iPhone: Quit Your Complaining

Those who know me know I live, eat, and breath Apple computers. So when the iPhone was announced I was glowing. At last, a phone that would work seamlessly with my PowerBook. I currently use a Tr?o 650 and really don’t use the contacts or calendar. It is just a phone that I use to surf and grab email. Synchronizing the calendar and contacts with my PowerBook is too tedious and the available software is not to my liking. Finally a phone that works with my OS. I could actually care less about the iPod portion, just because I already have a few of those!

But why am I really writing? Because I am sick and tired of hearing all of the whining about the iPhone. So I’ve taken some of the biggest questions and complaints and responded to them in my own words. Enjoy!

It costs soooo much!!!
The announced pricing for the iPhone is $499 and $599 for 4GB and 8GB phones(respectively) with 2 year subscriber agreements. People are so quick to forget. When the first Tr?os started appearing, they were no cheaper. As I recall they were over $600! In fact, I can go to sprint.com right now and guess what, before instant savings and rebate, the Tr?o 700wx is $649.99 ($249.99 after savings). But wait, if I want their top of the line phone, the Samsung IP-830W, it will cost me $499.99 after instant savings. And none of these phones handle music like an iPhone, so you’ll have to shell out another $199 for a 4GB iPod Nano!!

How long have these other phones been out? Prices should drop with time. Look at what Apple did with the iPod. Yes, my first iPod set me back 479 smackers at the student price, $499 retail. That was for a 20GB 2nd generation iPod brick. And I wasn’t the only one who bought an iPod. Over the years, the product improved, the memory increased, the form factor diminished, and the pricing dropped. Dramatically. And everyone said the same sad thing: $499 for an mp3 player? Are you insane?? Now you go walk around anywhere, anywhere there are people and you will see an iPod. Period.

If you think the initial pricing is too high, then wait. You’ve obviously never bought a new piece of technology and it shows. It will come down over time and you too will own an iPhone. Just look at that iPod you have, and then you will come to terms with the eventuality of it all.

In Japan they have phones better than this already!
That’s great. That’s fantastic. I wasn’t aware that they had mobile phones with multi-touch displays, run on OS X with iTunes integration, 8GB of memory, and seamless integration with Apple computers. I just didn’t know. Gosh, I feel silly.

Oh, wait a minute. They don’t. I don’t know who’s been pushing this propaganda, but it is very misleading. Yes, I will agree that Japan does have some very cool technologies that are ahead of us, but I have also seen some of the the gadgets and they are cheap and chinsey. A 40GB portable video player for $20! Well, it feels like $18, and lasted one friend about a month. Good thing he bought several. I am also aware of some of Sony’s phones and they are pretty amazing, but still lack the features I mentioned above.

The bottom line: I don’t live in Japan and the FCC hasn’t approved their “future” phones for use in America. So if you like, go to Japan and get your phone that blows away the iPhone and tell me when you find a US carrier that supports the phone and then tell me how much it all costs you. If it’s less than $600, then sign me up!

You can’t expand the memory!!
This is a fact. I can’t deny that you are set with either 4 or 8GB of memory. Somehow, I don’t understand the complaint though. I go to Cingular(or is it the new AT&T?) and buy me a brand new BlackBerry 8800 for $299.99 with my 2 year agreement. Smokin’ deal when the phone retails for $499.99!! I’m in business. This baby comes with… wait, is this right? 64MB of flash memory?

Huh??

Oh, but it’s expandable. I see. Yes, I can put more memory in it. Okay, so I need a Micro SD card. I just buzz on over to Newegg and buy me some Micro SD flash memoria. Hmm, the biggest I can buy is 2GB. That’s it? Okay, so be it. I spend my $43.98 and now I’m playing with power. Real power. 2GB plus 64MB and I’m only out $343.97. Take that, overpriced iPhone with no expansion slot!! If I want, I shell out another $43.98 and I have your 4GBs for less than $400!! (I told you the iPhone cost too much)

I concede, y’all got me. The lack of expandable memory in the iPhone doesn’t compare to what you can get with other phones. (this is sarcasm at it’s finest, btw) NO OTHER PHONE REACHES THE SIZE OF THE IPHONE, EXPANDABLE OR NOT.

I suppose the argument against memory may be rooted in iTunes users who feel that it would be a waste of a beautiful display to not be able to carry around very many movies with you. This is a valid argument, but this is a phone first. As I’ve stated, I could care less about the iPod features. In fact, just wait, because the next generation of iPods will be using the display technology of the iPhone in an 80-120GB unit.

The Rub
Is the iPhone the end all be all phone? No, of course not. Let’s be realistic. Does it have weaknesses? You bet. Still, I find it very interesting how high the bar is set for a little fruit company in Cupertino that only controls 5% of the desktops in the world. Why should anyone care what their product can or can’t do? I mean really? Buy they do. Apple has a legacy of great innovation and products. They didn’t invent the mouse any more than Al Gore invented the interwebs. But they did make it better. The iPhone is just the beginning. A catalyst of change. It will evolve and be copied by the rest, but it will always be the best.