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Anyone 100% Happy with their iPhone 3G?
- Thread starter TheSpaz
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Yup, you can block members. If you're using FireFox, you can also Adblock annoying avatars.
That's good news. You know... I never have good luck with the Mac Geniuses though... it seems like they either don't care or they're quick to send me on my way. How are the Geniuses when it comes to cosmetic issues with the iPhone (such as the screen being raised slightly on one side)... are they going to replace it or will they just tell me "It doesn't affect the way the phone works, so we can't give you a new one). Seems to me a lot of people are able to swap their iPhones for the tiniest things, but it seems a lot harder for me (due to past experiences with my Apple Store).
The numbers tell the truth... We just see most of the complainers on the help forums... The truth is most people, including me are very satisfied.
I don't think that something must be completely perfect in order for you to be 100% happy with it. Some flaws are minor and don't affect the phone's operation one little bit. Other flaws may not be minor, but don't affect how a particular person uses their phone, so the flaw doesn't affect them. I think your poll is missing this concept, so I didn't vote in it. My iPhone has a tiny bit of light leakage on the top left side of the screen, and everything else that bothers me about it is really software related. I've only noticed the light leakage when I've looked for it, and I'm hopeful that the software issues will be addressed by Apple in future firmware updates.
I'd say I'm about 95% happy with my iPhone, which is far more than I can say for every other smartphone I've had in the past.
I'd say I'm about 95% happy with my iPhone, which is far more than I can say for every other smartphone I've had in the past.
I'm very rarely 100% happy with anything. It's one of the curses of being a pedant.
However, I'm pretty close to being 100% happy with my iPhone. There are certainly a few things I would add/change to the list of functionality (better camera, a flash, video calling), plus a couple of QC issues I'm not happy with (I have a couple of small bubbles in the back of mine, there's a small amount of light leaking out around the bezel, and I have a speck of dust under my screen), but the reality is: this is by FAR the best phone I have ever owned. It has honestly changed my life and I can't imagine living without it.
However, I'm pretty close to being 100% happy with my iPhone. There are certainly a few things I would add/change to the list of functionality (better camera, a flash, video calling), plus a couple of QC issues I'm not happy with (I have a couple of small bubbles in the back of mine, there's a small amount of light leaking out around the bezel, and I have a speck of dust under my screen), but the reality is: this is by FAR the best phone I have ever owned. It has honestly changed my life and I can't imagine living without it.
Okay, so I went to the AT&T store today to see their display model. I have to say... although it was dirty... the iPhone was built PERFECTLY! The glass was perfectly flush, the rubber seal was snug looking. The screen had NO LINES, there was no dust under the glass and all the buttons were even. If I had an iPhone like this, I would be 100% happy with it.
Although, for some reason... the white iPhone 3G they had is mysteriously missing. Hmm...
Although, for some reason... the white iPhone 3G they had is mysteriously missing. Hmm...
I choose that I'm 100% happy with my iPhone. I do have a little light leak but I never noticed until I looked for it and never notice it now, so for me it's perfect.
I have been trying to enjoy mine also... but, it's hard when I paid $500 and it doesn't feel like $500 because it's built so cheaply. I'm going to the Apple Store tonight to get it replaced... wish me luck (I wish I didn't need luck when buying something brand new). I've never spent this much on something from Apple and felt like quality didn't match the price tag.
I've had zero problems along the lines you're talking about, which are physical/fitment issues. I guess I was just fortunate and have zero problems in that respect.
Now as far as having some issues with the operations and such (no MMS, A2DP, etc. that it's just blatantly stupid to have not put in from the get-go), that's a different story. So I wouldn't say I'm 100% happy as I can see plenty of room for improvement- but I don't have the problems you do.
Now as far as having some issues with the operations and such (no MMS, A2DP, etc. that it's just blatantly stupid to have not put in from the get-go), that's a different story. So I wouldn't say I'm 100% happy as I can see plenty of room for improvement- but I don't have the problems you do.
I am an engineer who designs stuff similar to the chips that go inside your iPod Touch. If we were always 100% happy with a product, there would be no new products designed for next year (or no new factories that can build stuff with higher quality and a lower failure rate, etc., etc.)
