iPhone is amazing!

Feathers · June 23, 2009, 06:32:49 AM

Quote from: billybob476 on June 23, 2009, 06:26:22 AM
Oh no, I don't think people who don't have one as of yet or still have an original iPhone are not justified. To me, the changes from the 3G to the 3Gs are not compelling enough for an upgrade. That's just my opinion.

Upgrade from a 3g?

Not a chance. There's not enough in there to make it worth the effort.

Rico · June 23, 2009, 06:33:49 AM

Quote from: Feathers on June 23, 2009, 06:22:52 AM
Quote from: Rico on June 23, 2009, 06:15:31 AM
Even in this economy people seem to still have money to burn. Never underestimate the power of mass commercial hysteria.
Ha, a little harsh!

It's by far the best PDA I've ever owned but I agree that the mobile contract is a big disincentive (as is the price of a pay-as-you-go device). Still, having got one now, I'm not giving it up.

Not harsh - just the truth. Lining up for a phone no matter how good, is a form of commercial hysteria. It happens for sporting events, concerts, other product releases, etc. I'll even admit to doing it too for certain reasons. It's a good product and Apple has a genius marketing department. Heck, I'd still like to have one but I can't justify that monthly fee. Not when I'm always normally next to a computer or phone for the most part. I think it's an ideal item for someone always on the road. But for me it would be overkill.

Bryancd · June 23, 2009, 06:39:41 AM

Yeah, I don't think you can call the general success of the iPhone as a product mass commercial hysteria at this point. Apple has introduced a product which is an unqualified success, not simply a marketing success. It's ok to now want or need one, I'm in the same boat, but that point of view diminishes the realty of what the product is. I have felt strongly from it's introduction that it would be a game changer and I have been correct in that analysis. Again, in general, the Smartphone space is a place of incredible growth and all players will benefit.

Rico · June 23, 2009, 06:46:26 AM

You misunderstand Bryan - I'm not calling how the iPhone has done so far commercially, hysteria. I'm calling running out and lining up to buy it on Day one (again for many) hysteria. I also still feel strongly that for most people it's overkill and not needed. And that's marketing at it's finest.

billybob476 · June 23, 2009, 06:49:08 AM

Indeed. It's quite impressive for a phone, smart or otherwise. You don't see people lining up for the new blackberry or latest Nokia. I don't know what Apple did over time to have the ability to generate such reactions from people.

The only thing I can really relate it to is a big movie opening.

Bryancd · June 23, 2009, 06:53:30 AM

Quote from: Rico on June 23, 2009, 06:46:26 AM
You misunderstand Bryan - I'm not calling how the iPhone has done so far commercially, hysteria. I'm calling running out and lining up to buy it on Day one (again for many) hysteria. I also still feel strongly that for most people it's overkill and not needed. And that's marketing at it's finest.

I see and I agree with that.
In regards to how we may "feel" about the usefulness of the product I have long learned to seperate out my personal feelings or opinions and look instead at where a product will find it's customer and what motivates them. So although I might think it's not needed, clearly that would be wrong for a huge number of people and I am more interested in the looking at that as clearly people do seem to feel that they NEED it.

Rico · June 23, 2009, 06:58:46 AM

Quote from: billybob476 on June 23, 2009, 06:49:08 AM
Indeed. It's quite impressive for a phone, smart or otherwise. You don't see people lining up for the new blackberry or latest Nokia. I don't know what Apple did over time to have the ability to generate such reactions from people.

The only thing I can really relate it to is a big movie opening.

Yep - and that's what I admire most about Apple. Not their products, but their ability to generate this type of fervor - even for an incremental product upgrade. Genius - or a lot of people that are lemmings out there. ;)

Let me give you another example. The receptionist where I used to work was a single black woman with kids who didn't make a lot of money. I am not stereotyping, these are simply the facts. But, she knew I was into computers and things and she was very excited to show me her new iPhone. I asked her what she used it for and she said, "oh, to call my friends and text them." I don't think she knew or used most of the other apps, and so on. But some of her friends got one and she went with them to get hers too. Again - Apple genius.

