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how much will 3g improve basic web browsing?

A

azngamer808

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 18, 2007
32
0
i'm reading bits and pieces in different places that 3g will only be beneficial for things like video chat and downloading large files. but as far as basic web browsing, 3g won't be much better than edge cus of the way web pages are loaded, or something like that. i havn't really seen a general concensus on this topic so i just thought i'd ask. thanks! :)
 
I'm not really sure what those people were talking about, It's for sure a faster connection and should have faster web browsing
 
Tests on other 3G phones with comparable CPU speed, shows about two to four times quicker speeds.

In other words, if it took thirty seconds for a page before, it might take only ten seconds under 3G.

The limiting factor is the device. If you tether a powerful laptop via a 3G phone, you get really fast speeds.

The best thing about 3G will be that you can do the internet thing while taking or making phone calls.
 
kdarling said:
The best thing about 3G will be that you can do the internet thing while taking or making phone calls.
Click to expand...

That's something I keep forgetting, and might actually get me to upgrade. I could care less about 30 seconds versus 10 seconds. I'm a pretty patient person, and that difference is pretty insignificant to me. But being able to browse AND receive/do phone calls is a pretty huge deal.
 
The iPhone processes webpages faster than most 3G phones, thus making it seem faster.

Im for 3G and all, but it would be so much better for the iPhone 2 to have 4G, and ATT should be working on their 4G network instead of 3G. ATT is behind..
 
When you are online using EDGE do you at least get notification that you have an incoming call?
 
no, it goes straight to voicemail.

with 3G, this won't be an issue.


i always thought that would be an issue, but remember, the only time the call WON'T go straight to you is when a page is loading. It's not like when you are in Safari on EDGE you will never get a incoming call.
 
nickspohn said:
no, it goes straight to voicemail.

with 3G, this won't be an issue.


i always thought that would be an issue, but remember, the only time the call WON'T go straight to you is when a page is loading. It's not like when you are in Safari on EDGE you will never get a incoming call.
Click to expand...

So as long as the page I am looking at is loaded I will still get the call?

If so, that is not bad, I can handle that.
 
Yeah, like if your looking at weather, and is updating still and you see the little status icon swirling around up top, it will most times go your voicemail. Once it's done updating, then yeah you'll be able to get the call.

It isn' that much of a inconvenience
 
Everyone concentrates on speed. 3G chokes too. I hope 3G on the iPhone will allow data transfers during calls like my old 3G phone. The iPhone is supposed to allow this function when using wi-fi, but it NEVER works for me. So after a phone call, I see that I have several emails or while talking I cannot check my mail or surf the web. That is why I anticipate 3G.
 
If you're in a good 3G area, data speeds will be only slightly slower than 768k DSL. The highest speed I've gotten on 3G with my Samsung phone is ~730kb/s, but normally I get 350-400kb/s. With EDGE, the highest speed I've managed to get is 150-200kb/s, with normal speed being 90-140kb/s.
 
I think the OP is referring to bandwidth vs. speed. 3G can tackle a broader stream of information (110100101101010011010011) which is ideal for flash - youtube - embedded video. But if a website is only sending (100101) then Edge vs 3G is nominal in loading a simple page.
 
extraextra said:
Faster than EDGE, slower than WiFi (usually). Not available in all areas, and uses a fair amount of battery.
Click to expand...

You're right that it's not available everywhere... but this is an overused excuse. It's available in 270 metro areas across the US and will be in 80 more in 2008. So... that kind of covers a very large portion of US residents. Not everyone, but definitely a whole lot than a lot of people here give it credit for.
 
seen the new iPhone commerical where they search for the audi?
Thats how fast!
... haha ya I wish.
 
Are you guy really that unhappy with Edge? I for one am comming from 3G and it is faster BUT there are disadvantages that go along with that...is this simply wanting fast because it is fast?

I for one am happy with Edge....I actually don't want 3G because of the battery downfall....I spent 6 months with a phone and an extended battery recharging it before the day was done....to me it is not worth the speed and for me 75% of the time I am on a WIFI connection....

You guys shoulf get a 3G smart phone and use one before you start wishing for a 3G iphone....when they improve battery life then they should do the phone...IMHO that is why it is taking so long...they simply dont want the bad user exp...
 
Yes. I am unhappy with EDGE - with the exception of 5% of the time when I have PERFECT coverage.

Less than 4 bars I click a website and set my phone down for a minute.
 
If the 3G iPhone is HSDPA as the latest AT&T announcement hints, the data will be even faster. Currently most handsets seem to support up to 3.6Mbit/s but the system seems very easy to upgrade compared with previous systems. O2 in the UK is also upgrading to HSDPA....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSDPA
 
kdarling said:
The best thing about 3G will be that you can do the internet thing while taking or making phone calls.
Click to expand...

I noticed this the other day... I was doing some browsing and when I completed 2 voicemails came through... I thought that was strange as nobody had called me... what I forgot that when browsing on EDGE or regular cell network you can't receive calls.....
 
Must be an american thing...or i have no friends..i've never had the phone divert while it loads up a page.
 
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