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June 25, 2007 12:26 PM PDT

Will you buy an iPhone?

by Tom Krazit

After all this, do you still want an iPhone?

You've read all about the specs, features, and limitations of the iPhone. You've ogled the display, frowned at the price, wondered about the network speeds, and assessed the state of your current relationship with a phone and carrier. If you haven't, check out our iPhone page to get yourself up to speed.

Anybody want to buy an iPhone?

(Credit: Apple)

Then, in the comments below, please answer a simple question: Will you buy an iPhone? Maybe you'll be the first in line at your local Apple or AT&T store. Maybe you'll at least wait to read a few reviews, or at least until the dust settles. Or perhaps you'd rather wait for iPhone 2.0 before taking the plunge. But, do you want one? Tell us why--or why not.

We'll compile the answers below and report back later this week. Also, please check out a separate post from my colleague Maggie Reardon on whether or not you'd switch carriers to buy the iPhone.

Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 42 pages (1025 Comments)
Will I buy an iPhone?
by WonFish June 25, 2007 12:45 PM PDT
Yes. Maybe not at 6 p.m. on Friday, but I'll get one. Since Puerto
Rico has been left out of the kickoff event, I'll get one a bit later.
Reply to this comment
Yes
by pezcore37 June 25, 2007 1:30 PM PDT
The big "if" though is if I can find one. I am not sure I am confident in the availability of the iPhone at this point to get my hopes up. That being said I have no qualms buying it on the first day and being part of the revolution. Let's hope it's a revolution at least. I'm sick of my Treo.
iPhone is not myPhone
by jneeraj June 25, 2007 3:17 PM PDT
Don't get me wrong. With all the hoopla around its launch, and the carrier restriction, what a turn-off this is. 600 bucks for a 8 GB ipod???
What planet is Apple coming from?
View reply
Will I Buy the iPhone
by Quite Reflection June 27, 2007 1:17 PM PDT
Well thats a no-brianer, like 7 million other UK residents I can't
wait for it to come to blightly. It may make G3 a reality-rather
than the badly designed phone that are out there.

Thank God the world's got one company that doesn't do crap.
They even made Intel look great.

Cheers & Beers
Dave...
IPHONE
by alvajean June 27, 2007 2:28 PM PDT
Yes, I skipped the blackberry, soooooooooooooo
Only if price/performance ratio is acceptable
by sgtdisturbed47 June 27, 2007 2:30 PM PDT
I am an extreme computer nerd, and have full understanding of the importance of the ever-popular price/performance ratio. If the money you spend gives you piece of hardware that performs better than similarly priced hardware, then you have a reasonable case. If the price gives you a piece of hardware that performs on par with or less than similarly priced, similar hardware, then you aren't operating in a good price/performance ratio.

Cell phones, like video cards or processors, should be considered to fit the tasks you actually need rather than the tasks you think you need. Being able to view web pages in a manner never seen before may be a good thing, so long as the functionality is good. If there are silly bugs involved with the supposed functionality, then you are spending money on a piece of hardware that isn't giving you the results you were expecting.

When I buy a video card, I make sure it can handle games well, as well as give me plenty of options on picture quality and settings. If I were to buy a video card that only gives smooth performance in games and yet lacks in picture quality and picture settings, then I am not a happy gamer. The same goes for cell phone. Make sure that what you are paying for is covering a wider spectrum than just the basics.

In other words, the iPhone may be a jack of all trades but a master of none. The only way to know would be to pick one up, test it out, and see if its price/performance ratio is acceptable.
I shave with Occam's razor.
by ncmathsadist June 27, 2007 5:24 PM PDT
A phone is a phone. A computer is the tool for working on the internet. I like a big, bright screen. I think in the object-oriented world, where objects have a *focused purpose*.

