Why I bought and then cancelled an iPhone before I even had it

All of the hoopla must have worked its magic on me yesterday. Around 6:15 pm, 15 minutes after the Apple iPhone was available here in my area, I hopped in my car and drove to the Quakertown, PA AT&T store. "Store" is actually a misnomer because the AT&T folks actually have a kiosk in a supermarket there, but it was advertised as having iPhone availability. Since they're a kiosk, they had zero stock. They weren't sold out, they just never got any stock. Instead, they were placing direct fulfillment orders right on the AT&T computer system. As a would-be new AT&T customer, I filled out one form only to for the sales folks to tell me that they were having issues in the system. No worries; they would input an 8 GB iPhone order as soon as they could and then call me so I could return to provide my credit card. As promised, they called me today. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for me, the magic wore off. I've told them to cancel the order.

It hit me today as I read review after review after review. The iPhone just isn't for me. Maybe if it was $200 or so I might have re-considered, but the fact is: it's not the right tool for my tasks. Even more: it's truly a consumer device and while I am a consumer, I'm even more of a mobile professional (that was for you Palm).

If I had bought the iPhone, I would have paid $175 to cancel my recently opened T-Mobile account. That hurts the budget right there on a device that's effectively comparable at best to my T-Mobile Dash. Let's forget about the "how" you do things on the two devices, which does indeed vary. It's the "what" they do that really hit me. I tether my Dash for EDGE access when not in a WiFi hotspot; no can do with the iPhone. That's effectively a deal-breaker right there since again, I need to work where and when I want. I could get past that issue by getting my Dash unlocked and swapping SIM cards out; it does work per Matt Miller's testing, but I'd have to carry two phones. Not desirable.

I do web browse on my Dash quite a bit and I'm sure the experience is much better on the iPhone. But it's not really due to having the Safari browser; it's due to the larger screen. Using Opera Mini 4 on the Dash, I have the same effective page view to zoom in and out on. I do have to use my D-Pad to move the cursor, but I can do that with one hand. Holding the iPhone and using two fingers to pinch or expand the screen is extremely innovative and I can't take anything away from Apple here. Again, it's not desirable to me personally because it requires two hands.

Lastly, the closed nature of the iPhone is just not appealing to me. I've used Windows Mobile devices since 2000. That means I've had seven years of third-party application options; taking that away is really tough to swallow right now. I expect we'll see some great web-based apps for the iPhone but it's just too limiting of an environment for now.

Yup, AT&T called me today to complete the order. I really wanted to say "Great, here's my info; let's get that 8 GB iPhone to me quickly". I really did. But the magic only lasted a day. For everyone else who bought one: I'm sure you'll enjoy this consumer device. I'm just more of a mobile professional than a consumer today.

Comments

[Jose R. Ortiz]

I'm right there with ya Kevin. I really have been dismissing the iPhone every time a co-worker or friend brought it up. I explained how my HTC S620 (which is the Dash unbranded and unlocked) could do a lot of what the iPhone does and more. Sure no multi-touch (or touch screen for that matter), but my needs were there. The iPhone just had too many deterrents for it to appeal to me. I was more hyped about the HTC Touch or if I want exclusivity I could just get the Prada. I wasn't denying that the phone was intuitive, sleek, and down right sexy, but it just did not appeal to me. I headed down to an Apple store at around 5:30 with a friend to take pictures of the lines and capture the hoopla and I was still fine. Then, at around 11:30 PM after a late dinner, I had a sudden urge to buy it. I saw the videos on Apple, catching all the news on blogs and it just took me over (darn Apple marketing!). Thankfully I resisted the urge to go to an Apple store right then and there. By the time I woke up today I was over it. No iPhone for me. Maybe in a year or two, but for now I'm eagerly waiting the Touch in the U.S. and the Shift.

[xanekka ra]

There is two things I like about the iPhone. Like you, I am impressed with the browser. But the speed is questionable. I like how tough it is. I bet my Mogul won't live through a 6' fall, for sure. Other than that, it's slim. That's it. I still prefer my Mogul with all the Microsoft glitches and compatibility. It get things done for me.

