Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone
iPhone-DynaTAC smackdown
TUAW reader Ashton Tibbitt sent in this great pictorial comparison between his iPhone and a Motorola DynaTAC. The DynaTAC 8000X dates back to the early 1980's and was one of the first mobile phones approved by the FCC. My favorite shot of this series is the side-by-side comparison shot showing exactly how thick the DynaTAC was and how thin the iPhone is.
Gallery: iPhone-DynaTAC smackdown
So how do the two phones compare? Here's a TUAW exclusive iPhone-DynaTAC smackdown.
Battery Life. The iPhone is the clear winner.
Tactile dialing feedback. The DynaTAC's physical buttons nudges it into the win zone for that force feedback experience.
Portability. You can stick the iPhone in your pocket. Inserting the DynaTAC into clothing (or other areas) may cause permanent physical harm.
Expandability. Neither the iPhone nor the DynaTAC officially supports third party apps. (But you can still hack your iPhone. Just don't tell Steve Jobs.)
Muscle Development. You're not going to develop any muscle tone by lifting an iPhone.
Suitability for use as doorstop. No contest. DynaTAC for the win.
Thanks to Ashton for sending these in. I hope you enjoy looking through the pictures as much as I did.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sean Flanagan said 1:20PM on 11-05-2007
"Suitability for use as doorstop."
Thanks, Erica. Now I have to pull all the keys off my keyboard to clean up the soup I spit all over it...
Reply
GBTN said 6:17PM on 11-05-2007
Ah, I have fond memories of the Motorola. We affectionately called it "the brick." And yes, it was as heavy as it looked allowing it to take on double duty as a blunt weapon in case of attack!
Reply
Eleventeen said 1:56PM on 11-05-2007
The DynaTac still probably wins in broadcast and signal reception. AMPS was rated all the way up to 5 watt, where as GSM 850/900 is specced to 2 watts. Combine that with the fact that the DynaTac has the external rubber duckie antenna, and you've got Motorola FTW.
Reply
Cameron Campbell said 2:54PM on 11-05-2007
Plus you could fend off attackers with a DynaTac...
Reply
charles said 3:06PM on 11-05-2007
Zack Morris Retro Feel I think we know who wins this one...
Reply
TuCats said 3:10PM on 11-05-2007
I think you're missing some critical categories:
1. Aerodynamic drag - iPhone wins; it is less likely to be ripped from your grasp in hurricane-speed winds.
2. Carcinogenic materials - hard to who is the real loser here. Greenpeace would have me believe I am already sterile due to my purchase and use of an iPhone, but I'm not sure anyone should crack open the DynaTac for fear of releasing asbestos or something equally old and horrible.
3. Compatability - iPhone takes a drubbing in Vermont. With its ability to receive 1980's style analog cell phone signals, I think DynaTac wins this hands down. Critical when in Vermont, or maybe central North Dakota.
4. Accessibility - DynaTac wins again! Remember that time that McGuyver used a DynaTac, a hairpin, and some toothpaste to create an antimatter containment field on that nuclear sub? You can't do that with an iPhone; heck, it's almost impossible to even get an iPhone open and broken down without a (powerful) blender.
5. Grapnell - I give it to the DynaTac. Tying a DynaTac to a strong line and throwing it over the top of the building, you have a 1-in-26 chance of it snagging on something so you can ascend the building using the rope, cat-burglar style. You can't do that with an iPhone. Don't even try.
6. Public stares - I call it a draw; if you are seen in public using either device you are likely to get some odd looks.
Reply
tim said 3:49PM on 11-05-2007
You forgot about sound quality. Sadly, the DynaTAC might actually win that one considering the craptastic call quality of the iPhone (even The Woz commented how bad it was). Eh, whatever. Who uses the iPhone as an actual phone anyway? :)
Reply
jjd said 4:04PM on 11-05-2007
Eleventeen (#2) -- even though there were 5w AMPS phones, I believe they were all vehicle mounted. Handheld AMPS phones were supposed to be limited to 0.6w, IIRC.
--Jim--
Reply
Sketch said 4:30PM on 11-05-2007
tim, are you kidding? http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/apple/iphone-scientifically-rated-verdict-great-call-quality-273914.php
Reply
scw said 5:55PM on 11-05-2007
I see I need to take some pictures with my Simon!
Reply
XIV said 6:00PM on 11-05-2007
Actually, how much is the battery life of the DynaTAC ?
Reply