How do people afford the iPhone???

jb66

jayme1 wrote: »

I'm actually thinking of getting the samsung galxay note because of it's screen (was thinking of the galaxy nexus but the no expandable storage is a sort of deal breaker for me) as I want to use it for watching movies and TV shows (legally obtained I must add)

I'm miffed about the sd card not being available, the nexus doesn't feel like an upgrade to the s2, I've never seen a note in real life but the screen looks perfect for movies! Never seen a cheap deal yet

Kai

Humphrey10 wrote: »

For some (not all) Android phones I have seen people ask 'how do I do this (where this is some feature of the iPhone that I use) with the phone?' and the response is 'just install this extra thing/change these settings/etc, it's simple'. Maybe these are rare occurrences though.

Why would I want freedom to change what I want? I don't have 'freedom' to change the operating system on my PS3, or my Wii, or any of the other games consoles I have ever owned, or my TV, or any mobile that I have previously owned, why would this particular mobile phone be any different? Maybe you like this feature, but that does not mean everyone else feels the need for it.

Good for you. Some people are set in their ways and never want to change anything at all. People are different. I'm just saying that you will have a choice.

Humphrey10 wrote: »

While being inspected, would the phone be switched on, and have the current version of the operating system, and connected to the internet? If that's what every shop does, then great.
Previous to the iPhone I had had the same phone for years, so I haven't been to a non-Apple mobile phone shop for ages, they may have changed now, but when I last was looking for a phone the staff in every one I went to were useless.

I'm sure that they allow you to switch the phone on. If anything it's common sense to avoid more hassle should the customer find the phone dead out of the box later. If you insist on the specific factors about the current operating system and connected to the internet - I don't know why you should point this out specifically - you do know that there are iPhones out there that still need to be upgraded from iOS4 or iOS5 to the latest 5.01 even if you walk into an Apple store to buy the latest iPhone. Also, if you insist on testing out the very iPhone you are buying you will need to activate it before you can test it out.

I honestly can't think of any phone shop now that does not also sell Apple iPhones - I cannot see there would be any different selling process for any phone model, iPhone or not. Just ask the questions you want to know before you are happy to part with your money or sign any contracts and you'll be ok.

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Is every single game available on the App Store also available on Android? They aren't.
If I want to play a particular game, I want that exact one, I don't want someone saying 'here is a different game, it's 'equivalent' though so you can't complain'. I really can't stand all this 'everything on iOS is also on Android' nonsense.

If that's what you want then it's what you want. Not all apps on Android/WP7/A.N.Other are available on iOS either.

Humphrey10 wrote: »

'Trapped'? Howso? Just because I have spent some money on the App Store, you think I will never be able to buy another brand of phone that won't run the apps?
Spending hundreds of pounds on XBox games didn't stop me buying a PS3, spending hundreds of pounds on NDS games didn't stop me buying a PSP, spending hundreds of pounds on PSP games didn't stop me buying an iPhone. The Xbox, NDS, PSP and associated games all went to charity shops so the fact Apps have no resale value doesn't affect me. I really doubt I will still want the same apps in a few years when I want to replace the phone anyway.

If I did want another phone, and did for some reason still want the apps, I could just get an iPod anyway.

I am not saying any particular phone is better than any other phone. I am just saying that I prefer the iPhone. I don't care that it doesn't come in different colours, I don't care that I can't easily pirate apps, I don't care that I can't create a wifi hotspot with it, I don't care that I can't change the OS, I don't care that it's made by Apple, I don't care that it's more expensive.
Other people may care about these or other things, so they might prefer another phone. I don't thing you can say 'for 100% of people, X phone is best'.

As I said, people are different. If you don't care about certain things and are happy with your choice, good for you. Some other people do care though. I never actually said you must all buy Android/WP7/A.N.Other or any other phone apart from an iPhone. Everyone has their own freedom of choice, just as you say. I am not here to cause an argument. I was merely pointing out what I think are wrong conceptions you stated in your original post.

esuhl

I have to say that I'm amazed that smart phones are so popular. Basic phones are virtually free, and the only "extra" in a smart phone seems to be faster web access and a screen just about big enough to use for casual browsing and email.

Jmarles wrote: »

I am a Pay and Go user and have been since the dawn of mobile phones...

Wow! How can you afford that?! PAYG tariffs are so expensive!

gjchester

esuhl wrote: »

I have to say that I'm amazed that smart phones are so popular. Basic phones are virtually free, and the only "extra" in a smart phone seems to be faster web access and a screen just about big enough to use for casual browsing and email.

It's not that simple.

GPS mapping and instant routing, getting an instant map and directions in a new place (almost anywhere in the world), game playing, instant communication (be that Twitter or Facebook), sharing photos, instant price checks (such as red laser) as well as email and browsing. Everything I've said is possible on different gadgets but the phone integrates them, it's not a master at any but a useful multitool for them all.

