MacScrewed by iPhoney initial pricing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Sep 9 2007, 10:48 PM) [snapback]509902[/snapback]</div>

What's the point of a full-size keyboard attached to a hand-held computer? I use my Nokia for travel because I can access my email and don't have to lug a laptop. But a full-size keyboard would defeat the whole purpose. If I can carry a keyboard, I'll take the laptop instead. (I.e. when I'm driving rather than flying.) Granted, with the Nokia, I limit myself to short emails because "typing" with a stylus on the tiny screen is slow. It's the price I pay for the itty bitty size. (Though I think the Nokia can use a bluetooth keyboard. -- But it's not a phone.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n8kwx @ Sep 9 2007, 10:02 PM) [snapback]509888[/snapback]</div>

I am looking at the iPhone rate brochure as I am typing this. The $20 iPhone Data Plan is "For existing customers" only.

Everyone else pays the rates quoted in my earlier post.

Sorry, my zip code is private. Try any generic Southern California zip code.

That being said, I have a grandfathered tiered Sprint Fair & Flexible Family plan, which is no longer being offered, with three phones sharing minutes and a internet/data plan. On top of it, I get a substantial corporate discount through my wife's employer (25%). I can get a 10-15% discount on cellular service from AT&T through my employer (I am not sure if the iPhone plans are included), but my total monthly cost will still be 30-40% higher for similar amount of usage if I were to switch from Sprint to AT&T.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 10 2007, 06:30 PM) [snapback]510316[/snapback]</div>

It's a portable that folds up to about the size of a postcard. A stylus is too slow and too inaccurate. I'm a touch typist. I can take notes a lot faster with a keyboard. (like 60-70 wpm.)

I can carry my keyboard and PDA in one hand. A little bigger than the size of my wallet.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n8kwx @ Sep 10 2007, 02:46 AM) [snapback]509938[/snapback]</div>

There's a lot of speculation as to where the iPhone is going.

Today I heard on NPR someone predict that the next gen iPhone will have G3 (or is it 3G), the faster WiFi connection. And be unlocked.

Today I read on yahoo news that Apple is looking at the TV spectrum the FCC will be putting up for auction. Now most think Apple won't bother because it would be taking on way too much to become it's own carrier. (Of course others would say that this is exactly what Apple would like to do, provide it's own carrier service for it's own iPhone.)

Apple mulling bid on airwaves auction.

"The FCC's "open access" provision requires the network operators that win the auction to allow customers to use whatever phone and software they want on about one-third of the spectrum.

That makes the spectrum particularly appealing to companies that don't already operate their own networks and therefore wouldn't lose recurring revenue from monthly service agreements with existing customers.

If Apple bid and won, it could offer service on its iPhone, which currently runs exclusively on AT&T's network and requires a two-year contract for $60 per month. Apple could change the terms or even give free access to a network."

It's unlikely. But still.....interesting.

Oh, and Apple sold it's 1 millionth iPhone....weeks before it's Sept. 30 prediction.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Sep 10 2007, 08:35 PM) [snapback]510371[/snapback]</div>

That's exactly what I thought. That's like Steve Job's saying that the iPhone is the best deal. It's only $0 and $0 a month. (he gets them for free).

I agree if you have some super duper corporate discount great. Stay with Sprint.

The point was to compare what the average Joe is going to spend on an iPhone compared to a whatever phone. If you do that you will find that the iPhone is more than competitive.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Sep 11 2007, 05:21 AM) [snapback]510415[/snapback]</div>

3G ("third generation") it the nickname for UMTS, is not really a WiFi-like technology. It is faster than EDGE, but still much slower than WiFi, but of course the main advantage is that it has the full coverage of the telephone network. It is available for a couple of years over here already and most competitors of the iPhone have it.

The problem is, even 3G/UMTS doesn't have the edge anymore these days. That goes to HSDPA (sometimes called 3.5G), offering ADSL-like speeds of up to 10MBit/s, using the UMTS infrastructure. The newest phones of Nokia have it right now, and some operators already support it. So, Apple should really include that one or it will miss the speedboat again.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Sep 10 2007, 09:35 PM) [snapback]510371[/snapback]</div>

:lol:

What could you POSSIBLY be afraid of? ID theft requires a tad more then a zip code.

Here is mine: 33066. Oh, now anyone can find out what part of Florida I live in. Oh oh.

I'se in troubles now. They might use the Google map to find me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Sep 10 2007, 08:21 PM) [snapback]510415[/snapback]</div>

Now that's impressive!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Sep 11 2007, 01:12 AM) [snapback]510498[/snapback]</div>

Gotcha!

[attachmentid=11354]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Sep 10 2007, 08:35 PM) [snapback]510371[/snapback]</div>

Lets put it this way - If you're an existing customer with a voice plan, you can get data for $20. Otherwise, unlimited data is included in the plan.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/easysetup/rateplans.html

When i signed up for mine, it was listed as $39.99 voice and $20 data. Seems to make sense, huh?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Sep 9 2007, 12:37 PM) [snapback]509615[/snapback]</div>

Question. Are these regular phones or is one a smartphone like a blackberry? 3 phone lines with one of them being an iPhone would be $109.99/month.

As someone else said, if you have some sort of corporate discount, then of course thats going to be lower...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 10 2007, 06:30 PM) [snapback]510316[/snapback]</div>

I just wanted to add that the iPhone keyboard is downright creepy. Once I learned to go with it, I started typing whole paragraphs where I felt I was just randomly pressing keys on the keyboard but the words would still come out right. As long as your finger is anywhere near a letter that makes sense, even if you are 3 or four letters into the word and committed previous mistakes, the iPhone most likely will predict the correct word in the end.