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Yup, I don't think either of us are saying the iPhone isn't an amazing device. It's just not going to meet all of my needs. If I'm going to shell out $500 or $600, plus pay an early termination fee, I need for the device to do more than my current device, not less. It doesn't matter how pretty the package is, if it's not enabling me to do more, I can't justify the purchase. It would have been a fun splurge, but I'm not in a position to splurge. I'll live vicariously through all of the deservedly happy iPhone owners. ;)

[Matt]

Yes, you can iPhone with one hand tied behind your back. I had been scrolling all day one-handed, but your post led me to try zooming, too. Turns out it's pretty easy to use your thumb and index finger while holding it with the rest of your hand.
WRT "mobile professionals" vs. "consumers," quite a few people I talked to were purchasing the iPhone for professional reasons. Even the Mayor of Philadelphia claimed to be getting one for job-related reasons: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/breaking/news/Mayor_on_line_to_buy_iPhone.html
Come to think of it, I didn't really talk to anyone who was just a pure consumer. But then, I guess the lines are blurring these days, and devices like these only continue to further that.

[Elo]

Personally, what I find is the deal breaker is the disgusting exclusivity to AT&T. The iPhone is definitely a cool and fun device to have, I'm sure. I would be tempted to get one but having to go with one mobility provider who, let's be frank here, is far from having a good reputation, is something I can't deal with.

The iPhone is an important milestone in portable devices. It does raise the bar and what it does, it does it well and elegantly. They will certainly release a 3G iPhone for the European market so I'd rather wait and see where it goes from here.

[tnkgrl]

Since you have Nokia N80ie, and the iPhone supplied SIM, once activated, works with any unlocked GSM device (including 3G ones - check my blog), you could always have used your N80ie for tethering, and the iPhone teh rest of the time :)

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Matt, I need to tether my phone as a modem, so no go right now from a work perspective.

tnkgrl, the Nokia N80ie is a review unit, so it's not staying with me forever. While I could get the Dash unlocked and swap the SIM in, I don't want or need to carry two phones and pay $500 to do it. Just my personal preference. ;)

[greg]

Don't you have a ppc6700 too?

My resistance was futile.. bummer you didn't post this yesterday :)

[Peter Norman]

Hi Kevin!

Since you've been a longtime ppc6700 user, are you considering its replacement - the HTC Mogul?

I'm considering the HTC p4000 (Canadian version of the Mogul) and am interested in your thoughts on how HTC has improved on the 6700.

Thanks very much!
peter

[Dave Zatz]

I passed as well... I need full Exchange sync over the air - not just mail, but contacts, calendar, and tasks. I'd also like movie rentals (rather than purchases) through iTunes or TiVoToGo on my Series3 to justify the price. I'm still curious why they didn't choose to support stereo Bluetooth?

[Les Posen]

Pardon my nitpicking, but you didn't buy the iPhone. You ordered it, right? No money changed hands, no credit checks were made, you didn't take possession of one, or even open up the box?

So, correct me, if I'm wrong, but the factual header for this blog entry ought to be "I ordered the iPhone, but when it came to signing the forms and handing over my money, I'd changed my mind. Here's why..."

What would make this article more impressive would be some self-analysis as to why you felt your urge to make what seems to be an impulse purchase. You've told us why the iPhone's NOT for you, but what was it that compelled you in the first place? Apple Marketing, first on your block, the desire for the latest, a story to write and keep writing, possessor of a paradigmatic shifter in telecommunications, etc.?

You're invested in Windows Mobile for seven years. It's going to need one heck of a son-of-iPhone to budge you, me thinks. Not impossible, but not easy either. But it does seem you loyalty to the WM platform could shifted, if the price was right!

[fog city dave]

Kevin.. I thought your reasoning was pretty valid until you actually compared Safari on the iPhone to Opera Mini. I would love to see this: go down to an Apple Store.. don't buy an iPhone, but just play with one of the demo units for 5 or 10 minutes.. then come back and read this blog entry again and see if you feel the same way. If you do, great.. I tip my hat to you. At least take one for a test drive first.

[Scotty]

I've used Opera Mini on my Motorola A1200 for over a year now. The zoomer/panner was via the A1200's touch screen which required a stylus for doing them (worked well with a finger for dialing). Plus all it did was zoom what was there.

