50 reasons not to buy an iPhone
The much-anticipated Apple iphone goes on sale in the UK on November 9. No doubt there will be hordes of Apple fans queuing outside Carphone Warehouse and outlets of O2 mobile – the smug operator which secured the contract to become the only supplier in Britain.
But does the new phone deliver or is it all just a load of hype? And will it retain its gloss for the duration of an expensive 18-month contract. Frankly, I don’t think so, but here are 50 other things you should consider before parting with your cash:
1. The handset is expensive. It’s even got Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, chuckling over it like an over excited schoolboy. Unlike some of the other top phones out there, you can’t get the iPhone for free even if you pay the top tariff price of £55 a month. You have to pay an up-front fee of £269. Over 18-months, that adds up to a whopping £1,259.
2. Compare these prices with say T-mobile’s Flext 35 Web n Walk max tariff. For £32.50 a month, you get 450 free calls and 900 texts a month as well as “unlimited” internet surfing. You also get the feature rich Nokia N95 handset for free – costing you a total of £610.98 over 18 months. Don’t just take my word for it. Check out the analysis here by the technology website Cnet.
3. If you’re still determined to get an iPhone, you could of course try innovative ways to raise the money like begging on the street like this guy.
4. But once you have the money, you may end up having to queue like this.
5. When you do get it, you may find the phone's specification to be worse than the phone you replaced it with. Instead of allowing customers to use the latest mobile internet infrastructure which traditional operators have paid billions to establish, the Apple iPhone uses a slow mobile data service called EDGE. The phone works on a 2.5-generation network rather than the current 3.5-generation, making it at least four times slower than your current handset. Perhaps they don’t want the iPhone to be too perfect in case it becomes a religious cult and displaces traditional religious figures.
6. Apple would argue that it does offer free wi-fi internet access in over 7,500 hotspots around Britain, but if you live outside of urban centres, this isn’t going to be any good for you. Rob Mead of Tech.co.uk, says that Edge has only 30 per cent coverage in the UK.
7. The battery life is a bit rubbish part 1. One of the reasons Apple gives for the slower internet speed is to increase the battery life. But if the American experience is anything to go by, most handsets conk out after five hours of talk time, so be prepared to carry around a charger with you. There are however some tips on making your iPhone last.
8. The battery life is a bit rubbish part 2. When the iPhone’s battery dies, you have to send it back to Apple to get a new one (for a fee). It will be the only mainstream phone in Britain to not allow you to change batteries yourself. Here’s a consumer alert posted on YouTube about the issue.
9. The battery life is a bit rubbish part 3. Sending your iPod away for a few days is bad enough, as most of us can probably manage without music for a short time. Being without a mobile for days (or weeks) could be more of a problem. Luckily there are some techies out there who are happy to show you how to replace the iPhone battery yourself.
10. Many will see 3.5 inch display as the crowning glory of the iPhone – the interface oozes quality – but despite what Apple disparagingly called "small plastic keyboards" on other mobiles, they're far more likely to work reliably than a touch-screen. Some have decided the iPhone is not designed for women or for those who’ve grown up texting using their thumbs. Business users are also going to be disappointed as emails may not be so easily typed out.
11. Talking about texting, you may want to consider how big your hands are. If you've got small hands, your iPhone will look really big and we can’t have that can we?
12. But you have to give it to Apple for creating a seemingly scratchproof display. If you’re brave enough, try bashing it around.
13. The rather pathetic two megapixel camera is a disappointment. Phones such as the Nokia N95 already boast five megapixel cameras so a comparison, might leave iPhone customers wondering what they’ve spent their money on.
14. OK, camera phones are never going to beat a digital SLR, but most “standard” handsets now have at least three megapixel cameraphones as this guy Reiter explains in his blog.
15. The Bluetooth service is limited. Though the iPhone comes with the latest version of Bluetooth it can currently only connect with Apple headsets. This means you cannot easily transfer files, music or pictures that you may have on your PC. However, the iPhone headphones do double up as crack pipes which could be useful to some out there. I’m sure this is a temporary glitch, and Apple will sort it out – but having paid out over £250 quid, you don’t want to be dealing with a glitch.
16. Only 8GB storage: Ok, ok, it's the biggest storage capacity of any phone on the market, probably, but 8GB (about 2,000 songs) is still pretty limited when you compare it to the likes of the ipod which can boast 40GB or more. There are also rumours that before the end of the year, Nokia and other handset manufactures will increase the storage capacity of some of their top handsets anyway.
17. The launch of Vodafone’s MusicStation earlier this month is a direct challenge to itunes. It probably has only a fraction of the number of songs as itunes, but at least it’s an alternative.
18. Windows mobile users are used to downloading and installing the applications they want to add, just as with a “real computer.” Not so with the iPhone. Apple probably did this so its operating system is more stable, but people who shell out this much money for a phone expect it to be a fully-fledged hand-held computer too. Luckily, there are ways to pimp out your iPhone with Apple approved software.
19. You’re stuck with 02. Not that I have anything against the Spanish owned firm, but I would have appreciated some choice. Mind you, the Sunday Times In Gear team managed to download software from the internet allowing them to “unlock” the phone so it could be used on other networks such as Vodafone, and if they can do it….
