OK, so this isn’t a review…I haven’t gotten my grubby little fingers on one of these bad boys yet. It’s more of an opinion piece based on the documentation and initial reviews that are available. The premise: Is the iPhone worth waiting for days on end outside of a Mac store or AT&T store?
I say a very simple “no”. You may stop reading now.
But wait! There’s more! I still think that the iPhone is revolutionary in the same way the original Macintosh, the iMac, and the iPod were revolutionary before it. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that make me want to sit this one out. For now.
The device is revolutionary in that it almost reinvents the smartphone. It’s also revolutionary in the way that it’s bringing the smartphone to the masses. Those of you who know me know that I carry a BlackBerry Pearl (review forthcoming), and I believe that prior to the iPhone, this was the most valiant attempt to accomplish this feat. But it still has a WAP internet browser that’s good for little more than showing your friends that “Hey…I can actually get on the internet with this thing…sweet, huh?” Getting useful information from the internet is slow and clunky. Note: That’s where Google SMS comes in, but that’s also another topic for another day.
Focus! iPhone!
The reasons why I’m NOT rushing out to buy an iphone are simple. First, it’s only AT&T, and that’s bothersome, especially considering the fastest data network they have to offer is EDGE. Second, it’s not capable of sending MMS, which frankly, I can’t comprehend on any level. And finally, it only offers a maximum 8GB of storage…which is paltry when you consider the possibility of this becoming your only portable device. How can I replace a 20GB iPod with an 8GB iPhone?
But then again, for most of you, these issues may not be all that bad. The iPhone does have WiFi, so that little slow EDGE network problem won’t be a problem at all if you’re anywhere near a hotspot. And if you don’t use MMS (picture mail, audio “texts”, etc…) often or at all, being able to email your pictures to your friends will be quite enough for you, thank you very much. As for the 8GB…that’s easily 500 songs, 1,000 pictures, and 12 or 20 videos or movies. Not too shabby for a phone, eh?
Even so, there’s one final consideration to my refusal to wait in line to buy one. And that’s the First Generation Factor.
The first generation of any technology is often eclipsed in wow factor by the second. Not to mention the fact that there’s usually bugs galore to be worked out. And maybe most importantly? The price tag will drop. Oh yes…it will drop.
So, considering all of that, my plan is to wait at least a year to plunk down the cash for my Psychedelic Handheld Computer iPhone Machine.
Or I might forego getting a tattoo for a while and go buy one tonight…because let’s face it. iPhone’s are freaking cool.