Update on iPhone/iPod Touch consideration

[red92s]

I. Of course, you need to be where there is WiFi, so you can't get on anywhere like you can with the iPhone, but still, it doesn't cost you anything whereas the iPhone costs you $35/month for the service.

Steve,

Just an FYI, Skype is releasing an Ipod/Iphone application (today, I think) allowing you to use the VOIP service to place calls from an Ipod Touch when in WiFi range.

Get. A. Blackberry.

I'm a Blackberry user aka crackberry. I have the 8900, which is the new curve which came out about a month ago. My Blackberry can do everything an iphone can including play music.
Just my $.02

I'm a Blackberry user. The availability of applications for the iPhone is hands-down the largest selling feature when compared to similar devices. Schools are offering courses in the programming language now, and software companies are flocking to produce iPhone games and software because the development and distribution costs are so low compared to full-fledged software.

Ipod's are not necessarily the best, cheapest, or most reliable MP3 player . . . but they do have the accessory market 98% cornered. The plug-and-play accessory list for iPods is many, many times longer than it's closest competitor. This, along with strong marketing, is how they have captured so much market share. It's a very similar situation to the iPhone and applications. For anyone on the fence between an iPhone and a similar device THE APPLICATIONS SELL THE PHONE, not the fact that it has a camera and can play music (those are not exactly "novel" features these days).

My employer just took away my blackberry to trim costs. If there was decent At&T service in the area, I would have replaced it with an iPhone. I'm guessing AT&T will expand their network faster than the applications list expands for Blackberries . . . so I'm holding out.

[red92s]

Dude, I would TOTALLY bite on that.... One reason I'm a bit turned off by the iPhone/iTouch is the sheer size/mass of it. If they could somehow make a decent iPhone except smaller, that would rock.

There are rumors of a cheaper iPhone coming this summer (~$99), but it sounds like the number of features is shrinking more so than the physical size.

[Broken Arrow]

There are rumors of a cheaper iPhone coming this summer (~$99), but it sounds like the number of features is shrinking more so than the physical size.

Yeah, I've heard about that, and it's quite a controversial topic....

The thing is, Apple doesn't follow the typical razor/razor blade model. They make the iPhones, but they are not the ones that provide the communication service.

So, from Apple's perspective, to make these phones available for only $99 means that they will poach their iPod sales. Either that or they will have to drastically reduce the price on their iPod line... because the iPhone is itself a capable iPod. But why do that when their current pricing seems to work well enough.

Instead, it is much likely that they may offer an updated iPhone, especially through software. I know iPhone OS 3.0 is on its way, but there are still plenty of room for improvement there, especially on the enterprise level.

That being said, it is possible for iPhones to still be $99, if it was heavily subsidized by AT&T. However, that still seems like an unlikely scenario to me because, besides raising the ire of Apple, it would also mean that they have a need to push these units at volume. Given the existing success of the iPhone sales as it is, I don't see why they would that right now?

[disneysteve]

Just an FYI, Skype is releasing an Ipod/Iphone application (today, I think) allowing you to use the VOIP service to place calls from an Ipod Touch when in WiFi range.

Does the Touch have a microphone built in or do you need to connect a headset to it?

[Pitman]

I'm a Blackberry user. The availability of applications for the iPhone is hands-down the largest selling feature when compared to similar devices. Schools are offering courses in the programming language now, and software companies are flocking to produce iPhone games and software because the development and distribution costs are so low compared to full-fledged software.

Ipod's are not necessarily the best, cheapest, or most reliable MP3 player . . . but they do have the accessory market 98% cornered. The plug-and-play accessory list for iPods is many, many times longer than it's closest competitor. This, along with strong marketing, is how they have captured so much market share. It's a very similar situation to the iPhone and applications. For anyone on the fence between an iPhone and a similar device THE APPLICATIONS SELL THE PHONE, not the fact that it has a camera and can play music (those are not exactly "novel" features these days).

red92s, your whole post solidifies what I mentioned in my post; Blackberry is for the business man, iPhone is for the gadget nut.

You obviously removed my whole post, where I mentioned sending over 150 text messages to prove your point, but in doing so, you just proved mine stronger. The blackberry vs iPhone debate has been going on for a long time, and I don't think it will stop anytime soon. But to each is own, I'm extremely happy with my blackberry, and I'm positive that DS's DD is extremely happy with her Touch.

All is well.

PS:
I do agree with you that iPod has the music market cornered, but I hate walking around with two devices, so instead of chucking $250 for an iPod, I spent $55 for an 16gig memory card for the blackberry, and voila, my already wonderful phone has also turned into my music player.

[disneysteve]

I'm positive that DS's DD is extremely happy with her Touch.