20. Not that I encourage anyone to go down this route, but here’s an online guide anyway.
21. Apple will probably block you from doing this, and moves have already been made to bar potential hackers.
22. Also, if you do unlock the phone, your warranty will be void, and apple might be able to lock your hacked handset with future updates.
23. If you’d rather not hack into it, there are phones that can rival Apple’s latest offering. This review on Tech.co.uk provides some alternatives to the iPhone. Here is a straight comparison between the iPhone and the Nokia N95, which is perhaps the main alternative.
24. There are of course many innovative ways to use the iPhone, although I’m not sure if your manufacturer’s guarantee would cover you for any of these uses.
25. Other ideas seem more impressive and may actually work.
26. Fears that fraudsters are trying to target iPhone enthusiasts with fakes are not unfounded, so don’t be fooled. Here’s an iPhone fake from China.
27. Taking about all things “i”, some imitations are not so great. Not sure if I’m more disturbed by the phone here or the scarily accurate depiction of overexcited Apple geeks.
28. Mobile devices are generally getting smaller but not these new smart phones. You probably can’t flaw the slick Apple handset in terms of design, but it is rather large and bulky. Imagine going on a night out with that bulging out from your pockets…..actually, maybe not a bad thing after all.
29. Perhaps this guy, who’s trying to sell his old Motorola brick phone will remind you why we want smaller and more compact.
30. After all, you wouldn’t want it to be as small as this ipod micro.
31. Having spent all your Christmas and birthday money on the new device, you probably don’t want to drop it intro a blender…
32. There have been many tests on the iPhone, but have you ever wondered what would happen if you froze it? Okay, we haven’t exactly had very cold winters recently, but say you travel somewhere like the Arctic, what would happen then? Thankfully, these circumstances have been thought of as well.
33. Celebs with iPhones 1: Stephen Fry loves everything Apple ever make, but he doesn't love the iPhone and what does that tell you?
34. Celebs with iPhones 2: Mike Tyson has one.
35. Celebs with iPhones 3: Paris Hilton has one.
36. Celebs with iPhones 4: George Bush has one.
37. The iPhone won't work as a modem for your laptop.
38. They're very dangerous to use on a treadmill – this looks serious….
39. The iPhone doesn't look as good as the mockups did before the actual launch.
40. You can get all the same whizziness from an iPod Touch for about £249, and stick with your cheap phone for calls.
41. It encourages some to start producing music videos like this – let this be a warning to you all.
42. Even worse, the iPhone encourages otherwise sensible technology journalists to sing, and that definitely is not a good thing.
43. The price of the iPhone dropped in the US just three months after launch so all of you who have pre-ordered your phone, may find you’ve paid over the odds in January. Some have even threatened to sue Apple.
44. Have you ever wondered what your iPhone would sound like if it spoke back to you? No, nor have I, but here’s what he may sound like.
45. If you’re amongst the first to buy the iPhone in this country when it launches next month, careful who you show it to because this may happen.
46. Some of you may not even get to sample the iPhone numerous functions because the device fails. This guy is obviously disappointed, but his eyes suggest the flaw may not have been just with his handset.
47. If something goes wrong with your iPhone, you'll be sent an Official iPhone Tool, otherwise known as a paperclip.
48. Why is it that smashing the iPhone seems to be one of the main pastimes of users?. Judging by the kinds of videos posted by iPhone owners, smashing the device seems to be a common pastime – makes you think what it is that motivates them.
49. Here’s another one - not that I get any sense of satisfaction from seeing the iPhone smashed.
50. Finally, even those who are convinced by the iPhone, you may still find yourself accepting it only reluctantly like this guy. Ask yourself, does he really sound happy?
List compiled by Ali Hussain.
Image courtesy of pccaldwell586
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Well as they say, not all new is worth it however it can be tried but you must be ready with the consequences afterwards after all nobody can describe what it really feels like rather than yourself. And by experiencing, it would satisfy your judgment.
got this queue on this, would an "apple" a day still gets the doctor away?
Posted by: dedicated staff | 16 Oct 2007 14:45:57
You didn't even read the Stephen Fry blog, did you? He does like iPhones: he recognises that there are flaws with them but still rates them ahead of anything else on the market. This is a bit of a silly article really, isn't it?
Posted by: Becky | 17 Oct 2007 08:41:00
terrible article. why not make it 10 reaqsons? you were serioulsy scraping the barrel there. Not what i expect to see from the times
Posted by: Stewart | 17 Oct 2007 09:49:58
This article is very immature. I am all for a critical appraisal but this is like something from a college rag magazine. Some of it borders on libelous i.e. point 47. Grow up.
Posted by: JJulian | 17 Oct 2007 13:10:15
Wow, what a complete waste of everyones time that was.
Posted by: Andrew Whitehead | 17 Oct 2007 13:22:29
It seems that Ali has managed to upset a few of Apple's die-hard fans. Why are they getting so defensive over a bit of fun? Sad losers...
Posted by: Peter Walsh | 17 Oct 2007 13:44:54
@JJulian: The iPhone tool is real:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/03/iphone-returns-from-service-with-official-iphone-tool/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmuth/sets/72157601192063020/
@Becky: I read the entire Stephen Fry blog - Considering what a fanboy he is, he was pretty down on the iPhone.
