IPhone... a bles or a curse?

[fduijts]

Hi,

I'm just being curious. What do you think about the Iphone in regard to elimination? Sure after reading the 4HWW and reading on the site we all know the smart phones are not so smart for elimination and buffering tasks. Yet the Iphone is like any new gadget, it looks so sweet to have. But is it really?

Hell, I'm even thinking of buying one myself. Do I need one? No not really...

[nghs22]

do you NEED one? no. i didn't. no one does. i love mine though. It hasn't eliminated anything, but who cares?!?!

Dude, Tim Ferris is not a god. It's not like whatever he says you must do or you are destined to fail. I enjoy reading about news from all over the world online, checking stocks, etc, and I do it. Elimination be damned in that regard because it makes me happy.

If you want a iPhone go get one. I have one and the suckers are as badass as they come. If an iPhone causes you to lose control of your ability to manage time and tasks, then you really need to ask yourself some questions mate.

[badhank]

Just as nghs22 said

also, it really depends on how you use it. you use this device to read email, browse web sites,make calls, take picture, play music, etc etc you have "eliminated" the the many previous devices you used to do all those.... all about perspective.

[Stallion]

I think people buy the iPhone (and other Apple products) for ego issues, more than practicality. It's pretty apparent when it's overpriced, blatantly steals the design from a competitor, lower quality and does less, yet people LOVE IT. IT'S SO UBER GOOD AND HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE FEATURES.

I was watching some guy do a review on tv for the Canadian launch of it. He showed a "WICKED COOL" feature of looking at the results from a catscan. I can't remember what the name of this type of image thing. But he could show it on his cell phone.

I was thinking the whole time "holy shit. That's uber cool. Since I get so many damn catscans done, I can have the doctor email it to me and I can show it off to my friends on my uber cool iphone. Once and for all the age long question of who has more tumors in their skull will be answered."

I can't wait until Apple releases the iPhone Bowel Movement Addon. It'll be UBER SWEET.

Dude, Tim Ferris is not a god.
Yeah, Steve Jobs is the GOD !!!!

[nghs22]

many people probably think so :)

[badhank]

I think people buy the iPhone (and other Apple products) for ego issues, more than practicality. It's pretty apparent when it's overpriced, blatantly steals the design from a competitor, lower quality and does less, yet people LOVE IT.

some ppl dont mind spending $1700 as a fashion statement

[zhongguohua88]

You should get this kind of phones (http://www.vertu.com/) if all you care is about the esthetic of the phone. If you care about the functions, get a Blackberry or a Nokia.

[kamakiri]

Think about what you need from a cell phone then look for a product that fits. This is my phone:

http://www.thinktheearth.net/jp/gz_one/images/gzone_front.jpg
It rules. It is actually an old model, and I haven't upgraded because I have had no reason to. It has a camera, GPS, is waterproof, connects to my PC for backups, and gets coverage over 98% of Japan.

It isn't really a fashion statement either (although it is pretty cool (http://ascii24.com/news/i/hard/article/2005/05/26/656067-000.html)). I tend to break cell phones. They fall into sauce, sit in your pocket at the exact right height that the corners of my prep tables are, or get tossed across the office. This one has free insurance so I have no worries at all.

[TimW]

Yeah, Steve Jobs is the GOD !!!!

No. Lemmy is God.

[nghs22]

Think about what you need from a cell phone then look for a product that fits. This is my phone:

http://www.thinktheearth.net/jp/gz_one/images/gzone_front.jpg
It rules. It is actually an old model, and I haven't upgraded because I have had no reason to. It has a camera, GPS, is waterproof, connects to my PC for backups, and gets coverage over 98% of Japan.

It isn't really a fashion statement either (although it is pretty cool (http://ascii24.com/news/i/hard/article/2005/05/26/656067-000.html)). I tend to break cell phones. They fall into sauce, sit in your pocket at the exact right height that the corners of my prep tables are, or get tossed across the office. This one has free insurance so I have no worries at all.

Japan has superior phones to the u.s.

[kamakiri]

True, I couldn't believe the junk phones my family had. No idea why the US market doesn't have better phones. It is not like no one is making them either.

