do I want an iphone?

[Escallonia]

I mean, I do want an iphone, but should it definitely be an iphone or should I consider something else - an android? a blackberry? iphone seems like the default option, but should it be?

No you don't an i-phone you need a HTC Desire.

This is a question I often get asked.

In my opinion, the choice goes like this:

Blackberry - Good if you have lots of other friends also with Blackberry's and/or you want to get email securely from work and the ability to sit in the pub replying to work email's.

Android - Excellent option if you can't quite afford an iphone. There's an great choice of handset to suit all budgets. Apps are being added all the time at a rapid rate. The biggest problem is fragmentation. Android phones are all different so games/apps don't always work as intended. It's so new that there are bugs with the OS (not that Apple are immune). In a couple of years I do think they will overtake Apple.

iPhone - Where Apple get you is the end to end experience. You buy the phone, you are now the same as every other owner. Same software, hardware. This makes it incredibly easy to buy accessories (eg. alarm clocks, car connectivity, cases). There's an app for everything! And they've REALLY thought about the OS so it really is idiotproof. My 4 year old can use both the iphone & ipad. My teenage daughter set her phone up with no help from me yet I spent a week in Android forums asking how to tweak this & that.

So in short for now I think that Iphone > Android > Blackberry. That is unless you are a bit geeky and like gadgets but if so then you may prefer a top of the range Android phone.

Niceguy2 I'm looking at the Blackberry Torch mainly because it is so much cheaper than the iphone. I want the facility to send and receive emails. I am self employed, work from home and want to be able to reply to emails when I am out and about.

Most people seem to rate the blackberry torch over the iphone for ease of sending emails. Why is that? Everyone I know with an iphone seem to be of the view that the iphones email facility is more than adequate.

iPhones are for sheep do you want to be a sheep?

do you buy a Games console because of the brand name or because it has the exclusive games you like on it?.

Do you buy a PC for the brand name or for the specs, features and price?.

You can't just want an iPhone the same way as a child wants a Firetruck because the other kid has one, it's an electrical device with features, if you do not know of them or are only interest in the name for that reason alone you shouldn't get one.

HTC are excellent and have been eating into the iPhone market for years, the Samsung Galaxy S is now a phone many ex-iPhone users swear by, iPhone is nothing more then a passing over priced fad rather then the pinnacle of modern technology it's a tool to sell you things you don't need such as pointles apps and over priced music tracks and you should be glade you missed the boat as there are other far better cheaper options to invest in.

My other half has about 4 inboxes on her iPhone for various things so I do not see any problem with using email on an iPhone.

Ryoko - What do you reckon to the Blackberry Torch?

Ryoko. The lesson I have long learned is that the vast majority of people are not geeky and don't really care if a phone has 8 megapixels of 5. Nor do they care if the HTC has a dual core CPU or not.

People want phones which:

a) Are simple to use & understand
b) Look good

Now for a) I would still argue Apple have them there. It's a no-brainer. I don't have to wonder if I have enough space on my phone memory and if i need to move stuff to my SD card. I don't need to worry if a game will work on my phone hardware. I don't need to wait for OTA updates from my manufacturer a year after Google updated the version. I don't have to google why my calendar won't sync...only to find its a bug. Or why its choosing a random facebook contact when Vodafone text me (another bug). Or like my friend who has a desire, is being told she's out of memory despite having virtually no apps installed.

b) You pull out an iphone and everyone thinks "oooh an iphone....(that must have cost)" You pull out a HTC Desire and people are like "Nice phone....(he couldn't afford an iphone)"

"iPhones are for sheep do you want to be a sheep?"

Blind hatred for a device based upon it's popularity or brand is just as "sheepish" as blind love for it and that sort of comment doesn't help anybody out.

The iPhone isn't the cutting edge of technology, well the screen is close to it, but it is just a very well built and designed device. Most people find it fantastically easy, and enjoyable, to use.

It's also a very well integrated device, especially if you use a Mac, with your Photos, diary, contacts and music all just linking up.

And that for most people is what matters. And that's why it sells well.

And the continual harping on by other phone companies that iPhone users are "sheep" or that it's a fad is just more time for them to miss the boat and fail to understand why their phones aren't selling as well.

What do you want to do with your phone besides calling? If you want to listen to music, watch videos, and amuse your children with cheap games, the iphone is perfect.

If you want to use it mainly for work, get a Blackberry.

If you are really geeky and want to tinker a lot, get an Android phone.

If you are a little geeky and want to tinker without fear of breaking your phone, or like to browse lots of webpages at the same time, get a Pre with WebOS. This last was the option I went with, as I use it mainly for the internet and like to read ten things at once :)

This is interesting - I'm just thinking about getting a smartphone too and went into a phone shop today for some advice.

I was strongly directed towards an Android phone because of cheaper initial and running costs, fragility of the iphone and subsequent repair costs.

I'm sure these are valid reasons but I'm still a bit cynical about whether they're pushing certain phones due to their commissions. However, the cost issue is quite persuasive to an accountant like me.