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Looking at the thread title, I thought this was yet another wish list thread, lol.
in pure build quality terms, I have zero issues.
in pure build quality terms, I have zero issues.
100% happy with both of my white 3G iPhones. Owned the first one since launch and the second one two weeks after launch.
Not one crash! I think I have only had two dropped calls. My phones have been perfect.
Not one crash! I think I have only had two dropped calls. My phones have been perfect.
they've been great in terms of light leak (front and back) and dust under the screen for me. purely cosmetic and they happily exchanged for me.
Although I'm not one to cry "defect" quickly, it does sound like you have a bad battery. Have you considered exchanging the phone? I get at least a day of battery with 3G, push, location services, and wifi all enabled. Until I turned on push, I would often get two days of light-to-moderate usage with everything else activated.
Oh, and as for the OP, I think it's silly to expect 100% satisfaction in anything. That said, I'm about as close as I can be to that with my white iPhone.
I'd guess that 50% of iPhone 3G owners do not care enough about details to even complain about the defects and software issues. 30% are willing to actively defy those who are unhappy by proclaiming their blind satisfaction and immunity/luck regarding iPhone defects. The remaining 20% (where I find myself) are conscientious enough to complain about the defects, ultimately wanting only an iPhone worth the price tag we paid.
I would bet that 99% of those who claim perfect iPhones actually have multiple hairline cracks, dead pixels, or uneven glass. I have a feeling that the type of person willing to proclaim zero defects is probably unwilling to even closely examine his or her iPhone.
There is no luck, and there is likely no perfection, especially as far as mass-produced consumer devices are concerned. Many here have been right to point out the flawed thinking of anyone seemingly expecting perfection out of their iPhone. However, there is such a thing as competency in build quality and it is possible to build a device constructed out of standardized parts with enough exactness to satisfy the sensibilities of the market's picky 25%.
We are talking about a precision-engineered device that can and should be built with accuracy and attention to detail. Whatever the reasons are for the lacking build quality of Apple's recent products, please do not try to marginalize those who are less than 100% satisfied with their iPhones and realize that noticeable errors in manufacturing are probably found in the majority rather than the minority of iPhones. I've gone through 3 iPhones, each of which had the same issues in different combinations.
I would bet that 99% of those who claim perfect iPhones actually have multiple hairline cracks, dead pixels, or uneven glass. I have a feeling that the type of person willing to proclaim zero defects is probably unwilling to even closely examine his or her iPhone.
There is no luck, and there is likely no perfection, especially as far as mass-produced consumer devices are concerned. Many here have been right to point out the flawed thinking of anyone seemingly expecting perfection out of their iPhone. However, there is such a thing as competency in build quality and it is possible to build a device constructed out of standardized parts with enough exactness to satisfy the sensibilities of the market's picky 25%.
We are talking about a precision-engineered device that can and should be built with accuracy and attention to detail. Whatever the reasons are for the lacking build quality of Apple's recent products, please do not try to marginalize those who are less than 100% satisfied with their iPhones and realize that noticeable errors in manufacturing are probably found in the majority rather than the minority of iPhones. I've gone through 3 iPhones, each of which had the same issues in different combinations.
How about facing reality and excepting the fact that people can really be happy with their 3G iPhone and that they seriously have phones with no cracks, no bad pixels, or any other defects.
I would be willing to bet thousands of dollars that the majority of iPhones are defect free. As in any device, there will always be a few with defects simply because they are mass produced.
I owned three 1st generation iPhones that were 100% perfect and I have two 3G white phones that are also perfect, no cracks, no bad pixels, no defects. Seriously.
Considering I'm a Reliabilty/Quality Engineer, I can assure you that my phone is fine. There are no hairline cracks, light leaks, the case and screen are aligned to acceptable standard (meaning I can't detect any misalignment, have not had any reception issues, my GPS has always worked, dead pixels ( have not ran tests to detect single dead or stuck pixels but there are none that are noticeable) and I'm happy with my phone. On the software side originally I did have keyboard lag, and contact lag, since then they have been corrected with software updates. My Safari has locked up on very rare occasions, for which it could be the phone or the actual web site. I have not had any dropped calls, while in 3G nor when going for 3G to Edge.