The IPhone seems as ridiculous as a five foot wide Swiss Army knife.
Yes..
by 2befree June 27, 2007 8:42 PM PDT
I don't think the iPhone is revolutionary. Neither was the Ipod when it was released. and I love my current smartphone.. But would I join the hype and buy one if available?
YES
99.9% iPhone lovers are stupid
by ogodefacto June 27, 2007 11:03 PM PDT
iPhone is:
*expensive (even carrier after subsidy)
*locked to only one expensive carrier (total cost of ownership is ludicrous)
*locked architecture(absolutely NO 3rd party apps(goodbye skype, GPS etc)
*NO word,powerpoint,excel support (MS or Open Office)
*No Instant Messanger (No MSN, NO AIM)
(iPhone iChat is NOT an application)
*Apple imposed copyright protection schemes as always (NO file sharing)
*MP4 video instead of the unquestionable marketshare leader DivX/XVid (what little MP4 content there is transcoded DivX/XVid)
*No qwerty keyboard, touchscreen only (anyone that actually likes this doesn't know better)
*iPod scratched too easily and now we are actually touching the screen WITH OUR HANDS!!!
*Non-expandable memory at 4GB (can ANYONE afford the higher memory model?)
*Battery can't be user replaced
*No G3, WIFI only (G3 kills WIFI for mobile)
And yet it will sell like hotcakes to the ignorant masses
View all 2 replies
NO!
by didefresh04 June 28, 2007 7:45 AM PDT
As bad of an experience from the last ipod (30 gig), I won't pay more than shuffle prices for any ipod or ipod based product. I bought an ipod from Best Buy and it went out 3 months after I bought it (even got the extended warranty) and there was nobody who could fix it and the warranty was voided. When they make the ipods better and the warranty beter, I will start paying more for one. I might for a mac since they are quality built, but no ipod products.
buy an IPhone?
by lsvd128 June 28, 2007 11:43 AM PDT
I'd love to buy one but I don't have at&t service, I have T-Mobile. I'll just have to wait until t-Mobile comes out with something similar. But I have to admit, it sounds really great.
Yep...
by MTGrizzly June 25, 2007 12:46 PM PDT
I wouldn't line up to buy one, actually, I can't. AT&T (or Cingular)
doesn't do business in Montana.

However, once Apple decides on a carrier for non-AT&T served
areas, I will buy one once my current cell phone contract runs
out.

Just the convenience of not having to remember to carry my cell
phone and charger; iPod, iTrip, laptop, et cetera is worth it. My
current iPod Nano is hitting end of life and doesn't have enough
storage space, so I would be buying a video iPod, anyway. The
iPhone just cuts down the clutter and number of machines that I
need to carry....
Reply to this comment
Out of luck for now
by jjacobus June 26, 2007 10:22 AM PDT
AT&T has an exclusive 2 year contract. Maybe AT&T will extend service into Montana.
by advertlabs December 19, 2008 5:00 PM PST
Well i think that you can buy unlocked iPhone for a good price at eBay.com and without a contract, i'm not sure there is a warranty though, but there should be. Also i don't think it will be exclusive for AT&T any longer and prices will obviously drop soon.

http://www.buyiphone.co.uk/
by advertlabs December 19, 2008 5:03 PM PST
<a href="http://www.buyiphone.co.uk/">buy iphone</a>
I love Apple but...
by tabaks--2008 June 25, 2007 12:47 PM PDT
NO.
Reply to this comment
No Bluetooth A2DP
by shirsc2 June 25, 2007 12:50 PM PDT
Though the iPhone looks like an awesome phone, I was very dissapointed to here that it doesn't support Bluetooth A2DP profile (http://www.bluetomorrow.com/content/section/375/549/). You would think that Apple known for music would allow for the wireless streaming of music to bluetooth speakers, headphones etc.

Most cell phones are now being used as MP3 players and not having A2DP profile is a big turn off for me about the iPhone. If I'm going to pay that much money for a phone, it better have all the latest features.
Reply to this comment
Working Link
by shirsc2 June 25, 2007 12:51 PM PDT
This link should actually work