Tom (Who helped with the research)
Posted by: Tom Whitwell | 17 Oct 2007 13:57:25
This article is of very poor quality. It's like reading a dumbed-down version of the London Paper. Is it an ad for youtube or something? What ever happened to the quality of the Times?
Posted by: | 17 Oct 2007 14:15:19
What the hell is this?
If I wanted this kind of sixth-form "jounalism" there are numerous sites which already do it far better.
I certainly don't expect to come across cretinous space-fillers like this in The Times.
Shame on you.
Posted by: Ed Pummelon | 17 Oct 2007 14:29:30
God! What is it with Apple fans? Get a life. You are so sensitive.
Posted by: Tony Ridell | 17 Oct 2007 14:37:00
Chill, people! Looks like Ali hit a nerve. A lot of you haters are clearly miffed that you wasted a fortune on this joke of a phone.
Posted by: Helmut | 17 Oct 2007 14:39:44
Well said Ali. Why would anyone want to waste their money on one of these over-hyped, over priced sadPhones?
Posted by: Rebecca Elder | 17 Oct 2007 14:59:50
@Tom,
"In fact the real precipitating reason for writing this is the fact that within three weeks I have bought/been sent, aside from my iPhone (which, yes, I dearly love), three soi-disant ‘iPhone killers’ -"
Fry clearly states he loves the Iphone. Suggest you go back to school and learn how to research properly!
Posted by: rebecca | 17 Oct 2007 15:19:40
I have no interest in buying/owning an iPhone and am no major fan of Apple - this article was terrible. If you found the product to be of inferior quality, then why not simply say that and explain why. Were you given a free N95 to publish what seemed like Nokia's child-orientated PR (crap) under your own name?
Posted by: MC | 17 Oct 2007 16:52:14
'No doubt there will be hoards of Apple fans queuing outside Carphone Warehouse and outlets of O2 mobile'
er.. don't you mean 'hordes'?
Posted by: Benedict Melvin | 17 Oct 2007 17:48:28
Wow. Some of these posters are defending this expensive telephone as if it were their granny!
Posted by: James | 17 Oct 2007 19:14:43
I am not a fan of Apple over other products. But I have had the iPhone for a few months and I have to say that I dearly love the thing.
No product out there - cell phone or otherwise will meet all needs perfectly. For me, the iPhone has been a godsend.
The author of this article is clearly putting forth an agenda. Too bad the Times puts a banner link to this on the home page.
And, seriously, who cares what celebs have iPhones or any other kind of cell phone - Just because morons like Paris Hilton and G.Bush have them should not dissuade others from looking at this product.
Posted by: bscenefilms | 17 Oct 2007 19:18:00
do you really call this reporting ?
Come on the iphone is a good bit of technology but the counter arguments you have been using dont deserve the ink they have bee written on.
Posted by: robin | 17 Oct 2007 21:36:49
I have never seen an Iphone in person or touched a mac in years: this article is stupid.
Posted by: arrow | 17 Oct 2007 22:21:35
The Nokia PR girls has been round again I see. Pathetic lazy journalism.
Posted by: Vincent Rice | 17 Oct 2007 23:36:17
This is my first time visiting the online times edition and I genuinely thought I was after clicking on a 3rd party banner when I read this article. The times should be ashamed of such bad journalism. How did this get approved????
Posted by: John | 18 Oct 2007 01:23:17
I don't know why people are getting so upset one way or the other!?
iPhone will be a great success and the vast majority of people who buy one (either this November or later down the track) will be satisfied or extremely satisfied with their choice.
Consumers who don't buy an iPhone will benefit indirectly as other manufacturers raise their game (on the software front in particular, where phones really haven't been progressing at the same speed of the hardware).
Nokia, for example, have already proudly showed off a clone at a recent event.
It's win-win, no one loses!
Posted by: Matthew | 18 Oct 2007 03:32:12
Yet another article that is a load of b******s, what is happening at The Times
Posted by: Ian Rapley | 18 Oct 2007 06:40:28
A very juvenile piece of writing. Pointless and factually bleak. Is this really to 'Times' standard, or did the editor have the day off?
Posted by: James Gibson | 18 Oct 2007 08:51:16
Hmm... a bash-a-product hype article, worthy of a red-top rather than The Times.
Fact is, the iPhone has the first interface of any mobile that says to me, "Just right".
Add to that easy interoperability with computer data, plus the OSX operating system, and the conclusion is clear.
It's going to a massive asset to my home and business.
Posted by: David Jefferis | 18 Oct 2007 09:20:52
Good article. The thing about mobiles is you really got to make sure that it is the one you want and think what you will use it for. So before mindlessly buying an iphone check out nokia and htc, maybe they are more suitable? Certainly they can do things the iphone can't.
Posted by: Kritter | 18 Oct 2007 10:02:35
I think you're all missing the point…it's a phone!!! I don't think Apple are going to corner the market with the iPhone like they did with the iPod, but then again who cares, if you don't like it, don't bloody buy one!