Apple has made and sold hundreds of thousands to date, I'm sure as with any other mass produced consumer item there are some that have problems.
To ignorantly proclaim that anyone who says that there phone is fine can't be bothered or doesn't know that there are problems with their phone just shows how little you know.
There's no way to correlate the actual defect rates from complaints on a forum, some are justified and some are not.
You also like to use terms which you don't seem to know what they mean. The iPhone has very few "standardized" components, the vast majority are proprietary components, especially the ones that you guys all seem to be complaining about, such as the case, and screen.
You assign values to things to give yourself the air that you know what you are talking about , but those values you cite are anecdotal at best and closer to pure fiction. In the scientific world we have a term for a hypothesis like yours "not even wrong".
UPDATE!
I have an update for you all. I just returned from my trip to the Apple Store. I told them about the cracks and the light leak only she went out back to check it out in a dark room and came back out saying "Well, the light leaking out the side is actually within spec, but I can see the 3 areas you're talking about and I understand how it might bother you in the dark, so what I can do is replace it for you, but there's no way for us to transfer your data to your new iPhone." So I told her "Yeah, I use it in the dark all the time." and she went out back and came back out with a REFURBISHED IPHONE! YEAH! I was so excited that it was in a plain white box and I did read the serial number as 5K. I was so happy I was getting a refurbished iPhone.
She swapped my SIM card over to the new iPhone and handed it back to me. I checked it out. Here are my findings:
1. Rubber seal around the edge looked straight all around (it was wavy on my old iPhone in one spot)
2. Glass is flush with the bezel
3. Bezel is slightly uneven with the plastic on the left side. It's not super sharp, but I can feel an edge.
4. Buttons seem pretty solid. They're not wiggly like on my old 3G.
5. Wavy lines are still there on the screen... I don't think there's a way around this one.
6. No dust under the screen
Edit: No light leak!
Overall I'm pretty happy with my replacement. I'm glad there's no more cracks or light leaking through. Good thing I got a refurbished iPhone! The software was even on 2.1 by default.
I have an update for you all. I just returned from my trip to the Apple Store. I told them about the cracks and the light leak only she went out back to check it out in a dark room and came back out saying "Well, the light leaking out the side is actually within spec, but I can see the 3 areas you're talking about and I understand how it might bother you in the dark, so what I can do is replace it for you, but there's no way for us to transfer your data to your new iPhone." So I told her "Yeah, I use it in the dark all the time." and she went out back and came back out with a REFURBISHED IPHONE! YEAH! I was so excited that it was in a plain white box and I did read the serial number as 5K. I was so happy I was getting a refurbished iPhone.
She swapped my SIM card over to the new iPhone and handed it back to me. I checked it out. Here are my findings:
1. Rubber seal around the edge looked straight all around (it was wavy on my old iPhone in one spot)
2. Glass is flush with the bezel
3. Bezel is slightly uneven with the plastic on the left side. It's not super sharp, but I can feel an edge.
4. Buttons seem pretty solid. They're not wiggly like on my old 3G.
5. Wavy lines are still there on the screen... I don't think there's a way around this one.
6. No dust under the screen
Edit: No light leak!
Overall I'm pretty happy with my replacement. I'm glad there's no more cracks or light leaking through. Good thing I got a refurbished iPhone! The software was even on 2.1 by default.
I was not trying to make bullet-proof or terminologically accurate claims, nor was I trying to speak with any certain qualification. All of my statements should have been taken under the disclaimer: "In my opinion..." I apologize if I offended your scientific sensibilities.
However, I do stand by my assertion that almost all iPhone 3Gs have cracking to some extent. My first iPhone cracked at the headphone jack and camera lens. I did not think that the second had cracked until I closely examined it under direct sunlight. If Apple would continue to crank out MacBooks that crack at the magnetic latch stress point without fail, in my opinion, there is no reason that they would account for the hairline cracks that develop in the iPhones plastic. I truly believe that the cracks are nearly inherent, even if only visible under intense scrutiny. This may seem petty now, but wait until the cracks have had a chance to mature months from now.