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31 Replies Last post: Dec 10, 2007 8:18 AM by hgwells   1 2 3 Previous Next
Click to view MW Forums's profile New Member
MW Forums
12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004
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Dec 6, 2007 10:50 PM

Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?

Computerworld polls a panel of editors on whether or not the iPhone should be part of your gift-giving this year. more
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Click to view zensunni's profile Member
zensunni
250 posts since
Sep 11, 2004
1. Dec 7, 2007 2:17 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
I'm with the no's on this one. Despite Apple's promise of an SDK, not much more (if anything?) has been said about what this actually means. Will anyone be able to develop, or only people that pay to have their apps 'signed' by Apple?

Also, do you really want to commit yourself to a two-year contract just to get the touch-screen and Safari browser on a mobile? Like Ross said, get an iPod Touch. You'll get both. Really, how often do you think you'd need to browse the web while walking down the street or (gasp!) in a car? Of course, the earlier concern about the SDK still stands.

Me, as much as I want it, I'm waiting until the SDK and the details made clear before I get even the iPod Touch. If that goes well, maybe I'll go for an iPhone in another year (assuming the contract periods here in the UK have change by then, which I have high hopes for; O2 will eventually offer some good deals for people to sign up for one, I'm sure, following the lackluster rollout here).

Sorry Anton, my love; you're not getting it as a gift this year.
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Click to view tigglet's profile New Member
tigglet
4 posts since
May 10, 2006
2. Dec 7, 2007 2:33 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Uhrm... Aren't you making this a teensy bit complicated? (anyone here that song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth," playing in the background???).
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Click to view DaveWilson's profile New Member
DaveWilson
2 posts since
Sep 10, 2007
3. Dec 7, 2007 3:10 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
There may very well be a 16GB iPhone announced at MacWorld in a month, but the current iPhone will remain perfectly functional. I don't think we'll see 3G for many months, so forget that.

As for the iPod Touch: as an iPhone user, I check my e-mail and look up things on Google Maps all the time - even when I'm not near WiFi. For this reason, the iPhone is far better than an iPod Touch. You can always get on the 'net, and find a movie time on a web page, or whatever. A real browser that can always be used is more important that you would think.

People who have other smart phones think the iPhone is just another smart phone. Trust me - it's not. It's a powerful, mobile computer that fits in your pocket. I can't even mention my old Treo in the same breath. And this model 1.0 phone will become frighteningly powerful with 3rd party apps.

It's OK to wait, but you will buy one sooner or later.
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Click to view Moof_in_Charge's profile Member
Moof_in_Charge
586 posts since
Jul 27, 2005
4. Dec 7, 2007 3:18 AM in response to: tigglet
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Not to be sexist or anything, but isn't that just like a woman to decide what the gift should be and under what circumstances it should be purchased? I mean damn the poor guy that really wants one, what does he know about his own needs, likes or dislikes that 6 columnist cant decide for him?

Get real, you buy the gift for the person you care for, you give it to them unconditionally and try and not pass judgment on what motivates them to have one. It's one thing if they're kids, but something utterly different when you turn around and say you don't know any better, here is what I decided to do for you if your receiving party is an Adult of equals.

BTW, a true cashmere sweater is going to set you back nearly the price of an iPhone. Lets hope he doesn't drool on it once he sees another person walk by with an iPhone!
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Click to view dreyfus's profile Member
dreyfus
142 posts since
Jan 5, 2006
5. Dec 7, 2007 4:01 AM in response to: Moof_in_Charge
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Quote:<hr />
Get real, you buy the gift for the person you care for, you give it to them unconditionally and try and not pass judgment on what motivates them to have one.

<hr />


Exactly, I was going to say the same thing in different words.

Listen (to the lady writing that article): If you insist on this procedure for presents, I see very few (rather zero) diamonds, rings, shoes and handbags in your future. Gifts are supposed to make spirits bright - not brains
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Click to view Zwilnik's profile New Member
Zwilnik
10 posts since
Mar 31, 2005
6. Dec 7, 2007 6:07 AM in response to: dreyfus
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Quote:<hr />
Quote:<hr />
Get real, you buy the gift for the person you care for, you give it to them unconditionally and try and not pass judgment on what motivates them to have one.

<hr />


Exactly, I was going to say the same thing in different words.

Listen (to the lady writing that article): If you insist on this procedure for presents, I see very few (rather zero) diamonds, rings, shoes and handbags in your future. Gifts are supposed to make spirits bright - not brains

<hr />


Definitely. He's already decided he wants one and his particular phone requirements are likely to be entirely different from the people you polled.

