Why I didn’t buy an iPhone and why I’m sticking with my E61i for now…
November 13, 2007 by Carlos Eduardo · 16 Comments
I admit. I’m a sucker for Apple gear. It’s pretty, it works, and it’s well thought out. Needless to say, the iPhone drew my attention since its announcement, and this past Friday, it was finally released here in the UK (Even though the USA has had it for a while). I’m really tempted to get it. Really. However, I just can’t bring myself to move away from my Nokia E61i. The more I try and justify the transition, the more issues I come up with why I shouldn’t.. So, for your amusement, I’ve listed the reasons why I can’t switch below as a daily reminder to myself not to buy it.
What I’d give up if I moved from my E61i to an iPhone (not in any order of importance):
1) GizmoProject & Truphone calls to my parents (long distance) over WiFi (without having to lug my computer around).
2) GPS enabled maps via Nokia Maps, tom tom, or Google Maps + my trusty, and locally stored AZ Maps
3) QR code reader (Kaywa)
4) Video recording capabilities don’t exist on the iPhone
5) 3G data connectivity (none for the iPhone here in Europe)
6) Ability to connect my laptop to 3G via the phone’s Bluetooth connection
7) A full physical qwerty keyboard that is more reliable than a touchscreen one
8 ) A more powerful email application (profimail)
9) My installed english-german dictionary (for when I travel), no need to access the web to look for a word
10) The ability to SSH into my server via Putty for Symbian without having to jailbreak the phone and invalidate the warranty.
11) T-Mobile’s cheaper and faster unlimited data (vs AT&T in the USA or O2 in the UK)
12) Video calling doesn’t exist on the iPhone
13) The ability to swap batteries if I need to; can’t do that with the iPhone
14) I’d lose Infra Red
15) I need a more rugged device that can stand multiple drops, not the iPhone
16) I’d lose the ability to synchronize the phone via bluetooth
17) I’d lose the ability to read the phone’s memory via bluetooth
18) Multiple people text sending isn’t supported on the iPhone
19) Copy and Paste text isn’t possible on the iPhone
20) No MMS on the iPhone!!!
21) Although not a technical reason, I’d have to pay a termination charge to my current carrier to pay out my contract before switching…
So there you have it. 21 very strong reasons for me not to get it. Now all I need to do is hold out on temptation.
Update:
Ok, I caved in halfway.. I bought an iPod touch. Review coming soon.
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I actually got an iPhone, however I have used it shortly and then switched back to the Nokia E61i. Why – 1) no ((truphone)) is probalby the biggest killer. I want mobile VOIP over WiFi on the iPhone. I can browse the web via WiFi, so why can’t I make a phone call. Big mistake. I should return the iPhone and get a iPod Touch instead
I’m a bit surprised to hear you’re not getting an iPhone – you aren’t usually averse to having multiple phones or even multiple plans. That said, you’ve enumerated legit. reasons that the tech-savvy will find valuable and probably compelling. Good looks only go so far.
Oh, also.. No Java or java apps for the iPhone.
I’m also not sure if I can do groups and then only accept calls from those groups as per ‘accept calls from’ in the profiles settings of the Series 60 phones.
How reliable do you find the phone? I came across your site as I’m looking for a new phone. I used a Treo 650 for a while and loved it. However, one too many drops killed it. I’d get another but have concerns about the hardiness of it and the fact it doesn’t have 3G support (slow internet email).
My corporate blackberry just works, so I’m tempted to get one as I really just need voice, imaps, ssh and browser.
The E61(i) sounds like a possible alternative.
My current phone is a HTC TyTn. Windows mobile was a big mistake. Very slow and very unreliable. Hangs/pauses many times and is useless as a phone.
Dear CW,
have you used office suit on e61i? if not you must. that is an incredible experience. you can write very fast with predictive text option. and it also takes care of the spelling. you can even attempt to wirte a novel!
regards
Anil
Once you have used 3G (HSDPA) on a phone, going to the iPhone is going to be painful. I asked my friend if he could install 3rd party applications on the iPhone, and the answer was NO…. “why would you want to?”, was his answer?
Well… I got an iPhone, and I will soon write all about my adventures, including the really cool Jailbreak of the 1.2.1 firmware!
ps If you must buy a blackberry, make sure it is based on the new 4.0 software (8800, Curve, Pearl).
Here is a really funny video about MMS on the iPhone
http://symbianguru.typepad.com/welcome/2007/06/n95-vs-iphone–.html
I currently have an e61 and love it. I want to the e61i, but im not sure of the navigation buttons. I like the joystick on the e61 and was wonderinf what you find better in regards to the navigation key The e61’s joystick or the new e61i button?
Some Guy,
If you have an E61, you’ll love the E61i overall. The directional pad can be trickier than the joystick, but it’s not that bad.
However, since you’ve waited this long to upgrade, you might as well wait and get yourself an E71 (see link below) when it comes out.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/05/nokia-e71-in-the-wild/
Apple knows it job!iPhone 3G is the real stuff!Thanks for great review
read through these but the ones