Its eerie and creepy but it works. Unfortunately it is not friendly to other languages because its so dependent on dictionaries. After a while it does start picking up on words you accept from other languages.

 

Here is my take on all those who stood in line waiting for the doors to open to dish out, what was it, $600, for a toy phone.




SUCKERS!!!!


Wait a few more months and these will be given away with phone plans.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ACD @ Sep 11 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]510582[/snapback]</div>

'toy phone' ? Please. A 'toy phone' is what 99% of the other phones are.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n8kwx @ Sep 10 2007, 09:49 PM) [snapback]510463[/snapback]</div>

It would be cheaper for me with Sprint even without the corporate discount.

The Family Fair & Flexible plan is priced at $70 for two phones sharing 800 minutes. Additional phones are $10 each. Over 800 minutes I pay $5 for each block of additional 100 minutes through 1,100 minutes. Above 1,100 minutes it is $5 for each block of 200 minutes. I pay $40 for a data plan. The plan price is the same for both regular and smart phones. A smart phone, such as a Motorola Q or a BlackBerry, can be had for as little as $100 with a two years contract (same length as required with an iPhone activation).

According to the AT&T Wireless website, the iPhone family plans start at $110 for two phones sharing 700 minutes. A 1,400 minutes plan is $130. Additional phones are $30. For me, the cost for three phones sharing 1,400 minutes would be $160, but we often use considerably fewer minutes.

Before you start berating me for quoting my grandfathered plan let me point out that, according to the AT&T Wireless website, the $20 data plan, which you have cited, is similarly restricted:

 

Damn it, folks!
Has anyone else noticed that the verbal (I know, written, but I mean other than physical) assaults here are a lot like the conversations between people who despise the Prius and those of us who drive one?

I am a little embarrassed for some of you. Name calling and insults are just a waste of energy and thought.

Do I need to remind any of you how often we have worked "en concert" to defended the Prius against ignorant attackers? Recall the article "Toyta" from the U of W paper? Or the fool who claimed the Hummer was cheaper to own than a Prius? (I'm paraphrasing, so give me a break here). More than a few of you are guilty of the same poor research and lack of information.

Look, I like my Prius, it does what I want and need it to do (save money, mostly) at a price I am willing to pay.

The SAME arguement applies for my iPhone. Three long damn hours a day in the car and the iPhone saves me a lot of time and energy, especially when applied cumulatively. I have my own business in addition to my day job, and the iPhone saves me HOURS each month. My ATT plan is CHEAPER than the Verizon, as I NEVER need to dial information. My base rate is the same, and I pay TWENTY dollars a month for unlimited data and 200 messages a month. (I was a new ATT customer) My previous bill averaged over 110/month with the 411 and message charges (with taxes and fees) vs. 97/month for ATT.

Yes, there are a lot of smart phones. What is innovative about the iPhone is the interface, the use of a REAL web browser, (Safari) instead of a "special" cell phone browser, and the very elegant design.

Yes, there are other touchscreens, but before the iPhone there were no MULTI-TOUCH, i.e. reading more than one point at a time! (Just before the iPhone was released there was some publicity about a "table top" multi-touch screen)

Other issues? The random access Voice Mail function is a huge improvement over every other phone I have used. I only have to listen to the voice mail I want to, WHEN I want to.
I like checking my home email while in the car, (the same emails are still seen at my home computer).

Google maps is a lot of help to me. I wish it had a GPS, but I usually know where I am. Getting to where I want to go is the more common issue, and "maps" does fine. The "maps" search function lets me look up the phone number and location of pretty much anyone or anything, letting me skip the 411 call and surcharge.

The iPod movie and music function is fun. So I only need one gadget instead of two. Other things like the date book, stocks and weather are helpful, but hardly revolutionary.

The price drop?
"Apple does not drop prices. IBM, Microsoft, others drop prices. But Apple? I mean, the iPod is still the same price that it has been for years."
That is an absurd statement. And raises a question. Have you compared the iPod of a few years ago to the current one? Or the computers? I can buy an iMac for 1100, about the same price the Mac Plus sold for in 1989. Want to compare the value and features?

New Apple products always drop in price not long after initial introduction. There is often a drastic drop just before a new improved version is released, often at or near the same price of the prior model, hence "still the same price" perception. Sometimes the new product is at a lower price.

For Jobs to offer half the price drop back to his customers is barely short of amazing, and is a sign of recognition of customer loyalty.

"Aren't they $100 'vouchers' for Apple merchandise? I don't know what kind of Apple merchandise one can get (or want) for $100."

Spoken like someone who has never been in an Apple Store. While they sell Macs and a LOT of programs for Macs, what would you expect? They also have a huge assortment of other things like printers, hard drives, scanners, monitors and speakers, all of which will work on pretty much ANY computer, plus video and still cameras plus accessories, as well cell phone accessories that fit almost every kind of phone, not just iPhone. They sell backpacks and attache cases for laptops. They sell books, printer supplies and cables. What isn't in the Apple Store is listed online. Go look. A lot of stuff is less than 100.

The Prius is not for everyone. Neither is the iPhone. They (both) are very useful and practical for a lot of us.

Accept it, and stop ragging about it and insulting those of us who find them so.


Mac1