Posted by: Jonathan W | 18 Oct 2007 10:15:30
Regardless of what the article is about, its a shockingly badly written piece of "journalism". Was it written by a 6 year old? This kind of rubbish wouldn't even be fit to grace the pages of TV quick or other crappy mags! Change career, you are obviosuly not very good at this one!
Posted by: d kelly | 18 Oct 2007 10:19:26
Apple fans may not appreciate the tone of the article but this is one of the most over-hyped products of all time. And it is a very poor and hugely overpriced product, too! Unfortunately, people are easily hoodwinked and think it must be great. It's not. The problems with battery life (and needing to return it to replace the battery), specification, speed and build quality, not to mention the rip-off price and single provider, all far outweigh the advantages, which seem only to be the look. Buy a Nokia N95 and save the rest of the money for something else.
Posted by: Tony Rome | 18 Oct 2007 10:38:17
50 reasons not to read The Times more like!!!
Posted by: Jonathan W | 18 Oct 2007 10:38:33
You say the phone costs £1259. Yes this is £269 plus £55 per month times 18 months. You have chosen the most expensive tariff to exagerate your point. I have never seen tariffs quoted on any other phone, so why the iPhone? Because you want to write a negative article on a really interesting product. Even if you don't buy an iPhone, the other mobile companies are already improving their mobiles, so Apple have improved the market for all. I don't know why The Times employ you - articles like this devalue their reputation.
Posted by: Chris | 18 Oct 2007 10:43:51
Looks like somebody is going green. There was an old advert's catch phrase that comes to mind....
"neighbours envy, owners pride" ....
Not that i own one :-))
Posted by: AJ | 18 Oct 2007 10:53:09
Silly, pathetic article.
Hardly worth commenting on, but just in case anyone starts to think it worth anything, they won't after they read the responses.
Posted by: Jon T | 18 Oct 2007 11:14:11
Does this really belong in the Money Central section? Really?
You want to run a vapid piece like this for the publicity, right? But, honestly, is this the kind of publicity you want? For truly awful "journalism"?
Case in point: "31. Having spent all your Christmas and birthday money on the new device, you probably don’t want to drop it intro a blender…"
How does that belong in an article for a "reputable" news organization?
You raised some legitimate concerns that people should truly consider before buying the iPhone. But you destroyed your authority by reducing the article to silliness and stupidity.
Posted by: Pappe | 18 Oct 2007 11:38:51
Great article - overpriced, overhyped and over here XO
Posted by: CR | 18 Oct 2007 12:01:46
Didn't bother to read the article. I was put off by the puff which had two spelling mistakes in it:
embarrassing and endorsements.
Posted by: Annie Hancock | 18 Oct 2007 14:25:18
Can I just point at something, for all the people blustering about "this doesnt deserve to line my budgies cage let alone appear in the times"... the thingie at the top (points)
Where am I? > HOME > COMMENT > Blogs
Hope that helps.
Posted by: Matt | 18 Oct 2007 14:39:47
Ummm, I think many of you people complaining about the so-called "quality" of this journalism have missed the point. This blog is not likely to win a pulitzer but if it made some people laugh and other people angry then job done. It is a blog designed to create debate not expose corruption...
Posted by: Loserwatch | 18 Oct 2007 14:43:09
I dont own any mobile phone, I dont like them so I'm very unbiased.
I think on many points your grasping. you compare 8GB storage to 40GB Ipods. Its apples and oranges. The Ipod doesnt have a built in phone for starters.
My PC has 2 Terrabytes of storage and 32,000 MP3's ergo, Ipods are crap?
Poor article by Times standards I have to say
Posted by: Phill Barlow | 18 Oct 2007 15:01:36
Yeah, that was a pretty poor article. And no, I'm not a fanboy saying the iPhone's perfect. Most of the whingers here complaining about the whingers seem to have missed the point. Most are just complaining about the weak article, nothing to do with the product itself.
I couldn't be bothered to read all the listed reasons but of the 25 or so I read I think there were actually only about 7 in reality that were repeated. And most of these were stupid. How for example can having "a scratchproof display" or "the biggest storage capacity of any phone on the market" be reasons not to buy a product?
I know, I know.. this is a 'tongue in cheek' blog and I'll fallen for it. But really, it read more like the comments on a YouTube video than journalism.
Posted by: Don James | 18 Oct 2007 15:11:20
It's all a little sad when you prefer to knock what is generally accepted as a successful launch of a totally new product for the sake of getting people annoyed. What a waste of journalist's time....and ours!
Posted by: George | 18 Oct 2007 15:17:43
I've one for 3 days now and I'm sure I could give 50 reasons to buy an iphone
Posted by: Fred | 18 Oct 2007 16:25:13
well, that's sold me: i'm getting one!
Posted by: George | 18 Oct 2007 17:01:06
You just can't afford one since you're a freelance journo writing crappy fill pieces for times online.
Posted by: haha | 18 Oct 2007 17:26:07
What's so wrong with poking fun at this over-hyped gadget.
Posted by: ROB K | 18 Oct 2007 17:36:27
Nice blog. Perfect nerd-bait.
