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June 26, 2007 7:58 AM PDT

What can you get for an iPhone?

by Will Greenwald

The iPhone hits stores this Friday, and everyone's pretty excited about it. Apple fans are already starting to line up at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store here in New York, and it's only Tuesday. It's no small wonder--the iPhone is shaping up to be an impressive piece of tech that can play MP3s and videos, browse the Web, work as a GPS, and even make phone calls.

Unfortunately, the price seems pretty steep--$500 for the 4GB version or $600 for the 8GB version, even with a contract from AT&T Wireless. The iPhone might be able to do a ton of different things, but there's still a whole lot you can buy with the cash you're dropping on it. Here's a look at some of the things you could buy for the price of a 8GB iPhone:

That's a lot of stuff you can get for the price of one iPhone. Still, it might be the greatest phone ever and be worth the cost. Perhaps the next version or update of the iPhone will be a bit more affordable, with even more features. The iPods were pretty darn expensive when they started out; the first-generation iPods cost $400 for 5GB of music and a monochrome screen. Now you can get a 30GB iPod that can play video for a little more than half that. Hopefully, time will bring the price of the iPhone (and the prices of everything else in the list) down.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 2 pages (34 Comments)
IMHO Better to wait...
by Genjinaro June 26, 2007 9:05 AM PDT
Which is why it is better to wait.
The iPhone is going to do well but to those who "know" high end PDAphones and Smartphones, the iPhone will not look right on paper.

No SDK for 3rd party developers is a huge problem that can be fixed, given the community outcry over the odd move to Web 2.0 apps.
Until you hear that the SDK is released to 3rd party developers, keep your money.

Me? I'm an i-Mate ultimate 7150 kinda guy. Though if the iPhone 2.0 ever comes to Sprint I might buy it at full price. ;)
Reply to this comment
I disagree
by gomer43 June 26, 2007 1:14 PM PDT
For those who are early adopters, this is a great device, because the updates to
it will be software-based. Sure, they might make some improvements to the
body, but that's not what we're talking about here - and significant
improvements made on hardware, I can wait a couple of years to buy a new one,
just like I do with iPods now.

My concern now is not being able to buy one on Friday, what with people lining
up now...
Reply to this comment
I'm Sorry...No.
by GreyClaw June 26, 2007 7:01 PM PDT
I keep hearing people talking about how this is/will/might/la-ti-dah ??be the GREATEST phone ever!? or ??a revolution of the phone??

What?!

How??

The GREATEST phone ever:
Would let me call anyone anywhere on or off the planet point-to-point FOR FREE and be crystal frigging clear whether I am in a building, on the subway, or a mountain.

It would last for months on a single charge or have some sort of regenerative charging system like the watch on my wrist.

It would be small.

IT would have some form of Hi-Def holographic or large flexible OLED screen that I could deploy for face-to-face communication and/or data retrieval and NOT be postage stamp sized.

It would (were I to call the wrong country) be able to do real time ACCURATE language translation between myself and the person on the other end of the call.

It would be capable of recording and/or relaying any form of data I choose.

It would have Terabytes of storage.

It would seamlessly integrate with PCs, vehicles, etc. and have the processing muscle to do those things quickly and securely.

That would be the greatest phone ever?basically like the COM-link in that scifi show from the 90s ?Earth: Final Conflict?.

Apart from that I agree fully with the article. I will add my own combinations.

For the $629(don't forget sales tax!!)

I can buy an iPaq, Sansa e250, Pocket Streets w/GPS and still choose from many of the free phones from AT&T

or I can buy an iPaq, a PSP, 4GB Memory stick and still choose from many of the free phones from AT&T

Or my most likely choice: Cingular 8525, PSP, 2GB Memory Stick, 2GB SD card, Bluetooth headset, spare battery for the phone, and a PSP game.

?and all for the price of the iPhone.
Reply to this comment
Everybody is talking about this iphone, but why?
by Faffnir June 29, 2007 2:35 AM PDT
Everybody is talking about this iphone, but why?
It hasn't got any real innovation in it - just this multitouch-screen-thing, which I think will be a pain to write with.
The really new features comes from nokia nseries. They're running symbian os, which means you can install hundreds of add-ons and make it do things an iphone never will. And besides, Apple's "cutting edge technology" is far behind, say, n95. Carl Zeiss camera with 5 mp, music player, gps, etc.