Bryancd · June 23, 2009, 07:02:42 AM

LOL! I used to feel the same way back when cell phones were very expensive and yet folks who clearly had very little disposable income all seemed to have cell phones! Same thing here. I do think that the iPhone itself is the best pure product solution right now, not taking anything away from RIM and Palm, but Apple's design and functionality I think is still the best and clearly the other manufacturers are mimicking a lot of the iPhone features and functions as opposed to innovating. That not marketing that technology.

billybob476 · June 23, 2009, 07:04:15 AM

Makes you wish you bought some Apple stock in the 90's when they were going through a CEO a year and virtually out of business.

Bryancd · June 23, 2009, 07:07:39 AM

Quote from: billybob476 on June 23, 2009, 07:04:15 AM
Makes you wish you bought some Apple stock in the 90's when they were going through a CEO a year and virtually out of business.

Forget that, you could have bought the stock below 80 6 months ago and now it's at 134! Opportunity is always there. :)

Feathers · June 23, 2009, 08:07:30 AM

Quote from: Rico on June 23, 2009, 06:46:26 AM
You misunderstand Bryan - I'm not calling how the iPhone has done so far commercially, hysteria. I'm calling running out and lining up to buy it on Day one (again for many) hysteria. I also still feel strongly that for most people it's overkill and not needed. And that's marketing at it's finest.

OK, I misunderstood too and with that I agree. I work with a guy who got a 1st gen iPhone almost on day one then did the same with the 3G. He's bowing out on the 3GS - not worth the upgrade pain - but everywhere else has been right there at the front of the queue.

I just don't get that. I maybe see it more with the 3GS. The platform has proven itself now so you know a lot more about what you're getting (as a new customer, not a 3G upgrade) but even then, I may be a Brit but I HATE queues.

MSUFan · June 23, 2009, 08:37:21 AM

Everyone knows that Macs are almost purely based upon the idea and sexiness of the product more so than the actually power or things that it can do. People want to have the latest and greatest. They want the sexiest, sleekest, phone that can do it all even though very few really harness all the things the Iphone can do. Everyone can argue if it is really worth paying so much money for something along with the payment plan that does all these things, but they only use to text and call their friends.

I love my phone I have right now. It's perfect for what I want to do with it and I just purchased a 16 gb Ipod Touch for an absolute steal of a price only because I really wanted something that I can easily surf the internet with and check my email when I'm at class or work or out and about and don't want to lug the laptop around (also factors that the laptop is somewhat unreliable and needs to be plugged in to work) that doesn't ring up the bill using fees to connect to towers and get internet from. It is the perfect hybrid for me in turns of processing power and things I really like and will use often. Yesterday, while I was eating lunch outside and enjoying the day it was nice to listen to my music with the touch and also read a manuscript from a biochemistry journal all in one simple to use piece of technology.

I don't think anyone is going to argue against the fact that the Iphone the Ipod Touch and the other apple products are good products, but in the end it is definitely more about the fact that apple puts a high emphasis on the fashion of the technology because that's what the average Joe Blow customer is going to see. He is going to see this heady piece of technology with one button and looks sleek as hell and he is going to think about the cute blonde girl at the bar he can impress with his Iphone even though he just needs something for text and talk.

billybob476 · June 23, 2009, 08:42:37 AM

I'd argue that over and above sexiness (which is appealing of course), the iPhone and iPod touch represent a substantial leap forward in user interface design. I've never used a touch sensitive device as intuitive.

Bryancd · June 23, 2009, 08:51:36 AM

I would also argue that Macs offer a very different user experience than Windows based machines and that is what at the end of the day keeps customers coming back or switching to the Max OS platform over Windows. The growth in Mac sales proves this out.

Ktrek · June 23, 2009, 12:14:25 PM

One of my closest friends told me yesterday that he wished he had never bought the I-Phone. He said the Blackberry is a much more efficient phone and he tires of the lag time and cumbersomness of the I-Phone. I guess I'm going to wait a while longer and do more research before I invest.

Kevin