The iPhone's double tap (you don't pinch Safari, she'll slap you) zoom actually examines where you double tapped and does a smart contextual zoom/re-flow. Something Opera never did. The re-resolutioning/re-flowing of the zoomed area is pretty sweet and much higher quality than a simple zoom like Opera does. But the killer iPhone browser feature has to be the auto-rotate landscape, swooning... I also appreciate the higher powered hardware acceleration, panning is like dragging around a piece of wax paper under your finger. Opera was always a bit pokey, even with touch/stylus to pan with.

Two people in the iPhone line were discussing how they had ditched T-Mobile that morning via tips from The Consumerist. Locally AT&T has much better coverage than T-Mobile, I was exchanging local dead zone tips with them while we waited in line.

Before I left work Friday I already had two bids on my iPod 5.5G. When I flip it I figure I'll have close to half of my iPhone paid off. I know there isn't much of a resale value on Zunes since Microsoft announced the 2G Zune, what do they call it? Zone 1G Killer err iPod killer err iPhone killer. So you would have had a harder time recovering part of the $600 iPhone tab plus since you own no DRM'd music due to the Zune Zone subscription lock in, you're definitely much better off sticking with the Zune.

I think people have been missing a real story on the iPhone. With iTunes as the easy rip-less legal source for TV, video podcasts and movies the iPhone is quietly I think going to become the portable video player device Microsoft has been telling everyone they needed (but Microsoft could never implement.) I forget what PVP you carry in your gadget bag but the extra weight and space for a Zune, Dash and PVP will help keep you from getting flabby right? Sort of a Microsoft supplied all in one work out gym in your gadget bag. :-)

[Scotty]

Oh yeah, almost forgot one more iPhone killer PVP feature: syncing.

When I watch Dirty Dancing and re-sync my iPhone, iTunes will pick up playing DIrty Dancing right where I left off on the iPhone. re-sync again and the iPhone picks up from where I stopped in iTunes.

Pretty cool and useful.

[Gordon]

I picked one up. I guess I'm enough of a consumer, though I'm an IT guy. I can IMAP my Exchange mail to it, my personal accounts work fine, email is gorgeous and it all works very well at home and work while near WiFi.

I have a Q for work and have had an MDA in the past and, between those two devices, my experience with WM5 hasn't been great. The Q is terribly slow in the UI, the MDA was pretty slow, I've had the device lose signal to the point that I've had to reboot it, etc. I thought about getting a Mogul and going Sprint but I just have not been pleased with Windows Mobile as a phone OS...so for me, I don't have any apps and it's no big loss to lose that functionality.

The iPhone so far has had it's share of little foibles but it's so lovable that I'm willing to forgive them until Apple gets around to making the OS more robust. :)

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Great comments in the conversation here.

Les, I went to the AT&T kiosk intending to buy one, had my credit checked and left thinking I was having one ordered for me. All that was left was the phone call for my credit card info. Valid minor point on the post headline. The "magic" I mentioned in the post was the Apple marketing, press hype, etc....kudos to Apple for knowing how to market and present a great product. Regular readers know I'm also the "early adopter" type: three HDTVs in the house, first one bought in 2001, waiting in lines for the XBox 360, purchased one of the first available UMPCs, etc....

Dave, it doesn't matter how good any feature is if it's not one of the most used features I need. I mainly use my phone for three purposes: phone calls ;), a modem for my 7-inch slate UMPC, and e-mail/contacts/calendar items from my Exchange server. Yes, I browse on the phone, but it's not one of the primary functions I need. If it was, that would change my entire purchasing logic. I don't need to go to the store and play with an iPhone to know that the browsing experience is excellent, of that I have zero doubt. To pay $600 for a great feature that isn't high on my priority list just doesn't make sense.

Scotty, auto-rotate is a nice feature. I've had it on my XV6700 to a degree for nearly two years. I slide out the keyboard and the screen auto-rotates. Is it the same? No. Is Apple's solution more elegant and useful. Yes. Is that worth my money considering the devices I already have? Not to me. To you and others, maybe...

