypto and other security management for consumers (eg remote wipe via the iTunes console), no SD card, rigid licensing restrictions for dock accessories, no replaceable battery .... it is a long list.

4) however, the one feature about the iPhone that is a bonus - in a weird ironic way - is the data plans - or at least the ones available at launch time that offered WAY more bandwidth the current data plans do. I have already recieved an offer of $300 to sell my current service contract -- not the phone itself-- so that a new owner of an unlocked 3g can have enormous bandwidth at the same price that non-grandfathered subscribers would pay for only modest data quotas on new contracts.

by decommissioning the device I can save the recurring cost of an over-priced contract ($100/month), and yet i can turn the iPhone into a 'super-itouch' (gps & camera), recoup the outlay on the original iPhone purchase, and still have basic voip telephony via wifi - plus have money in my pocket.

I think this 'super-touch' approach will be a better value until the 4g (LTE) phone arrives a year from now with all the gotchas (above) fixed ... I can better justify the value proposition of a $100/month contract when EVERYTHING actually works.

until then I will be happy to switch over to IM on the super-touch - rather than using my beloved sms- for mobile messaging.

conclusion: yes the iPhone is an awsome computer - but with it's shortcomings (as a phone & otherwise) it is not worth the huge financial co mittmeng that accompanies it (yet).

certainly everything else pales in comparison - so it is a weird kind of decision to be forced into!

As I eluded to, I think the theme here is that for casual, or "biz lite" users, the iPhone is fine. But for (probably the minority,

No iPhone fans can claim 3-4 days of heavy use on a single charge, as with my BB curve. And no iPhone fans can claim they can pump out messages typed as fast and accurately on their iPhone as on a BB curve or bold. Finally, no iPhone fan can deny that the Apple has repeatedly experienced registration/activation nightmares of epic proportions. Oh and those enddddddless syncs of 30-60 mins...when the unit is a shiny iBrick.

But I'm not saying its a bad product, it's shiny, cute, fun, gadgety, playful. It was fun to tinker with (that is, of course, before the battery died throughout the day). It is good for those who like to play games, music, and send an occasional short email or text, etc. It works well for those ever-so brief moments when it's fully charged and youre standing physically underneath a cell tower. However, the iPhone is most decidedly not an enterprise tool - yet.

alluded, not eluded

The reviewer seems to have given way too much weight to his teenage daughter's usage habits in his review. While teens obviously represent a large share of the market, there are, believe it or not, people over 18 who use the iPhone too. As a 41 year-old male, I'm perfectly happy sending photos and other files via email (the reason people used to rely on text messages to send photos was because they couldn't get email on their phones. Now you can -- and guess what else! When you send photos by email, they're not only available on your phone, but on your computer as well!). I think the text messaging interface on the iPhone rocks, and I don't miss having video on my phone because frankly, if I want video, I prefer to use this thing they have called a video camera. I agree battery life could be improved, but for all that I get with the iPhone, I was more than willing to buy extra chargers (for my car and for wall outlets) to keep my iPhone juiced throughout the day (most of the time I don't need the extra chargers). And true, AT&T's 3G compared to Verizon's 3G is what Spock in an old "Star Trek" episode referred to as "stone knives and bearskins," and that has always been my greatest complaint about the iPhone. But none of the iPhone's shortcomings have been enough to get me to even consider getting another phone.

Used to be a BB user for the last 2 years before the iPhone 3G arrived here in Canada. Never had a drop call since July, the virtual keyboard is a blessing with its cool switch of languages (French-English). The AppStore and the UI are what I think are the best things on the iPhone though... I would recommend without hesitation this marvel of technologie to anyone here in Canada. Will never own a BB ever again for sure.

The Guardian newspaper here in England had a similar piece a couple of weeks ago and this was in total agreement with your blog. The iPhone is great except as a phone, get an iPod Touch.

I came to the same conclusion back in October and am very happy with my 32G 2nd Gen iPod along with a low cost Nokia mobile phone and I was a teenager 36 years ago!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/nov/21/christmas-technology-gadgets

Mark wrote: "I think the theme, Joe, is that most people aren't having the dropped calls your family experienced anymore."

Hi, Mark. I wrote that I had dropped calls with the phone returned by my wife and my first iPhone 3G. There was no dropped calling problem with the second iPhone I tested.

That said, a quick search for "dropped calls" on Apple Support forums finds plenty of discussions. Here's a recent thread about iPhone 2.2 software: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8576530

Joe

I was a Treo owner with Sprint Service for years. I can tell you I never had a good experience until the day I got an Iphone. I don't understand your article. I can do more with this phone without the crashing and dropped calls I remember with the years gone by. I hope I never have to go through that again.

