[zimbu1234]

I would most definitely need to get my hands on one and play with it before I ever A) even think about dealing with teh hassles of switching providers, and B) shell out $500 for this device. I love my Pearl and do not really use the multimedia stuff too much right now. Its for my work email, my phone, my internet on the go, and games. It does its job and I loooove the slim compact size.

That being said, I think the iPhone i spretty damn cool. I just looked at all the demos on the iPhone Apple site. It is sweet.

[phungy]

Let's see what RIM has in store to compete with the iPhone.

[barnolan]

Humm time will tell ultimately I don't think it is RIM that has to worry about the iPhone, but other Phone Makers that haven't got it right - like Motorola and thier two failed attempts at phone integration (ROKR and RAZR V3i). Or even that chocolate, if apple has done as well as they say the have then the portable media market, heavy texter (not email) users may be swayed by it.

[barnolan]

Further to my point, I just read the following on Engadget


The iPhone is not a smartphone

• No over the air iTunes Store downloads or WiFi syncing to your host machine.
• No expandable memory.
• No removable battery.
• No Exchange or Office support.

[Scud]

Not being 3G absolutely kills it in my eyes

[kurichan]

Originally Posted by barnolan

• No over the air iTunes Store downloads or WiFi syncing to your host machine.
• No expandable memory.
• No removable battery.
• No Exchange or Office support.

Wow. Apple is nuts. The battery is a deal killer for me. Flat out STUPID just like with the iPod. I hope they get burned for this. They should have learned.

That and the idea of a touch screen makes it tough for me to believe that it's a device I'd use.

But otherwise, the software/interface/functionality looks drop dead AMAZING.

[jd1225]

wow. the new iphone is going to set the industry on its ear. they have sone some incredible development. i'm not going to lie, i want it now.

[nrusso14]

The iPhone can iSuck it for all iCare. iWish apple could come up with something that didn't have the i in front of it. We get it. You had a clever device called the iMac. No need to put an i at the beggining of everything new you come out with. LOL iWonder if Steve Jobs had another kid...would he name it iJames or iLisa or something like that.

...iDigress. My pearl does everything i need it to and more. I've got Talladega Nights...on my phone...and can watch it anywhere I want. It's also a cell phone. I can make phone calls and receive them. I get my new emails when they're sent to me. The iPhone doesn't do push email, my blackberry does... My blackberry plays mp3's. It has a calendar. It plays movies. It has somewhat of a qwerty keyboard...

The only thing my phone doesn't do that I like in the iPhone is the Visual Voice mail. Being able to choose which Voice mails I want to hear, and skip over the others is pretty cool...but not something I'd spend $500 for. Jesus H.

[bobhammer]

I looked at the iphone.and then looked at my pearl....!! the iphone looks so sexy!

[muck]

imho nothing beats the good old buttons........
unless apple have a very special touch screen.. dialling, emailling, messaging could be hell......

edit.. looks bloody nice tho

[SanFrancisco]

Originally Posted by muck

imho nothing beats the good old buttons........
unless apple have a very special touch screen.. dialing, emailing, messaging could be hell......

edit.. looks bloody nice tho

You are right because IMHO the iPhone has a "not very special" touch screen keypad. I think it will be very difficult to type on those little touchscreen keys which occupy less than half of the display, meaning they are small[see below]. One is going to have to cautiously "hunt and peck" the keys to make sure he or she hits the intended key right on.

Moreover, since it will NOT have a removable battery or storage, I think these three things will be fatal to the iPhone as a business device and eventually panned by even the people who want it as a multi-media device/phone.

[phungy]

I'd have to try it out in person before deciding whether or not (even to switch but 99.9% positive I will not).

Seems like they are forcing those who are interested in the iPhone to switch to Cingular. Smart strategy.

An unlocked iPhone will be unlikely. Even those who have tried hacking OSX have had trouble. Also, Apple will most likely seek legal action if they find out someone unlocking the iPhone. Cingular has exclusive rights to sell the iPhone until 2009.

Screw the iPhone. I'm sticking with RIM.

[weegee]

Originally Posted by phungy

Also, Apple will most likely seek legal action if they find out someone unlocking the iPhone.

to that I say: Copyright Office rules that consumers can legally unlock cellphones - Engadget Mobile

[muck]

edit.. maybe hand written recognition could go a long way....

looks like the size is similar ot the 8800.. should be interesting...
i think it will target those wannabe ipod users.. over those using it for business... in australia anyway.. as data plans are very expensive.. 100mb for $30.. or thereabouts.. last time i checked...
and there isnt any unlimited plans available.. except for blackberry.. even then its not true unlimited as u need to go thru bis

[peterparker123]

I think this is going to be a wait and see thing. I'm sure that there will be early adopters but with apple I found that it is better to wait a bit. I am a recent convert to apple. Long time pc evangelist but had to move over to macbook pro because of the need for more design type of work. I love it. Love the design but it has some quirks. Like the heat issue and the fact that the release of new software for the intel chip has been slow. So I'm just going to wait and see. My 8700(Sprint) works really well. I wish it had some other features like a camera or see video or play music but when it comes down to it I just want a good phone that I can hear and they can hear me. And I want instant email. I love it when someone sends me an email to my sprint account and I receive it instantaneously.

Here is an interesting article from someone who had it in their hands. Some Hands-On Time With the iPhone - Bits - Technology - New York Times Blog

[phungy]

Originally Posted by weegee

to that I say: Copyright Office rules that consumers can legally unlock cellphones - Engadget Mobile

Cool! But unlocking OSX may be tough. We'll see.

[greggebhardt]

Originally Posted by phungy

Cool! But unlocking OSX may be tough. We'll see.

Cool!

[SirCharles]

I agree. The iPhone is one sweet-looking gadget.
But I don't see the business user switching over as easily.

But the creativity and design of the iPhone is ingenious. I can't wait to take a look at a live one.

I must say, if it was a little lower priced, I would jump on it.

[kathrynhr]

I think the best thing this device will do is force all the other phone makers to start thinking outside the box a little more in order to keep their customer base. I don't care for the touch screen implementation, but there are other features on the iPhone I do like, and I see other phone makers like RIM implementing the best of those user favorites on their own devices in the future.

Every time something new and cool comes out, we all benefit eventually.

[paulmac]

I tend to agree with some of the earlier posters. That is I doubt the iPhone will take over the world, (much like Apple Computers does not and never will dominate the PC world). But I can see someone like my daughter who currently has an IPOD and a Sidekick wanting one device that can do both. So the iPhone might be able to compete against danger\sidekick etc.

But I want to look toward the positive. Apple comming into the market might force the Windows OS based phones to get better, and could influence the entire smart phone market into some cool directions.

I guess time will tell