Is the iPhone 3G Worth Buying?
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I don’t think I’ll be standing in line for the release of the iPhone 3G, although I will be getting one. I do access the Internet frequently from my first gen iPhone, and here in Seattle we have the 3G Network. It will be worth it for me to have one. But overall, for the majority of people, is it worth shelling out money to upgrade?
I will likely be getting the 16GB version of the new Apple iPhone 3G. The one I have now is only an 8GB. I’ve never run out of space, but I like knowing that I have more than enough. Knowing there are going to be tons of new apps in the App Store, many of those free, I know I’ll be maxing myself out downloading them.
I have a top five reason list as to why you shouldn’t “trade up” for the new iPhone 3G. This isn’t my list, it was sent to my by community member Pat. Let’s take a look at why Pat feels you should save your money. His reasons are valid points, but are very lengthy, so I’m going to paraphrase them.
- The iPhone 2.0 operating system will work perfectly on the first gen iPhone. There aren’t many extra features in the newest version. You’ll get a standard headphone jack, the 3G processor, and the GPS. For those who do already need some type of GPS on their iPhone, the first generation has a feature using cell towers and wi-fi hotspots to pinpoint your location. If you don’t need GPS and you’re not in an area that is 3G capable… then you don’t really want a new iPhone.
- If you already spent quite a lot of money on one of the new iPhones, why would you spend more to buy a phone with just a slight upgrade? Apple could drop the price in the near future. The iPhone 3G is just a slight upgrade, so you may want to hold out until Apple releases a phone with a much larger difference. $200 for something that could possibly be faster and has a newer design isn’t that much. But, it’s just not something you need to spend money on.
- iPhones have strict contracts that cannot be canceled easily. If you are already under contract with AT&T for an iPhone, you are stuck with your contract for two years. Your only option to upgrade to the iPhone 3G is to get yourself a new number. It remains to be seen whether AT&T or Apple will allow us to change the current generation iPhone and use it as just an iPod, or not. If I buy the 3G, what can I do with this old model? Or will I just have to have it sit on a shelf? I will likely turn mine into some cold, hard cash.
- The new iPhone contract is more expensive than the old one. You may be paying for features you won’t even use. Since you cannot cancel your contract, you’ll be paying for two at the same time. You will not only have to go through the trouble of adjusting to a new phone number, you’ll also have new fees as well. While the new iPhone hardware is cheaper, the service contract is more expensive. Home users will be paying $10.00 per month more, while business users will pay an additional $25.00 a month. The reason why Apple had to lower the price of the hardware is due to the rising cost of the service.
- If you’re not in an area that doesn’t have 3G capability, then you won’t be taking advantage of the 3G features. What is the point then? AT&Ts 3G networks are only found in the most populated areas. If you live in the suburbs or a smaller town, you may never be able to use them. AT&T is still working on expanding the 3G network, but it will likely take quite awhile to make it out of large cities.
Yes, the hardware is going to be faster. But in my mind, the best reason to upgrade to the new 3G is the GPS. Do your homework, weigh everything out carefully. Then, make your decision as to what is best for you.
What do you think? Is the iPhone 3G over-hyped? Is it a welcome addition to your pocket?
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