MAC iPhone v Sony Ericsson P1i

Mike Lucey · 15 Jan 2008, 13:00

Hi Guys,

I'm with O2 (Ireland) for mobile phone service and am due an upgrade shortly. I understand that o2 will be handling the iPhone shortly also as this is the situation in the UK. While in the UK over Christmas I paid a visit to one of the o2 stores and played with the iPhone for quite a while.

I did not like it! I found the 'on screen' keyboard input very tricky, not that I have very large fingers, but I just could not get the hang of it even after 20 minutes. The store Rep asked me what I thought and I told him about the problem I was having. He said it takes a while to get used to the 'on screen' keyboard! I told him that it 'should just work!' like other Mac products! I think he was inclined to agree with me. We both came to the conclusion that the iPhone SHOULD have had a stylus built-in / included with the phone. I think this would have made life a lot easier all round AND possibly allowed for some future drawing software for the iPhone.

All in all I won't be going with the iPhone unless my fingers shrink to about a quarter of there size and I don't imagine this is on the cards.

I have been looking at various alternative offerings and quite like the Sony Ericsson P1i
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/p1i Its not based on Mobile Win 5 so thats good, it uses the Symbian OS. I particularly like the idea of the keyboard with its 'rocking' keys, although I would have to try it out before reaching a final decision. This keyboard should allow for fast text input, I find I use this means of communication more and more as it quick, short and too the point!. While not a 'full' qwerty keyboard it makes sense and I'm sure it would be possible to get used to it fairly quickly.

As for the rest of the Sony Ericsson P1i it seems to have it all and in a very neat package that fits the pocket, both the financial one and the trousers one especialy with the upgrade prices

Mike

Kenny · 15 Jan 2008, 22:08

I'm also in the market for a new phone and this looks very promising. Let us know how you get on if you buy it. I found a good link which has user comments and a list of reviews to check out, most of them very positive: http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=148836

Kenny

Paul Russam · 16 Jan 2008, 12:39

I've had an iPhone for about 2 weeks now (Xmas pressy from me to me) and I'm loving it.

The screen uses a weird form of touch sensitivity that makes use of the heat from your fingers, if you use a stylus it will not work, even a fingernail fails to operate the screen! This way it cannot be accidentally operated whilst in your pocket but.... it also means that if you have even moderately manicured nails(my wife) they get in the way and it doesn't work!

It took me a while to get used to the keyboard but once you realise that you can keep your finger down and move around to get the right key its easy.

As of the 15th there's a new firmware update(1.1.3) that introduces some new stuff:
Multiple SMS recipients
Home screen icon rearranging
Multipage home screen(s)
Bookmark web pages to the home screen
Pseudo GPS using the cell towers in Google maps
There's more but this is the fun stuff for me.

I'm no PC or Mac fanboy but I've come to the conclusion that Microsoft are good at the big ideas but they're rough around the edges whilst Apple are good at making the small stuff work.
What I mean by this is that there's nothing really revolutionary in the iPhone but its a pleasurable thing to hold and use, just the way the thing scrolls or zooms in will bring a smile to someone's face.
When I was in London I wandered into the Apple store on Regent Street. Having worked with PR1ME's, VAX's and PC's for 20+ years it was (almost) a revelation to come across such a cohesive experience. I almost bought an iMac just for the sake of it but realised that I wouldn't be allowed to live long enough to take it out the box

Mike Lucey · 11 Feb 2008, 14:28

Well I received the P1i and did not like the quality of the product. Also ALL the documentation was is French so back it went as I purchased under a return if not satisfied policy with Pixmania (good firm).

I would really like an iPhone but no one knows when it will be available in Ireland. I'm very seriously thinking about an 'Unlocked' iPhone, any advise ?

Mike

remus · 11 Feb 2008, 17:16

wait untill the end of feb/march, apple are apparently going to be releasing an SDK for the iphone/ipod touch around then, so you'll be ale to download applications for your iphone, i know you can do this anyway, but it seems a bit silly to me to buy an unlocked phone and then have to do lots of messing aobut to get it up to date a few weeks later.

You might also get lucky and be able to get one legally if they come out in ireland between now and then.

Mike Lucey · 11 Feb 2008, 22:41

Hi Remus,

I've bought 'Won' / Bidding for one on eBay so should have it shortly. I've already got the chip thingy that has to be inserted with the chip. Coincidentally I use 02 here in Ireland and I imagine they will be selling here in Ireland so might be able to revert when that happens.

Mike

wazza27 · 12 Feb 2008, 18:03

Would also love an iPhone but contracted to T-Mobile until August. Just in time for the new Sony Xperia X1 have a look at
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/10/sonyericsson-xperia-x1-qwerty-with-windows-mobile/
Looks the dogs.

remus · 12 Feb 2008, 18:06

ive never been a fan of those little mini keyboards, so damm awkward to use, and windows modile isnt exactly the best OS ever...im not a big microsoft fan really

wazza27 · 12 Feb 2008, 18:13

Had a Sony K800 before I turned to the Blackberry 8100. Liked the intuative way menus worked on the Sony and that keyboard looks a lot more user friendly compared to the Blackberry.
Most people I know that have the iPhone have said it great at everything except as a phone.