Wow, a lot of work when into that thumbs down on the iPhone. I have found the 3G to be a solid phone, I run my business with it. By far the best phone I have used, it is in consent use, I have practically retired my laptop. We agree that its a great iPod as well.

My of my many clients with it seem to love it too. I have met a few people who have had difficulty typing on a touch screen.

In the field I get great service from AT&T. In fact in a recent blackout here in central New Jersey, my phone worked fine with my neighbors Verzon phone were unable to dial tone.

The iPhone 3G's connectivity with AT&T is a big improvement over the previous iPhone and the software updates and added further improvements.

It sounds like in your area of the country maybe AT&T has to build more towers. Sorry you don't like the phone, I am surprised.

The iPhone will be the most successful handheld device ever. It does not matter whether you recommend it or not.

For people who are not heavy cell-phone users, 3G data access and GPS still give the iPhone a significant advantage over the Touch.

The Touch looses much of its usefulness when it's out of wifi range. With the exception of games, most of the great iphone/touch apps (weather, email, maps, web browser) require internet access, and are even better with GPS location awareness.

The ATT data plan is expensive, and the camera could be better, but if you're looking for a mobile computing device with the best selection of apps (and with a phone and camera that are adequate for most people) the iPhone is by far the best option right now.

For people who are not heavy cell-phone users, 3G data access and GPS still give the iPhone a significant advantage over the Touch.

The Touch looses much of its usefulness when it's out of wifi range. With the exception of games, most of the great iphone/touch apps (weather, email, maps, web browser) require internet access, and are even better with GPS location awareness.

The ATT data plan is expensive, and the camera could be better, but if you're looking for a mobile computing device with the best selection of apps (and with a phone and camera that are adequate for most people) the iPhone is by far the best option right now.

iphone, no voice dialing; how can you even call it a phone.

Guys, I am sorry but this article has some points. Let's get out of the "sheep sheared customers" and the "apple fanboy" mode for a moment. Let's be real and fair, all phones have a flaw. The iPhone does have some just as any others.

1. The iPhone does have to be charged quite a bit. It gets drained very fast, even the new one.
2. The iPhone is awesome with it's apps, and was pointed out.
3. It may be the cell provider, but we don't know that until the iPhone can be used with another provider.
4. For most, they complain about the small keys on the iPhone screen. Too small and close together. That kept me from the iPhone, along with the price and performance.

5. This article is not a comparison of an iPhone and the Touch. The point was to say, hey if you want an awesome phone the iPhone is not it. I agree. If you want an awesome mobile media devide, the iPhone is great. He chose to get the best of both. The Touch, and a good phone.

I am a techie, I work with all forms of mobile devices, Macs, PC's and am not biased in any form. I look at it for what it is.

I have been using the iPhone for about 18m now with no issues, yeah I have had the occasional dropped calls, but that is an AT&T issue, you have the same issues with the Blackberries on AT&T.
As for the battery issue, turn off the Wi-Fi and it runs as long as any Blackberry.

It's very obvious that Joe Wilcox is a huge Blackberry support all of these comments are true to anybody who is loyal to the Blackberry.

As I don't have an iPhone, I'm not able to respond about it specifically, I am going to be buying one soon however. I currently have a Blackberry 8800 and can honestly say I don't like the "chicklet" keys! When texting or even trying to jot a note to myself, it's a real pain. I've had to file my thumb nails to small points just to use the keys! One reason I think I'll LOVE the iPhone, expanding - intelligent keys. Also, I've tried 3 times to get software for the BB 8800 to read PDF's and Word Docs and have been unsuccessful! I just, after almost a year, received the refund for the product that DID NOT WORK on the BB 8800. From what I've seen, none of this happens with the iPhone, reason two for having an iPhone. The ability to expand documents using "pinch" technology! Reason three to have an iPhone. And my current final reason to have an iPhone; it's cool and a great iPod!!! On the flip side, I'm also going to be buying the computing device known as the NOKIA N97 http://news.cnet.com/nokias-mystery-device-the-nokia-n97/ when it's released in the US sometime in 2009! Talk about the ultimate cellphone/computer!

No, it is the iPhone that sucks totally. I have an iPAQ 910c Business Messenger on AT&T and it totally rocks. I am able to use Live Search to find nearby points of interest, as I erased as much as I could the Google garbage installed in the ROM of the device. I can use Live Search to find any information that I would want to search the Internet phone, Google free!!! I could even Remote Desktop into my home computer or work computer from the phone. It gets my emails both from work and my personal email. I can listen to my music from my phone using Windows Media Player. I can surf the web on the included Internet Explorer. The iPhone does not provide any functionality that I have not had for years. Apple is yet again behind and the ONLY reason why people purchase such a device, is that they completely belief Apple's advertisements and no longer think for themselves.