Posted by: Will | 18 Oct 2007 17:43:57
It's just a phone. Don't blame the author of this blog for all the fuss about nothing, blame Apple, and all those who created all the pages he has painstakingly found and linked. Is irony lost on the iPhone generation?
Posted by: Realist | 18 Oct 2007 17:44:51
Hilarious:
"the counter arguments you have been using dont deserve the ink they have bee written on."
Posted by: robin | 17 Oct 2007 21:36:49
Posted by: Alex H | 18 Oct 2007 18:04:24
I hate to say it but this is one of the worst articles I have seen. You can't just divide a paragraph of waffle into 50 bullets and claim it's 50 reasons. What a hopelessly biased article. (Though I did enjoy 47!)
Posted by: A | 18 Oct 2007 18:59:01
I have enjoyed and used Apple products for years. I also research my purchases carefully and rarely buy a 1.0 product from Apple. There are numerous reasons to hold off on buying the iphone - switching carriers, weak digital camera, lack of 3G, lack of applications. But these holes/flaws will be fixed over time. I was expecting "50 intelligent, well argued reasons" for not buying an iphone. This article is barely worthy of the NYPost. I expect more from UK journalism.
Posted by: John_NY | 18 Oct 2007 19:11:20
Is it just me, or do only half the links in this page work?
Good job he doesn't write web-based technical articles for a uk-based national newspaper...
Posted by: morte subite | 18 Oct 2007 21:17:40
A thoroughly uninformative and uninteresting and unfunny article. Can't remember the last I read so much nonsense.
There goes a few of minutes of my life I'll never get back
Posted by: Paul | 18 Oct 2007 21:53:28
wow... I'm embarrased to dislike the iphone's hype, because of this article. Is the times letting 3rd graders write articles now? My son would love to submit a story about how alien technology has impacted us.
Posted by: john gill | 18 Oct 2007 22:02:55
what a slanted piece of rubbish that 'article' was. I'll never get that 12 minutes of my life back, either.
The Times has always done the bidding of Redmond.
Posted by: Philip, London | 18 Oct 2007 22:46:52
I just hate Apple and Apple users, in the same way I hate anti-war protesters and trendy lefties. I'm grateful for and entertained any article that targets these parasites.
Posted by: Melina Jackson | 18 Oct 2007 22:49:50
Very odd how all the criticism of this article takes the same form - ie slagging off the journalist rather than defending the product - am I being paranoid to think it's somehow organised ?
Posted by: Louise | 18 Oct 2007 22:55:52
Melina - That's a really irrational 'hating thing' you've got going on there. I'm an Apple user, but I'm not overly fond of anti-war protesters and trendy lefties either (however, I don't 'hate' anyone). Sorry that doesn't fit your reverse-engineered conclusion. :sigh:
Louise
Were you expecting a bunch of rabid-Apple-istas to be blindly defending the latest fruit of their cult? You should look at the constructive criticism aspects of the iPhone are receiving on Mac user sites. They are not swallowing the Jobs kool-aid.
Hate to burst your bubble, but this really was just poor quality journalism hastily stuck together with the glue of half-formed argument. Even Private Eye's 'Phil Space' would be ashamed.
Posted by: Philip, London | 19 Oct 2007 00:47:34
What is wrong with you applefanboys? Very personal attacks on the journalist for compiling a list that has some valid points on it. Yes some of the other points are a bit silly but so what? Mr hussain obviously does not take life as seriously of those who are brainwashed into the expensive apple cult.
Posted by: rottenApple | 19 Oct 2007 10:32:14
A Real World Satire: A journalist who knows nothing about either the iPhone or the mobile phone market as such but is rather inept in writing something funny. Apple "fan boys" who fall for such an obvious bulls**t. And the Apple haters who can't get over the fact that Apple is top in the World of Cool. Pathetic.
Posted by: Rulf, Paris | 19 Oct 2007 12:00:47
1. Does the writer even.
2. Know what numbers are for.
3. They are for NEW comments.
4. Not for repeats.
The Times should pull this article, or at least hire an editor to condense it into the 4 points it contains.
Posted by: Emily | 19 Oct 2007 14:39:33
I don't get this "Apple fanboys", "Apple lovers/haters" school playground jibes that seem to get some people excited. Maybe because I don't fall into any of these categories. Having said that, I do find it somewhat disturbing that there are people who harbour “hate” towards others merely based on their choice of and preference for a particular brand of digital goods!!
I only clicked on the article since I'm interested in the product and was hoping to get either a well researched and written product analysis or read an amusing piece or preferably both. In the end I got none of the above.
Anyway, here’s hoping that I don’t “hated” for being interested in the iphone and expressing my view of the article.
Posted by: Paul | 19 Oct 2007 14:57:45
I'm disappointed. I had really expected more from The Times. News of the World, maybe...... The Sun, fair enough...... heck.... even a memo from Spinal Tap's manager.... but not The Times. I'd have expected actual journalism- or some semblance thereof.
Even if the "writer" had an agenda to rub Apple's face in the dirt the "article" really could have been a lot less obvious- and that would have made it a lot more effective.
Anything has its flaws and anything has its price. A brand new release from a company that has never made a phone before- and a phone so radically different from anything else at that- cannot be perfect. It also cannot be cheap.