I also do enjoy my Zune Pass subscription. All you can eat for $15 a month has been awesome. IF (big if) Apple had a comparable subscription plan, that would have made this choice more difficult for me. No argument that the iPhone might be the PMP-type device that Microsoft could and should have had by now. For me personally, it doesn't matter: I almost always have my UMPC with me which runs Windows Media Center...I have a nice 7-inch PMP with a touchscreen and 800x480 res. ;)

Again, great comments by all and I'm thrilled to see this didn't turn into a 'battle of the fanboys'. One last time: I think Apple's iPhone is innovative and has already changed the mobile phone and handheld computing platforms in a positive way. If a second gen device comes out with native and full Exchange synchronization (contacts, calendar, tasks in addition to mail), plus true 3G data, ability to tether and more uses for Bluetooth, I'd strongly consider it. I still want that music subscription plan though! :)

[fog city dave]

I guess I was under the mistaken impression that this was a blog about mobile devices (using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs, etc.), so it was fairly shocking to me that you wouldn't even bother to go down and simply touch one of the most important mobile devices in the last ten years. I didn't realize that this was just your personal blog or something. That's cool. Bye bye...

[Marc Orchant]

Kevin: I understand your reasoning and applaud your self-control. Me? No impulse control whatsoever. While I did nothing Friday night but read some blog coverage of the iDay madness, on Saturday morning my gadget lust overcame my reason and I drove over to the ABQ Uptown Apple Store, walked right up to the first free employee and less than three minutes later walked out with an 8GB iPhone. Got home (after picking up some lunch for me and Sue - just to prove I wasn't completely out of control) plugged it into my already updated MacBook (latest system and iTunes update) and within another five minutes had sold my soul to AT&T for two years.

I've been carrying two phones for almost a year so I'm already OK with that. As I've just returned my Treo 700p to my former employer, the N95 will provide my business line and tethering and the iPhone will be my internet, e-mail, media device. I know I'm in a really unusual place having two of the coolest phones available in the high-end media segment. Lucky me.

My lack of impulse control can be blamed in large measure on my accountant assuring me that the iPhone is a legitimate business deduction in my consulting and blogging work. I can afford it, and so decided to ignore all of my own considered opinions about how the first-generation was flawed (no user swappable battery or memory and a lock to a provider I had no existing business with).

I have to tell you it is an amazing device and absolutely raises the bar for mobile devices from the UI experience and sheer sexiness perspectives. I don't have any pangs of remorse (yet). I'm off to San Jose this afternoon for a quick trip and we'll see how the iPhone does as a traveling companion on the plane and on the go.

I tend to agree with you that the device is more of a consumer play than a business solution. But my lines are pretty blurred and I can envision a day where a future version of the iPhone could be the only converged mobile device I take with me.

[Aaron]

Kevin,

I'm amazed you haven't been hit too hard by the apple fanboy response to this post that much!

I was expecting this post to have 250 comments all yelling out "how can u not love teh iPhone its perfect you r dum this blog sux bye"

[Josh Einstein]

I came close to giving in and buying one. But for me it came down to many things.

1.) No phone as modem. Big issue for me.
2.) Can't install anything. There's so much this phone * doesn't * do that this is really a necessity.
3.) Keyboard situation. I type a lot.
4.) No GPS support.
5.) No Exchange. I mean real Exchange. IMAP is a joke.

But it is pretty. Just not practical for professional use. Windows Mobile does it all and more and has since 2002.

[bluemonq]

@fog city dave: don't feel like reading this blog anymore? that's your choice. don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Philip Ferris]

I'm with you Kevin, great piece.

[Willy]

Well too bad. Iphone is such a fun device. You don't just buy Iphone for serious work; you buy it for fun right? What about your Mac?

[Cooley]

All this talk about a great iphone- but in reality the new blackberry 8800 series with T-Mobile is cool and I really like their plans. For example I purchase the 5000 min plan with free nights and weekends for 129.00 a month and blackberry data package for 20.00. Dude this is way better than ATT high packages.

Blackberry rocks- and to set the record straight I'm a mac and pc guy!

[Sumocat]

"it's truly a consumer device"

Glad to see my six months of repeating that mantra has finally paid off. :)