iPhone thread

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by statdoc

I have a iPod Touch (essentially an iPhone that cannot make phone calls), and I see the attraction. Over the last several phones, I have gotten used to having a physical keyboard, and find I can't type on a piece of glass quite as well. I use my phone primarily as a messenging device (calls, texts and emails), rather than gaming, GPS, or the other uses. Blackberry's focus has always been messaging, with the other stuff as extra. I get the impression that many other smartphones seem to be focused on the other stuff, more than messaging. Am I wrong?

There is definitely something to be said about a physical keyboard. I had two HTC devices that had slide-out keyboards. They were very nice but I did find that they got temperamental over time. Maybe that's because they were slide-outs and that makes them a bit more prone to issues.

I think you are right that BB has always been more focused on being about business. I guess that's why they were/are the mainstay of many companies. If you want a physical keyboard then the iPhone is not for you but I find that the iPhone virtual KB is excellent; far more accurate and faster than the virtual KB on my HTC devices. You might be surprised. If you had to sit down and do lots of typing you could get a Bluetooth mini KB to go with an iPhone or handset that does not have a physical KB. I have really like the thinner profile of handsets without KB so I sort of forced myself to migrate and now I'm just used to it.

[statdoc]

Thanks for the insights, PNG. I guess I will just have to see what is available this summer. The beauty of it is that I will be free to move to another carrier if I want to do so, as well, so my options for new phones will be unlimited.

[Thunder22]

The HTC Thunberbolt will be out on VZW by month's end, 4G data and simultaneous voice, there are going to be a lot of buyers remorse for VZW iPhone buyers.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

The HTC Thunberbolt will be out on VZW by month's end, 4G data and simultaneous voice, there are going to be a lot of buyers remorse for VZW iPhone buyers.

Isn't Thunderbolt the same as Sprint Evo 4G? I could have gone to the Evo 4G but three things dissuaded me: Evo 4G is too big a phone to comfortable schlep around all day on my belt or in my pocket, as well as to hold; Sprint adding $10 a month per line for non-existent 4G service in my area; and my (and friends') bad track record with HTC handsets having about a 1 year effective life before they get really buggy and start breaking. Added 4th reason: I am an Apple fanboi. (Not really. Love Apple but main computer is a Win7 machine and love it. I enjoy being able to build my own rigs.)

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

Isn't Thunderbolt the same as Sprint Evo 4G? I could have gone to the Evo 4G but three things dissuaded me: Evo 4G is too big a phone to comfortable schlep around all day on my belt or in my pocket, as well as to hold; Sprint adding $10 a month per line for non-existent 4G service in my area; and my (and friends') bad track record with HTC handsets having about a 1 year effective life before they get really buggy and start breaking. Added 4th reason: I am an Apple fanboi. (Not really. Love Apple but main computer is a Win7 machine and love it. I enjoy being able to build my own rigs.)

I was talking about Verizon customers so the $10 uptick doesn't apply; it's about the same size as an iPhone; I haven't heard about HTC having issues, they're running Android 2.2 like other manufacturers, I was under the impression that the EVO was a huge seller for Sprint.

Here's a comparison of the EVO and Thunderbolt.

HTC Thunderbolt vs. HTC EVO 4G | Wirefly Learn

Regardless, I was really commenting on the Thunderbolt vs iPhone on VZW, it's a whole different situation on Sprint.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

I was talking about Verizon customers so the $10 uptick doesn't apply; it's about the same size as an iPhone; I haven't heard about HTC having issues, they're running Android 2.2 like other manufacturers, I was under the impression that the EVO was a huge seller for Sprint.

Here's a comparison of the EVO and Thunderbolt.

HTC Thunderbolt vs. HTC EVO 4G | Wirefly Learn

Regardless, I was really commenting on the Thunderbolt vs iPhone on VZW, it's a whole different situation on Sprint.

