Talk me out of buying the iPhone?

[fuzzybabybunny]

Been with SERO for three years, and its $30/month price is the ONLY thing holding me back from going AT&T because the iPhone has nearly everything I need and the WinMo phones are just so mind-numbingly horrible at times.

I love the great finger friendly UI of the iPhone.
I love the myriad apps.
I love the huge capacity and great media player built in.
I love how everything just WORKS.
I love how everything just seems to be more thought out and implemented better than WinMo.

I'm right at the brink here. Currently using a HTC Touch Pro which is an absolutely shitty phone. Sure, I can upgrade to the Touch Pro 2, but that's another $500 for a phone that probably still wouldn't work as well as the iPhone.

Ugggg... I'm torn. On the one hand I love SERO but on the other hand I'm almost at my limit of dealing with bad WM phones and bad WM OS.

 

[uli2000]

What about the Hero, the new Android based phone?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: uli2000
What about the Hero, the new Android based phone?

I'm a little bit wary of using anything but WinMo, Apple, and maybe Palm due to the availability of programs. I don't think Android has the array of programs yet?

1. I need a GPS with maps stored on the phone in the event I'm driving in remote areas and I don't have cell signal.

2. I need a good tethering program or something that allows my phone to be used as a router.

3. Remote desktop app a must.

 

[Dangerer]

If money is absolutely no factor at all then you should definitely move to AT&T for the iPhone since it seems you would benefit greatly from working with an OS you enjoy. Me personally I would hold onto SERO for dear life. $30 a month is absolutely ridiculous for a cell phone plan in this day and age. The new TP2 is very sleak as is the upcoming Hero. You should definitely head down to the Sprint store and demo them.

This is from my point of view as someone who isn't really a fan of Apple.

 

[zerocool84]

You really need to think about coverage. Sprint's 3G coverage is worlds better than AT&T's. I could link to tests if you really want me to. It's ok to get the phone but I know too many people that get pissed cus they don't get 3G in LA areas and some of them even use a MiFi and carry it with them cus AT&T has such crappy 3G coverage compared to Verizon/Sprint. Also there's the Palm Pre. It's a great alternative to the iPhone that does a many things better than it. Granted you wouldn't be able to stay with the SERO plan but you'd still pay less than you would with a similar plan on AT&T and still get much better 3G coverage. Also the Touch Pro 2 really is infinitely better than the first one. You really need to check one out.

 

[erwos]

Why not stay on SERO and use one of those "make your phone a WiFi hotspot" programs to use an iPod Touch?

 

[zerogear]

I agree, if you're on SERO, there is no point in moving to a inferior service. I agree on the iPod Touch/MiFi if you really want the interface. You can't get Palm Pre on SERO?

 

[soulcougher73]

Originally posted by: zerogear
I agree, if you're on SERO, there is no point in moving to a inferior service. I agree on the iPod Touch/MiFi if you really want the interface. You can't get Palm Pre on SERO?

Nope no Pre on SERO. The TP2 and Hero will be on SERO though. Im waiting for them to hit the stores here. I think both will be great phones. Im leaning Hero just because of Android, but ill have to demo them both in stores before i decide.

 

[2canSAM]

What exactly are your complaints about the Touch Pro. I use one and love it, it does everything I need. Have you dabbled in custom ROMS any? I have played around with some buddies iphones and while they are nice, I'll take my Touch Pro any day. Granted I do have a custom ROM flashed to mine though but even stock I was well pleased. I would not let go of SERO either. Oh and for the everything just works comment. I have seen 3 friends iphones just lock up for no reason with the white screen of death and getting them replaced was quite an ordeal.

 

[her209]

$200 phone w/ 2 year contract
$70 per month

$200 + $70 x 24 = $1,880*

* Does not include activation fee, various telecom fees, surcharges, phone accessories, etc.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I absolutely dislike apple/macs, but i've had an iphone for about 2 years. I JUST got onto AT&T 2-3 weeks ago and I am glad. It's worth the extra premium for me, since I used my iphone constantly.

Personally, I would say get it, I like the iphone a lot.