I upgraded to an iPhone3G when they first came out. Then I took it back and re-activated my Motororla V3. Finally I decided that I had not given the iPhone a fair trial so I got another one.I agree with you. The iPhone is great as a network device, but it is a lousy phone. The audio is not good and it rings off too soon when a call is received.
Stan Veit

The article is not credible when it complains about dropped calls because it does not identify the unnamed other phone and network that supposedly would not drop calls in the same situation.

Sometimes you just have to look at some competitors like HTC's Touch Diamond. Although I purchased an unlocked GSM version without the qwerty board (it was not available at the time) it is a great phone, and provides a lot of the Iphone goodies. Best part is that it "sips" power even when using the GPS. If i have to use the GPS for a long time, more than 2 hours, I plug the HTC Diamond touch into the cigarette lighter socket. Works like a charm. Of course I had to find some apps since I work off of a MacBook most of the time.

The camera works great, and i have sent pictures etc., direct to others from this mobile device. I rate it very high, though I do miss my keyboard like on the ETEN 700, but thats another story.

I've had an iPhone on the Rogers network in Canada since early September. No dropped calls..no complains about phone quality...plus its an awesome little computer.

It is the network!!! I've been using a 1st. generation iphone for the last two years without any problems. I had ocassional dropped calls, but I believe it has more to do with the carrier network than with the phone itself. Yes, there are a few things on the iphone that I am extremely surprised Apple didn't think of in the first place (video support, blue tooth connectivity with my Mac powerbook), etc. But honestly, if someone can sell me a better phone, with the promise of NO ONE SINGLE dropped on phone calls, then please come forward. I can guarantee you people will line up to buy it. But, going back to the real world, no technology out there is perfect, but honestly, the iphone is as close as you can get for a complete system.

Apple's website does not have a price for the iPhone.

One small photo of it says "Starting at $199*" and then you read the *subtext and it talks about the cost of transferring your number to a new phone, etc. But nowehere else was I able to actually get a price for the phone.

Wasn't Apple the originator of "USER FRIENDLY" ?

Since when does not listing a price count for User Friendliness?

What a lame company!

Your main complaints are about the Camera and video, MMS, and such.

Well it is a very good phone, MMS and Video etc are additions just like the other items you mention.

It makes and receives calls, it is a phone. Everything else is gravy.

You admit that the dropped call issues is less now, so based on just making calls what do you think? Also I have not noticed any sound issues using my iPhone.

I am not a fan boy but I find your article faulty.

I have used an iPhone 3G since the end of November, and have had no voice quality issues with the phone. I have found that WIFI features drain the battery the most in a day. I don't have any problems with battery life if I keep WIFI off on the phone, since I don't need WIFI except for non-phone functions. The keyboard is as easy to use for email as any other portable device I have used. Again, not a phone function at all. So, all in all, the iPhone as been ok as a phone for me in central Arkansas. It is not that easy to use as a hands-free device, though. Some less featured phones are simpler for phone use in cars.

While I don't think my iPhone sounds bad, the signal strength is just terrible. My wife can use her Nokia at home but I can't use my iPhone. I agree - a phone should be a phone first, and then everything else second.

Can you say G1?

I have iphone 3G on ATT and I agree on the dropped call. Now.... unlocked and jailbroken for my brother on T-mobile. There was not a single call drop from LA to NY. Even more importantly, he goes to Asia: Singapore, Hong Kong, China and the iphone always has 3 bar signal or more as I was told. He never have a single call drop since then (all with 3G turn off).

Maybe the issue is ATT network, not the phone; or at least so I believe.

One post claims that desktops and laptops will be replaced with mobile devices. Hah!! Lets see some dumb- butt try using Photoshop or Illustrator on a damned phone!! Ridiculous.

I'm one of those who doesn't need a cell phone 99% of the time. It was too expensive to have "just for emergencies." Besides - who needs to carry one of these toys their self when every oblivio pedestrian and car drive has one stuck in their ear? Just grab and gab to 911. Or - let the oblivio owner do it for you. ;-)

Oh - and paying $400 for a "phone" is just plain stupid.

I don't get it why won't the Apple people install an FM radio in their dang mp3 players??? This is the one thing that had held me back from getting any Itouch or Ipods. I need an application to shake my phone to get a Vegas style one arm bandit like slot machine to find restaurants like I need another hole in my head... Please... quit with the useless applications and just make an Itouch or ipod with an FM transmitter.