[fduijts]

I'm going to buy an Iphone, but not because it's a fashion statement. The price isn't an issue either cause I'll buy it on a business subscription: 25,17 euro pm. This is the same I'm paying now (pre-paid every month) for my current phone that hassen't got any insurance, no internet or anything like it.

Then why am I buying an Iphone? First of all you guys are right, of course Tim isn't a god. I currently have a macbook that I love to work with. I don't know much about computers and my windows based laptop crashed every two months or so (probably cause of me). The Iphone automatically synchronizes with it and enables me to work remotely. You can do the same with a normal phone and a windows computer I guess, but I don't want to have the trouble of setting it all up or worrying about it possible going wrong. I don't need to check email every minute or so, but now I won't need to be behind my computer that one time a week to see if I have emails. Last, but not least: i just like that damn thing.

Thanks for all you guys

[jetpacklife]

$1700? I paid $350 for my iphone with no contract (much cheaper than what it replaces). unlocked it and have had loved it since. I'm sure there are lots on ebay. You probably don't need a 3g.

Elimination: It eliminated a laptop and charger on trips, a separate cell phone, a camera, maps, ipod and a notepad.

If you don't filter your phone calls or batch your email, you probably should. That says nothing about what device you use though. You can certainly turn the thing off when you're not using it.

[badhank]

1700 was for the other products, like a laptop

[Crickwat]

I think people will buy the iPhone just to add to their collection. It looks heavy and the camera is not that good. I would go for a phone which is light weight and has the essential features. The Nokia series are much better.

[Psytherium]

I have had an iPhone since the price drop from 600 to 400. I sold my ipod for $200, so the phone only cost me $200. It was one of the best purchases I've made. I'm not an Apple fanboy-I've built my own pcs since I was in 7th grade (I'm 22 now) and have never owned a Mac. My first Apple product was a 30gb video ipod, so I wasn't even on the ipod bandwagon. But I tell you what-I absolutely love my iPhone.

I use it so much throughout the day as a music device, a web browser, txting to twitter to respond to friends, using maps if I'm on the road and want to find a new restaurant, the occasional youtube video, etc. The user experience is just amazing. I had a Blackberry for several months before I got the iPhone, and the experience just doesn't compare. I now have the 3G iPhone, and it didn't cost me any extra except for the extra per month cost because I sold my (cracked) iphone on ebay for $200 one week before the 3G iPhone came out.

Now to those thinking people buy it because of ego or as a status symbol: I'm sure some do, but I did not. I can tell you, though, that having one does "feel" good, or at least towards the beginning when they were really new. I just felt awesome when I could bust out my iPhone back in November when I went to web conference in NYC and I could find restaurants on the fly while walking the streets.

Anyways, it's a great phone and the price is great for what you get-a good phone, visual voicemail, an ipod, an amazing mobile web experience, and much more. To anyone who doesn't have one or hasn't used one, you just can't understand.

[DaveCraige.com]

(clicking on the quick reply button every time is getting annoying)


the iphone is a time saver.

you can use www.mint.com to check your finances.

and amazon.com has a new APP on the iphone that makes it so easy to pick up stuff you need. just one click and it'll show up at your house in a few days. reduce your shopping time

[Livingit]

Its practical for me. I run a service based internet business, so I can only separate myself from email and web access for so long when traveling. With the Iphone I can unlock it, get service in the country of my choice, grab wifi and tether the iphone to my laptop for internet connection, or use skype.

[nghs22]

I love mine

[webgal]

Well, I just got a macbook pro to sit next to the older pc and I might consider it. I love the way everything syncs up so easily whereas it's such a struggle with a pc. I don't want to get calls while I'm out and I don't want the extra weight. But I go back and forth on that issue. I might like a smaller iPhone that does less.

[sub8hr]

I'm not so big on smart phones. I recently had the corporate blackberry penetrode removed from my brain and couldn't be happier.

[cjbarton]

I got rid of my iPhone for two reasons: I was tired of having email coming in every 5 minutes (and feeling obligated to look at it), and AT&T's coverage was pretty poor where I needed it.

So, I got a cell phone and wireless modem through Cricket. The combined bill for that is still less than what I was paying for my iPhone and I get more of everything and unlimited internet with my laptop.

I just recently bought an iPod Touch because I did miss all the other functions that the iPhone gave me. This time, though, I didn't setup any email accounts on it. I've got a pretty good system down now. I only check my email once in the morning, at lunch, then once when I get home.