 

[FireChicken]

Originally posted by: her209
$200 phone w/ 2 year contract
$70 per month

$200 + $70 x 24 = $1,880*

* Does not include activation fee, various telecom fees, surcharges, phone accessories, etc.

+10/mo if you want GPS and + 10/month if you want voice activated dialing.

I think ATT network is just impacted (with prolly iphone users). My buddy has the iphone here at work and he HAS to use wifi to get any internet. Sprint G3 here pulls about 400kbps so I can use either.

You can try the TP2 for 30 days and if you dont like it you can return it. Just keep it in pristine condition.

The thing with the iphone is that it works grat right out of the box. The TP2 takes some tweaking to get it to work like i wanted it to. But it wasnt hard to do that.

 

[pm]

Originally posted by: FireChicken

Originally posted by: her209
$200 phone w/ 2 year contract
$70 per month

$200 + $70 x 24 = $1,880*

* Does not include activation fee, various telecom fees, surcharges, phone accessories, etc.

+10/mo if you want GPS and + 10/month if you want voice activated dialing.

These aren't true. Voice activated dialing is included with the iPhone 3GS by default - just hold down the home key and then say the name of whom you want to call.

And the GPS is included as well, but it's $10/month more if you want AT&T Navigator. If you use Google Maps then it's free. Or you can get any one of the other 8 other GPS map apps for rates between $30 to $100 and no monthly fee.
[/quote]


Back to the OP's question... it's a matter of money. If you have the money, then buy what you want and go with it. I had a $45/month (inc. unlimited data) family plan on T-Mobile and jumped ship over to AT&T to get the iPhone and now I'm paying ~$90/month (inc. corporate discount) for the same plan. On the one hand, I'm paying twice as much as before and that's a bit painful. But I also am very pleased with the iPhone and the 3G service on AT&T is markedly faster than the EDGE data on T-Mobile. I don't regret changing, but definitely I used to like getting my bill from T-Mobile more than I like this new one from AT&T.

 

[Slick5150]

I went to AT&T to get an iPhone as well. Had it for about 4 months before finally bailing on it. AT&Ts network is HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE. The iPhone can do many things, but successfully making a phone call was often not one of them. Also, the iPhone's ability to only do one thing at once is extremely limiting.

I switched to a Palm Pre w/ Sprint and am FAR happier with that. It does have an unofficial tethering app (Palm doesn't care about homebrew apps, they're fine with it) that works great (it can share your EVDO over its WiFi connection, so you can connect your laptops or whatever to the phone and use its internet connection). Its GPS program is great (though it doesn't store the maps locally.. I don't think ANY phone does that, including the iPhone, though I admittedly could be completely wrong about that).

Plus with Sprint's new Anytime Mobile plans, everything is WAY cheaper than AT&T. Especially with the 25% off discount on my monthly service I get. My total bill after taxes and whatnot for their Everything 400 plan (400 minutes (only counts when calling landlines), unlimited data, unlimited texts) is $57.xx

 

[Deeko]

Touch Pro 2 is a much better phone than the Touch Pro - and will be ugpraded to WinMo 6.5 shortly. 6.5 isn't a game-changing OS, but its worlds better than 6.1, especially considering finger-friendliness.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

AT&T Navigator is a sorry excuse for navigation. I'd rather spend $99 on Tomtom.

 

[FireChicken]

Originally posted by: pm

Originally posted by: FireChicken

Originally posted by: her209
$200 phone w/ 2 year contract
$70 per month

$200 + $70 x 24 = $1,880*

* Does not include activation fee, various telecom fees, surcharges, phone accessories, etc.

+10/mo if you want GPS and + 10/month if you want voice activated dialing.

These aren't true. Voice activated dialing is included with the iPhone 3GS by default - just hold down the home key and then say the name of whom you want to call.

And the GPS is included as well, but it's $10/month more if you want AT&T Navigator. If you use Google Maps then it's free. Or you can get any one of the other 8 other GPS map apps for rates between $30 to $100 and no monthly fee.