I have said my piece... Happy holidays.

I agree with your observations, completely. I used an ihphone and now I am back to my razr. Thanks for the comnfirmation..

Iagree with your observations completely. Thanks for the comfirmation.

MarkT's comment should have been 1st: ends the discussion about this totally subjective article.

One thing I didn't see mentioned is how well the iPhone works with a bluetooth hands-free adapter. I've had 3 different Blackberry models over the past 3 years and all of them were MISERABLE with my hands-free microphone/speaker in my car (Nokia setup). They all had a terrible echo and no setting ever fixed it. The iPhone worked perfectly from day one in my car. No echo, no problem. It beautifully switches between the phone and the car whenever it detects the presence of the car setup.

My iPhone is better than any Blackberry I've ever owned. The only better phone was an old Nokia in a car cradle with an external antenna, but I'll take my iPhone any day.

I agree... I have a first generation iPhone. I cancelled my mobile plan with AT&T becauswe of the lousy phone service and Internet access. But I continue to use the iPhone - as an iPod Touch - music and video playback is outstanding and with WiFi capability, I'm finding I'm not missing AT&T's plan. I use my Blackberry with Verizon for phone, SMS, and email. Yup! Two devices...

I am an owner of both phones. The Storm is free for me since my work provides it for me (yay!). As for the comparisons... Hardware wise, the storm is far superior hands down. Everything else though, iphone is still better.

Before the OS update, the storm was very frustrating to use. It lags, crashes, and freezes a lot. It was very slow to type messages, very slow browsing, and very slow switching to landscape mode.

After the OS update, well it got a lot better. The phone got much muchhhh smoother. However... the iphone still surpasses it. Going through the apps, switching to landscape, browsing the net, and lastly, the messaging is still very annoying and still a lot slower than the iphone.

Storm was pretty much rushed. The phone had great potential. If the OS was a lot smoother, and messaging wasnt so annoying. Man, this thing would pretty much dominate the phone wars.

As for now, if you're going to spend money on a fancy phone, I'd go for the iphone 3g. Dont get me wrong, verizon > at&t, but I can still get decent service wherever i go with the iphone.

And if you're looking to save money, i'd consider the g1. It may seem less superior than both the Iphone and Storm, but you'd be suprised once you try it.

I switched from Sprint Instinct to iPhone 3G and I made a great decision (despite a big loss of over $300 including the price of crappy Instinct phone and Sprint Early Termination fee, Sprint is better than AT&T and cheaper but Instinct was the worst phone I owned; still collecting dust at my desk).
My dropped calls problem went away after iPhone 2.2 update. It is the best mobile device and I use email instead of SMS/Text (you can use 1234567890@messaging.springpcs.com like addresses to send text messages via email). Why pay AT&T's ridiculously high text messaging rates (Sprint's $69.99 plan had unlimited data, text and picture messaging + turn-by-turn GPS included!)
But I love iPhone 3G. Only thing missing is Video recording but I have RCA SmallWonder for great video recording.

I had a treo 700, and my wife has a black jack. Bth are junk compared to the iphone. I leave the wifi turned off unless i really need it, and the phone will get me through an extensive data heavy day.

Sound quality is excellent, and the only dropped calls I have are as a result of dead zones in coverage. Apple has been great about replacing defective phones (my first two), and syncing and activation are effortless compared to prior smartphones.

As a phone, the iphone is peerless. As a smartphone, i wish i could print via bluetooth.

I think your review is useless as you clearly do not get the iphone's real value. Obviousley, you do not use an electronic datebook with macintosh equipment. There is no suitable substitute.

This article does make a good case for the iTouch and the observations about dropped calls really point to the weakness in the cell phone infrastructure. I did not buy the first iPhone since it lacked GPS and I went with an HTC-Tilt. The 3G link, data use, GPS, bluetooth and wifi all contribute to draining the 'replaceable' battery in as little as 4 hours so I am not surprised at the frequent battery replenishments needed for the iPhone. Maybe this is a battery problem when you use all those power draing features.

But the resounding point is it should be a phone first - and I am still looking for that 'feature'.

I got myself an iPhone 3G 16GB at the full price (early upgrade) and hasn't looked back since. It has changed the way I communicate and work. It is a fine phone, I have no problem with dropped calls or poor quality, but it so so much more. If I could only take one thing with me when traveling besides my credit card, it would be my iPhone. I love my iPhone. I love my girlfriend too.

After the iPhone 3G release (July 2008), we had similar iPhone problems in Sacramento -- many dropped calls and a fair number of application crashes. Initially, in our home office, we had just one or two bars of signal strength. Also, I traveled to Indiana and Kentucky in September, and much of Indianapolis was a giant "No Service" area for AT&T 3G.

