Yeah, no doubt Apple has quite a few advantages, the largest of which is that is already has a big lead in what I'll call the new wave of smartphones. But there is plenty of room in the mobile market for innovative player.
suresh
· 11 months ago
i have to agree -- we shouldn't be tied to buying products just because its company A or company M... we should always feel like we are buying best of breed products from best of breed companies.
And i think that is my point -- when you are buying a product -- you are also buying and relying on the reputation of that company.
What do i mean?
- Well, a company like Apple doesn't just provide you with the iPhone 2-years ago... its builds and extends on that with a DRM free iTunes media service. Palm can't offer that.
- Its guaranteed to use innovative and advanced hardware through strategic licensing from Imagination Technologies (Power VR GPU) and ARM (CPU - multi-core) and its ownership of PA-Semi (RISC chip design). Palm doesn't have that leverage.
- It has single-handedly created a developer ecosystem with the App Store which has guaranteed that mobile developers have now bet on the iPhone platform for rich mobile applications. Palm neither has that or cano offer that by developing Web 2.0 applications.
My point is this. Palm Pre is excellent. And probably the best contender after Android. But when you compare that extra things i have mentioned -- what it really demonstrates is that there is a difference in companies.
Josh
· 11 months ago
You ask why anyone would possibly not get an iPhone...
I'm currently very seriously considering getting one and have no problem saying that yes, the iPhone is the best mobile phone available at this point, however there are some compromises which may still make me purchase another phone.
The biggest reason is the lack of keypad. I disagree with you on this one becuase I know you strongly agree with the notion keypads are on the way out, and in fact I used an iPhone for a few days to see if claims about the virtual keypad being good enough where true.
They were not... good though it is, it doesn't beat a real keypad and I got very frustrated with both the lack of space of screen with the keypad filling most of it up and the annoyance of taping non tactile buttons. My friend, whose job is selling phones, agrees and says that yes, they tell people they'll get used to the iPhone virtual keypad, but really you don't.
MG Siegler
· 11 months ago
Certainly, it's a matter of personal preference Josh, but I do know a lot of people who thought they would never like the virtual keypad, but now laugh at the notion of switching back to a physical one. You say it takes up too much screen space, but that's all virtual, the physical keyboard takes up WAY too much physical space, and sooner or later devices are going to have to chuck it. Even the Palm Pre, which has the slide down one, could be that much sleeker and sexier without it.
But I do agree about tactile feedback, but believe me, that'll be here soon -- and nearly every one of these smartphones will start using it.
Josh
· 11 months ago
Secondly the Camera is also quite lacking... however its worth noting that Nokia has the incredibly frustrating habit of bumping their phone's cameras Megapixels up, but making the software so slow they become almost unusable.
Lastly the lack of MMS support. Perhaps not a biggie for you, but I actually use picture messages all the time and this would be big pain.
However I'm pretty sure I'll still be getting one =P
MG Siegler
· 11 months ago
Yeah to that point, I have a Nokia N95 as well, with a great 5 megapixel camera -- but in no way does that make me want to ever use it over an iPhone.
For me, MMS isn't a huge deal as when I post a picture I send it directly to Twitpic or Flickr via email. If I really want to send it to someone, I email it to them, but it is annoying that there is no MMS, I agree.
Zack
· 11 months ago
7The i-Phone is truly amazing. I live in Japan and the phone is over $800! In America it is only AT and T and here it is a company called Softbank. Getting an i-Phone involves an entirely new plan which is much higher than the other plans. So until I get back to America no i-Phone for me!
Charbarred
· 11 months ago
Much like a lot of Apple products you have to bear in mind that not everyone can afford an iPod. I did the math and ended up getting the G1. (the fact that I have 50% off at T-Mobile helped a lot though) Many of my friend wouldn't be able to afford either.
MG Siegler
· 11 months ago
Yeah, I realize that (and noted briefly above). That and the whole AT&T thing seem to be the only legitimate reasons why someone wouldn't buy one.
All Comments
And i think that is my point -- when you are buying a product -- you are also buying and relying on the reputation of that company.
What do i mean?
- Well, a company like Apple doesn't just provide you with the iPhone 2-years ago... its builds and extends on that with a DRM free iTunes media service. Palm can't offer that.
- Its guaranteed to use innovative and advanced hardware through strategic licensing from Imagination Technologies (Power VR GPU) and ARM (CPU - multi-core) and its ownership of PA-Semi (RISC chip design). Palm doesn't have that leverage.
- It has single-handedly created a developer ecosystem with the App Store which has guaranteed that mobile developers have now bet on the iPhone platform for rich mobile applications. Palm neither has that or cano offer that by developing Web 2.0 applications.
My point is this. Palm Pre is excellent. And probably the best contender after Android. But when you compare that extra things i have mentioned -- what it really demonstrates is that there is a difference in companies.
I'm currently very seriously considering getting one and have no problem saying that yes, the iPhone is the best mobile phone available at this point, however there are some compromises which may still make me purchase another phone.
The biggest reason is the lack of keypad. I disagree with you on this one becuase I know you strongly agree with the notion keypads are on the way out, and in fact I used an iPhone for a few days to see if claims about the virtual keypad being good enough where true.
They were not... good though it is, it doesn't beat a real keypad and I got very frustrated with both the lack of space of screen with the keypad filling most of it up and the annoyance of taping non tactile buttons. My friend, whose job is selling phones, agrees and says that yes, they tell people they'll get used to the iPhone virtual keypad, but really you don't.
But I do agree about tactile feedback, but believe me, that'll be here soon -- and nearly every one of these smartphones will start using it.
Lastly the lack of MMS support. Perhaps not a biggie for you, but I actually use picture messages all the time and this would be big pain.
However I'm pretty sure I'll still be getting one =P
For me, MMS isn't a huge deal as when I post a picture I send it directly to Twitpic or Flickr via email. If I really want to send it to someone, I email it to them, but it is annoying that there is no MMS, I agree.
Many of my friend wouldn't be able to afford either.