Granted, it's a small step, but one in the right direction. It's really nice.

[David_D]

I might like a smaller iPhone that does less.

iphone nano anyone?

I love my iphone... shiney shiney....

But I do have the auto push turned off for email...

[Adguru]

I have an iphone and i have deleted all the useless apps. I use it mostly to watch videos/listen to music and of course call people ;-)

[webgal]

I'm still thinking about it. I don't want email but I have a mac and love how easily the calendar syncs up.

[Adguru]

I'm still thinking about it. I don't want email but I have a mac and love how easily the calendar syncs up.

FYI you can turn off the e-mail functionality on your iphone and still use the outlook calendar.

[webgal]

And that is precisely what I would do.

[Free4Family&Community]

I have decided to get an iphone to save me time. I have to go home every so often to check my email message & use the internet for my jobs.

I will be able to do things while out and about.
Check emails, do online food shopping, check out books online when I see them in the shops, Id products info & prices to allow me to negotiate better in shops when making a purchase, Watch programs & read forums during dead time when my son is playing in the park,

That means when I come home I will not have to spend ages onthe internet catching up with things. I will then spend the time with my family.

I see the iphone as a mini remote computer.

[tedpenner]

This is probably bad advice because I have yet to escape the 9-5. I see the iPhone as a huge benefit in my life. I real often fill 'empty spaces' of time that I would be otherwise entirely unproductive (see David Allen - Getting Things Done) with productive tasks. I like Tim's approach to email. There is no reason I can see that one couldn't modify his message to say, I will be at my 'real computer' only between xyz. The iPhone message reads, sent from my iPhone. I'm sure I don't have as much email as some though so that might not work for you.

[sadu]

I like the idea of filling in pockets of wasted time with some useful task. I take my Eee PC with my to doctors appointments etc and the 10 mins waiting time is no longer an issue because yvu can use it productively. The Eee PC has the advantage that it can run proper Windows apps - I can update websites, do small scale graphics work, or deal with those annoying requests that have survived the elimination stick over the last week.

[webgal]

I just bought the iphone. I have email but the bell that alerts me is turned off. I don't peruse email but it has been helpful when I forgot to write down the address of somewhere I'm going and I can access an email with the info. I'm not tied to in in a crackberry way at all.

I like the app that allows you to d then you can leave yourself a speaker memo. So when I'm out and remember something, I can leave a message to myself. That has saved me a number of wasted trips. For instance, I have a reminder to cut off the fax line I'm paying $30 for. Now that I have that reminder, I got it done.

When I go to NY, I'm leaving the computer home and will have internet access to the subway system and all sorts of venues I want to visit. That way I can make the most of the time I have in the city.

I really am not a phone person to begin with and it's only a tool to me. I am not into being on the phone all the time. I have sort of a phonaphobia to be honest.

[clanshrapnel]

As for the usefulness of iphone, seems like a lot of people swear by it (my friends, too), but seems I can do without it. The few times it comes in handy, you can always call a friend by their computer or take a few extra steps to make sure you're prepared.

[webgal]

His other posts are not spam. I remove enough of it from this forum. I'm not going to micro moderate. Marcie has already removed the link.

[padma]

I just bought the iphone. I have email but the bell that alerts me is turned off. I don't peruse email but it has been helpful when I forgot to write down the address of somewhere I'm going and I can access an email with the info. I'm not tied to in in a crackberry way at all.

I like the app that allows you to d then you can leave yourself a speaker memo. So when I'm out and remember something, I can leave a message to myself. That has saved me a number of wasted trips. For instance, I have a reminder to cut off the fax line I'm paying $30 for. Now that I have that reminder, I got it done.

When I go to NY, I'm leaving the computer home and will have internet access to the subway system and all sorts of venues I want to visit. That way I can make the most of the time I have in the city.

I really am not a phone person to begin with and it's only a tool to me. I am not into being on the phone all the time. I have sort of a phonaphobia to be honest.

Glad to see another person joining the crew :)

I love my iPhone. It has changed the way I do business and has also made me money. I can respond to customer inquiries, return client emails, and do a million other things that I couldn't before. This is the first Apple product I've ever purchased, but it is good enough to make me consider buying more.