Thanks everyone, interesting and helpful responses.

Re Ryoko's point - well, that's why I asked the question obviously - it's clear that most people go for the i-phone and generally love it, but I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted/ needed or if I just wanted something like it, because it is easy to just go for such a well-known brand without thinking. I don't give a stuff about brand, I don't have or want a games console or designer labels etc.

I do want something easy to use, which is good for internet and personal email access on the move (current phone is just hopeless and very frustrating). I daresay I would get a few games for ds or me to mess round with. Obviously calls, texts and a decent camera - I take lots of photos of plants for work. Apps are very appealing esp if there's a gardening calendar one and a plant finder one... I'm guessing there might be!

Re the integration, I have a PC not a Mac, will that make it difficult to eg upload photos or sync a calendar for example?

MaryMungo, why is the Blackberry better for work? I'm more inclined to go for the Blackberry because everyone says it is better for work but I'm not sure why it is considered to be the better option.

I am also trying to decide between the iphone and the HTC. I really want a phone for the internet access - I am not interested in games or music on my phone. Is the HTC as fast and as good on the internet as the iphone?

The blackberry has technical benefits for business. For instance, my husband often receives sensitive financial info about large corporations via email, which he has free acess to from his blackberry. The whole phone password locks after 60 seconds of inactivity. You have three tries to put the right password in before the phone erases all data.

I have just upgraded to an iphone after having an android, tbh if I could be arsed to sell it I would swap for a desire hd. The screen is quite small, not that great for browsing imo.

The apps/games are nice although you can get most apps for android (although android is a bit weaker for games).

I will probably keep it, it does it's job, although the less said about the arse on of itunes the better. By the time I upgrade again god knows what phones will be doing.

@Offline. Not sure why the salesguy thinks the iphone is more fragile. I've no idea of the stats. I do know though that mine has survived a few bounces on the floor.

Escallonia. If you want something easy to use and with lots of free/cheap games then again its the iphone. Everything works via iTunes and thats pretty much the same whether you have a Mac or PC. So no difference there. I actually think iTunes is one of the reasons its easier for a layperson to get to grips with syncing music, photos etc. People understand the idea of syncing. But not so much drive letters or USB modes.

@coinoperatedgirl. Yes iTunes is a double edged sword. Whilst it makes a lot of things easier, it's also a bit of a bugger and has grown into a bit of a behemoth. I wish it could be made lighter and simpler but then I hated Android without the equivalent. I mean sorting music playlists out on the phone itself is an utter nightmare!

I have currently got a Nokia phone on pay as you go. Woudl I be able to keep the same phone number if I got an iphone?

Niceguy - she said that there was more glass on an iphone, i.e. back and front, compared to an HTC, and that if it broke it would cost £160 to repair. She also said that the warranty on an iphone was only 1 year compared to 2 with most other handsets, which would cover the length of the contract.

Pretty much all of them are made by Foxconn, to pay more for a product because of a brand name stamped on it, when it is made by the same people in the same factories using the same components as almost every other brand is stupid.

I make no bones about my dislike of Apple, they are pointless, nothing more then a designer brand name slapped on things so people pay 50% extra for them, I concede they are very good at advertising and there are many people who for reasons of ignorance think they invented the MP3 player and the tablet PC because they never spotted any advertisement for the things until Apples wall to wall marketing.

By all means if you want itunes and the Apple App Store over other similar services buy an Apple product but don't buy an Apple simply because it is an Apple.

I couldn't care less if people think I couldn't afford an iPhone that just shows they are only interested in brand statues and/or are ignorant of technology, no different to designer clothing really. and I couldn't give a damn about designer clothing either.

I just think people should look, if you are on here you are on the net I'm not going to say what phone you should get, thats not for me to say.

I'm saying you are on the net, look up a phone site like CarphoneWarehouse or something, find the deal that appeals to you see what phones are offered and then look them up to see what features they have, what reviews they get and what services you can get on each one, maybe go in a shop and look at the things and try them out a bit.

no one can decide what you should spend your money on but you, and everything should be researched before you hand over your hard earned IMHO.

I have an iphone, my DH has an HTC desire - he uses mine to go on the internet as his is "too awkward". He regularly wishes he'd got an iphone.

If you get a decent case, then it's safe - mine has survived a 2yr old and a 6yr old - both can work the phone easily - 2yr old likes looking at the photos adn 6yr old plays games (free or 59p) or going on youtube.

The only downside i've found is the camera - the Desire pictures are better quality - but I think this was rectified with the iphone 4 which has a better quality camera.
I also have a blackberry for work -but I only look at emails on it as all the other features are too awkward - so I wouldn't recommnend one of those either - my work are currently trialling replacing blackberries with iphone and people are clamouring to be on teh trial!

You know what Ryoko. You sound like me a couple of years back.

But like I said before. Most people value style and ease of use over specs and are willing/happy to pay slightly more for the brand and ease of use.