To Buy or Not to Buy the iPhone: PC Worlders Clash

Chip Taylor, Editorial Designer

I'm a seasoned technophile, but I'm not an early adopter. This is the first thing I've ever wanted to adopt at launch--I waited on the iPod, and regretted it. I want to get in on this.

The phone is awesome, but the main thing I'm after is the smooth synchronization through iTunes, like what I get with my iPod. I have my whole life on my Mac, and no device out there right now syncs well with Apple products. This will allow me to bring everything--my music, videos, address book, and calendar--into one place, and have it all work completely with my Mac.

Of course, the multitouch screen is sexy as hell. I've been waiting for a landscape-view-capable iPod since the first video iPod came out.

Sure, $500 is steep, but it's worth it to me. I'll get four devices in one: a phone, a camera, an iPod, and a PDA. I do wish it had video recording, though.

As far as rate plans go, unlimited data and 450 minutes for $60? That's not bad at all. But the EDGE network sounds like a bottleneck.

And I'm actually glad the iPhone isn't an open platform for third-party programs, because I don't want my phone crashing. Apple is about the entire experience, and how you interact with any given device. If someone else's program made the iPhone crash, you'd blame Apple.

Alan Stafford, Executive Editor

First and foremost, I had AT&T as my provider once, and it was no friend of mine. I thought it was lousy, and just because Apple is partnering with the company doesn't make it any better. AT&T will take the shine off that apple real quick.

I do think the iPhone is good-looking, and the screen in particular is nice. But it has no buttons. How am I supposed to dial without looking right at it?

Yes, the unlimited Internet access in the rate plan is a great thing. But this cutting-edge device has the connectivity speed of phones made a couple of years ago. That means spending $500 or $600 for something that's already obsolete.

And no freaking instant messaging? The big thing for me with this phone is that it should be a device for people to be always connected--but how am I supposed to be always connected without IM?

Basically, every other manufacturer on the face of the earth is going to be looking at the iPhone saying: "I can do better than that." Whether they can or not, whatever they bring out will be half as expensive and much faster.

When the iPhone costs half as much and has better data access, maybe then I'll consider it. But for now the fanboys bother me. People are buying it just because it's Apple.