And no... I don't have an iPhone. Mine's a Nokia 9300i.
Posted by: A Isa | 20 Oct 2007 01:15:56
As this foolish writer didnt tell us ANYTHING about the iPhone, I will:
The EDGE data network is quite fast enough, and as the iPhone has a fast processor, and there are less errors on a slower network, the EDGE network, in REAL tests, is rated as slightly faster than the the '3G' networks. True.
The iPhone is wonderfully INTEGRATED - that means when you see an advert on a website and it has a phone number in it, the iPhone has Data Detector software (I kid you not!), and if you touch that phone number, it will call it. It has a lot of simple and brilliant integration features like that.
Huge clear screen, BIG numbers for dialing - 30% of buyers in the USA are over 50!
Of course, its an iPod too - listen to music and never miss a call.
Its a small business persons dream phone.
Yes, I have one and its the BEST phone I have ever used.
Cost? Well if you dont think an 8G iPod, a phone, an email device, a web surfing device, a mini computer, (with many capabilities all elegantly done and incredibly easy to use) arent worth £250 or so, maybe you shouldnt get one.....
Posted by: harry | 20 Oct 2007 07:09:48
Oh please - just because it has a few flaws doesn't meant it isn't miles ahead of the competition.
Thoroughly unimpressed that the Times has sunk this low - clearly you can't get one and decided to write a hate piece instead. Grow up and play nice will you.
ps: And do the maths; most UK phone sold on 18 month contracts amass the same or more as the iPhone contract... and you get what you pay for - a slick device 5 years ahead of the competition or a clunky device with operator badges and 'so called' 3G (anyone ever tried browsing the web on one of these things know how painful they are compared to a true browser like the iPhone's). Enough said.
Posted by: OMV | 20 Oct 2007 12:11:56
An atrocious article in
"Money Central
Advice you can bank on"
This is not advice.
The editor of this section should be professionally ashamed of herself.
"Money Central" won't be challenging "Which? Magazine" in the quality stakes any time soon if this trash is anything to go by.
Does the editor think she employs journalists? Does she know what a journalist is?
Are _all_ the blog entries not monitored for accuracy and spelling?
Posted by: B O Bodmin | 20 Oct 2007 22:18:57
The Times hits a new low with this excuse of an article, very poor....
Posted by: OMG | 21 Oct 2007 01:49:05
I own one and its the best phone I have have ever owned or seen. People are amazed when they see it and have a go with it.
Posted by: Jon | 21 Oct 2007 09:27:04
Forget ipods, forget the phone, forget everything else about the content. The ARTICLE is atrocious. Even for a blog this is truly bad. 50 reasons? 50? Really? Wow.
Posted by: bwhaaahaaa | 21 Oct 2007 11:49:28
Thanks Ali, enjoyed the blog. Seems like you have touched a nerve with some people though.
Posted by: spy | 21 Oct 2007 16:08:43
Nice article, 50 reasons not to blog anymore... ;)
Posted by: Poor | 22 Oct 2007 16:32:11
This comment section should be re-named "50 pathetic Apple fans who can't take a joke".
Posted by: rottenApple | 23 Oct 2007 11:40:49
Why are you Apple followers so sensitive? You remind me of a bunch of cult members (point 5), who are scared and angry at the prospect of even considering alternate heretical opinions.
The iPhone is an implementation of a very interesting prototype, containing many innovative design features, which no doubt will be found on reasonably priced mobile phones in the near future. However, whatever the faults of this article, as a product the iPhone is poorly conceived, making use of an outmoded mobile internet infrastructure, being vastly over priced for what it is, and being offered restrictively, on only one network. Apple deserve to be criticized for these shortcomings.
Posted by: Alexi Star | 24 Oct 2007 14:48:58
Who actually needs to permanently carry around with them a portable telephone that plays music and takes photographs? And is prepared to pay £1300 for it?
Posted by: Andy Barnes | 24 Oct 2007 16:26:44
I suppose it was meant to be just that a silly immature little article written by a person with a small mind who clearly needs a life. I bet he didn't buy apple shares either
Posted by: mike sanders | 25 Oct 2007 01:45:35
Wow. That was a waste of time. Hopefully you got paid for this though, otherwise it was a waste of your time too.
Posted by: Jeffery Simpson | 25 Oct 2007 19:42:58
Absolutely pathetic article. The Times should seriously consider whether they want researchers like 'Tom Whitwell', who wear their bias on their sleeves in the comments ("fanboys" - great level of discourse.)
Posted by: Jon Wood | 26 Oct 2007 15:31:38
50 REASONS NOT TO READ ‘THE TIMES’
1. More expensive than reading tea-leaves.
2. Lifetime subscription will cost in the thousands!
3. Every bum in the street has one. (For a pillow).
4. Fingers could get trapped in a paper box.
5. Writing is not as good as other papers.
6. They argue that it’s viewable under thousands of light bulbs around the city, when in fact MOST OF THE CITY ISN’T EVEN LIT.
7. “Talking-points” Time is low. By the next day, the news you just bought is worthless.
