iPhone 3G, or why EDGE Sucks we want EVDO

boycott-walmart · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 63

This issue of battery life is key to the whole iPhone mystique, because one of the main attractions of the iPhone is its small size and its being lightweight relative to other PDA/smartphones while at the same time supposedly providing long talk and standby times. Given this 10% restocking fee, I would treat the specs provided by Apple with some skepticism.

I'm glad to hear your and your clients' experience with the iPhone battery is satisfactory and am willing to consider Mr. Patterson's experience a fly in the Apple ointment (hopefully there won't be anymore flies).

If compatibility with Apple software is not essential, people may want to look at Sprint's HTC Mogul which, after discounts available on its website, sells for $300. It has EVDO, which is upgradeable to Rev. A, and weighs 5.8 oz.

macinfosys · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject:

boycott-walmart · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 63

Unfortuantly there is a 10% restocking fee, but Apple is treating this device more as a computer than a phone since they charge 10% restocking fee on all opened returned products. Same holds true with most other computer manufacturors and retail shops. This part you will either understand and deal with it or understand and hate it and stay away from the possible experience.

Unfortunately, what you say is true and is a symptom of the poor (or should I say euphemistically "not fully developed") products put out by the computer industry as companies rush products to market.

However, the name of the product is iPhone and the capability to use it as a phone is what all the hype is about -- that a computer company called Apple is now selling a ........... phone. Consequently, I don't see why Apple is carrying over this medieval restocking fee to the iPhone. It discredits Apple's whole effort in wireless telephony from the start.

macinfosys · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject:

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

boycott-walmart · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 63

I infer from your post Apple computer products are superior to alternative personal computer platforms such as Microsoft-Intel. If that in fact is the case then there should be no need for Apple to have a restocking fee at all.

Very few experienced business people will ever tell you it is a good business decision to let a consumer use a product and return it on a whim lest they face large amounts of inventory no longer saleable as new.

And very few business people will tell you it's a good idea to sell a product at a discount when you can charge full price without affecting demand.

The 10% restocking fee is a wise deterent to such practices. Without it a competitor or disgruntled person might organize thousands of people to buy and return merchandise.

If you believe this, you'll believe anything.

Feefer · EVDO User Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 73

[quote="boycott-walmart] lf you believe this you'll believe anything.[/quote]

Probably wasting my breath here, but Costco recently changed their return policies on most items they sell, as some customers took advantage of their liberal return policy. Some were bringing back 4 year old LCD T.V.s for refunds, since newer models could be had for much less; the customers would buy a brand-new one, and pocket the difference..... Same thing happening @ Sam's Club....

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

I laughed when I read the following on a crab house wall where we went to dine on crab:

Never try to teach a crab to sing. You'll just make the crab angry and waste your time.

Anyway, a real issue has been discovered and is on Google news today plus hundreds of copy cat news pages, don't know who first posted it.

It seems that in one or more universities the iPhone was bringing down the wifi network since it was issuing thousands of requests per second when it wasn't recognized. More details will follow, I am sure.

In the meantime, look for an update from Apple fairly soon.

boycott-walmart · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 63

More good news for Apple's iPhone (whoops, jackrodgers beat me to the punch - what a pity):

Duke: iPhone may be disrupting network

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070719/ap_on_hi_te/iphone_duke_4

boycott-walmart · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 63

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

On further reading, Duke seems to be the only college network with the flooding problem. So the actual problem may be with the administration of the Duke network.

These networks are typically setup by Windows Only geeks who like all other consultants have their weak areas. I recall being able to wander about the network at the University of Michigan using a Powerbook 280 years ago, at least for one evening. The hole I found to use to pickup my email was closed the next day.

Considering all of the defenses a Windows network has to establish via malware protection software and the kajillion settings one can mess with on Windows 2003 server, finger pointing is best reserved until more facts are forthcoming. After all, the real problem may be internal at Duke and maybe someone deliberately causing the problem as an attack against the iPhone.

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Actually, I've been quite surprised at the high number of Mac problems on this board. Higher than I would have anticipated given Apple's market- share of the desktop/laptop market. This is not a slap against Mac hardware or software (though I personally think you overstate their leadership in computers: to each their own).

I chalked up the higher than anticipated number of Mac problems to: 1) Higher than average interest by Mac users in EVDO technology. 2) Less than full support from EVDO vendors for the Mac platform. 3) A few quirks in the Max OS wrt EVDO cards. 4) Mac users are generally a bunch of whiners. (OK, OK, I'm just kidding with number 4 Laughing

)

From what I've read lately, seems like most of the issues with Macs and EVDO are getting sorted out. That's a good thing.

As to iPhones, I don't really understand the emotions on either side. I personally don't have any interest in buying one, but it sounds like many users are very happy with theirs. Good for them. Plus, I see nothing but positive things coming from the increased competition and useability progress brought about by the introduction of the iPhone. Sounds like a win/win for everyone to me.
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

Feefer · EVDO User Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 73

Like I predicted, a waste of breath, since boycott guy missed the point. Liberal "no questions asked" return policies are outdated, and encourage consumer excesses (like using a product for 5 years, a then bringing it back for a full refund. So why exactly should you outright BUY, when you could in essence borrow it for a few years?).
FWIW, my first iPhone had a fiddley dock connector, so I returned it for a replacement. I also upgraded to the 8 GB model, since I decided I'd like to have more space for videos, etc. No problem: I paid the price difference, and the Apple Store took care of me.

As an aside, my battery life has improved since day one. I suspect a few charge cycles are needed to get the battery fully- charged. Even with heavy use, I still will have 50% charge remaining at the end of the day.

jfulmer · EVDO Junkie Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 155