Does it make sense to use Iphone without AT&T service ?

[SingSing]

The Ipod touch removes many features of iphone, including the camera.

I wonder is getting a $399 iphone without AT&T service a good value ?
I assume I can wi-fi, keep note, listen to mp3, and take and show picture with it.
At this point at least no one can skype or voip using iphone.

[Krispy Kritter]

There isn't a correct answer. "A good value" is subjective.

Does the iPhone actually perform a function that you need in a phone or are you just a tech junkie looking for a status symbol?

If you need all of the "features" of an iPhone and don't have an issue with the cost, then you may be perfectly happy with it. For me, it is a total waste. I use my phone for actually making calls.

[SCDVD]

It depends on how much you like Koolaid.

[SingSing]

I use my phone for actually making calls.

That's what I am doing. I am looking to use the iphone for palm/wi-fi/mp3/jpeg all in one. Archos 506wi-fi is an alternative, but I don't think they sell them in local store.

[DereX888]

first of all - it doesnt make sense to use iPhone AT ALL when there are many better phones doing the same AND MORE for years already Youre excused only if youre an Apple fanboi...
there, I've said it. Couldn't resist

[festmaster]

I use my phone for actually making calls.

That's what I am doing. I am looking to use the iphone for palm/wi-fi/mp3/jpeg all in one. Archos 506wi-fi is an alternative, but I don't think they sell them in local store.

The iPod will do all of the things you want to do in a really cool way, but as I looked over the specs I realized that you can do all of that on a used iPAQ PDA. I think you would find the Archos to be a much more flexible video player that can play more formats than the iPOD.

I think the best news in Apple's recent announcement was the $150 video nano. I will actually consider one of those.

[DereX888]

My bro, very short time iPod fan, cannot believe how stupid he was when he was repeating same Apple's marketing mantra of how 'good' iPod is
Since I have proudly infected him with my Apple-scepticism, and basically forced him to try HP iPAQ 6500 series for same money his dumb ipod cost (back then, 2 years before Apple's iPhone mind you LOL) and he found out that it not only had better sound quality, but it also was a phone, camera & videocamera, videoplayer, GPS, allowed him to browse internet and chat, and he could *talk* to it and it can talk back to him (of course limited way) - and had a touchscreen and a keyboard, and... oh well, I better shut up, coz I dont want to spoil iPhone owner's mood Of course Apple's iPhone was first It was a revolution when Apple released iPhone, hahaha

[SingSing]

You guys are pretty good. I found out skype run on Ipaq. Some Ipaq models are on sales on amazon and buy.com. Some model comes with GPS, but the GPS look like the Tele-Atlas, that don't work very well. They know it, because there are many TeleAtlas trucks on U.S. road. I hope they get better, so we have an alternative GPS database choice.

Dell is giving up their Axim pda line. Palm is under the gun from iphone.

[DereX888]

You guys are pretty good. I found out skype run on Ipaq. Some Ipaq models are on sales on amazon and buy.com. Some model comes with GPS, but the GPS look like the Tele-Atlas, that don't work very well. They know it, because there are many TeleAtlas trucks on U.S. road. I hope they get better, so we have an alternative GPS database choice.

Dell is giving up their Axim pda line. Palm is under the gun from iphone.

GPS is just a built-in hardware.
Of course the manufacturer will including very basic software (if any) just so you know it is there (usually just as simple as it gets).
but
You are forgetting that if you buy iPAQ you'd buy a Windows Mobile PocketPC, not an iPhone.
Its like buying a computer (albeit oon a smaller scale) with just Windows on it - you need to install other software you may need or want.
There are few great and not-so-great GPS programs out there. As with any other PC, you decide what you want to install and use on your machine (unlike on iPhone or Mac).
So, again: its not some closed and proprietary iPhone, that comes with this and nothing else and you must live with it until Apple says so With WinMo devices there are some basic apps in it too, but generally you decide what you wanna add and use there.
Basically same principles apply here as with Mac vs PC.

For GPS in my PocketPC I use Guidance for North America, and TomTom when in Europe. But you may find other programs more suitable for you on the same device... thats the beauty of using non-proprietary devices vs closed and proprietary ones (like iPhone, aside the fact iPhone doesnt even have GPS)

iGuidance screen


and TomTom Navigator 6 on PPC

[SingSing]

I already have a GPS, that work in both U.S. and France. A bit weak in Canada.



Don't your IGuidance needs to work with a blue tooth GPS to locate ?

I do most of the PC's work at offcie, and I was looking to get a wi-fi broswer just for the family to check and reply E-mail, play games on Yahoo, and Browse. Skype will be great too.

I am not sure how's is the java, flash, an you tube work on Windows Mobile, or Palm, or Safaris, or Nokia Browser. I was traveling with friend that uses T-mobile sidekick, and get interested in mobile web browsing. But I figure out that working with a tiny screen, is a real pain. So I am looking for a larger and faster device, like Archos or Nokia N770.

[DereX888]

Internet Explorer Mobile (aka Pocket Internet Explorer) is a bit weak browser, but with extra plugins like PIEPlus and such its better.
iGuidance works excellent with built-in GPS, same as TomTom. I dont know why would you need toothing to locate? You must have misread something somewhere.
Skype works fine too (audio only, no video) on all or most PocketPCs. I had limited results with videochat, using Microsoft Portrait seemed best for this purpose (but still far from what you see in the movies ), but then it doesnt work with every phone's cameras, not even on all iPAQs (some models does, some doesnt).
Videos - you can watch all kind of formats in many containers, but again you need extra software (mainly TCPMP player). Watching ~3 inch screen is OK. Using headphones and keeping screen close (i.e. in bed or on the airplane) is really better than watching some 20' laptop.
PPCs really can replace carrying laptop, phone, iPod, GPS, and even a camera (if youre fine with crappy built-in phone's cameras). I haven't touch my laptop for ages.
IMHO iPAQ's line is as big as I can take. Anything bigger becomes inconvenient to carry with you every day, I have tried other PPCs and although having a larger VGA resolution screen is certainly better, it doesn't justify its size and weight for daily use, while smartphones with their usually smaller screens, lack of keyboards and crippled version of Windows Mobile are just too limited & inconvenient.

The "pain" in some mobile devices in my experience are:

-lack of, or bad design keyboards

-lack of touchscreen

-small screens on some smartphones (what can you do on a 176x220 screen LOL)

-insufficient memory size

-crappy processors (i.e. 200MHz 7 years old CPU design is *still* being used on many smartphones!)

-lack of Wi-Fi on some models (Im always puzzled why *anyone* living in a city would prefer paying for 100x slower "high speed cellullar internet" instead of using faster and free wi-fi LOL)

But to each his own...