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  1. #1
    Cori
    Guest
    Well, I am here because I was all set to sign up with Verizon for two
    more years because I am eligible for a new phone. I can get a Samsung
    Gleam for $149.99 or a Blackberry Pearl 8130 for $169.99. I'm all set
    to compare them for sound quality as soon as the Samsung Gleam arrives
    in the local store.

    Thing is, now the new iPhone 3G is coming out soon and I could get it
    for maybe 30 bucks less than the Blackberry Pearl, or maybe the same,
    as I'd of course have to switch services and be signing up as a new
    user.

    Bottom lines are:

    COVERAGE IN MY AREA--How can I learn if an iPhone would work in my
    area, and how well? I have taken my Verizon phone all over the place
    and never had a problem with coverage and little or no problem with
    sound quality.

    SOUND QUALITY--I want it good on calls and particularly on the MP3
    player, which is the main reason I am buying a new phone!

    MP3 PLAYER--I need one where I can pause, rewind, or at the VERY
    LEAST, find my place again on whatever I was listening to. Does the
    iPhone use the same sort of micro SD memory card as the other phones?
    The ones I am looking at take only up to 4GB cards. Can the iPhone do
    8 or more? How can I compare player quality on the various phones I
    am considering?

    PLAN COST--What will the basic monthly plan for the new iPhone cost?
    Obviously, if it's an arm and a leg for a zillion features and
    services I'll probably never use when all I need is a phone, MP3
    player, and GPS, I'd stick with Verizon which has provided good
    service.

    Can anyone shed light on these bottom line issues or direct me to a
    site with good side-by-side comparison reviews? I'll be deeply
    appreciative, thanks.

    Cori



    See More: iPhone Compared to Other Phones




  2. #2
    -hh
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    Cori <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > [snip ... common ramblings]
    >
    > Bottom lines are:
    >
    > COVERAGE IN MY AREA--How can I learn if an iPhone would work in my
    > area, and how well? *I have taken my Verizon phone all over the place
    > and never had a problem with coverage and little or no problem with
    > sound quality.


    There's always just a few options:
    a) Buy-Rent-Borrow a phone on the network in question and check it out
    yourself;
    b) Tell people where you are located, and solicit their personal
    experience;
    c) Take a Risk and just jump in blind.


    > SOUND QUALITY--I want it good on calls and particularly on the MP3
    > player, which is the main reason I am buying a new phone!


    Have you stopped using your cellphone when driving (or riding in) a
    car?
    And also similarly high ambient noise environments?
    Similarly, when underground, or other similar 'blocked signals'
    situations?

    It isn't rocket science to have a good reception view of the sky, but
    the technology has gotten good enough that people are now constantly
    forgetting the basics. All too commonly, hardware is blamed today for
    what are really operator error problems.


    > MP3 PLAYER--I need one where I can pause, rewind, or at the VERY
    > LEAST, find my place again on whatever I was listening to. *Does the
    > iPhone use the same sort of micro SD memory card as the other phones?


    No.


    > ... How can I compare player quality on the various phones I
    > am considering?


    The fidelity "weak link" is predominantly a product of the headphones,
    not the MP3 player. Don't make the mistake of focusing on "fixing"
    the wrong component.


    > PLAN COST--What will the basic monthly plan for the new iPhone cost?


    At least $75/month.

    Basic Voice is $40/month, to which you add a $30/month data plan = $70/
    month ... before taxes.

    > Obviously, if it's an arm and a leg for a zillion features and
    > services I'll probably never use when all I need is a phone, MP3
    > player, and GPS, I'd stick with Verizon which has provided good
    > service.


    YMMV as to what an 'arm and leg' are worth. At $75/month, your total
    2 year contract commitment is roughly $2,000

    And while that's $200 for the hardware + $1,800 for the service, the
    reality is that even basic cellular service isn't necessarily dirt
    cheap: a 'free' phone with a basic $40/mo plan for 2 years is roughly
    $1000, to which you might want to add another $200 for an iPod and
    another $200 for a Garmin GPS. You end up roughly $500 ahead of the
    game after 2 years, but you don't have miniaturization through product
    convergence.



