NY Post says don't get "hung up" on the iPhone

@Billy K:

Its easy to reconcile the value of the device. The iPhone is awesome. ITs what ive always dreamed of. Id pay $500 + service plan and fees gladly. If it combined its existing functionality with the ability to add my own software or for others to be able to develop thier own software for it. I do think this will happen...ITs jsut a matter of when.

My bottom line is im not so much a "consumer" user as i am a power user. Same with my PPC. There are some key things i need to be able to do to make me buy this device or any other device that is similar those being:

- Connect remotely to my servers via ssh.
- Mount DAV and AFP shares for file transfer.
- Contacts/Address book must have the ability to be integrated with LDAP.
- Mail should be full featured IMAP.

I dont require this out of the box, although that would be awesome, but i do require an open device with a redily available sdk to allow me or others to implement it if apple doesnt see fit.

All those functions back by the already glorious features of the device would make me buy one in a heartbeat.

So its not that i dont think its worth the money. Just doesnt do what i need it to do... yet. As an analogy... I think a MacBook Pro is totally worth the money but i probably wouldnt buy one because a MacPro fits my needs much much better.

The iPhone has lots of features? Since when?

Micheal: Is there an 800x600 (SVGA) rule? Or is it just a rule of thumb? AFIAK, a lot of people abandoned that and went for XGA, SVGA is far too confining. So you do have a point there. There's way too much excitement and confusion. I'm not going to go out of my way to see this thing in person yet.

even though I think all this iphone hype is totally overblown for marketing reasons, it looks this Glenn guy just wanted to be the first iphone reviewer, even if his review is... totally lacking any review material. Could we have some in depth stuff pls? Like the stuff actual reviewers do?

It is amazing to me that people do not see the significance of this phone and it's impact on the cellular phone industry.

Here is a phone that is a mini-PC(that is what the operating system is . . . Mac OS) complete with browser, a music player and a cellular phone. It has a totally new touch interface which -naturally - will take time to learn and get used to but wil probably change the concept of a keyboard and mouse forever. It syncs each time I put it in it's cradle with my address book, calender, music, widgets and video. It is capable of having it's software and firmware updated through that same docking mechanism so your Version 1 will have updates . . and who knows . . maybe a Verson 2 before the next release.

They have removed the horrible wait and process of initiating your service agreement at your Cellular providers retail store by providing a very simple at home/office process - augmented by video - for initiating your cell phone providers service. It takes all of the slight of hand out of the telephone industries rate plans by providing the full cost of the phone(you really didn't think you were getting that cell phone that cheap, did you!) and a very complete rate plan based on usage.

All of these pundits should reserve their comments till they go through the process of buying one, selecting a rate plan, activating their provider service and using the iPhone for a week to a month. Then they might have something to say . . . not just conjecture.

I suspect that there will be items to complain about. But so was there with the first iPod. And I have never bought a new cell phone without having a compete hassle transfering my data and getting used to their new improved interface.

What these pundits might discover is that Apple has re-invented the Cellular phone business just like they did the music business!

A much better review of the iPhone, from David Pogue of the NYT.

@23 Exilio - True - 2nd gen is (almost) always be better than 1st gen. But 3rd gen is better than both! And 4th gen... So when does it stop?

@22 pixelslut - so he's right that $500 is too much, but the phone is worth $500. How do you reconcile that? Which is it?

I'm giving the author the benefit of the doubt that he didn't sell the Post a "First Review," and the editor just tagged it as such, beting swept up in iPhone Fever and all. Still, this piece is a lot of ignorance, a few obvious facts and some just plain inaccuracies.

For example, "it should run you at least $50 per month in voice service and $40 per month in data service."

'nuff said.

And despite this review appearing in the NY Post, Glenn Fleishman is an outstanding technology journalist who regularly appears on Seattle NPR shows and writes for a variety of publications.

I thought the review was pretty fair and relevant.

He wasn't comparing the the iPhone screen to a laptop screen -- just countering Jobs' claim that this is the first phone that uses the "real web".

I'm glad I waited to buy the 2nd generation iPod, and I also plan on waiting to buy the 2nd generation iPhoen -- not everything can be upgraded with software.

I totally agree with this. Apple is notorious for releasing first-gen products that have issues and lack features. I have no doubt that the 2nd gen will be amazing. I for one just bought my BlackBerry Curve and that will be awesome until the next iPhone comes out.