I dropped my 2 month old iPhone 4 into the canal

Idiophreak

grumbler wrote: »

The latest phones normally come with more expensive contracts and those who upgrade early suddenly have longer and probably more expensive contracts. And definitely they pay much more than they would have paid should they went sim-only with the 'old' (not really) handset.

..but they were on this "more expensive" contract, presumably, when they took out their old iPhone? So, actually, moving onto the "more expensive" contract for their new iPhone doesn't actually cost them any more. If they upgrade early, they're normally (these days, where everything seems to be on a 24month contract) committing to another contract of the same length. No longer - they've just not finished paying the old one yet.

Yes, if they dropped to PAYG, it would be cheaper...but it would be no cheaper to switch to the latest Android handset. It seems your issue is against smart phones and mobile contracts in general - you've not actually come up with anything to explain why this issue is unique to iPhones...

grumbler wrote: »

ETA: another good thread started by a typical 'ordinary' user: iPhone roaming charges - please help.

So the ordinary iPhone user thinks that their notifications, facebook updates etc are happening "by magic" like that poster? God help us all.

grumbler

Idiophreak wrote: »

It seems your issue is against smart phones and mobile contracts in general - you've not actually come up with anything to explain why this issue is unique to iPhones...

No. My opinion remains that an average iPhone user is much more prone to any upgrades at any cost than an average android user and that the number of people that cannot afford having iPhone, but have it is much higher than the same number for android owners. Simply because Android is not a subject of mass hysteria and obsession.

So the ordinary iPhone user thinks that their notifications, facebook updates etc are happening "by magic" like that poster? God help us all.

I don't remember facebook mentioned in this thread. This is the main reason why I quoted it. And we can only guess about notifications. However, I am pretty sure that the data is being used even without notifications.

Idiophreak

grumbler wrote: »

No. My opinion remains that an average iPhone user is much more prone to any upgrades at any cost than an average android user and that the number of people that cannot afford having iPhone, but have it is much higher than the same number for android owners. Simply because Android is not a subject of mass hysteria and obsession.

I quite agree with your second point. iPhones are clearly more desirable (rightly or wrongly) than android handsets - so I imagine that there are more people who buy the things in the first place that can't afford them...but I still don't understand how the upgrade problem fits in.

Someone's presumably so happy with their iPhone that they want a new one as soon as it's out...you're saying that these people are on here 3 months later saying they've wasted their money? Doesn't make sense. People already on an iPhone contract will be paying a large monthly amount already, so most likely won't have to spend any more each month. Odds on, if they're early in a contract, they'll try and flog the old iPhone for as much as possible and buy the new one. If they're late in the contract they'll do an early upgrade. Neither affect the contract cost or duration.

grumbler wrote: »

I don't remember facebook mentioned in this thread. This is the main reason why I quoted it. And we can only guess about notifications. However, I am pretty sure that the data is being used even without notifications.

Yeah, of course there is...it's the nature of the thing that it's always throwing little messages out here and there, looking for updates, looking for new information etc. Just like android does. (maybe it does it more...but then we're just talking about the size of the bill, not the fact there is a bill).

Even if the OP didn't get facebook updates etc while over there, and *never* thought at all about how her "magic box" might work overseas, I still think it was entirely preventable. My wife's not at all tech-savvy...you know how she handled our month overseas? She called up O2 and said "hi, I'm going to America. Can you tell me how much it's going to cost me please..." and when they mentioned a cost for data she said "I don't want to use any data...Can you tell me how to disable it in America, please" and they told her. This is something I'd expect the "average" person to think to do, actually....

In fact, I'd suggest that your view that people posting with complaints/issues on this forum are "average" users is a bit hopeful. Use a rough bellcurve for intelligence and tech-saviness and I guess you'll be looking at 50% of users being considered "average". So you'd expect to see 50% of the people who've been overseas, use an iPhone and frequent these boards start these threads, wouldn't you? If it's too hard for the "average user" to work out?

Guys_Dad

The point about Iphones is that when the latest one comes out, it is an event. Because of clever marketing, it creates a need in the faithful.

With Androids, each manufacturer seems to have a selection of handsets and there a re a few manufacturers, so a new Android handset isn't that big a deal as the latest Apple Iphone, so less peer pressure.

And because Iphones are expensive and there are no cheap ones, associated contracts are that much more expensive than contracts with cheaper Androids, so people do not have to enter so expensive contracts to get the Android experience.

And the data thing - well there has been an announcement of a data compression app for the Iphone which was needed to get over it's greed for data.

