Reality Distortion Field in Full Effect

Christopher Smith — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:33:00 -0800

So, today we’re all supposed to be gaga over the new iPhone from Apple. As the owner of a Sprint PPC6700 I’m having a hard time getting that excited. I wonder if, once the Job’s reality distortion field has passed by everyone, if the excitement will lead to the same realization I’m having right now.

From a hardware perspective, there really isn’t much that’s exciting about the iPhone. It’s features match up pretty well with my 6700 (the 6700 doesn’t do 802.11g, the 6700 is CDMA and can use Sprint’s EV-DO data service, its camera’s resolution is somewhat lower, and the 6700 has a mini-SD slot).

The form factor is different. The iPhone is slimmer, and in order to achieve that it gives up the slide out keyboard (which is really nice). That’s an interesting trade off, but one that other manufacturers have gone with, although I think Apple is the first to completely eschew any kind of keypad.

The user interface is different. If there is anything innovative about this phone, it’s going to be the UI, but of course multi finger touch screens aren’t exactly new. I’m not sure what exactly Apple has “patented the hell out of”, but I could see where this could prove to be a killer feature.

Personally, a stylus is a nice way to avoid fingerprints on my screen, but otherwise it would be nice to throw it away. Still, the PPC-6700 is currently available with $100 manufacturer’s rebate, which makes it roughly 2/3 the price of the iPhone, and also suggests there will be a new model out shortly, and this is months before iPhone even launches.

Compared to the options available for WinCE phones, the iPhone seems kind of lacking to me. The only asset it really has is that it isn’t marketed by Microsoft, who have done a horrid job promoting WinCE phones.

"Reality Distortion Field in Full Effect" by Jim Travis

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 10:17:52 -0800

Hi Christopher:

I totally agree. The iPhone is being so hyped as the best device every made that it is getting nauseating. Frankly, I am not impressed. I think people will soon tire of hand scrolling, and constantly cleaning their screens.

My 2 cents worth are at: http://www.consultpda.com/treoblog.htm#iphone

Xblog: Reality Distortion Field in Full Effect

Reality Distortion Field in Full Effect

"Reality Distortion Field in Full Effect" by Jim Travis