Yes I know, provocative title. But I didn't choose it to add to the anti-iPhone chorus and litany championed by legacy publications like PC World. And I also didn't choose it to tell you about the latest HTC Awesome or Droid Maxximus that outdoes the iPhone in this spec or that. I didn't even choose it because I have become a convert to Android, though as a professional reviewer I am certainly interested in that latest and apparently finally successful mobile Linux implementation.
I did choose the title because over the past several months I've found myself using my iPhone less and less. Coincidentally, I got my iPad several months ago. Yes, I've found myself using my iPad more and more, and my iPhone less and less. That's because the iPad does almost everything I used my iPhone for, only better. I love apps on the iPhone, but I love apps on the iPad better. I used to marvel how much could be done on a screen as small as the iPhones. Now I marvel that I used to spend so much time squinting at that little screen, like reading entire books on it.
Before I go any farther, I do need to state that I am not fond of phones of any kind. In fact, I hate phones. I hate the way people drop everything to answer a phone call. I hate the "but.., but..., it could be an emergency" people say in justification of picking up the tenth call during lunch or in a meeting. I hate the miserable voice quality the telcos have foisted upon us when I full-well remember that cellphones can, in fact, deliver reliable, crystal-clear calls. So "fewer dropped calls" to me is hardly an argument that'll win me over. Anyway, fact is that I use phones for voice calls as little as possible. Instead, I email, text, IM and whatever other technologies let me communicate when it's convenient for me, and let the other side answer when it's convenient for them.
So I really don't need a phone with a big contract. I don't need an AT&T plan with 1,500 minutes that I only signed up for because I MIGHT run over and then AT&T would charge me an obscene amount for minutes over the plan (sound like health insurance, doesn't it?). What I need a phone for is when I am on the road or when I am abroad. Which is exactly where the iPhone works least well. Between AT&T's miserable coverage, awful voice quality and dropped calls I really cannot rely the phone to be there for me in an emergency. And when I am abroad... let's not even go there.
What does it all add up to? For me, this: I love the iPhone, love the concept, but do not love an almost US$200 bill every month for a couple of iPhones that we hardly ever use as phones. Yes, by now I realize that I do need some sort of phone, but any pre-paid el-cheapo fliphone on a reliable network would fill my phone needs. And all the cool iPhone stuff I now do on my iPad which, by now, I probably use ten times as often as my iPhone. If I could get reliable voice on my iPad, I probably would drop the iPhone entirely. I really never thought I'd ever say that, but that's the way it is.
Would I change my tune if the iPhone weren't stifled by AT&T? Probably not. Even with better and more reliable service, it'd still be a big bill, I'd still resent phone calls, and the iPad's big screen would still make it more pleasant to use than a little phone.
I guess I need what I wanted all along, a little computer that can make the occasional call when I need it. And not a little phone that can also be a computer when I need it. So whoever felt it was a cool idea to hand over the PDA concept to the telcos a decade or so ago, curse you and all the code and products you'll ever produce. Had Microsoft and Apple and Motorola just bought or created their own communication systems when they had a chance, it'd be a whole different ballgame now.
Total agreement, I'm
Total agreement, I'm following the same progression. I had half a dozen of PDA's over the years, got a smartphone, then got a netbook and an iTouch. Smartphone is now just a phone.
Phone contract is up in a couple months and I'm seriously debating where I want to go from here and your insight is confirming what I'm suspecting already.
Thanks for the article!
No iPhone
I'm leaning in the same direction. However, I would definitely miss the camera. I use the camera a lot and the scanning feature. Do you think we'll get a camera on the next iPad? Put a phone and camera on the iPad, I would be in heaven!
I agree
I agree completely with you.
I have always carried a small no frills flip phone for my calls, I can slip in any pocket and not worry about scratches or breakage.
My iPhone, blackberrys, and all manner of PDA's before them have been there in a pouch or bag, for my convience when needed, not as all in one device.
I love my iPad and have found the same thing as you, not using my iPhone as much. Even took it off a phone/data plan to use it on WiFi only.
I have started useing it again on a daily basis, for keeping track of health related stuff and alarms to remind me when to take my medications, very handy for that.
So its come full circle, from PDA to phone/pda to complete package all in one and back to PDA usage, with WIFI.
I still love my iPhone and big brother iPad, but my communications device slips in my pocket, for my convience.
I completely agree
I'm experiencing the same thing. I absolutely love the iPad and still wonder how I managed on such a small display. It's the first thing I pick up at the start of the day to listen to or read news and the last thing before sleep, reading a book. I do lots of photo editing, music and movies on the iPad now, much easier on the eyes. I'd like to have voice and SMS messaging on the iPad, with those features, I'd drop the iPhone completely. I'd miss the camera, but since I carry my dslr with me all the time, I'd manage. The only other thing I'd need is a camera bag to hold both the dslr and iPad.
Moving on...
So true! The cellphone is so yesterday. Why do our "personal data managers" (or whatever you want to call them) have to saddled with a cellphone and all the contracts, minutes, blah-blah that go with those devices?
