yeah, I've been messing around with one a little at work, and... I dunno. I sorta can't help but associate the iphone with those remodeled VW bugs; when they first came out they didn't look like any other car out there! talk about futuristic! and OMGLOLBBQ!!11! it has a flower holder next to the steering wheel! What a clever "feature"! It was sleek, smooth and smarmy (like jazz) and now when I see one, I think "it sucks to be the person who bought this when it first came out, and is still forced to drive it 8 years later because they're still making PAYMENTS." Not only that, but they probably bought a fake flower to put in the faux-vase, to make it seem "not quite as dumb as it really is".

phew.

That being said, everything else I own is from Apple, so in five years when they're "legally" unlocked (seriously? five years?) I'll buy one and pop in my T-mobile SIM.

That's fucking funny. If I were the sort of person who wanted a cell phone (never mind a phone with a browser that played MP3s) I would probably be well convinced. As it is, even $360 is a lot for something I don't want or need.

....I still want one

but maybe that desire is intesified by the fact that I'll never ever get one...

The tipping point for the "not wanting an iPhone" argument for me was when it came out that the batteries are soldered into the device, meaning, that once your battery craps out (as is the ultimate destiny of all recharable portable batteries), not only do you have to replace it, you have to MAIL it to Apple to get it done, meaning your phone's out of service for a week or so.

No thanks.

The tipping point for me was the price tag. :)

I'm hoping in the next year or so they'll come down into more realistic range -- and maybe add more music storage and/or fix the battery issue. Then, it will be mine, bwah ha hah!!! Um, maybe.

But isn't that how the iPod works too? the battery thing?

I'm not sure about regular iPod batteries, to be honest with you. I seem to think you can get them to swap it at the apple store, though I don't know anyone who's actually had to do this.

Even if you had to send it in, the thought of not having an iPod for a week or so is still worlds, worlds, worlds less irritating/frightening than losing your phone that long.

And, yes, Dana, the insano price tag is an issue. A big one. I'm hoping they'll come out with the next generation of iPod that's essentially an iPhone without the cellular part. I'd prolly welome one of those into my life with open arms.

My friend had a mini and yeah, she had to send it in to get a new battery, maybe the new ones have a better system. But yeah, losing your phone for a week or so would be pretty bad. Apple should probably stop trying to make new things until they perfect the old...

There's always the poor man's iPhone:

hahaha!

And don't forget about the ZUNE PHONE:

Brilliant. Love it!