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Original poster

Iphone questions....

14 replies

MadameGazelle · 06/04/2011 22:15

I've been dithering about getting an Iphone for ages, being mainly put off by the cost . However, O2 are currently offering a free refurbished 8GB Iphone 3G handset with 100 mins of talktime, 500 texts and 500MB of data for £21.50 per month and I can then buy a family bolt on for an additional £7.65 per month which will give me unlimited free texts, picture messages and calls to 4 other 02 numbers. However I have a few questions and was hoping some Iphone experts would be able to help me:

Is 500MB enough for everday surfing and downloading a few songs every month or should I pay the extra £4 for 1GB per month
Can I use my home broadband connection for web surfing at home and will this save on my 500MB allowance
What is the difference between the Iphone 3G and the 3GS and are both completely rubbish compared to the iphone 4? I have a 4th generation Ipod Touch so have facetime on that, apart from that what else does the Iphone 4 have that the 3G and 3GS don't?

TIA!

OP posts:

Niceguy2 · 06/04/2011 22:40

500MB should be more than enough.

Yes you can use your home broadband and indeed you should to save your 500MB allowance.

The 3G is the slowest, 3GS has a better camera, is faster & has a compass!
Version 4 is the latest, the main change is facetime which is rubbish and the screen. Oh how beautiful the screen is!!!!

Ok I've had all 3 phones and I have to say that the 3G is old by modern standards. As much of an Apple fan that I have become, I have to say that you'd be better off with something like a HTC Desire or the Samsung Galaxy S, both of which would way faster and more modern.

Hope that helps

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 06/04/2011 23:06

Hi niceguy2; I could get the 3GS for an extra payment of £118, would it be worth it do you think or would I still be better off with an HTC or Galaxy?

OP posts:

Niceguy2 · 07/04/2011 09:43

I would say it depends on what you are like and what you want the phone for.

Are you technically competent? Do you mind having 200 menus so you can tweak everything to make it YOUR way or would you rather just tweak the basics? Eg. does replacing the default SMS application make you think "Cool" or "WTF!?!?" If WTF!?!?! then iphone is simpler.

Do you want to listen to lots of music and sometimes on the speaker? If so, iphone again. Itunes can help you organise everything and set up playlists etc.

Do you have a car or any accessories you'd like to connect an iphone to?

Lastly, how much would the £118 hurt you? If a lot then I'd say it isn't worth it. If it's a "meh" then I'd say 3GS

Hope that helps

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 07/04/2011 10:35

Hi again niceguy2, thanks for the info, I'm not too bothered about changing applications like you mention above and I do listen to a Lot of music so tthink it's the iPhone I need rather than the HTC or galaxy, think I'll go for the 3GS and just get saving my pennies

OP posts:

Niceguy2 · 07/04/2011 15:30

Actually I've just been reading about the HTC Incredible. That on paper looks very good. You may want to have a look into that one.

If you get it from an online site like mobiles.co.uk, you can get it very cheap and you get 7 days to return if you dislike it.

NetworkGuy · 08/04/2011 03:32

Since Niceguy mentioned the Galaxy...

Samsung.Galaxy S. is on "The One Plan" at 30 quid a month with Three network, and offers

* All-you-can-eat data
* 2000 minutes (any network)
* 5000 texts
* 5000 Three-to-Three minute

You can also use Skype for calls (comes out of the unlimited data allowance)

Galaxy can take 32 GB microSD so could hold plenty of music.

Or... buy HTC Wildfire on Three PAYG for under 140, pay 15 quid for 300 minutes + 3000 texts, and add on Spotify Premium at 10 quid a month for music you can stream, or download (Spotify Premium covers up to 3 mobiles, each can save 3,333 tracks while paying subscription). 32GB storage possible with MicroSD card, if you wanted that much storage... after all, could store some tracks from home PC and play tracks via internet rest of time, since they don't limit your downloading / streaming... Skype also usable.

Tee2072 · 08/04/2011 06:59

If you really want an iPhone, don't go below a 3GS. The 3G is being phased out so a lot of apps aren't being written to work on it any more. Also, there is more to iOS4 than multitasking and arranging things in folders. It's faster and easier to use in general.

I know nothing about other phones, but love my 3GS.

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 08/04/2011 09:43

Hi Tee2072, can you multitask on the 3GS? I've got a 4th gen iPod touch and this is one of the things that was making me wonder whether I should blow my money on an iPhone 4, but if you can do this on the 3GS then I think that's my mind made up! How do you find the camera on the 3GS?

OP posts:

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 08/04/2011 09:45

Hi NetworkGuy, thanks for that info, will look into them, but if Tee confirms you can multitask on the 3GS then I think that's my mind made up!

OP posts:

HarrietJones · 08/04/2011 09:46

Yes 3GS does multi task. Think the iPhone 5 comes out this year which will make the others cheaper

Niceguy2 · 08/04/2011 09:58

You can multitask of sorts on the iphone. And this is where I think Apple got it right and Android gets it wrong.

Apple only lets certain things multitask, whereas Android lets pretty much anything. Now at first I was seduced by that. Of course I want a phone which can multitask like my computer!

Except soon after I got it I realised that multitasking is not something I want on my phone! Do I really want my phone downloading news articles, weather updates etc whilst I am out & about? No because i don't want it using my 3G allowance and battery unless I decide I want it to.

In answer to your question Madame, 3GS can do multitasking

BadgersPaws · 08/04/2011 10:16

"Apple only lets certain things multitask"

That was the case with older versions of the iPhone, the only things that could multitask were things that Apple provided.

With more recent versions anything can multitask, Apple no longer stop other people writing multitasking apps.

ThingOne · 08/04/2011 10:27

Is that the latest iPod touch you have? Does it use the latest operating system? My DH has this and it can do almost as much as my iPhone4, including FaceTime (which we love as he works away a lot). I wouldn't bother with an iPhone3 if your iPod is the recent one.

Also, it doesn't seem a good deal to me. I pay £25 (plus vat change) for my 4. I get unlimited texts, the 500MB, and not many calls (100 min, I think). I always use wifi when it is available.

My DH has bought a dongle for constant wifi, and can use his iPod Touch as a phone when required, with a simple app. I don't know how much he uses it other than FaceTime as he does have a work phone anyway.

Niceguy2 · 08/04/2011 15:43

Really Badgers, I didn't know that.

Thingone. I don't know anyone who uses Facetime. Unless you jailbreak it, you are limited to only using it via wifi. Plus the camera will make even George Clooney look like an ugly mush and I don't want to scare people with my face.

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