Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Chairboy on November 19, 2007, 12:17:31 PM
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4AM, jump out of bed. I grab a quick shower, load my suitcase in my car, then pop into the kitchen to grab my laptop bag. I deftly dodge around my charging phone (I had charged it overnight and run the cable across part of the kitchen so I wouldn't forget it), grabbed the laptop, delicately pirouetted around the obstruction and headed out to the now warm car.
I head off to the airport, timing my drive as always. As I park, I note that it was 23 minutes. Not a record, but not shabby. As I shuffle in to the terminal that little "you bloody moron" alert starts going off in the back of my head. I stop, brow furrowed, and suddenly it hits me.
The phone. The charging phone I had left at home. The same one I had even DODGED while grabbing my laptop.
@#$*&#$!$*!
The plane leaves in under an hour, there's no safe way to drive home, grab the phone, and get back in time to clear security.
&%&$#@!$#
I trudge inside, check in, then spot an anachronism. They have these antiques called 'pay phones', I remember reading about them in history books. I pick it up, and discover that it's a working example! I call home to see if wifey will wake up and if she can deliver it, but it's a forlorn hope at best, and sure enough, she doesn't wake. Later, I talk to her and find that not only did she not get up, she didn't even know it had rung.
I grab my plane (RJ-700, my fav) and pop over to Denver. Halfway, the girl sitting next to me takes some cloud pics from her iPhone. Intrigued, I ask her how she likes it. I've already researched the snot out of these and have been on the fence, but with the price drop, huge success, positive feedback from my friends, and some good experiences working playing with them, I'm leaning towards it. The only things in my way is the specter that as soon as I get it, they release a model with GPS or 3G. Meh. I'm already w/ AT&T, so the stupid contract extension doesn't really bother me (if it's not subsidized, you shouldn't be charging me, you asses!), just annoys slightly.
I've played w/ the N95 (yes, yes, Maddox is funny, I get it) and a few other smartphones, and they generally blow. My mp3 player purchases have taught me that feature parity or superiority doesn't always mean 'a better product'. I've had plenty of players that do things the iPod doesn't like FM radio, but are absolute pains to use. The Insignia 4GB player I use now is great, but it took a lot of research.
So, I'm sitting in Denver International Airport near B27 right now thinking about that iPhone. My last phone, a Siemens S66, is already on death's door, so I'm in the market. The Neo1973 hasn't really distinguished itself yet, even though it's promising. But it's still months out too. It's the only other phone I've really been borderline priapic about, and even then only so so. Jailbreaking seems to really open them up, and the community figures out how just after each update that breaks 'em, so I should be able to do interesting things like put a proxy on one for my lappy to use while traveling.
Well, my flight is delayed until 2:30ish (4.5 hours from now) but I'm not wild about leaving the airport to visit the Apple Store here, it's maybe 30-50 minutes away in downtown Denver. But I _was_ planning on grabbing some chow at the Mall of America maybe, and I note that they happen to have an Apple Store there, so.... mayhaps I'll drop in there.
In the meantime, let's hear the hate rays. Why is making this purchase stupid? I'm phoneless, maybe I'm overcome with the disconnected vapors right now, I dunno, but I've got hours to blow here at the airport.
Anyone?
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Is there no God?
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Personally, i think there are better phones than iphone, n95 being one of them.
Oh and, link why you shouldn't buy an iphone:
http://www.thehowdydoodyuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
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If you buy one you will begin to have strange urges to wear black turtle-necks, and read mid-century poetry.
You'll develop a craving for Cappuccino and biscotti.
Within a week, your balls will drop off in the shower and you'll start contemplating joining the Democratic party.
I don't speak from experience of course. But I've seen it happen to those around me and believe me; it's NOT pretty.
:t ,
Wab
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Originally posted by croduh
Personally, i think there are better phones than iphone, n95 being one of them.