    > Can anyone shed light on these bottom line issues or direct me to a
    > site with good side-by-side comparison reviews? *I'll be deeply
    > appreciative, thanks.


    Since you don't specifically mention (push) email or web browsing,
    you probably don't need a data plan.

    Of course, this applies to your consideration of a Blackberry on VZW,
    too ... the monthly cost of VZW with a data plan isn't cheap either,
    so its not an issue of an AT&T / iPhone "Rip Off": its that data
    plans on cellular service simply isn't cheap in the USA.


    -hh



  3. #3
    Ron
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:13:14 -0700 (PDT), ed <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >but the data coverage of verizon is much
    >superior over at&t in socal (and this is just at&t on edge- their 3g
    >coverage is seriously crap).



    Suppose he lives elsewhere?



  4. #4
    ed
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Jun 24, 9:39*am, Ron <[email protected]> wrote:
    > On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:13:14 -0700 (PDT), ed <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    >
    > >but the data coverage of verizon is much
    > >superior over at&t in socal (and this is just at&t on edge- their 3g
    > >coverage is seriously crap).

    >
    > Suppose he lives elsewhere?


    the answer to your question is in the first sentence of the very
    paragraph you snipped my comment from- "the obvious answer is to port
    your number over to at&t and try it out for a month. if you don't
    like it, port it back. "



  5. #5
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    Previously on alt.cellular.attws, Cori said:

    > COVERAGE IN MY AREA--How can I learn if an iPhone would work in my
    > area, and how well? I have taken my Verizon phone all over the place
    > and never had a problem with coverage and little or no problem with
    > sound quality.


    You can get a fairly good approximation of the coverage area (down to
    street level) including "regular" GSM, data, and 3G for AT&T here:
    http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/

    > SOUND QUALITY--I want it good on calls and particularly on the MP3
    > player, which is the main reason I am buying a new phone!


    I've spoken to people with the first gen of the iPhone and they say
    that the voice quality is as good as anything else they've used. No
    idea what that "anything else" could cover, though. Sound quality for
    MP3s, I don't know, but I hope it's at least as good as the sound
    quality of a "classic" iPod. Toss the included earbuds and get
    something different and better.

    > MP3 PLAYER--I need one where I can pause, rewind, or at the VERY
    > LEAST, find my place again on whatever I was listening to. Does the
    > iPhone use the same sort of micro SD memory card as the other phones?


    I hope that's two questions!

    A "regular" iPod does that and will hold the place if you turn it off,
    but not if you change to another track. But if you know about where
    you were in it, you can fast-forward to it. I haven't tried with an
    iPhone.

    The iPhone uses internal-only storage. It comes in 8 and 16GB
    versions.

    > The ones I am looking at take only up to 4GB cards. Can the iPhone do
    > 8 or more? How can I compare player quality on the various phones I
    > am considering?


    Subjectively? Only by trying each one.

    > PLAN COST--What will the basic monthly plan for the new iPhone cost?


    Basic voice is $40/month, AT&T apparently requires an iPhone specific
    data plan. I've heard $20/month and I've heard $30/month for that with
    the new iPhone. If the reason for the hike is 3G, then I had better
    get the lower price because my home area does not yet have 3G.

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    "Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty
    when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom
    are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evilminded
    rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious
    encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding."
    - Justice Louis D. Brandeis, dissenting, Olmstead v. United States



  6. #6
    Cori
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Jun 24, 9:13*am, ed <[email protected]> wrote

    > i'm not sure why you think you're getting a iphone for $140 as a new
    > user on at&t, but...


    I don't necessarily think that, it's just that other companies offer a
    discount for new users so I hoped AT & T also did.

    > the obvious answer is to port your number over to at&t and try it out
    > for a month. *if you don't like it, port it back.


    I didn't know that was possible but it makes sense, especially since
    my two years with Verizon are up so they can't stick me for doing
    that, right?

