Should i Phone?

[bigshotprof]

I am planning to buy an iPhone soon, because my contract is expiring, but just in the last couple of days I have heard horror stories about low signal, dropped calls and horrid battery life.

Sooooo, whaddaya think?

[tokenuser]

As an Apple share holder, I would say "Hell yeah ... its the best thing since sliced bread."

As a realist that uses an aging Blackberry on a Verizon network (and is waiting patiently for the Blackberry Thunder to come out), I will say - don't do it.

Who is your current carrier? You will get a much better and more reliable connection using Verizon ... and if you are interested in mobile data, you can tether your Blackberry to a laptop and get broadband (OK, lowend DSL) quality speed out of it (I use it extensively when I travel as a cellular modem).

[comhcinc]

it seems to me that if you want to look cool you get an iphone, if you want to get things done you get a blackberry.

[mikec]

I am in the same boat. I am on AT&T, have no contract and want to move up to a smart or smarter phone then I have now. I will not go back to Verizon, they pissed me off once too many times. Argg. Aren't the second generation devices supposed to be better then 1st gen??

[tokenuser]

I am in the same boat. I am on AT&T, have no contract and want to move up to a smart or smarter phone then I have now. I will not go back to Verizon, they pissed me off once too many times. Argg. Aren't the second generation devices supposed to be better then 1st gen??Better as in more features, but there are a lot of reports of software issues and poor reception (compared to other 3G devices). Wait a month if you can.

[darknessgp]

...
Who is your current carrier? You will get a much better and more reliable connection using Verizon ... .

I think that is bad advice, unless you know exactly where he lives. I have a few friends that live in a dead zone for everyone but ATT, so anything else is not really an option. Also, I'm in Oklahoma, and although Verizon covers a lot of the state, there are only a handfull of actual stores selling for Verizon and I don't think there are any corporate stores... it's not very accessible..

As for coverage, check each places site. Also, I've heard a lot of complaints about the iPhone switching from 3G to Edge, back and forth a lot because of people living and working on the edge (no pun intended) of their 3G coverage. This generally results in dropped calls, less battery life, and the appearance of low signal (low on 3G but high on Edge)

As for an experience with the iPhone, my friend has one and says the phone aspect to it is on par with every phone he has ever had. No more dropped calls then he's gotten with other phones. No low signal where other phones on the same network were high. Battery life is actually better than other 3G phones, but people see it as bad because overall 3G phones have less battery life then 2G phones, but that is with the tech not the phone...

Anyways, my point is everything should be taken with a grain of salt. Whether it is good or bad. Signal is VERY dependent on where you actually are. Which then corresponds with dropped calls and battery life if you are on the edge of the 3G network and the phone is having to regularly switch between Edge and 3G. If possible, find someone who has one. Ask them what they think about it, ask if you can make a few calls, etc. Just don't believe everything on the internet.

I'm also considering getting an iPhone. I've been going back and forth about it. Unlike what comhcinc thinks, I actually want it so I can always have some music with me that doesn't sound shitty, a browser, etc. Yea, I could get a blackberry, but why? It's a business device, I'm not looking for a business phone.

[tokenuser]

I think that is bad advice, unless you know exactly where he lives. I have a few friends that live in a dead zone for everyone but ATT, so anything else is not really an option. Also, I'm in Oklahoma, and although Verizon covers a lot of the state, there are only a handfull of actual stores selling for Verizon and I don't think there are any corporate stores... it's not very accessible..Before anyone does the "iPhone Availability" lookup at the Apple web site, I recommend they do an "3G Availability" lookup at the AT&T coverage website.

Despite living 5 miles from a major university campus, surrounded by a high tech research park, I am in an AT&T black hole for EDGE (let alone HSDPA access). All my iPhone dev is happening using a iPod touch and an emulator.

Verizon signal isn't strong here either - but will pull and hold an EVDO link ... despite not officially bein in an EVDO area (it ends officially about a mile from where I live).

[bigshotprof]

Regarding carriers, since I have to tack on 3 other phones (family plan), Verizon becomes almost prohibitively expensive--about 60 more than ATT. T-Mobile sucks like a thousand dollar whore--both phones and service. And ATT is the one that's left. I want extensive web service, but it's not really a "business" phone--I had a b-berry and didn't use its networking apps much. I am leaning toward the LG VU, which is sort of a non-touch/ stylus version of the iPhone.

[kahunablair]

I was a T-Mobile customer for 7 and a half years. I loved their service here in South Jersey.
I made the switch to AT&T so that I could get the original iPhone. The service isn't bad. I've never had a dropped call, and the places I had finicky reception in seem to be the same as everyone else I know, regardless of providers.
If I could, I'd definetly switch back to T-Mobile if they offered the iPhone though.

Speaking on the iPhone itself, I can't really say a whole lot about the 3g, since I don't have it. I can tell you I'm in love with my iPhone. I've had Blackberrys, Nokias, Motorolas, Samsungs, and LGs (I know, I'm a gadget whore). This is far and above my favorite phone. Battery life is fine. If you spend all day on it, listening to music, surfing online, and making calls, you need to recharge at night. Nothing that is too isane.
I know I'm going to sound like a Mac fanboy, but before the iPhone all I owned from Apple was an iPod. The iPhone impressed me so much that I turned around and bought a MacBook Pro.

[radzack]

I've had a range of phones, iPhone trumps all hands down. Not from a loyalist point of view, but from a realist point of view. Look at it this way. If you want your mobile experience to have all the capabilities of a cool smart phone, get the iphone. If you want to feel like browsing on a computer while mobile (as opposed to actually using a laptop) get the iphone. If you want to have access to the soon (sorry, nda) to come cool gaming experiences and capabilities, get the iphone. The iphone has upgrades and lots of 3rd party support...only coming in at 199.99...you'd be foolish to get anything else. It just depends what you are looking for. Hope this helps.

[darknessgp]

... I am leaning toward the LG VU, which is sort of a non-touch/ stylus version of the iPhone.

I believe you mean non-multi-touch. You can certainly use your finger where it is common to use a stylus.

I do agree, the Vu looks like a very good phone.

[bigshotprof]

Thank you all.