http://www.bluetomorrow.com/content/section/375/549
Certainly
by neolyn June 25, 2007 12:57 PM PDT
I'd certainly buy an iPhone, provided that I'm able to get AT&T
service in my area. Sadly, I'm unable to do that at this time. :-\
Reply to this comment
In a short word, no.
by noketsuna June 25, 2007 12:57 PM PDT
The tech is too limited, in my mind. Putting aside the fact that I don't care for Apple products, it lacks 3G, has a touch interface (which I can't imagine will be good for some things), no user-replacable battery (translation: new phone after two years or be without phone while Apple charges you $99 to swap out the battery), and no memory expansion. $400+ is too much to spend on something so limited.
Reply to this comment
Their products are worth every dime...or hundred dollars!
by beatmoses June 25, 2007 4:13 PM PDT
Don't care for Apple Products???!!!! Ther are so easy to use and so
beautiful! But in a year this will kick ass more than now.
View reply
In short: no
by Christopher Hall June 25, 2007 1:00 PM PDT
For several reasons.
1) I am a Verizon customer whose contract does not expire for a few more years.
2) I am happy with the service I receive from Verizon.
3) I have an LG VX8600 and love it to pieces.
4) I have no desire to associate with the "elitist Apple techno-hip" crowd. They can take a long walk off a short pier, as far as I'm concerned.
5) Fingerprints and smudges drive me up a wall.
6) Gizmodo's hype machine is disgusting.
Reply to this comment
Yes
by Splashes June 25, 2007 1:00 PM PDT
If and when I ever buy a cellphone, it will be an iPhone or its
functional progeny. I've played with a lot of phones, "smart" and
otherwise, and after watching Apple's "guided tour" of the iPhone,
it's clear to me why Apple is as successful as they are. This is one
of those cases in which it's only after you see something done right
that you realize how wrong the others are.
Reply to this comment
I would if
by NewsReader_ June 25, 2007 1:09 PM PDT
It was cheaper and I knew a little more about it. Apple's reluctance to give detailed technical info about it is annoying. Once more info is available, I may change my mind but the cost will have to come down. Right now the only reason to buy one is to be able to claim you have one. I generally wait for the 2nd generation hardware before buying something new like this.

I am already a Cingular customer so that is not an issue.

The touch display is cool and I like the idea of a fully functional browser; IE is painful on Windows Mobile. But such a thing on EDGE will be painful.

So for now, I'll stick with my Blackjack and wait while not being as "cool" as everyone who goes out and buys an iPhone on day one. Even with Apple's patent arsenal, there are likely to be cheaper clones coming out soon.
Reply to this comment
iPhone
by iccorbett83 June 25, 2007 1:17 PM PDT
Nope
Reply to this comment
I'll wait for iPhone 2.0
by anand_dh June 25, 2007 1:17 PM PDT
I like the UI of the iPhone, but I'll wait till the iPhone gets all the features of my Nokia N95 - which might be a while I guess :-)
Reply to this comment
I'll wait
by Skip Dodson June 25, 2007 1:22 PM PDT
I'll wait for my Verizon contract to expire in April.
Reply to this comment
only if they pay me to take one
by Mycroft_514 June 25, 2007 1:23 PM PDT
I don't want all that crap on a phone, I want a phone.
Reply to this comment
I'm with you on that
by Charleston Charge June 25, 2007 1:49 PM PDT
I want my phone to be a phone. It would be a cool entertainment device aside from that but I don't want my phone integrated into all of that whether it's from Apple or any other company.
Buying one to replace my Palm & SonyEricsson
by joebuff75 June 25, 2007 1:32 PM PDT
Yes, I'll buy one as soon as it's available here in Europe -- I'll even
switch my network if necessary. I'll replace my Palm Tungsten T5
and SonyEricsson K750i with it now that I've found a solution to
run SSH on it.
Reply to this comment
No.
by ezxs June 25, 2007 1:32 PM PDT
I am with T-Mobile and I have a Dash. While it's not as sexy as iPhone - it does almost everything iPhone does. The cost of switching to AT&T would be about $1000. A toy that doesn't connect to my company's e-mail and schedule is not worth that. Sorry Apple...
Reply to this comment
No.
by Cream Juicy June 25, 2007 1:32 PM PDT
Not as long as AT&T is my only choice of service provider.
Reply to this comment
Ill hopefully be first in line :)
by alawaiblowfish June 25, 2007 1:33 PM PDT
but we'll see come june 28....maybe someone will have beaten me?
...
Reply to this comment
over priced
by Lenter101 June 25, 2007 1:38 PM PDT
Over priced and over-hyped, like all of Apple's products.
Reply to this comment
Compared to what?
by batavier June 27, 2007 1:35 PM PDT
two cans and a string?
Nope
by josephloria June 25, 2007 1:40 PM PDT
No thanks.
Reply to this comment
Of course NOT
by firestarter June 25, 2007 1:40 PM PDT
Why would i spend soo much money for a phone that i can already get for half the price. The only people i see buying this is apple fanboys and people who have nothing to so with their money. As my mom like to say to me a married man wonders what a single man does with his money.
Reply to this comment
Like What?
by tallkell June 26, 2007 7:43 AM PDT
Please tell us, what iPhone-like device can you get for half the
price? Please list the devices?
View all 3 replies
Showing 1 of 42 pages (1025 Comments)
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