The Low Down on the IPhone

The iPhone is something that one looks upon in awe; after all, a phone with a price tag of $600 has got to be incredible... right?

Well, if you're considering getting the phone, you should be well informed on exactly what you're going to be receiving. After all, that's a lot of money to drop on anything, let alone a phone.

So What Do You Get When a Phone and an iPod Have a Child?

Apple has attempted to seamlessly merge the cell phone, an item that nearly no one in the US can go without, and an MP3 player. This isn't a new idea; a phone that can play music has been around for a quite a while. But this just isn't any MP3 phone, after all... it has the iPod tag, and we all know how popular the iPod has been for Apple.

The iPhone also has a decent camera; while it's nothing that any enthusiast will brag about, the iPhone's camera is actually better than most phones.

So, the combination doesn't sound too bad, right? Great camera, iPod name, and a phone too. But that's not all the iPhone has...

Buttons, Where Art Thou?

Don't double-take - the iPhone has no buttons at all! It's 'revolutionary' interface is something that actually is quite unique.

Instead of having a keypad, and a number pad, like other cell phones, the iPhone brags about a virtual keyboard. It's unique, sure, and when you get down to it, quite cool... but is it really practical?

Messages, Emails... Where Did The Time Go?

Cingular is rolling out the red carpet for the 3G-based HSDPA service, which lets you text, message, and email at near broadband speeds. It really is the next best thing to saddling a computer on your back.

You would expect that the iPhone would be equipped with such a great thing, right? Well, you're sorely mistaken if you do...

The iPhone is weighed down by the slower-than-honey GPRS radio... if you're under 35, chances are you text a lot. Since the iPhone is targeted to a younger generation by default, it comes as a shock to all messaging lovers that it's so painfully slow.

This can be fixed when you're in a WiFi area, but for the every day, to-work-and-back-again, it's a real pain in the you-know-where.

Consumers could put up with the pitifully slow connection, though, if they could rapid-text like with the BlackBerry, or the Palm Treo. After all, that would make up for it - at least a little.

But low and behold, with the touch-screen keypad, messaging is slower than ever... sure, if you can get used to the squishy design and small letters, you might be able to type about as fast as a Chimpanzee, but who wants to waste all of that time?

AT And Only T

The biggest gripe that those who are willing to shell out the money and put up with the flaws have is that the iPhone is only available to those who want to sign up with AT&T. As of now, there isn't any unlocked version; and while a select team of incredibly amazing geeks are working on it as we speak, the fact is still that you can only use your $600 iPhone with AT&T.

Now, I'm not sure about the rest of you - being a writer leaves me with a little less money every month to blow on a phone/MP3/camera combo than most - but I really don't want to drop $600 on a phone, $200 breaking my 2 year contract with my old company, and signing a 2 year contract with another company.

It's a pain - but when considering Apple's track record, not a surprise.

Overall...

It's your money - your choice. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money, and opt for a phone that everyone won't have in a year - like Helio's Ocean.

But, if you have the extra money lying around, and you're into slow connections, squishy buttons, and AT&T, go for it.