At most the "telephone" function should be an app and. One day, we're going to move out of this old model. If we could just move out of AT&T at the same time! :-(
Company iPhones
My company has 7 iPhone 4's. We have been with the iPhone since V.1. However the recent call dropping and call issues caused us to switching to the HTC EVO from Sprint. Our bill was 1200++. Well we spent about a week with the EVO and realized that we could not live without our iPhones and we ended up switching back. The HTC phones are nice, but HTC installs a bunch of crap over the Android OS, which is nice by itself. It was such a headache and there are many companies trying to copy the iPhone for a reason. Just remember that...So my 2 cents would be if you want to switch, find a phone that runs the android OS alone, or consider there will be a fix soon (And not a free case). I just could not live without the cam, apps, and the strange this is, the reception has improved tremendously. Odd.
Nevertheless, I think many iPhone users are considering this with the iPhone 4 mess. But in my opinion, I think Apple will put out an OS fix.
Voice is key
I agree.... my iPad is fulfilling 95% of my data needs now away from home and my phone is to answer calls, over half of which I ignore and force to voicemail anyway. The amount I'm paying for AT&T Wireless service with data every month is ridiculous.
I don't even know if AT&T even sells a phone any more that is only voice, do they????
I'm seriously considering the same move... go cheap on the cell phone and just get voice and let the iPad or laptop wireless card take care of the rest.
I am also sick of sitting around a table or the living room while everyone updates Facebook and messages with each other or people outside of the immediate environment. The rudeness is beyond what could have been dreamed up 20 years ago.
This is coming from a techno-geek who generally gets along with machines better than people!
Tom L.
ipad with bluetooth headset
put a front facing camera on the iPad for facetime (which I love when I'm out of town and can now SEE my kiddos when we talk) and a speakerphone and/or headset feature for phone calls. (oh, and a good camera on the back too) and all would be right with the world.
Bring back PDAs
Like the majority of others I agree with your points. Unfortunately the iPad is too big for me to carry for the apps I use most with my iphone so that is not an option for me. It sounds strange to say I want the "good old days" of simple PDAs - when the true good old days meant some type of pocket calender with contact and note sections. Since my portion of our household cell phone bill was cut in half when I switched from Verizon to ATT and got my iPhone, when my contract is up I will have to seriously consider my options of higher cost vs better coverage and reception. My guess is that there will be some more advances in the phones by that point that will complicate the decision even more.
I don't have an iPad, but I
I don't have an iPad, but I also don't have an iPhone, and it's basically for the sum total of what you've described here. I do have an iPod Touch, and when they finally get cameras it will do pretty much everything I want to do with it until I can actually get an iPad. For phone service I use a prepaid phone that costs me $100 a year for 800 minutes of service, which is more than I'll ever need in a given year at this point. It pretty much works wherever I need it, and it actually does have a camera (albeit I fairly junky one), so if I'm really in a pinch I'm set. Now if they ever put something like an iPhone on a prepaid plan, I'd be the first in line - well, probably not physically, but mentally I sure would.
iPhone 4
I know how many people out there feels now that that have a iPad, I do have an iPad my self and also and iPhone 4, I do use my iPhone less now but I don't imagine my self without it. I will never switch to an android phone even if the company pay my bill, the iPhone is part of my daily basis and is an integral part of my business.
The iPad is really taking almost all that I do on my iPhone but stills.... I love my iPhone and there's gonna be a loooooong time before any other OS take it over.
iPhone
I've had an iPhone now for a year, I love it. I have never had a dropped call in the 14 years I've been with AT&T (before they bought Cingular). The voice quality on my iPhone is fine. I don't understand all the complaints about it. Would I like an iPad - I covet it but it's not time yet. It's really large and I do have the nook e-reader for my reading enjoyment. The iPad is lovely, but it's too big, it's not a phone, it doesn't store data, etc. So, for me, right now the iPad is a large expensive toy. Until the price for that comes down, I'll stick with my iPhone 4 - it does everything I need a Smartphone to do and my laptop or desktop does the rest.
Great article!
I love what you had to say. I am tired of the dropped calls, spotty reception, and the ridiculously high monthly bill for a phone that I use more to check my Facebook account and e-mail, read the local news, and track my to-do list and finances. I did not see a use for the iPad but after your short discourse I think I may look further into buying an iPad and getting a no frills flip phone for calls.
I am a devoted iPhone user;
I am a devoted iPhone user; however, the service with AT&T is incredibly bad. I erroneously thought my new iPhone 4 would help. I love the phone but just cannot believe the dropped calls when on 3G and the awful reception. When you talk to AT&T, there are all of these assurances that things have gotten better - wrong, they are getting worse. I live in the Denver area and it is terrible at times; especially in the downtown area where it should be excellent. I am seriously looking at the iPad and appreciate your article.
One last note; is there any hope AT&T can pull this out. I would be interested at some point in an honest interview with AT&T corporate over this issue; however, the likelihood of anything candid is probably doubtful.