SOCIAL: "smart phones?" - from a Storm user

John D'Avolio johnd at triggerfish.org
Thu Dec 4 13:48:46 PST 2008 

David Pogue came out with a follow-up article today on the Blackberry Storm featuring comment from enraged and dissatisfied Storm
users: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/technology/personaltech/04pogue-email.html?8cir&emc=cir

So I have had the Blackberry Storm for a week now and it's a *huge* improvement from my Motorola RAZR that the Storm replaced but
it's as buggy as David Pogue and many other reviewers say.  Other than the lack of wifi, it appears that most of the problems will
be fixed with a patch that already unofficially available on the web, officially from Verizon on Dec 15 (so say the customer service
rep I just spoke with).

>From what I've read, seen and experienced, here are the touch screen smart phone choices in order of greatness: #1 iPhone, #2
T-Mobile's Google phone, #3 Blackberry Storm.

Why didn't I go with choice one or two?  The network.  Unfortunately, AT&T and T-Mobile are really bad (static, dropped called,
tunnel sounds, etc) at my apartment, which also serves as my home office.  The AT&T sales reps can pinpoint how good their service
is at your address - so make sure you check this before going with an iPhone.  Mine apt. here in the heart of Deepistan is
classified by AT&T "moderate" which is really actually sucky when tested with a friend's iPhone as well as another AT&T phone.

So for the time being, in order to have the big touch screen smart phone experience, I'll stick with the Storm (and an iPod Touch
for music and video and apps and fun) and hope that either AT&T loses their lock on the iPhone or upgrades their service level here
my part of the Mission.

Cheers,
John

-----Original Message-----
From: social-bounces at lists.deeptrouble.com [mailto:social-bounces at lists.deeptrouble.com] On Behalf Of Amandeep Jawa
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 11:53 AM
To: Karen Nemsick
Cc: Deep's Social
Subject: Re: SOCIAL: "smart phones?"

The thing about iPhone glitches is that there is so much hype around the iPhone that anything about them makes news whereas it
doesn't for other phones as much. The other phones have at least the same type of problems as the iPhone does if not worse*.

The truth of the matter is murkier.  Yes, there are problems with the iPhone, but the short answer is that most of those things are
improving & the positives really outweigh the negatives.
	
Software issues:

There certainly are numerous bugs in the iPhone software and missing features as well.  To be sure, smartphones, even the iPhone,
are much more complex than regular phones and so the software at this point is significantly more glitchy.  If I just wanted the
most reliable phone in the world, I would get a cheap, simple, Samsung/LG/Whatever dumbphone.  But I find that the occasional glitch
is a minor annoyance compared to all the real joy (yes, I'm using the word "joy" - I keep thinking about blogging about this) and
capability I get from my iPhone.  The other really big deal here is that Apple is improving the iPhone software every few months,
and if you by an iPhone today you will still get the updated software as it comes out. And installing the updates is straightforward
- just use iTunes.

Network Issues:

The network issues on AT&T also might be what you have heard of.  For me, I've not had any real problems.  I have noticed that I get
somewhat less coverage than I did on Verizon, and the call quality isn't as good as Verizon, but neither of these has been a problem
for me.  AT&T keeps talking about how much they are improving their network and maybe they are, but I have no real complaints.

That all being said, all of this in many ways misses the point for me.  
For me, the iPhone is so powerful AND so much fun to use that it has really changed my life.  I know that sounds gushy, but you'd be
surprised at how many people have told me that as well.  It might just be how technological I am anyway**, but the combination of
having a really powerful, really connected, and really FUN to use tiny computer with me at all times has been honestly a significant
improvement in how much fun I have in my life.  That's really the bottom line for me.


'deep

.ps
I just remembered the Blackberry that I would look at if I was to not go with an iPhone - it is the Blackberry Bold.


