Got it....3G iphone

[COWBOY]

Apple is famous for launching great technology and then sitting back filling their pockets. Once they get more competition, they come up with something better. Happened with the iPod.

That's BS.  Apple has released a new version of the iPod almost every 6-9 months since it was launched in 2001-2002.  At first it was the storage and form factors that changed.  Then they added color and photos.  Next video.  Then video on the smallest (Nano).  And finally the touch screen with no wheel.  There have been no less than 20 different products over a 7 year existence.  That's almost 3 new models per year.  Hardly sitting back for long.

Most argue the opposite saying that Apple releases a product and at a premium but then launches a better product at a cheaper price before the former becomes obsolete.  The belief is it is profiteering off of early adopters and alienates their most ardent fans.

[cmorgan47]

same with OSX.... release a new one for 129 every year whether you need it or not

[duccarlos]

Look at the first generation iPod. They were in no hurry to fix any of the issues, until the market was flooded with MP3 players, at which time they launch the shuffle, nao, video, etc.

[darylbowden]

Look at the first generation iPod. They were in no hurry to fix any of the issues, until the market was flooded with MP3 players, at which time they launch the shuffle, nao, video, etc.

What are you talking about? The 2nd gen iPod came out very quickly, fixed a ton of issues, shrank in size and was closely followed by the 3rd gen which was even better.

[darylbowden]

same with OSX.... release a new one for 129 every year whether you need it or not

So don't upgrade then.  Plenty of people are still running 10.3.  For me, each new OS version has introduced tons of new features/upgrades that are well worth the 129 bucks.  And when snow leopard comes out, I'll be first in line.

Would you rather do it the MS way?  Release a total POS once every 6 years and spend every day of those 6 years trying to fix all the issues that it was released with?  No thanks, I prefer my software to work.

[Alex]

I agree with the sitting back analogy. The iPod definetely had upgrades (over many years), but there were incremental, just like the iPhone's was this time. Just enough to keep it fresh looking. In contrast, the first iPod ever was an unbelievable leap forward in ease of user interface and convenience, just like the first iPhone.

There's nothing wrong with any of this, they deserve to make money for being ahead of the pack and staying there. I just wish I could see a huge leap forward EVERY year! 

[cmorgan47]

Would you rather do it the MS way?  Release a total POS once every 6 years and spend every day of those 6 years trying to fix all the issues that it was released with?  No thanks, I prefer my software to work.

nope, linux.... every six months, free new version

that said i have 2 iBooks both running 10.3, just commenting that apple tends to release frequently across their entire product line.  they also, tend to charge for these incremental upgrades. 

personally, i just hang onto the old stuff as it tends to work well for quite a while and, apropos the original topic, they update their older hardware with software; i.e., i have a day 1 4g iPhone, but it's running the current software.... they've done the same with iPod firmware.

[darylbowden]

nope, linux.... every six months, free new version

that said i have 2 iBooks both running 10.3, just commenting that apple tends to release frequently across their entire product line.  they also, tend to charge for these incremental upgrades. 

personally, i just hang onto the old stuff as it tends to work well for quite a while and, apropos the original topic, they update their older hardware with software; i.e., i have a day 1 4g iPhone, but it's running the current software.... they've done the same with iPod firmware.

This macbook I'm typing on has Ubuntu 8.0.4, XP SP2 (2 installs - one with IE6 and one with IE7), and of course, 10.5.4.  They do release new versions frequently, but I don't see that as a bad thing.   

[herm]

That's BS.  Apple has released a new version of the iPod almost every 6-9 months since it was launched in 2001-2002.  At first it was the storage and form factors that changed.  Then they added color and photos.  Next video.  Then video on the smallest (Nano).  And finally the touch screen with no wheel.  There have been no less than 20 different products over a 7 year existence.  That's almost 3 new models per year.  Hardly sitting back for long.

Most argue the opposite saying that Apple releases a product and at a premium but then launches a better product at a cheaper price before the former becomes obsolete.  The belief is it is profiteering off of early adopters and alienates their most ardent fans.

this is actually my favorite thing about apple. i love to watch the scramble for the next "big" (or small)  high priced gadget. then a year later, the less cool kids come along and buy a better version for less 

[Magnus]

some mixed reviews out there on the 3g...   primary cons being poor battery life, cheaper (plastic) construction, no video record, no copy and paste, crappy reception/quality in 3g mode, etc.  also read some complaints about the email, but it has push, so not sure what the problem is...  i hate phones that have all plastic cases.  let's face it, a phone is going to get dropped. 

plenty of pros too, 3g, browser, apps, screen quality...   kind of on the fence a the moment.

[Magnus]

another major con being the cost...  not of the phone, but the 2 year lock in and high monthly rate.

[Duc Stamp]

I don't have a 3g version, but the first version has push email as well.  I can tell you from FHE that the push email has been very sketchy lately.  Sometimes it won't push all day and when I sign into my account on a computer I have like 20 emails.  This has been recently as in the past month or 1.5 months, but especially bad now.

[darylbowden]

another major con being the cost...  not of the phone, but the 2 year lock in and high monthly rate.

Which is no different than any other carrier that offers a 3G network.  Blackberry data plans are just as expensive and sometimes (in my case) more than the iPhone plan.

T-Mobile is the comparison that everyone uses, but their coverage is weak in many places and their 3G network (while announced for the trillionth time) is non-existent.

And find me a carrier where you don't sign a contract to receive a subsidy on the phone and I'll show you a carrier who will be going out of business very soon.

[Magnus]

who said i'm comparing it to a blackberry?  i have another phone, 3g, push email, and it's not an iphone or a blackberry.  and it has a 5 mp camera, video record, etc...   

it's a tradeoff...  you want an iphone, you get the good with the bad, just have to decide if it's worth the cost.   i get most of what i need without a contract and at a monthly cost far below what an iphone would cost...  but not all of it, otherwise i wouldn't be considering it.

question: if you just buy an iphone off ebay or something, would you be paying a lower monthly rate to at&t than if you bought the phone from them?  is there a way to avoid the contract?  i haven't seen many phones that would last for two years, and this thing just doesn't look that sturdy. 

[ducati_tim]

I dropped mine yesterday from about four feet up onto a deck.  There is a tiny scratch on the back.  it is nothing major.