She is. Now my wife wants one, too.

An iPhone would not have met her needs (or budget). Neither would a Blackberry. Nothing wrong with any of the devices but they don't all do the same thing and don't all appeal to the same customers.

[Broken Arrow]

Does the Touch have a microphone built in or do you need to connect a headset to it?

It does not.... You will need a headset with a mic on it.

I have a Touch as well, by the way. That's how I keep track of my personal finances.

[red92s]

You obviously removed my whole post, where I mentioned sending over 150 text messages to prove your point, but in doing so, you just proved mine stronger.

I removed most of your post to cut down on the reply length, and limit the scrolling needed to view the thread . . . not as part of an agenda about the discussion.

your whole post solidifies what I mentioned in my post; Blackberry is for the business man, iPhone is for the gadget nut.

I was right there with you on this point a couple months ago, especially before the enterprise functionality of the iPhone was added. I figured IT departments were too familiar with Blackberry to justify changing. I don't disagree that Blackberry will remain the device of choice among business users for at least a little while longer, but I don't think it has a ton to do with the functionality of either phone.

Yesterday the guy next to me on the plane was wearing a very expensive suit, a $5k watch, and using the touchscreen blackberry . . . which is essentially an iPhone minus the application availability. He didnt seem to struggle to fire off emails on the touchscreen until the last possible second. Last night I watched a friend fire of 20 texts while waiting for a table for dinner. So, I have a hard time buying that a touchscreen makes it substantially tougher to type after the first day or so.

Having only one carrier available is probably the biggest downfall for business use of an iPhone. It essentially removes all ability to get multiple bids for a corporate contract.

[disneysteve]

touchscreen blackberry . . . which is essentially an iPhone minus the application availability.

I wonder if businesses prefer the blackberry for just this reason. One can easily waste hours upon hours of valuable time playing with iPhone applications. Productivity could drop off if the staff was armed with iPhones.

[red92s]

I wonder if businesses prefer the blackberry for just this reason. One can easily waste hours upon hours of valuable time playing with iPhone applications. Productivity could drop off if the staff was armed with iPhones.

I think enterprise clients can somehow selectively allow/disallow particular applications and the ability to download applications from the App Store. If you give an employee the phone, then they buy some apps, then you take the phone away . . . they loose their applicatiosn. Just messy.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think it's because blackberry is easier to use to type emails. Honestly how fact can you touch an email typed out? Versus a mini keyboard, which I see people doing super fast!

[Broken Arrow]

I think it's because blackberry is easier to use to type emails. Honestly how fact can you touch an email typed out? Versus a mini keyboard, which I see people doing super fast!

I've talked to others who insist that it's a matter of preference, but for me, I typed a whole lot faster with a physical thumb keyboard than I ever can with the iTouch/iPhone keyboard. I was also more accurate with real thumb keyboards as well.

The thumb keyboard is my one major reservation and disappointment that I've had to live with since the transition.

At the very least, I wish Apple would make the larger landscape virtual keyboard a standard for all applications. Perhaps it's some kind of library that's already accessible to all 3rd party developers, but at the very least, I think all default iApps should be programmed with that option....

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I haven't met anyone yet who has both (typically crackberry for work) and iphone for personal use who said the iphone is easier for typing emails. Most tell me it's fun applications, fun to use. But the crackberry is like crack for emails.

It's a lot easier to quickly check emails and respond back. Like liquid crack. You get addicted.

But the iphone is for fun stuff like looking cool, surfing the net, etc.

[Phenomenal Woman]

As someone who depends on texting and emails from the phones as the main method of communications, I strongly prefer the QWERTY thumb keyboard over the touch screen for the purpose of typing.
On the blackberry, Treo, and etc., I am able to type with one hand and I can finish typing what I need to say without having to look at the screen 100% of the time. I had the option of using the touch screen keys on the Treo and the PPC but rarely ever use it.
Though I loved the touch screen function of the Treo's which makes me want to inquire the iPhones. I wish the iPhones had an option of having a QWERTY thumb keyboard that can be attached to it somehow and then it will be an “all in one” phone for me.

I am torn between phones that are out there because there are pro’s and con’s to each every one of them and not one phone that has everything I want.

[Broken Arrow]

There is a new kind of hybrid coming out that offers both touch-screen interface as well as a physical thumb keyboard. Palm Pre is sort of leading the way in that respect, and I believe Blackberry has one in their pipeline that they will introduce in the near future as well. Apple, with their war on buttons... I don't know.

Although the hybrid concept isn't new at all, what sets these new hybrids apart from the past is that they are designed to be used without a stylus, but instead, rely purely with your thumbs.

I think it's an evolutionary step in the right direction....