Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, iPhone
NY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection
Considering that it's turned out to be one of the most successful products in consumer electronics history, the volume of nay-saying on the iPhone has been constant and ongoing -- many dismissed the phone when it came out, when it was announced, and even when it was just a glimmer of a hint of a rumor. Now the New York Times Sunday Magazine (and the accompanying blog The Medium) is featuring Virginia Heffernan's tale of hesitancy, anomie and frustration under the surely-not-meant to-draw-online-traffic headline "I Hate My iPhone." Interestingly, just pages away, the paper profiles several successful iPhone developers in a story about the App Store gold rush.
Heffernan's criticisms of the iPhone swing between the rational (the challenge of adapting to the on-screen keyboard, AT&T's mediocre coverage) and the surreal (dislike of the device's "tarty little face" and how it "kept aloof from the animal warmth of my leather wallet"). In fairness, she does admit that she's not thinking particularly clearly. In the end, she returns to the AT&T store where the sales rep seemed to know that she was a troublesome case, and swapped out her iPhone for a Blackberry.
It may be heretical to admit it here, but it's true: the iPhone is not for everyone... excuse me, they've come to take away my fanboy badge, this will take just a second. There, all done; I'm back.
Yes, if you're looking for a high-speed texting and email platform because you live your life in text messaging, the iPhone's keyboard will frustrate you; if you don't care about the incredible universe of apps, the first-rate media player and the best mobile browser, you'd be better off with a Blackberry and a permanent keyboard.
Yes, the iPhone's phone is probably its weakest offering, and the AT&T network has bigger dead zones than Anthony Michael Hall; if you can't tolerate the intermittent dropped call or fuzzy audio (or my personal top annoyance, the "I'm on 3G and my phone just doesn't ring" issue), and you want to focus on the phone, get a free RAZR or shiny Samsung.
In my personal transition from the Blackberry to the iPhone, I found plenty of gotchas and things that took adjustment (#1 is not being able to keep an IM application running in the background, #2 is having to cycle through the home screen to switch apps, and #3 is not being able to easily copy URLs or phone numbers for use elsewhere), but I'm still finding new and enjoyable things about the iPhone every day; my Blackberry was staid and predictable, a useful tool but not a spark of innovation or a way for me to accomplish things I never could do before.
I know there are thousands of unhappy iPhone users, and thousands more who haven't upgraded to the 2.x firmware, visited the App Store or explored one-tenth of the capabilities of their mobile computing platforms. When I saw a family friend a few weeks ago, a lady of a certain age, she was surprised and puzzled when I asked her where she synced her not-that-new iPhone ("I don't understand. If I want to put music or apps on it, I have to connect it to a computer? I have my grandchildren put photos on the phone for me!"). The iPhone isn't for everyone, and there's no judgement in that; you aren't obligated to love it, want it or find it useful. Forgive us, still, if we think that many of you (NY Times columnists excepted) will love it once you try it.
[Hat tip to Apple 2.0]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
K said 1:09PM on 4-05-2009
Why would it be heretical to say that the iPhone is not for everybody? That's how everything is in life! Not everything is for everybody! Not a big deal as long as you don't make a big deal about it yourself. You should ignore these NY Times idiots who don't know nothing anyways. And they wonder why the newspapers are dying.
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eric f. said 8:25AM on 4-06-2009
"Why would it be heretical to say that the iPhone is not for everybody? "
Michael is obviously being sarcastic.
The article was pointless, true. It was as if a Clueless character was asked to be a tech writer.
Steven said 1:20PM on 4-05-2009
I can type faster on the iPhone than on any other phone I've every had. When my friends don't believe me and want to race, I beat them easily every time.
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Hawkman said 1:51PM on 4-05-2009
Same here! It's sheer practice. There isn't the bottleneck of depressing an actual button, and the keyboard is responsive enough to keep up with flying fingers; so the top speeds are far higher. It does take a lot of hours of typing before you can hit those speeds, though.
KarlW said 2:12PM on 4-05-2009
Once you get used to it, typing on the iPhone is fine IMO.
The landscape keyboard helps a lot. If you do live by texting and emailing a lot, wait for 3.0. I daresay it's better than BlackBerry if you use it in landscape mode.
freediverx said 2:46PM on 4-05-2009
Took the words right out of my mouth. I carry a Blackberry during the week for work, with my iPhone in my other pocket. The Blackberry is used EXCLUSIVELY for office email and calendar appointments, and I hate every single second I'm forced to use it. With the iPhone's clever predictive text input and spell checker, I can type messages FAR faster than with the Blackberry's moronic little keys, that are impossible to press with your fingertips. Maybe it has something to do with whether or not you have long fingernails...
survivorjeff1215 said 3:51PM on 4-05-2009
I totally agree and am sick of the myth that physical keyboards are better than the iPhone's. My friends are astonished at how much faster I type on the iPhone than they type on their Blackberries or Treos. For me, it took about 2 months to get really quick with it. I also prefer the portrait keyboard to the landscape one, probably just because I'm so used to it. It's nice that they're including the landscape one in 3.0, but I don't see myself using it very often.