8. When your new paper does become worthless, you must return to the Times for a new one!
9. If you can’t be without news, there are people that can show you how to write your own.
10. Impossible to read the text on their low-power display technology (ink).
11. Can’t be properly held by small hands.
12. Fragile! Tears easily!
13. The pathetic 2MP photos are a disappointment.
14. Most “standard” papers have facts.
15. No Bluetooth. Must look directly at the paper to read it.
16. Limited Storage! 100 Pages at most, with no expandability.
17. You can get news online.
18. You can’t add your own news without “hacking” your paper.
19. You’re stuck with one paperboy.
20. Not that I encourage anyone to do so, but you can steal the paper from your neighbor.
21. The Times will try to stop you from stealing their newspaper.
22. No future updates to your paper.
23. There are alternative papers.
24. The paper has alternative uses (i.e., lining a birdcage, soaking up vomit, etc.)
25. Other ideas are probably better.
26. China makes a fake “Times”.
27. Some “Times” fakes are lousy.
28. The paper is huge compared to magazines.
29. Magazines are even bigger than “TV Guide.”
30. Pocket Guides are too small, though.
31. It can be rendered unusable by blending.
32. It is unreadable when frozen.
33. The Queen reads it.
34. Victoria Beckham reads it.
35. George Bush reads it. (Well, he would if he could read)
36. The BBC reads it.
37. The paper won’t connect to your laptop.
38. It’s dangerous to read while on a treadmill.
39. It doesn’t look as good as the papers shown in the advertising.
40. You can get all the same news from other papers for less money.
41. It encourages people to make news.
42. It even promotes singing and dancing.
43. The price is lower for subscribers. There will be lawsuits.
44. If you talk to it, it won’t talk back.
45. If you show it to people, they may mug you for it.
46. You can’t read the whole paper if it catches fire.
47. Some can’t read it without additional equipment (eyeglasses).
48. Most people throw their papers away, even after only 1 day.
49. Some destroy the paper without reading it at all.
50. It might not make you happy.
Posted by: Gus | 27 Oct 2007 01:24:32
Hey Gus, great list - obviously the article has moved you enough to react with such gusto. On the blog itself, I agree that it's a little childish, but it's obviously had the reaction the Times have been looking for judging by the number of comments. I'm not sure we can call it journalism, but as it's meant to be comment/ blog, I'm not sure that it matters. I'm not that keen on the iphone myself, but it looks like there are some die hard Apple geeks out there willing to defend it.
Posted by: Callis Jones | 29 Oct 2007 19:11:37
@Gus - what a pointless waste of time your list was. Have you never heard of TimesOnline?
Posted by: rottenApple | 30 Oct 2007 11:03:40
Who cares they will all be added to the rubbish pile in a few years anyway. More rubbish to add to the already overflowing rubbish piles.
Posted by: Lyndsey | 30 Oct 2007 16:59:38
useless review. what was the pupose of writing that ?
such a waste of time and Times money to pay that guy to write such immature things.
Posted by: ibanana | 4 Nov 2007 15:20:28
Wow. I had to read through 10 points to get one reason? Ali Hussain must be a pretty bad writer to have to come up with crap like this lol.
Posted by: Bauer | 4 Nov 2007 16:13:30
Hilarious and pretty much true. As a lifelong Apple fan this is a greedy grab for my cash too far - sod off Apple. I've taken the advice and gotten an iTouch - to hell with a second rate phone that looks pretty but doesn't do what my old one did. Suitable for rich Barbie types possibly.
Posted by: Gavin | 5 Nov 2007 17:05:05
Apple products aren't for everyone. Small minded people with no vision what so ever should stay with the herd. Even more important, they shouldn't write articles that display their ignorance. If you don't like it don't buy it. Go ahead, be like everyone else. There's safety in numbers.
Posted by: btingey | 5 Nov 2007 20:27:01
My God, who is this looser writing such a crap article. Definitely not a journalist...
Ohhh I see, maybe a Microsoft slave! Ah ah ah...
Posted by: Tony108 | 6 Nov 2007 09:45:05
Rubbish article!
why compare an Iphone(released an year ago in US!!!) to a recently released Nokia N95.
cut the crap and visit http://www.gsmarena.com
Posted by: Ifone | 6 Nov 2007 12:35:55
Hilarious....even more hilarious are the comments which miss the point - this is comment, not an article
Posted by: Bill Mayor | 6 Nov 2007 20:42:06
what a biased load of rubbish there is like 10 fact in this then rest is opinion based the iphone has the best battery of any pda act, the best mp3 player on a phone fact and has never claimed to be a camera beast plus n95 battery is the worst of the market yes its expensive agreed however if people will pay it then they'll charge and ask the question why would people pay cause apple is the best.
i work in the mobile industry and have ran a uk ipod for 3 weeks and it's the most impressed i've been with a phone in years
Posted by: Brian Jewell | 8 Nov 2007 20:31:33
All I can say is - Lighten Up Britain! I am currently researching the iphone for a university report and I've found this article very useful - it highlights key points that other websites are too scared to post. Its colloquial and comical manner adds to its reading pleasure.
