I’ve stopped using the iPhone, Back to the Treo 750

I spent a couple days on the road last week with limited access to the net via laptop, so I have to turn to a mobile device to keep in touch. I have been fairly busy lately and haven’t had the time to move back to the Treo 750. It’s not that tough to do, just needed some good uninterrupted time to do so. After being disconnected those two days (because the solutions for Exchange Server support are horrible), I decided it was time to change back… NOW.

Another Mobile Enthusiast, Julie from The Gadgeteer, has recently switched back to her old device too. She was using the Palm Treo 680… Her reasons were:

1. Syncs text files / memos / notes and has a way to search the contents of those files for keywords.
2. I can install 1000’s of 3rd party applications (not web apps) such as an eBook reader, date calculator, unit converter, SSH client, games, etc.
3. Has physical buttons, which makes it a lot easier to interact with in a car.

I think the iPhone is super in some ways, but quite lacking in others. Julie’s comments are inline with mine as well. If I was to only get a few emails a day, it would be fine. If I could install actual software that didn’t rely on a 150kps connection to work, it would be fine. I can deal with the minor issues I had… The inability to use a premium set of earphone (without an adapter), the text entry (which got better as I got used to it), and the slowness of an EDGE connection. I can let all that pass, but my email and 3rd party application support is very important to me. For those reasons alone, I am returning to the Palm Treo 750 for my daily driver.

Just because I have chose to put it in the device graveyard (my little collection of old devices), doesn’t mean the phone is bad. For many users the phone is awesome. There are tons of things about the iPhone that are superb.

1. The Browser is TOP NOTCH
2. The SMS Messaging threaded view is better than the best, the Treo threaded view…
3. The Visual Voice Mail is cool, but the speaker volume of the iPhone makes it quite unusable
4. The screen is the best yet on a mobile device
5. The form factor is excellent as well

Some hits on the iPhone in my opinion:

1. The speaker is useless
2. Some of the tasks require even more taps than a Windows Mobile Phone
3. The cool applications that come installed (youtube, google maps) get boring quick. Google maps is a great tool, don’t get me wrong.
4. I want to be able to install applications and games ON MY PHONE.
5. Very tedious to customize
6. When will my battery die? Why can’t I replace it. I want to cry. In all honesty, I will never see it die, but some people will.

There is more to love and hate about the phone, but this is just my take at the moment. We will continue to cover hacks and development of the iPhone here at Mobilitysite. While the iPhone is not for me, it is for others and it’s in their interest that we bring them a little of everything from non-windows mobile devices.

Written by Chris Leckness · Filed Under iPhone 
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