- Cost. If the iPhone’s listed prices were converted to Canadian dollars, the iPhone would price out between $530 and $640 CAD. That’s way too much money for me to spend on a phone today. Yes it has other functionality, but I’ve got that covered; keep reading.
- Contract & add ons. In the US there’s a 2 year contract required. The base phone doesn’t (as far as I can tell) include a service contract. I can’t see that being any different north of the border. Now consider the type of data access you’d need. The iPhone offers many very cool online features that will quickly bite into your allocation. You have to add this. Basic service for this cool puppy would be silly so you’d want to have the full data packages. Pricing on this ‘seems’ (Rogers plan pricing is kinda all over the place) to start at $50.00/month. I’m a heavy online user so my costs would be more.
- I already have an iPod. My Nano is perfect for music and podcasts. Why would I want to have my phone battery drained when I listen to music? How would this integrate into my existing iPod systems?
- I already have a PDA I’m happy with. My Palm T|X. Same battery drain issue. As well, my PDA is awesome for doing what I need it to. I have all the software bought and installed. It syncs nicely with work and home computers. To convert everything over would take Mucho $$$.
- New processes to learn. Integrating everything into one unit means I’d have to change the way I do things. My system works now for me. To use the iPhone I would have to delete and install new software for time management, and calendar integration. I have no idea how well it’ll sync up with Outlook (at work) and what I’d use to sync with at home. I run Windows PC’s and Ubuntu. Is there a Linux Calendaring app that will work with the iPhone, available now?? I’d need new methods to grab my podcasts (I don’t use iTunes). How would that work?
Too many unanswered questions. So, the way I figure things. I’d likely end up paying over $1000 CAD to learn how to use a new gizmo, when my existing gizmos all do what I need currently.
An iPhone isn’t in my immediate future. Though, I guess if I really want the look of one, I could use an iPhoney 
***UPDATE*** Mar.23.09 I’ve just acquired an Apple iPod Touch. Not an iPhone, but enough of one to make me rethink some of what I’ve written above. I’ll post a review of it and my experiences at the Apple store once an issue is resolved…hopefully within a few weeks.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I admit I would love to get an iPhone, and I haven’t even seen one in person yet. And yes they seem quite quite expensive, but I guess it depends on what works for you.
1. Cost – Yes the list prices will probably be $549/$649 CDN (or thereabaouts). But that is, for better or worse, in the ballpark for so-called smartphones. Rogers, which would almost certainly be the Canadian carrier, is currently selling the brand new BlackBerry for 8800 for $500. Telus is selling the Palm Treo 700 for $549 with no contract (down to $200 if you commit to three years) and the Moto Q for $599 with no contract ($499 with a two year contract, and a sale price $99 for three years). Factor in how much slicker and easier the iPhone could be to use compared to the other smartphones, the built-in iPod with video, etc. and the cost is arguably competitive, especially for a brand new product line.
2. Contract and add-ons – Yes, we’ll have to see how those add up and that will depend mightily on Rogers. Here again, though, I doubt it would be any more than a typical BlackBerry/Treo user would pay for. Maybe less, actually, as the iPhone does have built-in wi-fi and switches to use wi-fi hotspots for Internet access automatically when it finds them. I’m waiting to see what the plans are.
3. I already have an iPod – I do too. I’m not against replacing it though, as it’s a few years old and doesn’t play video. The iPhone has the cool rotating wide screen, and the new user interface using the touch screen, which I’m sure will be big improvements over the iPod I already love. Being only 4/8 GB may take some getting used to for me, but it’s flash, right? I don’t think I’d be too worried about the battery life. I’m not a huge phone talker.
4. I have a PDA I’m happy with – Does a Moleskine notebook count? My work computer’s Outlook syncs (painfully and unintuitively) with my Nokia phone. I look forward to killing that relationship.
5. New processes to learn – Unlike you, I do not have a geeked-out Ubuntu home computer (iMac home computer, Mac Mini studio DAW), but like you I run Windows XP at work (and don’t like it much). So either way I would connect, home or at work, will work fine for me. I wouldn’t count on any Linux support for the iPhone. But for me, it would be quite an easy transition, plus I’d be carrying one less device around with me everywhere.
So we’ll see what happens in the coming months, but if I had my way, I know I’d love to get one.
Heh, nice points Chris. Yeah, with the price of those other data phone packages, even though the iPhone is comparable, it’s still not for me…and I’m an early adopter! I just can’t justify it with the stuff I’ve already got.
I look forward to playing with your shiny new iPhone when you do get one (’cause you’ll likely get one sooner than I do
)