It's very annoying to be asked what present you want and then be given something different just because the giver preferred something else. (obviously, if it's too expensive a present for the situation then that's reasonable grounds for giving him socks instead).
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Click to view lepton's profile New Member
lepton
22 posts since
Aug 30, 2004
7. Dec 7, 2007 7:55 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Come on! If a loved one is dying for a pickle or a tuba or an iPhone and you can afford it, you get them one! They will love the current iPhone. IMO the next model will come in June, not January. In January, I expect a big big iPhone software update, That's like getting a new model right there!
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Click to view sachxn's profile New Member
sachxn
6 posts since
Nov 21, 2007
8. Dec 7, 2007 8:16 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Whatever may me the opinion of others, I can say only one thing that I have an iPhone in India, it is simply amazing device, I am enjoying every moment of it. YOU SHOULD BUY THIS.

Sachin
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Click to view leicaman's profile Enthusiast
leicaman
1,197 posts since
Dec 4, 2003
9. Dec 7, 2007 8:20 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
I'm waiting for a 3G iPhone. I will have one, it's just a question of when. When I was walking into a Starbucks one early morning I saw a guy pull out his iPhone and this woman he was talking to started cooing and stroking it.

It was tough to see that and not go get one. If an iPhone can make me more popular with the ladies, why should I wait?

Eric

There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence. - Will Rogers

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Click to view MacinSas's profile New Member
MacinSas
13 posts since
Jul 13, 2004
10. Dec 7, 2007 8:34 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Personally, I am in a really good situation here - if a "better," feature-rich iPhone is on the way I will simply hand my iPhone down to my wife who carries a less expensive flip phone that was essentially free after a rebate.

As a Mac owner my experience with the iPhone (I purchased mine after the price reduction) has been extremely positive. I have always longed for a phone that would truly interact with my Mac without relying on a third party sync program. The iPhone is perfect.

I realize this is out of character for our friends in Cupertino but I think Apple would do right by their current and future iPhone customers by revealing what they are working on in future software releases.
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Click to view Mississauga's profile Member
Mississauga
290 posts since
Jan 27, 2002
11. Dec 7, 2007 9:03 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
First of all, stop all this eluding to Christmas by using terms such as "this holiday season". It's Christmas, fer cryin' out loud!!!

Secondly, Christmas has become all about gifts. In keeping with that sentiment, stop wasting valuable editorial space trifling over the pros and cons of buying now or later and surprise your (dare I say loved one) with what they want!

Thirdly and as most of us know all to well, technology changes and evolves. Something better is always just around the corner. If your concern is so high for being on "the cutting edge", avoid ALL technologies and check eBay for a rotary phone!

Merry Christmas!
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Click to view jdb8167's profile Enthusiast
jdb8167
1,503 posts since
Aug 30, 2004
12. Dec 7, 2007 9:26 AM in response to: MW Forums
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Wow, another thinly disguised FUD piece from Computerworld. Mike Elgan says not to buy one? I'm stunned I tells ya, just stunned.

Once again, I have to ask, is Macworld obligated to run these things?
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Click to view Cintos's profile New Member
Cintos
1 posts since
Dec 7, 2007
13. Dec 7, 2007 9:41 AM in response to: MacinSas
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
Quote:<hr />
Personally, I am in a really good situation here - if a "better," feature-rich iPhone is on the way I will simply hand my iPhone down to my wife ...

<hr />


Well, that will be my move in six months. I've been doing that with iPods for five years. Consider this result from the poll: Two out of five adults will be buying iPhones? Gee, if one out of 100 does, Apple would blow out their 2008 goal over the Holidays.....
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Click to view PdxMac's profile New Member
PdxMac
1 posts since
May 6, 2005
14. Dec 7, 2007 10:03 AM in response to: Cintos
Re: Opinion: Buy an iPhone this holiday season?
As the default "Mac Guy" at work, everyone expected me to have one the first weekend. I wanted one but couldn't swing it financially and due to my Sprint contract. Now I'm in a better place and the fact that my Palm is dead under Lepoard, I'm even more tempted.

I am waiting up until February when the SDK kit comes out. If it hasn't been upgraded to 16GB by then, I'll probably buy one. I can't imagine Apple will up the storage/features soon and risk ticking off all the Holiday shoppers who just bought one. Even MacWorld seems a little to close for comfort for Apple to upgrade the iPhone seeing as how people just got them for Xmas a few weeks beforehand.

My realistic expectation is that the February SDK release is a reasonable time to expect a 16GB phone. Far enough away from Xmas not to piss off previous purchasers. Get me Splash ID on my iPhone in Feb. and I'll be even more excited.
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