iPhone: Advantages vs. Disadvantages

[PhreakBoy]

Hi All,

I'm seriously considering getting an iPhone 3GS in the next week or two. However, I've been getting mixed sentiments.

So, what I'd like to do is get some honest input regarding perceived advantages vs. disadvantages. With emphasis perhaps on the disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Large screen
• Touchscreen
• Awesome sales record
• (like) hav(ing) a really small laptop(that can call).

Disadvantages:

• Can't send MMS (how do I strike through text?)
• Need to buy apps/songs in Dollars from the states
• Can't install 3rd party apps, unless bought though iStore
• dependency of iTunes is real issue for me
• bad battery life

 

[FiestaST]

I will just give one Pro & one Con;

Pro: everything (the OS,apps) just WORKS & works damn well I might add

Con: dependency of iTunes is real issue for me

 

[J25]

You can send MMSes.
You don't need to buy Apps in Dollars from the States.
There are thousands of free apps in the app store.

 

[sand_man]

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/12/gartner-iphone-has-17-1-of-worldwide-smartphone-sales/

http://www.intomobile.com/2008/01/1...200-days-sells-4-million-units-worldwide.html

http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20091015/worldwide-demand-for-iphone-3gs-outstripping-supply/

http://www.appleharmony.com/apple-iphone-holds-17-1-of-smartphone-sales-worldwide

I used to think the iPhone was nothing but hype and marketing until I got one. It's simply brilliant.

If I were pressed for disadvantages I would say price and battery life but it's been a pleasure owning one...

What's even more remarkable is this massive success is on the back of just 3 models over a 3 year period!!!

Brilliant!!!

 

[JStrike]

Hi All,

I'm seriously considering getting an iPhone 3GS in the next week or two. However, I've been getting mixed sentiments.

So, what I'd like to do is get some honest input regarding perceived advantages vs. disadvantages. With emphasis perhaps on the disadvantages.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

• Can't send MMS
• Need to buy apps/songs in Dollars from the states
• Can't install custom apps, unless bought though iStore

Huh, my iPhone I had in the UK sent MMS's fine

There is a South African app store, even though it charges in dollars

What do you mean custom apps? Apps you've written yourself? Yes, you can install them

 

[Pyro]

Biggest disadvantage on a touchscreen smartphone is the bad battery life, and if you're rough with your phone you could easily crack the glass digitiser.

 

[bwana]

@PhreakBoy - As pointed out your "Disadvantages" are not an issue.

 

[zak]

iphone..my opinion

MMS can be sent,but i would rather email than mms,have had a iphone since its launch,and have sent 2 mms`s despite buying the swirly MMS app years back..have had the smartphone, and now the 3GS 32 gb

as far as apps go, i have a US account,and with a bit of effort,u can get just about any app as there is in 99% of cases a free app that does the same as a paid app

setting up ann account is dead easy.I have a friend who goes to the US 4 times a year,and he just buys me a itunes voucher...

on the down side, the battery life is a bit short.. but in its defense, you are normally constantly on the phone,playing games,email,wifi 3g etc,so i only get a full day,but with 3g and wifi off its a few days..
its really a fantastic device,its by no means the best out there,but once you have one,you will understand why ppl love it so much...

 

[quovadis]

Biggest disadvantage on a touchscreen smartphone is the bad battery life, and if you're rough with your phone you could easily crack the glass digitiser.

Battery life on my iphone hasnt been a problem at all and I think you'd have to deliberately scratch the screen to cause any damage - dropped mine a couple times and no worse for wear.

 

[Pyro]

Battery life on my iphone hasnt been a problem at all and I think you'd have to deliberately scratch the screen to cause any damage - dropped mine a couple times and no worse for wear.

Compared to feature phones they are definitely more vulnerable.

Getting more than a day out of smartphone isn't common, and that's with most of the features turned off.

 

[Pooky]

Who the hell uses MMS these days anyway?

 

[PhreakBoy]

Thanks to everyone who has responded.

You can send MMSes.
You don't need to buy Apps in Dollars from the States.
There are thousands of free apps in the app store.

@PhreakBoy - As pointed out your "Disadvantages" are not an issue.

Could I ask you to guys to please ellaborate? From my understanding you can't send MMS from the iPhone in SA.

I know about the free apps, but for instance getting the TomTom software cost an extra $89.

Would I be able to install any of the free GPS software on the iPhone?

 

[bwana]

Could I ask you to guys to please ellaborate? From my understanding you can't send MMS from the iPhone in SA.

I just sent one so Vodacom has enabled the service.

I know about the free apps, but for instance getting the TomTom software cost an extra $89.

Would I be able to install any of the free GPS software on the iPhone?

Yeah - the tomtom costs $89 but I think it is available through the SA iTS. Not sure about the other free ones - I'm happy enough with the tomtom one.

 

[JStrike]

Thanks to everyone who has responded.





Could I ask you to guys to please ellaborate? From my understanding you can't send MMS from the iPhone in SA.

I know about the free apps, but for instance getting the TomTom software cost an extra $89.

Would I be able to install any of the free GPS software on the iPhone?

I could send MMS's with my iPhone in the UK. It is part of the standard Messaging app.

TomTom costs money in whichever AppStore you use, whether it is the USA, UK or South African AppStore.

If there is a free GPS app, you would be able to install it yes. Why would you not be able to?

 

[Synaesthesia]

The iPhone has MMS as of 3.0.

You can jailbreak and modify your phone, multitasking, and pirate applicatios, all that crap.

But the apps are so cheap, a couple of them are just totally worth it. Orbital and Newsstand for me!

 

[Schwartz]

Disadvantages:

• Can't send MMS
• Need to buy apps/songs in Dollars from the states
• Can't install custom apps, unless bought though iStore

1)You can
2)You can get songs anywhere and can get ALL apps for free
3)Yes you can

Not sure who fed you that info but it is all wrong. The iPhone is , IMO, the greatest technological device around. No other phone comes close unless you have a really small laptop(that can call).

 

[WiT8litZ]

I can send MMS just fine, VC, not jailbreaked. IIRC I did change my WAP settings from the defaults that came with the phone.

There are a plethora of apps available, especially when you can create accounts on US, UK and SA stores to get all of those free apps. I really use only 2 or 3 paid for apps. 1 paid in R's, 2 others in Pounds via a mate's appstore account which I authorized on my pc.

If you are not a fan of iTunes, you might be irritated. I love it though, and it works well for my needs.

 

[PhreakBoy]

Once again,

Thanks for all the feedback. I've updated the list in the OP.

What I was trying to get at with the 3rd party program, is that I can not download an App and install it, unless it is through the iStore.

 

[bwana]

What I was trying to get at with the 3rd party program, is that I can not download an App and install it, unless it is through the iStore.

If you jailbreak your phone - a very simple process btw - you can install apps that havent been vetted by apple.

 

[PhreakBoy]

If you jailbreak your phone - a very simple process btw - you can install apps that havent been vetted by apple.

Is that something I'd want to do? Does it not impact warranty?