Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone?...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

The iPhone arrives tomorrow: I don’t like it already.

I’m not sure if you’re already aware, but Ewan has sent me a first generation iPhone for me to have a play around with. But also, I’m not too hung up on the device either!

I’ve mentioned this before (and no, I’m not complaining), but the iPhone really isn’t my cup of tea. I’m not that bothered about what people think of my mobile phone; I mean I was walking around with a Nokia 3200 until September last year. In fact, if my Nokia 3310 wasn’t dead, I would happily use that, with no care about its age or looks.

The iPhone to me, just screams “look at me, I’m expensive, and glamorous; come and feel my touch screen! You know you want too.” – And to put it bluntly, this isn’t me. My mobile has to be practical, and it has to do what a mobile should do, to a good standard, and importantly at a good price.

Okay, the iPhone may work well (I can’t yet vouch for that yet), but is it worth what you have to pay? And yes, I’m aware you can get iPhones for “free” on contracts; but does paying £75 for a contract sound like free to you? Or maybe more importantly, is it practical for a sixteen year old?

In simple terms that is a straight-forward no!

Then there is the fact it’s trying to be an MP3 player. I, unlike many people, do not like iPods. I once did, but after hearing the sound quality, and even having to endure using iTunes on my computer, I quickly realised what a horror it was. There is also the fact; I like to have separate devices for my MP3 Player and mobile.

I want my MP3 player to sound amazing, and my experience of listening to music on mobile phones, is horrible. I love my music, don’t get me wrong, but when I listen to it, I want it to sound good, not half-arsed, and distorted. iPods, as far as I have heard (and I’ve had the horrible pleasure of using and listening to quite a few), sound horrific. So surely it can’t sound much better as a mobile device either?

Then there are the applications. My mobile phone is used for texting, making calls, and for the radio when I’m out and about. I rarely use the internet due to the cost, and because Mobile sites drive me insane; and I don’t require much else. I like to have a camera in case I don’t have my Digital Camera on me, but that’s it really.

At tops my mobile phone requires a camera, a phone book, the ability to send and receive texts, calendar, FM Radio, Alarm and a torch.

Basically, I’m a normob at its best!

Maybe you can see why I don’t like the iPhone. It’s not because it’s crap (it may not be), but it’s because the iPhone isn’t a phone I require in my life. It draws too much attention to itself, and doesn’t suit my general purpose or needs. I don’t like phones which are designed purely to make other people, and their mobiles feel bad. Remember those cute Carphone adverts with the lonely phone? Well, I see the iPhone as the creator of that phone; it’s too brash and it tries to put other mobiles to shame.

Should I mention too, that I think it’s too big, the camera is wrongly positioned, and I don’t like touch-screens too?

However, despite this ramble which may just sound like a moan and it isn’t, I’m more than willing to admit that I’m wrong. I may be stubborn, but I will admit when I’m wrong. I want to see if the iPhone can win me over! Can I even be persuaded to buy myself one? Or, is it going to make me realise I was right, and in fact there are a collection of other annoyances about the device too?

Well, we’ll see in a couple of weeks, and see if I was wrong after all!

13 COMMENTS

  1. I appreciate you're tasked with giving a teenager's perspective so I'm not saying you're wrong, but amongst me and my colleagues (who I assure you are not the mega-rich rock star types we obviously come across as in the podcast!!!) a

  2. The iPhone is a fun device, but most of that fun comes from using it as a TV (BBC iPlayer), a radio (again BBC, but also Tuner, a cool Internet radio app), for music playback, Web browsing and gaming (I recommend Bejeweled, Bubble Bash and CritterCrunch).

    Based on your previous posts and your general phone usage I'm not convinced that you'll like the iPhone. However, if you start using it as more of a supplement to your regular PC and less like a 3200 you may find that there is quite a bit to like.

    One other thing… I know it sounds dead boring – and yes the video is kind of cheesy – but Apple's iPhone introduction video is the best way to learn many of it's functions;

    http://www.apple.com/iphone/guidedtour/

  3. Guess you haven't looked at iPhone resale values on eBay …

    I do understand your need to be on a budget for your phone contract, but I think you missed something in your assessment. 150 quid is the purchase price of the iPhone. Do you know what you'd have to pay out of you were buying a phone so that you can use it on PAYG?

  4. Arguing about the cost of any Apple device seems really strange. They differentiate themselves according to all sorts of criteria but cost isnt one of them.

  5. I suspect that you are in between markets right now. Any phone that suited your usage 6 months ago will quickly be way too limited in the information rich life at university (with ubiquitous WiFi). Sundenly in six months' time a small window onto the internet will be a godsend and money will become more available (and plans will be more affordable).

    Where you are, right now, I believe you when you say that the iPhone is a very heavy waste of space. In a year's time it may be great. Right now something light and disposable to ring and test friends is what you want.

    I am really enjoying your rants – a 16 year old who is content with the world quite frankly has their eyes shut. I am not content with the world either but I can use my money and skills to address it – to the point that I have been missing some big things out there. Thank you.

  6. It's not about worse value, it's about how much you're paying, and how much you're wasting. A new phone when it comes out always costs too much – you always get loads of people paying this premium price (it's what the networks want you to do), then after a couple of months the price drops. Eventually, it's all about penetration pricing, and targeting a specific segment.

    My view on it, is that the iPhone doesn't seem to do a lot of that, and that's because it's not competing. No other network has it, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of companies creating any rivalry. Due to this, the iPhone can be priced as high as it is, whether or not it is good or bad quality.

    As for the N95 – was there was much buzz about it?
    And also, I wouldn't buy that either.

    Samantha.

  7. It's not about worse value, it's about how much you're paying, and how much you're wasting. A new phone when it comes out always costs too much – you always get loads of people paying this premium price (it's what the networks want you to do), then after a couple of months the price drops. Eventually, it's all about penetration pricing, and targeting a specific segment.

    My view on it, is that the iPhone doesn't seem to do a lot of that, and that's because it's not competing. No other network has it, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of companies creating any rivalry. Due to this, the iPhone can be priced as high as it is, whether or not it is good or bad quality.

    As for the N95 – was there was much buzz about it?
    And also, I wouldn't buy that either.

    Samantha.

  8. It's not about worse value, it's about how much you're paying, and how much you're wasting. A new phone when it comes out always costs too much – you always get loads of people paying this premium price (it's what the networks want you to do), then after a couple of months the price drops. Eventually, it's all about penetration pricing, and targeting a specific segment.

    My view on it, is that the iPhone doesn't seem to do a lot of that, and that's because it's not competing. No other network has it, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of companies creating any rivalry. Due to this, the iPhone can be priced as high as it is, whether or not it is good or bad quality.

    As for the N95 – was there was much buzz about it?
    And also, I wouldn't buy that either.

    Samantha.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an HP LaserJet printer (version 3, if memory serves), I have been printing with an HP. Over the...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone? I'm asking because I'm thinking about what I should be doing. When I was living in Oman, I...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...