    > sound quality on calls... *just isn't that good with the iphone. *the
    > mp3 player is obviously one of the iphone's strengths, but it's not
    > that much better than other options UNLESS you're into buying (drm'd)
    > songs from the itunes store.


    I could go on indefinitely with ripping songs from CD and even
    cassette and vinyl, and downloading mp3 files from the internet,
    before ever LOOKING at any iTunes.

    > get something that takes microsdhc (16gb+, 8gb for dirt cheap) if you
    > go the non-iphone route.


    So microsdhc is different/better than regular micro SD?

    > *if you roam more than 50% though, they (Sprint) might boot you as a customer.


    Well, that's the thing. When I use the phone portion of the phone,
    it's mostly away from home, not at home, except for occasional long-
    distance calls. The mp3 player, on the other hand, if I can get one
    that's not a total PAIN to use, I would use constantly.

    > if you want gps on verizon, you're either paying a monthly fee for
    > vznavigator, or you're hacking your phone (which is what i did).


    That's why I'm looking at the Blackberry, which comes with basic GPS
    besides the add-on of VZ Navigator. Truth to tell, though, the basic
    would probably be slow and not do much and in that time I'd probably
    drive somewhere and ask directions anyway. Hacking sounds appealing,
    however that's done.

    Thanks for the information!

    Cori



  7. #7
    Cori
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Jun 24, 9:39*am, Ron <[email protected]> wrote:
    > On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:13:14 -0700 (PDT), ed <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    >
    > >but the data coverage of verizon is much
    > >superior over at&t in socal (and this is just at&t on edge- their 3g
    > >coverage is seriously crap).

    >
    > Suppose he lives elsewhere?


    Then it's either better (because socal is so crowded) or worse
    (because if they can't do it right in a large urban area, how bad
    would it be out in the sticks?)

    Cori



  8. #8
    Cori
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Jun 24, 9:55*am, ed <[email protected]> wrote:
    > On Jun 24, 9:39*am, Ron <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:13:14 -0700 (PDT), ed <[email protected]>
    > > wrote:

    >
    > > >but the data coverage of verizon is much
    > > >superior over at&t in socal (and this is just at&t on edge- their 3g
    > > >coverage is seriously crap).

    >
    > > Suppose he lives elsewhere?

    >
    > the answer to your question is in the first sentence of the very
    > paragraph you snipped my comment from- "the obvious answer is to port
    > your number over to at&t and try it out for a month. *if you don't
    > like it, port it back. "


    Words of wisdom!

    Cori



  9. #9
    ed
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Jun 24, 1:24*pm, Cori <[email protected]> wrote:
    > On Jun 24, 9:13*am, ed <[email protected]> wrote
    >
    > > i'm not sure why you think you're getting a iphone for $140 as a new
    > > user on at&t, but...

    >
    > I don't necessarily think that, it's just that other companies offer a
    > discount for new users so I hoped AT & T also did.


    the $199 price is the subsidized price.

    > > the obvious answer is to port your number over to at&t and try it out
    > > for a month. *if you don't like it, port it back.

    >
    > I didn't know that was possible but it makes sense, especially since
    > my two years with Verizon are up so they can't stick me for doing
    > that, right?


    yup, once you're contract is up, you're free to go where you wish. and
    when you port to at&t, you can return the phone within 30 days and the
    early termination fee will be waived. then go back to verizon and try
    it for 30 days, same thing.
    http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...plan-terms.jsp
    http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/s...plash.jsp?v=12

    > > sound quality on calls... *just isn't that good with the iphone. *the
    > > mp3 player is obviously one of the iphone's strengths, but it's not
    > > that much better than other options UNLESS you're into buying (drm'd)
    > > songs from the itunes store.

    >
    > I could go on indefinitely with ripping songs from CD and even
    > cassette and vinyl, and downloading mp3 files from the internet,
    > before ever LOOKING at any iTunes.
    >
    > > get something that takes microsdhc (16gb+, 8gb for dirt cheap) if you
    > > go the non-iphone route.