We were not happy about this, but had faith in Apple.

Six months later (in December 2008) I can report that Apple and AT&T have been very responsive to tech support calls and quick to issue engineering trouble tickets to follow up on these and other problems. Customer service has been exceptional. In the Sacramento area, a combination of software updates from Apple with local network tower tweaks by AT&T resolved almost all of our dropped call problems by early October. During the period before the fixes, AT&T was extremely generous in issuing call credits and discounts to the monthly service fees.

The key was: we meticulously documented our dropped problems and often called AT&T support. Then, AT&T support seemed to have a goof system to escalate the complaints to engineers, who actually called back while working on the problems (something Sprint never did once during eight years as a customer).

To be sure, the iPhone 3G battery life is short -- too short. But battery life limitations are the same with all current 3G phones. We often just keep our two iPhones in cradle chargers at home or in the car. (We have chargers in each car and four strategically positioned around the house). Bluetooth headsets provide sufficient coverage to restore freedom of movement. Frankly, no brand of 3G phone can yet last through a long 10-12 hour workday, so the difference between a product that delivers four hours of usage versus one that lasts 5 hours is almost meaningless -- they all need to be recharged sometime during a busy day. That's just the state of cellular power requirements and battery technology right now.

And the phone is missing a few features that are available in other products, most notably, built-in voice dialing and audible, turn-by-turn navigation directions, news videos and a few text messaging features. Also, the camera could be improved but it's fine given current storage limitations and it meets my needs (and I'm a professional photographer). Besides, there are hundreds of software programs that fill in these feature gaps and extend the versatility of the iPhone. This means you don't really miss many of the "missing" features.

In my experience, the phone's core benefits (cell phone call quality, versatility and truly great software) far outweigh any technical issues. Even with the initial problems, the iPhone 3G call quality always has been exceptional-- and never a question mark. This includes using the speakerphone, the regular headset speaker or a good Bluetooth headset (Plantronics Voyager 520a).

After six months, I can say that the Apple iPhone 3G has proven to be the very best cell phone I've ever owned and I would not hesitate to purchase another. It is a versatile and powerful, handheld computer, iPod, Internet/e-Mail device, and so much more. The iPhone is a joy to use.

Do yourself a favor. Run (do not walk) to pick up one of these groundbreaking, once-in-a-lifetime devices. Once you do this, you will understand why so many people rave about Apple products.

Become a part of a historical shift that is forcing the cell phone carriers to change.

Oops. In my pist above,

"...Then, AT&T support seemed to have a goof system to escalate the complaints to engineers..." should read:

"...Then, AT&T support seemed to have a good system to escalate the complaints to engineers..."

IPOD is IPOD i USE the BB for Bussines but for Personel fun i use my IPOD TOUCH

I just purchased an iPhone 3g, 8gb (refurb), directly from ATT Wireless. I got it for $99 with a 2 year contract. And by refurb, they mean that they are the ones that people return within the 30 day trial period. I have not yet received the phone yet, as I just ordered it tonight, but I'm hoping it will be worth it. I was a Verizon customer, but you got too little for too much money. Currently, I'm a Virgin Mobile Prepay user. I have the $79.99 a month unlimited calling plan. But I think the trade off will be for the best. Only time will tell. I'll let everyone know once my phone arrives, and I've had a week or two to use it. But at $99 for an iPhone 3g, I couldn't see passing up the opportunity to give it a shot. If it doesn't work out though, I will send it back get my money back and go to U.S. Cellular, as all of my friends and family have U.S. Cellular. The only reason I didn't get them first is because I live in an area where U.S. Cellular has alot of roaming charges, and roaming sucks.

Well, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but im my book the iPhone is a great phone! I used a Blackberry 8800 for 2 years of which 1 1/2 years was terrible as an phone! I called MONTHLY to AT&T and spoke with tech, after tech and finally I was connected with a BB tech who knew what she saying. She indicated that I was still point to a Cingular tower instead of the AT&T tower. Now this fixed it, but I got my iPhone 3G today and sat in the SAME place that I had all the trouble with the BB and the iPhone was CRYSTAL CLEAR and I didn't drop any calls etc. So, I think you either got a bad phone, a bad carrier, a bad signal, or you just have it in (or out) for APPLE and iPhone in general.

The iphone is awesome, I left verizon to get it and I never been more happy with a phone , I had the phone for weeks and have not lost service at all. Never a dropped call and the iPhone is quick unlike the bb storm, and f the touch who the he'll wants to carry all this crap iPhones is the best all in one hands down