Oh and, link why you shouldn't buy an iphone:
http://www.thehowdydoodyuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
Croduh, did you read my original post? I specifically call out the N95 and Maddox, ya git. ;)
Feature rich doesn't always mean better, and the N95 UI fails to charm me.
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Thanks Wabbit! No problem, I can get testosterone boosters off the internet, and apparently they with something called 'volume enhancers' for free, probably some sort of amplifier for headphones.
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Originally posted by Chairboy
Croduh, did you read my original post? I specifically call out the N95 and Maddox, ya git. ;)
Feature rich doesn't always mean better, and the N95 UI fails to charm me.
<- Silly me;) Somehow missed that part of text.
Well, ui isn't much of a matter to me, i myself am a functionalist.
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Sure, the UI isn't that important... unless you count the part of the phone that actually lets you USE the functionality important. ;) It's the window to the device, so it had better be good. With its known weaknesses acknowledged, one area the iPhone that's superb is the UI. Once good 'copy/paste' functionality is added it'll be borderline perfect, I'm thinking, but all things are possible through software, and that's peanuts compared to the deficiencies I've seen on other phones so far.
As for functionalist, check out the OpenMoko Neo1973 I was considering in comparison, and you'll see that I'm willing to get pretty rugged for good functionality, but I can't call people on vapor, and it ain't out yet.
But I appreciate the feedback!
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Im on the fence too.. Its not for sale here yet as we dont have the system that you do in america with phones locked to carriers for year(s) in the same way. Its going to be available here later this year or early next year depending on how anal apple is going to be with selling em without having their hands in your pocket.
Im either going with the iPhone or Sony Ericsson P1i. My Nokia will have to last me until i can get my hands on an iPhone and really play with it before i buy one here, import it or go with the P1i.
If you do get it Chairboy it would be great to get a real review on it. I have a sneaky feeling that if i do go with the iPhone i would need a second "junk" phone to use whenever im going somewere dirty or may get my hands greasy.
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Originally posted by AKWabbit
If you buy one you will begin to have strange urges to wear black turtle-necks, and read mid-century poetry.
You'll develop a craving for Cappuccino and biscotti.
Within a week, your balls will drop off in the shower and you'll start contemplating joining the Democratic party.
I don't speak from experience of course. But I've seen it happen to those around me and believe me; it's NOT pretty.
:t ,
Wab
And the problem with such a change would be? Id say its an improvement over flannel shirts and plastic baseball caps ;) :D
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I was emailing another poster here this morning telling him I'd just been handed a new Blackberry Curve (how fitting ;) ) to replace the dinosaur I had previously.
His answer: Could be worse...they could have given you an iphone.
:)
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Originally posted by Nilsen
And the problem with such a change would be? Id say its an improvement over flannel shirts and plastic baseball caps ;) :D
(http://jasonirby.net/bitbucket/nilsen.jpg)
:t ,
Wab
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:rofl
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Chairboy, have you actually tried to use one yet? Not being a smartarse, but seriously...I've found them to be a pain in the butt.
I have an Apple store just down the street from me...been a couple of times to play with the iPhone and iPod touch.
There is a real problem with the internet browser...it can't handle multiple scrolling windows. I pointed this out to the numpties who work there (using a Mac website). Their response: That's the first we've ever heard of this problem... (!!)
The keyboard is a pain in the but for anyone who does not have dwarfish or midget hands. Maybe I'd learn to deal with it, but it's tough not having a physical button to feel before you punch it. I spend a lot of time using the backspace button.
There's also the problem of not having highlight and erase functions when typing...at least not in Safari. Maybe in whatever text program they have.
My overall impression is that this was a rush job...much in the way that Microsoft had to keep issuing "critical updates" for XP every 2 months, I'm sure that the iPhone will be getting these, too.
It's a brilliant device in terms of potential, but I didn't like that fact that they seem to be beta testing on the public and charging $500 (+ service) for it.
my $0.02...
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$400, not $500. Also, I've spent time on an iPhone and the interface feels pretty good to me. Beats the heck out any other phone I've tried for internet access.