Once you start using a smart phone you soon realise you don't want to go back to carrying a phone, laptop, camera, SatNav and so on rather than the slim device that a smart phone is. Yes dedicated devices are better, I'd never go on holiday with jsut a smart phone as a camera, but for something you carry daily it does almost everything I need when out.

esuhl

gjchester wrote: »

It's not that simple.

GPS mapping and instant routing, getting an instant map and directions in a new place (almost anywhere in the world), game playing, instant communication (be that Twitter or Facebook), sharing photos, instant price checks (such as red laser) as well as email and browsing. Everything I've said is possible on different gadgets but the phone integrates them, it's not a master at any but a useful multitool for them all.

Once you start using a smart phone you soon realise you don't want to go back to carrying a phone, laptop, camera, SatNav and so on rather than the slim device that a smart phone is. Yes dedicated devices are better, I'd never go on holiday with jsut a smart phone as a camera, but for something you carry daily it does almost everything I need when out.

I sort of get that. I'd like to be able to surf the web on the move and have access to maps and GPS. As a Technical Consultant and having studied IT, I love useful gadgets... but I just can't justify the price when there's nearly always a PC turned on nearby! The only times when I really wish I had a smartphone are the 2 or 3 times a year I end up in a forest in the middle of nowhere, when a map with a "you are here" sign would be amazing. But I ain't spending £400+ every year or two just for that! A dedicated GPS would probably be better anyway...

What worries me, with my refusal to shell out for a smartphone, is that I'm becoming more of a cheapskate than a techie!

JJ_Egan

I agree with the last post and for many its just an expensive toy must have bit of Bling .

However i use my Smartphone a lot for numerous stuff as i certainly dont find a PC nearby most of the time .

Could i live without it yes no problem just as i can live without the hardly used phone bit . Its more the mini PC bit that i use along with GPS local to where i am stuff .
Its not an IPhone so its not Bling Bling .
£400 every two years no way unless its worth an upgrade . Then again what i save on not having an IPhone no contract and no insurance means its always more affordable than it might be for others .

jje

System

You can get an awesome smartphone for £100-£200 and it would last 3-6 years in my opinion

gjchester

esuhl wrote: »

The only times when I really wish I had a smartphone are the 2 or 3 times a year I end up in a forest in the middle of nowhere, when a map with a "you are here" sign would be amazing.

I almost always have my laptop with me, but it doesnt mean I can get a free wifi signal, and although I can use a dongle the phone is always on.

Useful when in the middle of London trying to find the pub your mates are in.. Especially so where you have missed a small side turning and walked past the back side of said pub 5 minutes ago and not realised..

And then finding the tube station home afterwards....

You are right it's personal choice, if you don't feel you need one that up to you.

split_second

been there and done that with every smartphone platform- symbian-bb-android-ios

the iphone i have now is a 3g bought just short of a year ago for £50, its broken now (battery gone), got a genius bar appointment tomorrow, if the £50 quoted on the apple site for a new battery is right i'll pay that, if its more or means sending away for more than a week then its going elsewhere for a same day repair for £40.

i could get a decent android phone for £100, either an orange san francisco 2 (i'm not on orange but it looks interesting) or one of the alcatel ones out the o2 shop, or even back to symbian 60 with a refurb 6700 slide for under £80, my excuse is i moderate a forum elsewhere and all mods are expected to login every 24 hours and it means i can do that while at work on dinner if needed. i have had phones for 12 years and its something nice to have more than just a basic one. been using a £15 phone while waiting for my genius bar appointment and it does the job, not wonderful but ok

Humphrey10

Kai wrote: »

If you insist on the specific factors about the current operating system and connected to the internet - I don't know why you should point this out specifically - you do know that there are iPhones out there that still need to be upgraded from iOS4 or iOS5 to the latest 5.01 even if you walk into an Apple store to buy the latest iPhone. Also, if you insist on testing out the very iPhone you are buying you will need to activate it before you can test it out.

It needs to be connected to the internet so you can check for dead or part dead pixels - you need to look at the entire screen when it is red, green, and blue? (or whatever the colours of pixels are, I forget), easiest way to do this is to navigate to a website that has red green etc full screen images. I'd also want to see a black screen and a white screen to check for any other screen defects.

I really cannot see how you could test the phone you are buying for dead pixels or any other screen defect by looking at one of the display models.

Activating an iDevice isn't a problem, they'll do that for you in the Apple shop so you can check the screen etc. Takes 2 min max. Just plug it into a computer, slide to unlock, unplug. Job done.

All of the iDevices I've bought had the latest iOS installed.

Kai wrote: »

I honestly can't think of any phone shop now that does not also sell Apple iPhones - I cannot see there would be any different selling process for any phone model, iPhone or not.

Sorry I should have specified - I was talking about buying an iPhone direct from an Apple shop.