Back to the OP's question... it's a matter of money. If you have the money, then buy what you want and go with it. I had a $45/month (inc. unlimited data) family plan on T-Mobile and jumped ship over to AT&T to get the iPhone and now I'm paying ~$90/month (inc. corporate discount) for the same plan. On the one hand, I'm paying twice as much as before and that's a bit painful. But I also am very pleased with the iPhone and the 3G service on AT&T is markedly faster than the EDGE data on T-Mobile. I don't regret changing, but definitely I used to like getting my bill from T-Mobile more than I like this new one from AT&T.

Didnt know that was included. I was just looking at the att plan and they said they charge (I misquoted) 4.99 for voice dial.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
AT&T Navigator is a sorry excuse for navigation. I'd rather spend $99 on Tomtom.

I use the TeleNav software (Sprint Navigation) and haven't had any problems with the software at all.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: DLeRium
AT&T Navigator is a sorry excuse for navigation. I'd rather spend $99 on Tomtom.

I use the TeleNav software (Sprint Navigation) and haven't had any problems with the software at all.

Yeah. Sprint Navigation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AT&T Navigator.

I gave my GPS to a friend once I got my Pre because in the limited times I actually need a GPS, Sprint Navigation was able to serve that purpose very well.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: DLeRium
AT&T Navigator is a sorry excuse for navigation. I'd rather spend $99 on Tomtom.

I use the TeleNav software (Sprint Navigation) and haven't had any problems with the software at all.

Well the software isn't THAT bad itself, and can compare to garmin/tomtom, but the fact that you have to shell out $10 a month for subscription service? That's terrible. It's because they don't load all 1.5gb of maps onto your phone and you're paying for the maps.

To me it's a scam when they want me to pay for that because GPS use by default is a cost-free thing. To charge me a subscription service for maps that really should be a one time thing is dumb. I'm really against these time-limited services. Like virus scan where you pay for a license period? WTF is that? Sure I guess they're making you pay for the update service, but you should be able to run what you have indefinitely.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: DLeRium
AT&T Navigator is a sorry excuse for navigation. I'd rather spend $99 on Tomtom.

I use the TeleNav software (Sprint Navigation) and haven't had any problems with the software at all.

Well the software isn't THAT bad itself, and can compare to garmin/tomtom, but the fact that you have to shell out $10 a month for subscription service? That's terrible. It's because they don't load all 1.5gb of maps onto your phone and you're paying for the maps.

To me it's a scam when they want me to pay for that because GPS use by default is a cost-free thing. To charge me a subscription service for maps that really should be a one time thing is dumb. I'm really against these time-limited services. Like virus scan where you pay for a license period? WTF is that? Sure I guess they're making you pay for the update service, but you should be able to run what you have indefinitely.

Don't you have to pay for map updates with the TomTom app as well?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Try one, if you don't like it return it during the grace period.

iPhones rock, you'll be hooked for life.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Try one, if you don't like it return it during the grace period.

iPhones rock, you'll be hooked for life.

Yep. You have a month to try it. The at&t network might be an issue for you, but unless you know someone else on at&t that hangs out in the same places that you do, it's the only way you will really know.

Originally posted by: her209
Don't you have to pay for map updates with the TomTom app as well?

No, they are included.

This is the Nav app to get,IMO. Real time traffic FTW.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: her209
Don't you have to pay for map updates with the TomTom app as well?

No, they are included.

Are they? link

Though it lacks many advanced features, TomTom for the iPhone is still a decent piece of software. Despite its high initial price and expensive map updates, it?s not much different in cost from a network-based GPS service. If you already own an iPhone 3G or 3GS, TomTom software will cost you less than an in-car navigation unit. And it?s a much better fit for your pockets.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: her209
Don't you have to pay for map updates with the TomTom app as well?

No, they are included.

Are they? link

Though it lacks many advanced features, TomTom for the iPhone is still a decent piece of software. Despite its high initial price and expensive map updates, it?s not much different in cost from a network-based GPS service. If you already own an iPhone 3G or 3GS, TomTom software will cost you less than an in-car navigation unit. And it?s a much better fit for your pockets.

They don't really say... See #12