iPhone 3G First Impressions

(Last updated 9/11/08)

I have had the iPhone 3G for a couple months now and while I miss some of the features I lost from my Windows Mobile device, I am glad I made the move.  The iPhone has some tremendous strengths, but also has some pretty significant weaknesses.  Because of this, my recommendation is to carefully consider the weaknesses before deciding to purchase this phone.

The strength of the iPhone is doing a few things very well.  A few of the key strengths are listed below.

1. The user interface is what sets the iPhone apart.  Apple has given the iPhone a great user interface that makes for an improved user experience over other portable devices.  Emails are easier to read, applications are easier to navigate to and the web browser is the best I have seen on a mobile device.
2. Exchange Syncing works great with Calendar, Contacts, Emails and the Global Address List.
3. The Application Store provides a wide arrange of applications for use on the iPhone.  A number of these provide syncing between a web application you can use on your computer and an application that runs on your phone.  I will soon post another blog entry covering a few useful iPhone applications.
4. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, .PDF, Pages, Keynote, & Numbers documents can all be viewed on the iPhone.
5. Note:  MobileMe has no impact on Enterprise use!

Several weaknesses:

1. Poor battery life.  A car charger is a necessity with this phone and you may need to learn to turn off 3G, WiFi or Bluetooth depending on your usage.
2. No cut/copy and paste functionality.
3. Email cannot be moved or deleted without an internet connection (Edge, 3G or WiFi).  Sent Emails are stored in the Outbox until the phone has an internet connectivity.
4. Limited Search of content on phone.  No means of searching Emails or searching calendars.  Windows Mobile and Blackberry are far superior with regards to search.
5. No means to edit documents on the iPhone.
6. Limited Exchange syncing
   1. No task or notes syncing with Exchange.
   2. No syncing of categories
   3. Items can't be flagged on the iPhone
7. Touch keyboard is difficult to get used to.  Apple did a great job implementing the touch keyboard, but its still more difficult than a tactile keyboard for most people.
8. Only a limited number of apps switch from portrait to landscape viewing mode.  Would like to be able to view email in landscape mode, especially when replying.
9. I have to occasionally reboot my phone due to application crashes.  For a brand that sells itself on everything just working, this is a bit disappointing.
10. No Turn by Turn navigation.  It is rumored this will be coming, but at present it's not available.
11. If you have existing iPod/iPhone accessories that charge/play music, they may not charge the iPhone 3G.  In the past there were two ways of charging the iPod/iPhone.  Apple has eliminated one of those protocols, and unfortunately that was the protocol of choice for a number of accessories.  I have an iPod dock for my car and house and neither of them work with my iPhone 3G.
12. Less control of form and function than what one gets with a Windows Mobile device.

With all of those weaknesses, why did I choose the iPhone?  Apple majored on the majors and did those items very well.  They spent a great deal of time making sure the key items worked very well and they simply left out the other stuff.  At the end of the day I want a phone that works great as a phone, is easy to navigate, and allows me to stay on top of email.  This is where the iPhone excels and that is why it is my phone of choice at this time.

Comments

[Richard Dolan]

You can see messages in personal folders; they just have to be new enough... I posted my thoughts at http://iDolan.com.

[John Dolan]

Richard - thanks for the post, I removed that item from my post for clarity. Also, thanks for your thoughts on the iPhone as I pulled a number of items on my list from your comments.