iPhone 3G[s] - Page 32

Matblack · 08-07-2009, 09:03

I'm still very slightly dubious about the iPhone, I quite quite put my finger on why either.Its not the data thing, I've found an O2 PAYG dongle which will give me data when I need it for £2/ day and I doubt I'd use it much except in the college holidays so thats solved.

I think its something to do with the rigidness of the OS and how locked down it is, I know this is part of that makes it 'just work' because everything is prechecked for you. I think the lack of 'tools' puts some doubt in my mind, can you get a decent word processor or an application which will open word documents? A lot of what is available seems a bit like toys. This is weird because I hardly ever use these things but for some reason I feel I'd miss them if they weren't there

In other ways I am totally smitten, once TomTom is available the iPhone will be pretty much everything I want in phone and an iPod and a sat nav [sigh]. As time goes on the cost is becoming less as my Orange contract runs out, moving from £50 when I phone was released to about £25 now, which isn't much of a barrier.

I think having the iPod Touch may have spoiled the experience for me a little, its a nice little tool but its gimped by its lack of constant connection to the net which can make it a frustrating experience not being able to use Google Maps when out and about or look up train times unless you can find a wireless network.

I'm pretty much convinced; I'm pretty sure there isn't a better phone for me out there as far as functionality, form and general quality, nor is there a better phone as far as support and future applications, so why is there a nagging doubt and why haven't I bought one yet?

MB

Burble · 08-07-2009, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matblack

can you get a decent word processor or an application which will open word documents?

The iPhone opens Word & Excel documents natively. Would I say it does a decent job of them? Well I can open them and read them so yeah. You can't edit them but that doesn't bother me - I don't want to write a novel on my phone.

Mark · 08-07-2009, 10:19

Have to agree with Burble on that one. Read-only would be fine with me too. I've had the facility to edit for over two years and never used it. I have opened the odd PDF file though so I assume the same applies to those.

Burble · 08-07-2009, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

I have opened the odd PDF file though so I assume the same applies to those.

Yep.

divine · 08-07-2009, 10:29

Your Touch should open those documents too, if you want to check out what it's like and whether it meets your needs.

Desmo · 08-07-2009, 10:43

PDF's are great. I've had a couple in emails and they open up fine, even some large (5MB+) full colour documents have been OK, just a little sluggish.

Matblack · 08-07-2009, 11:35

This is an interesting article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technolog...tphone_tr.html

I did wonder when Paul was using his iPhone at the cricket and was having real trouble getting much data down. I find Orange to be very good where I need fast data and is reliable as long as I have an H or 3G symbol

MB

Matblack · 08-07-2009, 11:42

Just checked Orange HSDPA shows as 1006kbit/sec = 125.75 kB/s

MB

Burble · 08-07-2009, 11:45

I was having the same problems at home but it has been fine since the number port completed. I don't see why that should have had any impact on it but it's perfect now.

Interesting article and I can understand the concerns. For sure the throughput I get on O2 is less than I got on Vodafone but for me that isn't a problem as I'm not going to use the iPhone for tethering. Most applications should be designed with low data requirements so I think it'll be fine for me. For example I won't download applications over the mobile network - I'll either do that on WiFi or at home or through iTunes.

Burble · 08-07-2009, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matblack

Just checked Orange HSDPA shows as 1006kbit/sec = 125.75 kB/s

MB

Just checked mine and with 1 bar of 3G signal showing (I get very patchy 3G coverage from all the networks here) I got a result of 1026Kbit/sec so as near as makes no difference the same.

08-07-2009, 09:03	#311
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	I'm still very slightly dubious about the iPhone, I quite quite put my finger on why either.Its not the data thing, I've found an O2 PAYG dongle which will give me data when I need it for £2/ day and I doubt I'd use it much except in the college holidays so thats solved. I think its something to do with the rigidness of the OS and how locked down it is, I know this is part of that makes it 'just work' because everything is prechecked for you. I think the lack of 'tools' puts some doubt in my mind, can you get a decent word processor or an application which will open word documents? A lot of what is available seems a bit like toys. This is weird because I hardly ever use these things but for some reason I feel I'd miss them if they weren't there In other ways I am totally smitten, once TomTom is available the iPhone will be pretty much everything I want in phone and an iPod and a sat nav [sigh]. As time goes on the cost is becoming less as my Orange contract runs out, moving from £50 when I phone was released to about £25 now, which isn't much of a barrier. I think having the iPod Touch may have spoiled the experience for me a little, its a nice little tool but its gimped by its lack of constant connection to the net which can make it a frustrating experience not being able to use Google Maps when out and about or look up train times unless you can find a wireless network. I'm pretty much convinced; I'm pretty sure there isn't a better phone for me out there as far as functionality, form and general quality, nor is there a better phone as far as support and future applications, so why is there a nagging doubt and why haven't I bought one yet? MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

08-07-2009, 10:29	#315
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Your Touch should open those documents too, if you want to check out what it's like and whether it meets your needs. __________________

08-07-2009, 10:43	#316
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	PDF's are great. I've had a couple in emails and they open up fine, even some large (5MB+) full colour documents have been OK, just a little sluggish. __________________

08-07-2009, 11:35	#317
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	This is an interesting article http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technolog...tphone_tr.html I did wonder when Paul was using his iPhone at the cricket and was having real trouble getting much data down. I find Orange to be very good where I need fast data and is reliable as long as I have an H or 3G symbol MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

08-07-2009, 11:42	#318
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Just checked Orange HSDPA shows as 1006kbit/sec = 125.75 kB/s MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

08-07-2009, 10:19	#313
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Have to agree with Burble on that one. Read-only would be fine with me too. I've had the facility to edit for over two years and never used it. I have opened the odd PDF file though so I assume the same applies to those.

08-07-2009, 11:45	#319
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	I was having the same problems at home but it has been fine since the number port completed. I don't see why that should have had any impact on it but it's perfect now. Interesting article and I can understand the concerns. For sure the throughput I get on O2 is less than I got on Vodafone but for me that isn't a problem as I'm not going to use the iPhone for tethering. Most applications should be designed with low data requirements so I think it'll be fine for me. For example I won't download applications over the mobile network - I'll either do that on WiFi or at home or through iTunes.