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Originally posted by croduh
http://www.thehowdydoodyuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
Ha! That web page is hilarious.
It's [iPhone] not three devices in one any more than my laptop is you morons. Using Jobs' loose definition of what constitutes a separate device, technically my laptop can be considered 8 devices in one:
# A clock
# A calculator
# An "Internet communications device"
# A phone (I can make voice calls with my modem)
# A pornographic media storage device
# A video player
# A word processor
# And an "iPod" (see below)
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Maddox? On an Aces High Thread? I'm almost shocked.
And then, I remember that I have his book sitting in my bathroom...
Best $15 I've ever given to a College Dropout...
(Also, good luck with your iThingy. :D)
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Well, I'm about to board to Minneapolis. Thanks all for the feedback! I'll try and check on the thread again tonight.
Decisions, decisions....
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Originally posted by AKWabbit
You'll develop a craving for Cappuccino and biscotti.
Wab
Hold on now, who doesn't like cappuccino and biscotti?
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Originally posted by AKIron
Hold on now, who doesn't like cappuccino and biscotti?
lazs? :D
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Originally posted by AKIron
Hold on now, who doesn't like cappuccino and biscotti?
I'm not into frothy drinks, but nuttin wrong with biscotti:
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tbsp shortening
Lots of good ('bad for your health') stuff in there to make it appealing.
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Originally posted by kamilyun
I'm not into frothy drinks, but nuttin wrong with biscotti:
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tbsp shortening
Lots of good ('bad for your health') stuff in there to make it appealing.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d175/erotictophat/borat_nice.jpg)
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Originally posted by Nilsen
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d175/erotictophat/borat_nice.jpg)
I'll draw the line at crepes though. Well, unless you break my arm. ;)
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I'm eyeing one of them new Palm Centro's (new model Treo).
I love my Treo, I could never use an iphone because I use my treo like so...
LauncherX - custom GUI idea for one handed navigation
Agendus Pro - custom PIM application
CallRec - voice recorder (phone or 'live') can be activated by double tapping the side button at any time
ChatterEmail - multimailbox push IMAP email (a la blackberry)
TideTool - tide charts, great for fishing
eWallet - encrypted password/ personal info repository
WorldMate - global time, with Exchange rates, weather, and other stuff (updates via net)
PDANet - lets me use the treo as a wireless modem via bluetooth
Buzz - ringtone customizer (play wav's or mp3's)
PocketTunes - MP3 player (I have a 4Gb SD Card)
PCPilot - lets me use my treo as a bluetooth remote for my laptop/pc when doing powerpoint presso's and other stuff
Google Maps - yeah well
AudioGateway - lets me use my Treo with A2DP BT stereo headsets
BackupMan - backs up my treo to SD card
CardExport - lets me mount my treo's SD card as a drive on my PC
Quickipedia - useful internet searching tool
Plus the usual apps like calculators, word/excel/powerpoint readers/editors, web browsers etc. VoiceDialers (not really into that though). Camera for low res pics and movies etc.
Theres a crapload of stuff up there the iphone can't do (LOL @ the media device that doesn't support A2DP stereo bluetooth duh).
Plus of course my treo has a real keyboard, with buttons, which are essential for making/receiving calls while driving (and yes even with a BT headset). They also mean you don't have to dirty your touchscreen (Treo does have a touchscreen still).
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I have a Treo with windows. Had to reset it every day or the phone wouldn't work until I got the lastest update. I'd be happy if aliens would come and steal all of our cell phones but since that's not likely I'll keep my Treo.
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You forgot to mention that you also hate apple ;)
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Originally posted by AKWabbit
(http://jasonirby.net/bitbucket/nilsen.jpg)
:t ,
Wab
:rofl :rofl :rofl
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I have a late 1940's Bakalite plastic rotary phone next to my bed; it works great too.
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Originally posted by AKIron
I have a Treo with windows. Had to reset it every day or the phone wouldn't work until I got the lastest update. I'd be happy if aliens would come and steal all of our cell phones but since that's not likely I'll keep my Treo.