Posted by: Jennifer | 13 Nov 2007 19:55:07
The core arguement seems cost. Well I paid 400USD for an unlocked iphone that is the best mobile internet browser I have used, so every thing else is a bonus. (i.e. all the itouch and phone stuff that comes with it)
50 reasons not to. Bah humbug, I have only 1 reason to buy one which is, I can now 'realistically' browse the internet on a mobile device and therefore it rockx.
Posted by: Mak | 10 Apr 2008 17:51:14
terrible article. why not make it 10 reaqsons?This article is very immature. I am all for a critical appraisal but this is like something from a college rag magazine. Some of it borders on libelous i.e. point 47. Grow up.
Posted by: Tudor Ciurescu | 13 Apr 2008 11:17:49
What a load of old tosh! It's the best phone I've ever owned and I'd never go back to a conventional mobile. Also they are really hard to smash up, I've dropped mine loads and not a scratch on it. Ridiculous article!
Posted by: Liz | 12 May 2008 17:22:24
Positives should be gained from life albeit this blog.
Posted by: Roger | 13 May 2008 12:59:23
The main point missed here is that this is Apple's first go at a phone...
Think back to the original ipod and compare it to the current one:
5gb mac osx only no video or photo support Fast forward to the current full size model 80gb or 160gb mac osx and windows supporting video and photo...
If Apple are in it for the long haul which i imagine they are after spending big bucks on developing the iphone the next revision of the ipod will be major in improving everything from battery life to adding gps...
I would have to completely disagree with the idea that the n95 can be compared with the iphone - the n95 having owned one is absolute crap even thou it has a 5mp cam the pictures are better quality on the iphone - am actually wondering if the Ali Hussain guy has ever owned an iphone or even been in the same room as one - it may have its flaws as most new tech has but overall it beats the n95 hands down in functions and future software which will be developed -> 3g iphone will run skype thus free calls using that unlimited data package!
Posted by: Richard Till | 20 May 2008 09:46:11
ive read this and yes the article is poor and there is few points that are repeated, im sorry but (from a comment) "a slick device 5 years ahead of the competition" is aload of bs, has noone heard of or used pda's or pocket pc's utilising windows mobile, there like a iphone only better and most have proper slide out keyboards not a stupid on screen thingy and depending on how much you wish to spend they can have pretty much everything, ms office mobile, mobile internet (proper browser) 3G, wifi, GPS, your not resticted to service provider, you can upgrade your memory, games etc. and these were availble years before the iphone the only difference is they dont have advertising the manufacturers know any person with common sense would buy one over the rip off iphone to which many people have fallen to apples brilliant advertising and "hype" system, you cant fault them for selling a poor outdated, cheap to manufacture product for ridiculous prices well done apple!, by the way apples fat cats are loving you fanboys/girls.
Posted by: HA | 29 May 2008 18:55:40
Reading this comment stream, clearly the proliferation (oooh! multi-syllable word!!!) of high technology devices hasn't improved most people's ability to spell or use punctuation. Amazing how wound up people get (both pro and con) on the subject of what, after all, is just an updated Lyle's Golden Syrup tin on the end of a bit of string....
Posted by: Graeme | 31 May 2008 12:02:33
But it is sooooo pretty, a pretty pretty phone and I am so cool because I have one.
Apple suxs and so do their products.
Posted by: Milander | 31 May 2008 19:26:48
I am new to Apple products and have owned the iPhone since Xmas 07.
First of all, I hadn't wanted the iPhone as I did think it was too expensive. I liked the idea of all the features though. I ended up recieving it as a present and after using the one my sister got at the same time, I found it to be a fantastic piece of technology. Yes other phones do things that this doesn't but if you combined every phone into one so it had every possible new feature available then it would cost alot more than £269.
I like listening to music whether I'm in the car, on a train or on a plane and so the iPhone was a very appealing concept. Not only that but as I'm sure your now aware, not only do I get a phone everytime a new model is released but I get a brand new ipod too!
EDGE is faster than the N95 (which I binned after recieving the iPhone) it is less bulky, and doesn't have a stupid slide mechanism that jams as soon as a flea lays an egg in the way.
Yes the iPhone is still big but its so thin its less noticeble than any other phone I've owned
The touchscreen is very clever and looks cool.
The texting is no more difficult than getting used to predictive text.
The tarriff is ok considering all Internet usage is free. Anywhere.
The new phone will be even better and the one after that will be better, that's how technology works, it improves over time. The iPhone will have lovers and haters just as any other product does. The ones that love it will enjoy it and defend it. Those that hate it will be fat and unable to use its functions due to excess finger flab.
Good day and I hoped u found this post more helpfull than the piece of crap that its attached to.
Incidently, I typed this on my iPhone and it took 5 minutes.
take that fatty fatty finger flab.
Posted by: james | 21 Jun 2008 01:13:51
I think some of you might want to take a look at my article, 25 things wrong with the iPhone: http://www.appleiphonereview.com/reviews/25-things-wrong-with-the-iphone/
Many of the people who've left comments say they've found it helpful. I hope you will too.
Posted by: Chris | 22 Jun 2008 02:33:02
its good to have a bit of fun from time to time,stop moaning. wow i bet a room full of your readers is a fun place to be. if you dont like it dont read it voila!
Posted by: Neil | 30 Jun 2008 18:03:43