The Thunderbolt looks to be virtually the same as the Evo 4G except it has more RAM and more storage space built in. It's the same size as the 4G with a nice but overly large screen. Friends with the Evo 4G aren't getting great battery life so the T-Bolt's smaller capacity battery might be a negative.

The Evo has been a great seller for Sprint but then again, there isn't that much to choose from. The alternative for Sprint would be the Samsung Galaxy S, which is supposedly the best iteration of the Galaxy series. I liked the possibility of this handset because it has a full slide-out keyboard and the AMOLED display is really nice but it's a bit of a chunk in an age when thin is in.

I actually doubt there will be any buyer's remorse from recent VZ iPhone adopters like me. Price plans are the same (except the $3 a month visual VM feature is included with the iPhone) so that won't make anyone regret going with VZ. It seems to me that some people will want the larger screen of the T-Bolt or they might want the openness of Android. Some people will want the iPhone because it's, well, it's the iPhone. Having been in VZ stores a couple of times since the launch of the iPhone I can say they are doing brisk iPhone business but there are still some people who want BB or something like the Moto Droid 2 or X. I must say that VZ has a pretty good selection of smart phones right now.

Personally, I won't have buyer's remorse. I could have gone with what is essentially the T-Bolt but I have never liked the form factor of it. The thing is just too dang big! I know it's far from scientific but my experience with 6 HTC handsets running Windows Mobile and Android, friends' similar experience with HTC (Mogul, Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, Touch Pro 2, Hero, Incredible, Evo 4G battery life only so far) have me sworn off of their products.

[Thunder22]

All good PNG, but I was talking about the phones on VZW. But we can keep talking in parallel about Sprint if you like

One other factor that could result in buyers remorse on VZW is the rumored iphone 5 coming out this summer.

VZW is smart though, they're not releasing the Thunderbolt until > 30 days after the iPhone4 was released, so anyone that bought an iPhone on day 1 isn't eligible for Verizon's "try it for 30 days and return it if you don't like it" policy.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

All good PNG, but I was talking about the phones on VZW. But we can keep talking in parallel about Sprint if you like

One other factor that could result in buyers remorse on VZW is the rumored iphone 5 coming out this summer.

VZW is smart though, they're not releasing the Thunderbolt until > 30 days after the iPhone4 was released, so anyone that bought an iPhone on day 1 isn't eligible for Verizon's "try it for 30 days and return it if you don't like it" policy.

I am talking about VZ. I compared the T-Bolt to the Evo on Sprint because that it what it is. I don't think the T-Bolt will cause buyer's remorse on VZ. The iPhone 5 might but we jumped on the 4 for a handful of reasons, chief amongst them our HTC handsets acting crappy, but also because didn't want to wait until possible July, not buying into the hype, and a slight fear that VZ would follow AT&T's lead and eliminate unlimited data upon the release of the iPhone 5. It's pure guessing on my part but it seems that the industry has been very much incestuous as far as policies and when one company does something, others tend to follow. For example, VZ didn't have a restocking fee until AT&T instituted one, VZ used to have a 30 day return until AT&T went to 14 days, and now VZ also has the iPhone. I have absolutely no proof that the unlimited data plan could be eliminated by VZ but paranoia about that was another reason we made the leap now.

[sleepless]

Vz., LTE price is rumored to be around $15 on top of the $29 data plan......that's too much for me ..... I will stick with the new iphone

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by sleepless

Vz., LTE price is rumored to be around $15 on top of the $29 data plan......that's too much for me ..... I will stick with the new iphone

If that is what is going to happen, and I fully expect it to given Sprint's $10 4G surcharge and how the competition goes, then I too am fine with 3G. I can also see the possibility of ending unlimited data like AT&T.

Originally Posted by AlexK

Hopefully not - I don't want a larger display, the current one is PERFECT for a smartphone. If anyone needs anything larger - there's always an iPad

I totally agree. One of the reasons I went with iPhone 4 was that my other option was an Evo 4G and that thing is massive. It's not even comfortable in the hand. The form factor of the current iPhone is excellent. Even going to a 4" will take some of the good feeling the current version offers.