I don't see the reason to by the apple phone.

yPhone?
Reply to this comment
don't buy one then
by Shig2k1 June 29, 2007 5:13 AM PDT
If you don't want one, don't buy one... stop boring us with your reasons.
Reply to this comment
You Could Buy All That Stuff...
by kennyy921 June 29, 2007 6:02 AM PDT
Butcan you call someone on your nintendo wii? 360? Ps3? nope. can you browse the internet with your ipod and use coverflow? nope. lol the iPhone is awsome, the price might be a bit steep,but this is apple were talking about here, my macbook pro cost an insane amout of money, but i love it. =) OS X forever. GO GO APPLE!
Reply to this comment
omg, you are in to something man
by lil-yankee June 29, 2007 2:43 PM PDT
danm kenny you are a mac freak man.
If that is true that you can't make phone calls from the ps3 it is also true that you can;'t play high-Def GAMES on the Iphone or do you?
Admit it man, that phone is ridiculously overpriced.
I have to say it is an impressive phone and in deed they are taking it a step foward compared to the other phones but look.
The ps3 did the same and up to some point taking it so much advance from the competition hasn't been the answer to the market. It seems that the price really tilts things to be more successful than others. Take a look at the wii for example, it was the least of the three contenders technology wise but is the one that is selling like hotcake because its the cheapest one.
I know you like macs man but you have to admit this time they are being too much of a brand priced minded tars rather than adjusted ones.
oh sorry, i meant my macbook +P
by kennyy921 July 3, 2007 9:15 AM PDT
macbook pro = macbook (im saving all my dough for the pro though, awsome computer. =]
Alternatives?
by rlest8 June 29, 2007 7:19 AM PDT
While I understand your attempt at humor perhaps it would be helpful to write an article about some phones that really are alternatives to the iPhone. What, if any, phones are coming to the market in the future that will have similar features to the iPhone and what carriers will have them?
Personally, I use a Moto Q, have a year left on my Verizon contract and most importantly am leary of purchasing most products at the inflated prices when they are just released. We will see many improvements and price drops as time goes by.
For those of us not with At&T what phones will be released that come close?
Reply to this comment
You know what's sad?
by Magishine June 29, 2007 7:38 AM PDT
With all the hype, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple tried to pass this off as the next gen ipod.
Reply to this comment
Um sure just about any Pocket PC phone!
by jabberwolf June 29, 2007 8:39 AM PDT
The best one that is coming out is the Sprint HTC Mogul.
kinda like the TMOBILE wing but on a much faster network.

Also now with their navigation service, my phone is now my turn by turn GPS device... very cool.

I dont get it, I understand that the interface of the iPhone is really flashy but the functions are so lacking !!!

You can alays pick another browser if you dont like IE, and some even render the entire page as well.

You can also actually SEND a photo without it taking forever like it would on the ATT network!

Keyboard too.

Oh and I can watch more movies because I can download a Divx player!
Reply to this comment
Computers too
by nichts925 June 29, 2007 9:11 AM PDT
For the price of the 8 gig, you can get a brand spankin new laptop
-Dell Inspiron 1501 with an upgraded processor
-Compaq Presario V6000Z
-Gateway NX570S
-Acer Aspire 520
Reply to this comment
RIDICULOUS
by kirsttal June 29, 2007 9:39 AM PDT
Why doesn't Apple distribute this phone through all of the cellphone carriers. It's simply ridiculous to expect everyone to switch to At&t's overpriced lousy reception and bad customer service plans. Plus they don't have any plans with unlimited texting. I'm thinking that the iphone keyboard will be used for that purpose!!!!
Reply to this comment
ridiculous is right
by Mparish67 June 29, 2007 10:26 AM PDT
because its probably a deal between Apple and AT&T. If (and it probably will happen) Apple sells every one of the 1 million iPhone they produced this quarter then thats a whole lot of change going to AT&T not only for plan payments in the future but from new customers the $35 activation fee. This is just a marketing thing. like what happened with the razr. other companies will make phones like it and sell it from other carriers ik the LG Prada is going to go to Verizon wireless for a significantly cheaper price than the iPhone. Just wait about a year, there will most likely be a few iPhone copies (or w/e you feel like calling them) at every major cell phone carrier with the exception of AT&T.

on a side note i HATE AT&T with a fiery passion
I think you should brush up on some of those facts
by Paragon 7 July 1, 2007 6:38 AM PDT
I'm pretty sure you can get unlimited texting, it's just not on the base plans. You add on another $10 for unlimited, or so i've heard. Being overseas is fun for the iPhone's launch, every news channel covered it's launch from CNN to China's CCTV. :) It's being talked about everywhere I go!!!

and though AT&T coverage doesn't cover the entire country, coverage is pretty good in some places, like large cities.
Other Examples
by gattsuru June 29, 2007 11:16 AM PDT
An 30 GB Archos 605 (300 USD) + Camcorder pak (150 USD) + unlocked Motorola v190 (100 USD) + 50 USD free =
High quality video, large high-dpi touchscreen, 30 GBs of high-quality music and/or movies, WiFi 801.2g data link, internet browser capable of easily dealing with even YouTube, and any cellular provider you want.

