It has been more than three months since I got an iPhone. I think it is a pretty good deal to judge this phone by now. A few months before leaving Philippines I was intending to replace my ever reliable Samsung E530 which I got when the flip phones were just starting to hit Manila (until now I am using this for my roaming sim card, this pink fone is so small yet amazing especially because of its video capabilities which is commendable for its generation, one of the first flips) by a red Treo. However, I deferred my outlay when I finally decided to come to Abu Dhabi. I had to know what would suit me best as I came here.
More than 3 months back, I was torn between getting a Blackberry (BB) and an iPhone. I compared the two and that made me more confused. But initially I perished the thought of getting a BB because I would need to have a postpaid subscription. Obviously I don’t like. I can manage with the wifi so why spend a penny for the subscription? Also, almost everyone in the office is holding a BB. And I dared to be different! Hahaha! Kidding.
Seriously, I wanted a diversion from having a business phone. The fact that I am already so much into doing business, creating one, and maintaining one, get a life at least. So boldly I got an iPhone. I got it from an authorized dealer stationed in the mall. And yes, it is an unlocked one. It is legitimately manufactured and I even got an AT & T sim card which is inside the package. Obviously, that would not work in UAE but I am keeping it as a souvenir. Cheesy.
After a quarter with an iPhone I can vouch for the following:
(+) It is really a fantastic chic phone: stylish, slim, and it’s an apple (yes, chic-y)
(+) Lotsa of playlists on the go! No need for a separate iPod. 
(+) 8gb storage, I am not going to ask for more. There’s the 16gb unit if you want, shell out some more of course
(+) Movies, You tube, etc. on the go! With the movies and other files that I saved/ queued, where’s the dull moment? :) Seriously, it was so addicting and bizarre at first. Makes you want to watch not from the television or laptop, but in the iPhone’s generous screen. So strategically consumerly sized.
(+) No need for a postpaid subscription (unlike BB, but there’s 1 unit that is wifi enabled) thanks to wifi resources!
(+) Blogging/ checking mails/ being on-line is handy, especially in case I get lazy to open the laptop
(+) Scheduler saves my day!
(+) Viewing of Word, Excel, and PDF files and other attachements in the emails is possible.
(+) It doesn’t have Sent Items folder, it appears like a chat trail.
(+) Auto completion of words
(+) Easy synch with iTunes
(+) Nice camera, makes my old digicam inactive.
(+) 8 hours talk time
(+) Etc.
On the downside
(-) It took me a week to adjust to its keyboard. It has no stylus (BB doesn’t have one either). I have perfectly adjusted after a week, anyway.
(-) The words that you type do auto-complete (which is actually an advantage if you are purely texting in English). That’s why when I compose Filipino/ Tagalog SMS, some words came out as other another word. Passed that stage anyway. I supposed some who didn’t know I was using an iPhone already found it odd and not so witty of me of my out of the world combination of Tagalog.
(-) Because it is a superb multimedia phone, you tend to use it more, you are using more battery. It has no spare battery. And borrowing (in case you didn’t bring yours) a charger is a problem when not so many iPhone users are in your circle.
(-) You cannot forward SMS/ MMS. I don’t care anyway, I am not fond of doing that. But sometimes, I hope I can forward a few items that I already sent.
(-) You need to keep your fingers clean all the time before touching it. Remember, it functions with the power of touch. During the first two weeks I did wish for a stylus.
(-) Since my unit is an unlocked one, I cannot upgrade some third party applications while I am in UAE. Luckily, there’s nothing much to upgrade yet.
(-) Creation and editing of Word, Excel and PDF files is not yet possible (only limited to viewing), which is availble in BB Pearl. So far, I just need to immediately view some files and forward these in emails.
All in all, I am happy with this chic fone with my old pink flippy Samsung (in it’s 3rd or 4th (?) year with me. Let’s see if my old phone has not retired yet when my iPhone reaches its 3rd or 4th year so. :)
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ReD 05.28.08 at 11:23 pm
oh WOW! i have an ipod touch and it looks exactly the same… I want to have an iPHONE… huhuhu
gilbert 05.29.08 at 7:01 am
i am also thinking of buying one as well, that was last year. now there are a lot of phones that would go side by side with iphone. i’d like to have a phone that can also do word and excel since my work would require it from time to time. you’re right, it’s harder to open a laptop. with the coming styles from sony ericsson, especially the Xperia. it looks promising. but i heard last night that there are a lot of applications on the works for iphone, including windows mobile. now there something to wait for. i’ll still see about it before i make my move.
witsandnuts 05.29.08 at 10:39 am
@Jared: You can have it too, of course. In my case I never had an iPod that’s why shifting to an iPhone has been easier.
witsandnuts 05.29.08 at 10:47 am
@Gilbert: iPhone can view Word, Excel and PDF but edit function is currently not possible. Blackberry has that. The iPhone upgrade would always be expected since there are so many 3rd party applications in store. There’s no problem if you are in US (and in few countries that are offering these under postpaid plans) because you may upgrade anytime. But upgrading in the Philippines, here and other countries is not yet possible. Hopefully after a year or two.
You may also want to consider HTC. It is good that you exactly know what you want before getting a new phone/PDA. Best of luck in choosing!