To iPhone Or Not To iPhone?

By David Erickson | July 14, 2008 |

I was not one of those unfortunate souls who stood forever in line just to get their hands on an that wouldn’t activate and for which the iTunes store would crash.

My discipline to resist my first-adopter instincts paid off. I was saved frustration and heartache.

I’ve been torn over the iPhone. While I certainly have a technolust for it and reallyreallyreallyreallyreally want one, I don’t know that I can truly justify the investment right now. From a marketing point of view, getting the new iPhone is a no-brainer; as a personal expense for an everyday tool, not so much.

on the iPhone’s potential of becoming the new personal computer and it’s pretty much on mark. Which is why, of course, we Internet marketers need to start using it, understand how people receive information on it, and begin to figure out the best way of delivering information to the iPhone.

On the other hand, there are a whole host of reasons why I am personally resisting my technolust:

  • Switching carriers and, specifically, going with AT&T.
  • More expensive data plan.
  • No Flash.
  • No Java.
  • Only 2 megapixel camera.
  • No video camera.
  • No multimedia messaging.
  • No memory card slot.
  • No cut and paste.

Honestly, it is the very last bullet point that is the deal killer. I could live with all the other drawbacks but not being able to cut and paste removes all the productivity I currently enjoy on my Windows Mobile phone.

I do work on my phone; I need to cut and paste. Without that feature, the iPhone is just a cool toy, not an essential tool. And it is the single feature that keeps the iPhone from becoming the new personal computer.

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About David Erickson

2 Comments

  1. mk on July 14, 2008 at 11:40 am

    I was an iPhone sucker, although I didn’t stand in line forever and I didn’t have any activation issues. Coming from a five year old cell phone that did nothing other than call people (and really, who wants to do that anyway?) though, the iPhone seems magical. As a photographer, I’m already loving the way it allows me to have a portfolio of my work available all the time…and one that displays impressively, too. I’m sure I’ll run into the issues you’ve listed eventually, but we’re still on the honeymoon for now. 🙂



  2. David on July 16, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    Wow, I hadn’t thought about that.

    Being able to take your own high-rez portfolio with you to show off whenever you want is entirely too cool!

    If they add cut and paste or someone creates an app that does it, then I’m all over the iPhone.