* For a good laugh read David Pogue's Blackberry Storm Review:  http://tinyurl.com/69ohdm
  (Best line: "But wait, there's less")

**I'm geeky and
- like to check the Wikipedia right as I walk out of a "based on true events" movie
- like to have updated transit info at my fingertips whenever I want it,
- love texting my friends constantly (since it is SOOOOOO much better than on a dumb phone) a
- check my email all the time wherever I am (bathroom, bike (bad 'Deep!), meeting etc etc)
- find myself presuming I know the location of the place I'm going when I don't (thank you GPS + Google Maps)
- find myself wondering what the song I'm hearing is (I love Shazam!)





On Dec 4, 2008, at 10:58 AM, Karen Nemsick wrote:

> Ok I hear you on the iPhones.  and to be honest, I LOVE all the 
> gadget-ness of them.  But I keep hearing about glitches with the G3
> network and such.  is this just the hype that comes with a new toy?   
> or are they legit issues?  is iPhone encountering the same glitches 
> that any other phone/blackberry would encounter?
>
> --- On Thu, 12/4/08, Amandeep Jawa <deep at deeptrouble.com> wrote:
> From: Amandeep Jawa <deep at deeptrouble.com>
> Subject: Re: SOCIAL: "smart phones?"
> To: "Deep's Social" <social at deeptrouble.com>
> Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 10:19 AM
>
> Really, honestly, Karen - that sounds like an iPhone.  And I would say 
> that even if I didn't work for Apple.*
>
> There are a few smartphones out there that do what you want based on 
> what you describe.  Some have more features some have less.  The 
> iPhone is head and shoulders the easiest to use and one of the most 
> capable in terms of features. (though the TMobile G1 (a.k.a the Google 
> phone) probably comes close).
>
> It also depends on your carrier.  If you are on AT&T or willing to 
> switch carriers (luckily, you can keep your same number these days!) 
> I'd suggest going to AT&T and getting an iPhone.  The only downside 
> I'd say of switching to AT&T is that if you are coming from Verizon, 
> you will notice they don't have as good coverage, but for me and many 
> I know, that hasn't been a problem.  If you are coming from another 
> carrier, you'll be fine.  Verizon sucks in other ways anyways (they 
> all suck in one way or another.)
>
> If I was on Verizon and wanted to stay, I'd look into what they had, 
> but steer clear of the Blackberry Storm (early reviews are bad) that 
> they might send you to. Some of the other Blackberries might be OK, 
> just not the Storm.
>
> On T-Mobile I'd look at the G1 mentioned above.
>
> If I was going for the cheapest possible decent phone, I'd play with a 
> Palm Centro at around $100.
>
>
> At the end of the day,  few phones may have a few more features than 
> the iPhone, but none have the usability of the iPhone.  Personally I 
> LOVE my iPhone.  Let me know if you have other questions.
>
>
> 'deep
>
> *In fact it is the other way around, the fact that we make things  
> like the iPhone is why I wanted to work at Apple.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 4, 2008, at 9:15 AM, Karen Nemsick wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> It seems time for me to get a new phone.  My current, very very old  
>> phone, that doesn't even text or have call waiting, is dying a slow  
>> death.  So, I'm looking for new technology.  A phone that lets me  
>> check email, and maybe even internet, and maybe even GPS!  Is that  
>> too much for a gal to ask?  I am an admitted Luddite when it comes  
>> to cell phone technology, so I'm looking to the list for help.  Any  
>> recommendations?
>>
>> Karen
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Social mailing list
>> Social at lists.deeptrouble.com
>> http://lists.deeptrouble.com/listinfo.cgi/social-deeptrouble.com
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------
> Amandeep Jawa
> ----------------------------------
> deep AT deeptrouble DOT com
> 937 Valencia St.
> San Francisco, CA 94110-2320
>
> personal: http://www.deeptrouble.com
> political: http://www.sflcv.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Social mailing list
> Social at lists.deeptrouble.com
> http://lists.deeptrouble.com/listinfo.cgi/social-deeptrouble.com
>



----------------------------------
Amandeep Jawa
----------------------------------
deep AT deeptrouble DOT com
937 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110-2320

personal: http://www.deeptrouble.com
political: http://www.sflcv.org



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