Yeah Windows Mobile blows. I have a workmate who left to go to another company, he want from a Palm Treo to a Windows Treo and hates it too.
Nilsen, I like the latest ipod touch. I'd even have considered buying one except they don't support A2DP Bluetooth - which for me is esential (laffs at 20th century 'wired' in ipod noobs).
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Originally posted by croduh
Personally, i think there are better phones than iphone, n95 being one of them.
Oh and, link why you shouldn't buy an iphone:
http://www.thehowdydoodyuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
Just read the first paragraph. I like this guy already.
"You've probably never heard of the E70 because Nokia's marketing team is busy finding every last dick in the universe to suck, so I'm going to do their job for them and tell you about this product. And no, I'm not being paid to do this. I'm just tired of the iPhone fanboys shooting huge sticky wads and high-fiving each other (literally) over their stupid cellphones."
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I have an Iphone. I got it because I will be traveling a lot soon and my wife insisted I have a phone. I was due to replace my Ipod so I bought an Iphone instead.
I have been generally happy with it, but I only carry a phone to make calls. I don't rely on it for business or such. My only gripe is that I have difficulty hearing while carrying on a conversation (could be the jet engines I've been around), and this is worse that other cell phones I've used. If I use the earphone mic it is just fine.
The other functions are farily nifty and have come in handy.
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Well, my brothers, I stared into the abyss tonight, and the abyss blinked.
Once I picked up my car at MSP, I drove out to the Mall of America. Dinner at Bubba Gump shrimp, tasty as always, and then, bolstered by an ice cream/alcohol drink and some shrimp tempura, I swaggered into the Apple Store.
"Tell me of your iPhones," I bellowed. The resident Macxpert handed me one to try. I began playing with it, asking him questions. It felt good. Really good. The UI was snappy, things were logical, I like it.
I'm hemming and hawing. I ask about how hard it is to transfer my phone number. It's dirt easy, apparently. "What hesitations do you have right now?" he asks. I mention the 2 year contract w/o subsidy, he doesn't have a good answer for it, I take it he'd never thought of it. I mention that I'm pensive about 3G or GPS support coming out after I get it, he acknowledges the risk.
...but I'm still liking it. I'm liking what I see. I'm wavering.
Suddenly, I get hit by a thought. It's not something I'm used to.
"Say, does Minnesota have sales tax?"
"Why yes," he answers, "six percent."
Hmmm. I do the numbers. "In Oregon, we don't have sales tax", I ponder out loud.
He whips out the iPhone and starts punching numbers into it. I frown, then say "That'd be 23.94 in tax." I look over at the delicious iPhone, still frowning.
After a moment, he looks up in triumph. "That's $24 in tax", apparently not having heard me. I stay quiet, no need to correct him. It's apparent he's figured against $400 instead of $399. No need, I'm sure the calculator works fine when it gets good numbers.
Finally, I stir. "I... think I'll sit on it a little bit." They wave me out cheerfully. The folks at the store were helpful, no doubt about it, and I still think I want the phone.
But how much is not having a phone for two days worth? Will I suffer $24- sorry, $23.94 in inconvenience if I don't have a phone until I get back to Oregon? Also, I think I might be able to get a corporate discount through my employer if I wait.
Hmm... We shall see. Will I still lust after it when it isn't a lifeline thrown to me in the turgid seas of Minnesota?
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No high speed data
No stereo bluetooth
No voice dialing (on a phone without real buttons)
Three big time deal breakers. Hold out for version 2!
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1. Hardware, yep.
2. Software.
3. Software.
I betcha 2 & 3 will be patches to the existing ones. But the relative slowness of EDGE is a legit concern, hence my 3G concerns.
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If they really did a patch with those two, I might be able to live with the slow data... that is, I might be stupid enough to buy it knowing full well I'll be pissed off when the 3G version comes out and I'm stuck with EDGE.