Alan Fraser · 13 Feb 2008, 13:09

Well, I'm half way to buying an iPhone. I just spent a Christmas book voucher on a handbook for it, to see if it does all the things I want it to do, the way I want to do them...especially the emails, surfing and con-calls when I'm sunning myself on some Greek beach (no rest for the wicked)

I figured that possibly wasting a little money on a book was better than wasting time and a lot more money on something that didn't fit the bill.

Mike Lucey · 13 Feb 2008, 23:46

@alan fraser said:

Well, I'm half way to buying an iPhone. I just spent a Christmas book voucher on a handbook for it, to see if it does all the things I want it to do, the way I want to do them...especially the emails, surfing and con-calls when I'm sunning myself on some Greek beach (no rest for the wicked)

I figured that possibly wasting a little money on a book was better than wasting time and a lot more money on something that didn't fit the bill.

Alan, you can pop into your local o2 shop and actually test drive a fully working iPhone to your hearts content! This was the case with me when I was in Brighton over the Christmas period visiting my girls.

BTW, the Pogo might be a wise secondary investment also for iPhone stylus input, not bad value at about $20.

Mike

Alan Fraser · 14 Feb 2008, 10:44

True , Mike. I'm actually also giving the Nokia N95 some serious consideration. I'm not too impressed with some of the many things that the iPhone can't do...typical quirky Apple going with Edge instead of 3G, no GPS, no Bluetooth (except to mono headphones or some carphone systems, no voice memos, no video capture, no pic and video messaging....and then some, including the infamous and highly expensive back-to-base battery change.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/phone/Nokia/N95_8GB

I don't do an enormous amount of phoning and texting (not compared to kids anyway) so I'm considering dropping to a lower tariff and having unlimited surfing instead. I'm also with O2

Mike Lucey · 14 Feb 2008, 12:34

There is a lot in what you say Alan. All I need while on holiday is the ability to check my emails. I use the Nokia 6300, one of the neatest mobile on the market IMO. I have discovered a very good and fast gmail program for the Nokia that is just perfect. It has to be downloaded from gmail.

I think the iPhone was a rush job at the end of the day. Apple were doing quite a few things, Leopard etc at the time and I feel they all suffered a little. However I think the iPhone is a great mobile phone platform to build on!

Of course my main reason for getting one is that it work work nicely with the MacBookPro

Mike

PS: I notice that there is a huge band of dedicated iPhone Hackers coming up with all kinds of interesting stuff. I think I saw one that gets over the problem of making movies on the iPhone. At least these guys keep things interesting in a 'gadgety' sort of way

Mike Lucey · 15 Feb 2008, 14:24

I finally got the iPhone. It is unlocked to work here in Ireland.
Jeeeeees! should I be saying this at all! Anyway I'll update and
take my chances

Its a USA imported job and came in a neat little black box, all
well packaged as per usual with Apple products. There was no
manual or instructions on how to put the chip in but the Net came
to my assistance and all I needed was a heavy needle to release
the chip holder.

I installed my phone chip and fired up. I managed to get the phone
part working and I set up all the times etc. However I have not been
able yet to connect to the Net. It's probably my ignorance of the
proper settings! The guy that I bought from will (I hope) come to
my rescue ..... he'd better as I KNOW WHERE HE LIVES!

All in all it is a beautiful piece of kit and feels good in the hand.
I was worried about the typing but this has been mastered after only
30 minutes. While the camera features are not fantastic the large
viewing screen makes it nice to work with. I only take the occasional
'snap' (haven't used that word for a while, Alan wil know it with
the phone anyway. Also it will be fun checking out the various hacks
that the iPhone Wizards are working on especially the Video function.

One last point. I imagine the iPhone WILL hold its resale value so
when iPhone V2 comes out with more bells and whistles the old one will
still be worth a reasonable amount of money. This softens the blow
when upgrading, particulary with Apple stuff.

So Alan, I'd say blast ahead. You will get a kick out of using it

Mike

Paul Russam · 15 Feb 2008, 14:34

Mike,
If you've any questions about using the iPhone let me know as I've had mine for a while know and have managed to find answers for all the questions you;ll probably have.

Mike Lucey · 15 Feb 2008, 22:45

Cheers Paul, I'll PM you straight away

Mike

Alan Fraser · 19 Feb 2008, 08:42

I got a Blackberry Curve 8310 instead.

Mike Lucey · 20 Feb 2008, 01:01

Good choice Alan. The iPhone won't come into its own until the end of the year with the launch of a 3G version and better camera I hope.

Mike

Alan Fraser · 20 Feb 2008, 07:35

The Xperia X1 looks rather nice too.
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/18418/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1/

Mike Lucey · 21 Feb 2008, 00:24

Yes it does look nice. Good camera also and that touch screen!
I see is will be available later on in the year. On the SE site
its only in black. Mmmmm its only a little bit bigger than the
Nokia 6300 which I will NOT part with and its the ideal size for
the pocket.