    >
    > So microsdhc is different/better than regular micro SD?


    the 'hc' is 'high capacity'. regular hd goes up to 4gb, sdhc is,
    iirc, up to 32gb currently, but that's not available in the micro
    format quite yet. i know 16gb cards have been announced, but i don't
    know if they're available quite yet. 4gb cards are down to $15-$20,
    and 8gb microsd cards are down below $50, and they just keep going
    down, down, down...

    > > **if you roam more than 50% though, they (Sprint) might boot you as a customer.

    >
    > Well, that's the thing. *When I use the phone portion of the phone,
    > it's mostly away from home, not at home, except for occasional long-
    > distance calls. *The mp3 player, on the other hand, if I can get one
    > that's not a total PAIN to use, I would use constantly.


    windows media itself is not a very good music player, but there are a
    lot of good ones available.

    > > if you want gps on verizon, you're either paying a monthly fee for
    > > vznavigator, or you're hacking your phone (which is what i did).

    >
    > That's why I'm looking at the Blackberry, which comes with basic GPS
    > besides the add-on of VZ Navigator. *


    not on verizon it doesn't.

    > Truth to tell, though, the basic
    > would probably be slow and not do much and in that time I'd probably
    > drive somewhere and ask directions anyway. *Hacking sounds appealing,
    > however that's done.


    not very familiar with enabling the gps on verizon blackberries, but
    on the windows mobile devices, it's really simple (if you follow the
    directions- people DO manage to screw it up anyways though). flash
    the radio, flash the rom, call verizon to reactivate, and you're
    done. takes about 15 minutes. xda-developers.com and ppcgeeks.com
    has a lot of info.



  10. #10
    ZnU
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    In article
    <[email protected]>,
    Cori <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Well, I am here because I was all set to sign up with Verizon for two
    > more years because I am eligible for a new phone. I can get a Samsung
    > Gleam for $149.99 or a Blackberry Pearl 8130 for $169.99. I'm all set
    > to compare them for sound quality as soon as the Samsung Gleam arrives
    > in the local store.
    >
    > Thing is, now the new iPhone 3G is coming out soon and I could get it
    > for maybe 30 bucks less than the Blackberry Pearl, or maybe the same,
    > as I'd of course have to switch services and be signing up as a new
    > user.
    >
    > Bottom lines are:
    >
    > COVERAGE IN MY AREA--How can I learn if an iPhone would work in my
    > area, and how well? I have taken my Verizon phone all over the place
    > and never had a problem with coverage and little or no problem with
    > sound quality.


    Find someone with AT&T service in your area and ask them how it is. Have
    them come over and see how good a signal you have at home. Preferably
    someone without a RAZR; they seem to have below-average reception.

    > SOUND QUALITY--I want it good on calls and particularly on the MP3
    > player, which is the main reason I am buying a new phone!


    I've found audio quality on my first-generation iPhone to be fine for
    both.

    > MP3 PLAYER--I need one where I can pause, rewind, or at the VERY
    > LEAST, find my place again on whatever I was listening to.


    The iPhone's media player is, as you'd might imagine, quite good, and of
    course can sync everything (music, podcasts, audio books, TV shows,
    etc.) with iTunes, which is a major benefit if you're already using
    iTunes to manage your media.

    And yes, for longer media it not only remembers your place, but syncs
    this info with iTunes, so you can, for instance, go back and forth
    between listening to a long audio book on your computer and on your
    iPhone, without having to manually find your place every time you switch.

    > Does the iPhone use the same sort of micro SD memory card as the
    > other phones? The ones I am looking at take only up to 4GB cards.
    > Can the iPhone do 8 or more?


    The iPhone doesn't have removable storage. It comes in 8 GB and 16 GB
    models, and that's all you get.

    If you have a large music collection, though, iTunes does make it pretty
    convenient to manage what gets downloaded to the phone, so it's easy to
    swap thing around.

    > How can I compare player quality on the various phones I am
    > considering?