A Nokia 770 (140 USD) + 8 GBs of MMCmobile storage (120 USD) + an unlocked Razr v3 (214 USD) + 126 USD free =
Comparable yet easily expandable storage space, large touchscreen, Bluetooth compability with data networks providing anywhere internet access with the 770, internet browser, a large community worth of freeware, and any cellular provider you want. Don't want the 126 USD? Look for the Virtual Laser Keyboard on eBay and you'll have bluetooth connectivity to a full keyboard in a device the size of a lighter.

None require iTunes, none require a specific cellular provider, and none require standing in a huge line.

This isn't hard, folks.
Reply to this comment
by the way good to know
by lil-yankee June 29, 2007 2:45 PM PDT
I didnt' know you got the macpro already.
Nice to know that.................................!
Reply to this comment
I'm getting the Iphone...It's final!!!
by bengleton June 29, 2007 4:05 PM PDT
A couple years ago, the Motorola razor was selling for $600.00 and it sure didn't do any of the things that the iphone can do. The only thing the razor had was the coolness, and the iphone has all that and much more..I'm getting one. It's final.
Reply to this comment
That's not how I remember it.
by make_or_break June 30, 2007 9:31 PM PDT
I had a co-worker buy a RAZR the first week it became available and he didn't pay anything near $600 for it, particular when there were REAL smartphones at the time going between $400 and $550. I recall him grousing about the $350 he forked out, which is definitely [i]not[/i] in the vicinity of $600.

Besides--unlike the usual course Apple takes with their hardware--with a two or three months after its release there were deals that had RAZRs going for under $200.
Ok! I'm not done yet.
by bengleton June 29, 2007 4:15 PM PDT
After reading all of the post I just had to say something else. For the price of an Iphone you can get....well, gone are the days of carry your laptop just to access google maps, or your full desktop emails. The Iphone is cool and most of us who want it don't care about AT&T's slow data network. I prefer to use WIFI for my web browsing anyhow. At least this time I know that the Iphone price won't drop to $50.00 like the Motorola Razr did, and I won't feel bad about paying the initial $600.00 to get it. All of the cool new cell phone are always price real high and later drop...given Apple's reputation I don't think it will be the same for the Iphone. Love that dammm Iphone already! 1 hour to go....
Reply to this comment
2400 games of Pac-Man!
by Ikthog June 30, 2007 6:11 AM PDT
My lord, what a stupid thread. Don't forget you could also buy over 600 99-cent cheeseburgers! That darn iPhone doesn't provide nearly the sustenance of food. What suckers!

I look forward to seeing this series continue on Crave, I'd like to know how many used black and white tube TVs I can buy out of an alley for the price of a 1080p Sony Bravia HDTV, and how many Hot Wheels cars I can buy for the price of a BMW 760Li.
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durability?
by kenjee695 June 30, 2007 9:38 AM PDT
I am concerned about the durability of the iPhone. I have had to replace many "normal" cell phones when I dropped them on the pavement or tile floor. Anyone know if drop tests have been done on this phone?
Reply to this comment
Apple says they are artsy, but LG/Prada owns!!
by flipicaneze June 30, 2007 10:54 AM PDT
LG came out with this two months before in collaboration with Prada.

Check it out: http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-phones/lg-prada-aka-ke850/4505-6452_7-32316442.html?tag=pop

And the Prada is more pimp then the Iphone in my opinion
Reply to this comment
AT & T does not value it's customers
by donccpa June 30, 2007 1:54 PM PDT
I have been an AT & T customer for years. I hang onto a phone so that when the iPhone comes out I can upgrade. Now I am told that I have to get a new plan with the iPhone and my existing family plan with 3 lines will not accept the iPhone. Loyalty? I'm going to Verizon.
Reply to this comment
No you wont.
by kwesley84 June 30, 2007 3:50 PM PDT
Your not going anywhere. You'll buy a iphone and get a new plan. Your a tool like most Apple fans.
Report "Offensive Posts"
by brucejones101 July 1, 2007 11:24 AM PDT
What does CRAVE mean by offensive posts? I agree with the last guy that said he's going to Verizon because AT&T isn't giving him any available or shall we say reasonable options to switch to the iphone... I've changed twice already.. If they don't have what I want, I go somewhere else. Hopefully, this didn't offend anyone.. :)
What a Joke
by kwesley84 June 30, 2007 3:58 PM PDT
I like how so many people complain about the price of the PS3 but have no problem paying the same price for a phone. It's even wrose when you realize that there are dozens of other phones that have all the missing features as standard and cost 1/6 as much. Thats Apple for you, they'll rob you bind and can still count on your support.
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