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Originally posted by Chairboy
1. Hardware, yep.
2. Software.
3. Software.
I betcha 2 & 3 will be patches to the existing ones. But the relative slowness of EDGE is a legit concern, hence my 3G concerns.
Patches for 2 and 3 are only hopes of the fanbois. Apple haven't confirmed either will ever be a feature yet. And with no native app support yet the chance for 3rd party apps is nil. All this from the supposedly latest and greatest phone out there, meanwhile us menial phone users are happily using these features (and have been for some time).
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Vulcan, weren't you the guy who said the iPhone was going to be a total flop? :rofl
I'm not a fanboi if I mention that the full development SDK comes out in two months for developing native apps.
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This is hilarious. What _not_ to do w/ an iPhone (or other smartphone):
http://www.planebuzz.com/2007/11/we_knew_this_was_going_to_happ.html
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Chairboy, you might want to read this thread for more innovative Apple products :D
http://forums.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209730
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I read an article about the iPhones in one of those airline magazines a few days ago during a trip and what the author said made sense...
The current iPhone is the equiv of version 1.0 for both the phone's hardware and software... wait about a year for them to find and fix the bugs and let the demand taper off so the price will drop.
I have a UTStarcom xv6700 which is the Intel/Microsoft equiv to the iPhone and probably will not get the Apple phone any more than I got the Apple computer. I paid $300 for my xv6700 over a year ago and it seriously kicks butt. Even has MS Office, MS Mediaplayer, a wireless NIC so it surfs the internet, camera, makes and plays videos, Bluetooth, IR, hooks up to a USB port, a Mini-SDK slot for an extra 2GB of memory, a full slide out keyboard built in, screen is a touch screen, etc, etc, etc.
I also use it like an iPod for listening to mp3s in stereo so I don’t have a need for an iPod either and upload mp3s via the USB port from my laptop.
http://www.utstar.com/pcd/view_phone_details.aspx?mcode=XV6700&sAct=0
xv6700 Pocket PC/CellPhone with MS Windows
(http://www.utstar.com/pcd/images/Views/XV-6700-front-closed.jpg)
(http://www.utstar.com/pcd/images/Views/XV-6700-front-open.jpg)
TIGERESS
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Thanks for the recommendation, Tigeress! The thing is, I really don't like the Windows Mobile platform. I've got a Dell PDA for the plane, and I've spent a lot of time playing w/ phones that have WM on them, and... it kinda sucks.
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Originally posted by Chairboy
Vulcan, weren't you the guy who said the iPhone was going to be a total flop? :rofl
I'm not a fanboi if I mention that the full development SDK comes out in two months for developing native apps.
No I said it was crap but the fanbois would be out buying in droves.
Although the european launch of the iphone seems to have been a bit of a flop.
edit: I agree with chairboy, I'd take an iphone over a windows mobile based device (that says a lot!).
second edit: although I do remember you quoting sales of 750,000 to 1 million in the first weekend when it turned out to be 120,000 - 180,000 depending on whether you believed AT&T or Apple.
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First weekend? Nope, don't think I said that, but I seem to recall you suggesting it wouldn't even sell a million period. Might be my alzheimers...
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Originally posted by Chairboy
First weekend? Nope, don't think I said that, but I seem to recall you suggesting it wouldn't even sell a million period. Might be my alzheimers...
err nope, flash back to pwnage: http://forums.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207376&perpage=25&highlight=iphone&pagenumber=3
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Originally posted by Vulcan
IAnd the initial rush will probably account for most of the sales (75% maybe?).
Not so much, as it turns out.
You nailed the price drop though.
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I'd never own a Pocket PC again. It was horrible and painfull, the service sucked and the phone would not stay connected to the internet. And the OS was crap!!
I switched to a Black Berry and will never take anything else. It will be nice when they ditch the edge software and go to 3G! But I don't see it happening any time soon.
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Windows mobile 6 is ALOT better than 5 or previous versions.