If I was a Mac user, then I would probably have gone the Iphone route. But I am not, nor would I want to be a Mac user.

My views are along the same lines as Grumbler on this and I expect to see a lot more threads from Iphone users who want to get out of their expensive contracts in the coming months.

Idiophreak

Guys_Dad wrote: »

And because Iphones are expensive and there are no cheap ones, associated contracts are that much more expensive than contracts with cheaper Androids, so people do not have to enter so expensive contracts to get the Android experience.

...but no cheaper than contracts on the high end androids. Which is the comparable product. You don't get "the Android experience" on cheaper handsets any more than you get the iPhone experience on cheaper (ie older) handsets.

grumbler

Idiophreak wrote: »

...This is something I'd expect the "average" person to think to do, actually...

I can imagine an average person thinking that if they are not going to use e-mails, web browsers and web-based apps like facebook, then there is nothing to call and ask about. Yes, it would be reasonable to switch the data roaming off in this case, but this doesn't look more reasonable than switching the phone to the airplane mode if you are not going to make/receive calls and texts.
What about those who are going to use very little amount of data, say check the mailbox, even at a high cost, but get hit by a big unexpected backgroud traffic at £8/Mb?

Guys_Dad

Idiophreak wrote: »

...but no cheaper than contracts on the high end androids. Which is the comparable product. You don't get "the Android experience" on cheaper handsets any more than you get the iPhone experience on cheaper (ie older) handsets.

That isn't accurate - and I suspect you know that. My partner has a Galaxy SII and I have an Apollo. The former is one of the fastest smartphones you can get and has a decent sized screen. Mine is a cheap Android handset that is fine for me as I don't do gaming like her. But we got them new within a week of each other

Now we both get the Android experience although I will admit that hers is faster, easier to read and is a better quality device. But we can run similar apps.

Now, explain to me how anyone could get an Iphone experience - sorry a "class-leading user experience" - on a cheaper non-Iphone handset that is currently available on retailers' websites.?

Idiophreak

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Now we both get the Android experience although I will admit that hers is faster, easier to read and is a better quality device. But we can run similar apps.

Now, explain to me how anyone could get an Iphone experience - sorry a "class-leading user experience" - on a cheaper non-Iphone handset that is currently available on retailers' websites.?

The two of you clearly aren't getting the same experience if hers is faster, easier to read and better quality...?

Like I said, you can't get the iPhone experience elsewhere. If you want class-leading UI on an iPhone, you buy the most recent iPhone. If you want the best that Android offer, you get the current flagship Android handset (S2 is a good example...).

The iPhone experience is all to do with the tight bindings between hardware and software. Your idea that you can get the same experience with the same software but inferior hardwarr doesn't play out in the real world - or people would never bother to buy the more expensive phones, would they?

MissKeith

Coming from my perspective (someone who worked three iPhone launches in a row who is very grateful she is not working this one), I always found the hype around the iPhone absolutely ridiculous. They were no better than any other high end handset we sold, no more reliable and no more special features either. Yet we would have customers who were willing to practically bankrupt themselves signing up to a very expensive tariff in order to get the phone free and then coming in a year later to try and upgrade to the latest version. When they were told they couldn't, they would just sign up to another expensive lengthy contract and have two! Utterly ridiculous. No other fan base were like this. There's also an influx of customers smashing or damaging their old IPhones just before a launch in the hopes that they would be given the new one, ha fat chance of that as Apple recall the old ones for this reason.

Apple know what they're doing and although I have made a hell of a lot of money from their products, I find anyone who buys into their marketing hype absolutely mental.

Guys_Dad

Idiophreak wrote: »

Your idea that you can get the same experience with the same software but inferior hardwarr doesn't play out in the real world - or people would never bother to buy the more expensive phones, would they?

Of course they would! That is why so many people in this country are deep in debt - not just for Iphones, of course.

Reading this forum constantly reminds me of the old Woody Guthrie song here http://www.metrolyrics.com/a-dollar-down-lyrics-woody-guthrie.html

So mustavits aspire for the ultimate experiences putting financial considerations aside and, when the day comes, as it has for many on here, their financial rug is swept from under their feet, Mazlow's pyramid and reality kick in and they can't wait to find a way of getting out of their Iphone contract for a basic Nokia on PAYG.

Apple's marketing strategy and lack of cheaper entry-level handsets on a price comparison with budget Androids induces those who must have the ultimate experience - whilst lacking the financial safety net to back it up (or the basic technical knowhow to avoid large roaming bills) - to spend considerably more than they need to do to appear a leader of the pack.