Odineye said 6:51PM on 4-05-2009
It's refreshing to read that other people like using the iPhone's virtual keyboard. This is by far one of the most frquently repeated criticisms of the device, and I just don't get it. Like anything else it does take a little while to learn to use, but once you do I also find that I fly over the keys far more quickly than on similar, hardware based device. Similarly, I have enough practice on the portrait keyboard that, at this point, it actually slows me down when I try to use it in landscape.
Murphy Mac said 9:04PM on 4-05-2009
Keyboard racing... When I was a kid we played hockey.
: )
Jon said 1:24PM on 4-05-2009
What I like best about the iPhone is that Apple is constantly improving it. I have never ever had the option of downloading firmware updates for any of my previous phones. I was just expected to cope with its flaws or buy a new phone if I wanted them fixed.
The fanboys proclaim it as the greatest thing since sliced bread but that just gives people the wrong impression. It is difficult for some people to adjust to a supposedly better phone that has fewer features than their previous one (e.g. no MMS yet, no video recording, etc).
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freediverx said 2:52PM on 4-05-2009
That's the main difference between Apple fans and critics: the critics evaluate and judge products by simply comparing feature lists, with little attention paid to the actual usability or reliability of those features. Mac users realize that it's better to have 80% of the features with 10X the usability.
Steven said 7:40PM on 4-05-2009
@freediverx
"Mac users realize that it's better to have 80% of the features with 10X the usability."
One of the most perfect things I've heard all year. Thanks for my new favorite quote.
Justin said 1:22PM on 4-05-2009
Good article Mike. Sometimes it's good to step back and note that our device isn't for everyone. I personally love all of the things that my iPhone can do, and other than the occasional "no internet connection" issue when I'm showing that I'm in 3G or EDGE coverage I haven't had coverage issues. I think we are however just seeing the beginning of what the iPhone can be. The app store is still in it's relative infancy - hopefully we're getting to the point where the fart apps are behind us and we start seeing more truly useful additions to choose from.
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Soulquarian said 2:58PM on 4-05-2009
I must be the exception to the rule, I can type faster on my iPhone than I ever could on my blackberry, both in portrait and landscape mode. The constant "I need a physical keyboard!" cries are simply nonsense. You learn to type by POSITION, not the feel of the keys, every key feels the same on a physical keyboard.
I've also never really experienced dropped calls. I live in SoCal, so maybe there's just fantastic reception here, or my iPhone is a god among the rest
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Johnny said 3:07PM on 4-06-2009
I agree about the keyboard as did all the commenters above. I also agree about the service. I live in Houston and the only problem I've ever had with reception is in a particular dead spot in my house where no cell phone has ever worked.
PS - I brought my iPhone to Europe (Amsterdam & Paris) recently and the 3G speeds there are WAY faster. It felt like WiFi compared to AT&T 3G. Not that I really had any complaints about the 3G here before I realized that, but it settles that whole argument from way back about the iPhone not having fast 3G.
Stan said 1:40PM on 4-05-2009
I'm more than happy to carry around a Blackberry and an iPod touch. I'm pushing multiple Gmail accounts to my Curve and I'm way more productive with a hardware keyboard and real multitasking. But the Curve could never replace my iPod touch for music and games.
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Thomas said 1:45PM on 4-05-2009
How is anyone surprised that the iPhone is not for everyone? Apple sell one model, in two sizes and colours, so 4 combinations, but they're essentially the same. They targeted a small portion of the market and have surpassed that, if it's not 100% suited to you, or you're not willing to perhaps compromise in order to take advantage of all the things it does brilliantly then fine, but some of the things I see people write to pick holes in it are just poor writing. I'm not saying the iPhone is beyond criticism, but as with any high profile product, it makes a much easier target than writing something reasoned and of quality.
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Rudy said 1:47PM on 4-05-2009
whatever, this is the best phone i've ever had and although it has its disadvantages, they will never out weigh the advantages. not to mention with 3.0, it's almost going to be perfect. most cell phone manufacturers would force you to buy a new phone if it came with all the new 3.0 features, with this platform your investment just keeps renewing itself. that alone is what makes the iphone so great.
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direfulburden said 2:23PM on 4-05-2009
well said, well said.
Bloobie said 2:58PM on 4-05-2009
What amazes me most is how the Times is so lacking in material for articles that they have to resort to rhetorical fluff and publish an entire article on how someone didn't like the virtual keyboard. Yes, that is worthy of an entire article in the technology section.
It doesn't take a bloody genius to realize that not every device is meant for everyone. That is why we have choices.
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