    Well, you can try out an iPhone in any Apple store. Apple is usually
    pretty good about loading its display models up with real content you
    can play around with. You'd have to bring your own headphones/earbuds,
    of course.

    > PLAN COST--What will the basic monthly plan for the new iPhone cost?
    > Obviously, if it's an arm and a leg for a zillion features and
    > services I'll probably never use when all I need is a phone, MP3
    > player, and GPS, I'd stick with Verizon which has provided good
    > service.


    iPhone plans are pretty pricy. $75+ with taxes, etc. You should probably
    pass on the iPhone if you're not interested in making fairly frequent
    use of data services, because you're going to be paying for them. (And
    they're a particular strength of the iPhone.)

    Also, I don't know if you have any interest, but one other factor to
    consider is that in a few months, there are going to be lots of
    third-party applications for the iPhone. The way things seem to be
    shaping up so far, it looks like it's going to provide a much richer
    applications platform than other mobile devices.

    > Can anyone shed light on these bottom line issues or direct me to a
    > site with good side-by-side comparison reviews? I'll be deeply
    > appreciative, thanks.


    --
    "No one has supported President Bush on Iraq more than I have." -McCain in April

    "I disagreed strongly with the Bush administration's mismanagement of the war
    in Iraq." -McCain in June



  11. #11
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    Previously on alt.cellular.attws, Cori said:

    > Dang, I'm totally sold on an iPhone except for the question of
    > coverage and the issue of paying a huge amount for services I probably
    > won't use. Now I can only hope/expect that after July 11 a huge
    > number of iPod Touches will be for sale as people ditch them for the
    > new iPhones. I just wonder if I should wait till then to decide on a
    > Verizon phone or try to get one with a reasonably decent mp3 player if
    > only as a backup.


    Do not switch carriers just for a nifty phone. Especially if, as you
    indicate, the new carrier has no coverage where you need it. Ignoring
    the price tag, your best bet to get the functions would be to stay with
    Verizon and get the least expensive phone they have and get an iPod
    Touch for the media and PDA stuff the iPhone can do.

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    Peter's Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord, #162.
    If I steal something very important to the hero, I will not put it on
    public display.



  12. #12
    Cori
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    Yeah, I've been thinking that is the best bet. In fact, I'm wondering
    if it makes sense to even switch phones at all, since my old one works
    fine...as a phone, just doesn't do all the other stuff. Especially
    since, with the new iPhone now at half price, a lot of people may be
    unloading their iPod Touch and I might even find one in decent shape
    at an affordable price.

    Cori

    On Jun 25, 8:35*am, Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Do not switch carriers just for a nifty phone. *Especially if, as you
    > indicate, the new carrier has no coverage where you need it. *Ignoring
    > the price tag, your best bet to get the functions would be to stay with
    > Verizon and get the least expensive phone they have and get an iPod
    > Touch for the media and PDA stuff the iPhone can do.




  13. #13
    ed
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    On Jun 26, 12:18*am, Cori <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Yeah, I've been thinking that is the best bet. *In fact, I'm wondering
    > if it makes sense to even switch phones at all, since my old one works
    > fine...as a phone, just doesn't do all the other stuff. *Especially
    > since, with the new iPhone now at half price, a lot of people may be
    > unloading their iPod Touch and I might even find one in decent shape
    > at an affordable price.


    if you're really into new / different music, and you're in a verizon
    ev-do area, i'd SERIOUSLY consider taking a look at a windows mobile
    phone. it wasn't a big consideration when i bought my htc touch, but
    the ability to stream internet radio is a serious plus with the
    verizon network.



  14. #14
    Cori
    Guest

    Re: iPhone Compared to Other Phones

    Is that with an mp3 player or some other means of audio playing?
    Thanks.

    Cori

    On Jun 26, 12:50*am, ed <[email protected]> wrote:

    > if you're really into new / different music, and you're in a verizon
    > ev-do area, i'd SERIOUSLY consider taking a look at a windows mobile
    > phone. *it wasn't a big consideration when i bought my htc touch, but
    > the ability to stream internet radio is a serious plus with the
    > verizon network. *




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