iPhone review roundup: from hype to reality, it's pretty good

The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg wasn't the only person to get hold of an iPhone for review, and the first batch of real opinions - based on the views of people who've actually touched and used the device - is out.

David Pogue - Chicago Tribune

Quote:
"As it turns out, much of the hype and some of the criticisms are justified. The iPhone is revolutionary; it's flawed. It's substance; it's style. It does things no phone has ever done before; it lacks features found even on the most basic phones."

For:
* Software is 'fast, beautiful, menu-free, and dead simple to operate'
* iPhone is fun to use
* Email is fantastic
* Safari web browser
* Screen is bright

Against:
* Can take six steps to make a call
* Call quality is average
* No memory-card slot, no chat program, no voice dialing
* No Java or Flash on web browser
* No video capture or MMS
* On-screen keyboard is frustrating
* EDGE network is slow

Overall:
"Even in version 1.0, the iPhone is still the most sophisticated, outlook-changing piece of electronics to come along in years. It does so many things so well, and so pleasurably, that you tend to forgive its foibles."

[Link]

Walter Mossberg - Wall Street Journal

Quote:
"I have to say that three days into testing the thing, I wanted to throw it out the window because the keyboard was so difficult to use, and I was so slow, and making so many errors on it, but five days in I suddenly found that I can type as well and as fast as I could on my Treo physical keyboard."

For:
* most beautiful, radical smartphone ever tested
* 3 days into testing, hated keyboard, but 5 days in, found could type as well as on a Treo keyboard
* best web browser on a handheld device
* email very computer-like
* Wi-Fi very good

Against:
* phone call quality not amazing
* only runs on one carrier AT&T
* coverage problems and slow connection

Overall:
A fantastic phone that raises the bar for all other smartphones.

[Video Link] [Review] (subscription )

Edward C Baig - USA Today

Quote:
"The mania over Apple's iPhone launch has created stratospheric expectations that are near impossible to live up to. Yet with a few exceptions, this expensive, glitzy wunderkind is indeed worth lusting after.

That's saying a lot. After months of hype, Apple has delivered a prodigy — a slender fashion phone, a slick iPod and an Internet experience unlike any before it on a mobile handset."

For:
* Chic
* Fun to use
* Comfortable to hold and touch
* Visual voicemail

Against:
* EDGE network slow
* No voice recognition or dialing
* Doesn't work with all headphones or stereo Bluetooth devices

Overall:
A great phone with only a few foibles, such as business email concerns, price, and the network.

[Link]

Steven Levy - Newsweek

Quote:
"During my travels and airport delays, I was able to keep up with my e-mail, negotiate my way around the downtown, get tips on the city from an old friend whose number I don’t normally have handy, check the weather conditions in New York and D.C., monitor baseball scores and blogs, listen to an early Neil Young concert and amuse myself with silly YouTube videos and an episode of “Weeds,” all on a single charge before the battery ran down. Now, just about all those things could have been done by devices that are already out on the market. But considering I’d had the iPhone for just a day, and never taken a glance at a manual, it was an impressive introduction."

For:
* Photo display
* Calendar
* Internet browsing
* Google Maps

Against:
* Virtual keyboard may not be great for heavy emailers / texters
* EDGE network
* No Instant Messaging client

Overall:
Great phone with lots of potential for web applications. Even those not buying an iPhone will benefit from competitors emulating it.

[Link]

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