Obligatory iPhone Journal

Justin and I bought each other iPhones for Christmas. Yes, they are very cool.

But any time someone gets an iPhone, there is also a rolling of the eyes that takes place. It’s an Apple product, and has a lot of hype surrounding it, so there are a lot of misconceptions about the iPhone. So here is a Q-and-A based on my first experiences with the device.

Q. Is the iPhone really better than any other phone out there?
A. No. It is quite different than any other phone I’ve ever used, so I don’t think it would be a “better” solution for all people.

Q. But the iPhone is better than any other smartphone out there, right?
A. No. It lacks a QWERTY keypad — or any keypad — and that is going to be a deal breaker for a lot of people.

Q. Yeah, I heard texting and emailing on it totally sucks.
A. No. I was able to text and email right away. The on-screen keyboard is far better than I expected. I prefer it to the two-or-three-letters-per-key solution on many cell phones. The predictive/corrective text feature is quite good at understanding what you meant, even if you don’t hit exactly the right letter.

Q. So, it’s as good as a full QWERTY keyboard?
A. No. But it’s a good compromise, and after holding it in my hands and using it, I understand why Apple chose not to include a full keyboard. It’s also great for those who often switch between languages.

Q. So what’s all the hype about?
A. What “makes” the iPhone is the App Store. There are so many cool things this phone can do, and it’s so easy to make the phone do them. Many apps are free, and none are terribly expensive (from what I’ve seen).

Q. How is the interface?
A. There are no words. The phone is incredibly intuitive, and I felt like an expert after just a few minutes. For a device that can do so many things, having an interactive screen with a multi-touch interface is just perfect. Web browsing, email, texting, applications — everything the iPhone does seems to “fit” into the iPhone. You’d just have to spend an hour with one to know what I’m talking about.

Q. How is the media playback?
A. Fantastic. That’s the one thing I’ve always found lacking in other smartphones and PDAs. This is a fully-functional iPod, in addition to a great smartphone, so the result is what you’d expect.

Q. I like all the data and media features, but how is it as an actual Phone?
A. Wonderful. No, really. Call quality is great, and the in-call features are much more intuitive than other phones I’ve used. (For example, conference call.) Visual voice mail is also a kick-ass feature. I’ve always HATED voice mail because navigating through the voice menus is a pain. Having it all in front of you makes managing your messages much easier.

Q. I really want an iPhone now. Is it worth switching carriers?
A. Absolutely. I was with T-Mobile for 12 years, so I carefully considered this decision. I looked into the unlocking options, and it’s just not worth it. The process of switching was quite simple, and keeping our numbers was far easier than I thought. If you want an iPhone, you’re stuck with AT&T (in the states), and that’s just the way things are. But it’s worth it. Trust me.

Q. Aren’t the plans expensive, though?
A. Yes, but that’s the case with pretty much all smartphones. We ended up paying about $30 more per month than we were paying with T-Mobile, but part of that was the leap to 3G, which costs more on both carriers. If you would choke on a $100 cell phone bill (per line), then the iPhone probably isn’t for you.

Q. Hmm. I really like a lot of what you talked about, but I don’t really want to switch carriers and/or pay that much per month.
A. That’s why the iPod Touch exists. If you don’t need or want the phone features, and you have WiFi available to you frequently, then go for the iPod Touch. You get the same interface and the same awesome App Store. It’s a win-win!

Q. Then why did you get the iPhone?
A. I don’t spend all of my time near WiFi connections, and I use Exchange for my personal email, contacts, and calendar. I also liked the phone features, and don’t want to carry multiple devices. Your choice will depend on your usage habits.

Q. So… does having an iPhone make you better than everyone else?
A. Yes. Yes, it does.