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I'm starting to think the best time to upgrade is every two years. The 3GS for 1st gen iPhone users is a big deal and well worth it. But not for 3G users.
 
Yeah, because it's equally convenient to be carrying around a camera AND a phone AND a camcorder, right?

And why get a phone with internet when there are laptops! You can fit your Camera, Camcorder, Laptop and Phone all in one convenient backpack!


Dude the camera in this phone is barely a camera and a video camera.. I have a 12.99 camera I bought at kids r us for my daughter takes better pics than these phones do.. I would rather carry a real camera when I need to take pics than my phone...

If I need to check out a lot of stuff on the internet that's why I have a laptop..

I see apple sucking you guys in like they do with there laptops.. I'm sure there are some guys that get the new upgraded laptops every year.. What a waste of money if you ask me... I still have my SR MBP and I'm going to keep it until it doesn't work anymore...

James
 
So the other night I got the 3G S⃣ itch. I decided that I wanted to get it, I could afford it, and that if I happened to be up at 7:30, I would go down to AT&T and if they happened to have any left, I would get one.

So like a kid on Christmas morning, I woke up right at 7:30, threw on some clothes and drove down to the AT&T store where a pathetic line of about 7 people had developed, haha. I hopped on line and by the time it was my turn I was told they had 2 16GB White, 10 16GB Black, 30 32GB White, and 25 32GB Black. Needless to say, I bought one. I went with the 16GB White since I don't really need the space as I use my 32GB iPod Touch for all of my media needs, and I wanted white so my girlfriend and I could finally tell the difference between our phones, haha.

So I got home and had second thoughts, I taped the receipt to it and set it on my desk as I backed up my 3G and and everything. Then I just ripped it open, turned it one and played with it for about 20 minutes at which point I realized, "These new features are nice ... but i'll never use them". The only new feature I could possibly see myself using frequently is video. It was not fast enough to make me feel like my 3G was lagging at all, and honestly ... that auto-focus is crap.

My opinion, if you're going to be advertising a product for it's incredible photo and video capabilities ... make those capabilities incredible and innovative ... not 1999. They only pretty cool feature was the video editing, but why would I need that? I'll pass.

So I packed everything back up nicely into the box, Jailbroke my 3G for the first time and installed Cycorder, and i'll be returning my 3G S⃣ today ( Thanks AT&T for your 30 day policy ), and this means someone's getting a refurb that's in perfect condition!

I can see the desire to upgrade from 2G to 3G, and from 2G to 3G S⃣ ... just not 3G to 3G S⃣ unless you really need the 32GB of space. Just my opinion.

Thanks - Eric



Upgrading from a 3G to a 3Gs is a BIGGER upgrade then going from the 2G to the 3G
 
You can get a very nice compact video camera for the cost of a 32 gig and keep the 3G for your phone and other needs.

This is still going through my mind.

I have been planning on getting a real nice little video camera, and you can get a nice little one for only like $100-$150. Then i thought about it, and I realize I hate carrying around extra devices. The reason why video is worthwhile on the 3Gs is because I would always have it with me. I think you will see a massive influx of on the scene videos as the 3GS becomes more widespread. Just like some ridiculous percentage of pictures on sites like flickr are from iPhones.

I never used a digital camera on a regular basis until I got my iPhone. I know the camera is not the best, but it is always with me, and more importantly very easy to access and use. So it has value there. The same would be for the video camera. I could buy the seperate video camera, but I know I would never have it with me when I wanted to video something, but my phone would likely always be with me.

That being said, I did not get a 3Gs and will not any time soon, most likely. However when I do I will be happy to have the option to record video, even if it is not the best video possible by a portable device, because being the best at everything is not where the value exists. The value exists being able to do a lot of things at a level that makes them useful and worthwhile in a single and easy to manage and control device.

I certainly don't begrudge the OP for his change of heart. I made the same decision in advance so I just never bought it, because there was nothing about it that made it a must get right now. I use my phone a lot these days, but I would not get a lot more use out of it with 3Gs. Sure there are some things that would be nice, but nothing I must have now.

On the otherhand I have a brother who has a 1st generation iPhone and he plans to upgrade soon, and if I had the 1st generation phone myself, I would do the same.
 
Upgrading from a 3G to a 3Gs is a BIGGER upgrade then going from the 2G to the 3G

Care to explain?

The upgrade from edge to 3G is MASSIVE and makes a huge difference. From the speed to just the ability to talk and transmit data at the same time. I know of nothing in the 3Gs that is that same leap in improvement over the 3G. The 3Gs is faster ,but it is not 8x faster.
 
Care to explain?

The upgrade from edge to 3G is MASSIVE and makes a huge difference. From the speed to just the ability to talk and transmit data at the same time. I know of nothing in the 3Gs that is that same leap in improvement over the 3G. The 3Gs is faster ,but it is not 8x faster.

The "massive" upgrade is with regard to 3G speed over EDGE, but it's only one aspect of it, with A-GPS being the other feature. 3G S adds a lot more features to 3G than 3G did to the original.

Personally, I find the faster speed across the board more noticeable than the jump from EDGE to 3G (mostly because I used wi-fi most of the time on the original iPhone).
 
You can't have it all.

You have a phone, that is an ipod (this was enough for me), that connects to the internet with the best mobile browser, have access to email, thousands of apps, many of which are free... and the update to this phone, in a year, is to make this phone twice as fast, yet people still complain?

People should know what they're getting into when buying this phone. I mean come on, click a few threads in the forum. People expecting 3 megapixel camera in a phone to perform like a digi cam in both photo and video is just ridiculous.

This is a PHONE that happens to do other things pretty damn well and other things exceptional.

That's America for you.

iPhone 3G.... iPhone 3G S. S means speed and that's what we got. It's not iPhone 3G Digital Camera.
 
Dude the camera in this phone is barely a camera and a video camera.. I have a 12.99 camera I bought at kids r us for my daughter takes better pics than these phones do.. I would rather carry a real camera when I need to take pics than my phone...

If I need to check out a lot of stuff on the internet that's why I have a laptop..

I see apple sucking you guys in like they do with there laptops.. I'm sure there are some guys that get the new upgraded laptops every year.. What a waste of money if you ask me... I still have my SR MBP and I'm going to keep it until it doesn't work anymore...

James
So are you saying you have an iPhone or you don't even have one and you're bashing the pictures they take anyway?

My digital camera takes roughly the same quality pictures as these http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyi/sets/72157619833958006/
 
I don't disagree with the general feel of this thread. I was actually pretty happy with the fact that the 3GS is only, IMO, a slight upgrade. I had the original iPhone and I got the 3G when it came out. I can't upgrade until January so paying $400 for only a few features and slight spec bumps which I may not even notice is definitely not worth it. Come January, I'll wait 6 more months and get iPhone 4, whatever that may entail. I have already read it will have a dual-core processor, so it's already going to be a big jump in specs. I can wait a year to spend a few hundred more dollars and get something really worth it. My girlfriend is getting the new 3GS because she hasn't had an iPhone yet so I'll have video recording when I need it.
 
I have already read it will have a dual-core processor, so it's already going to be a big jump in specs.

Pure speculation at this point, but really think about it and you'll realize Apple is always a bit behind hardware-wise. People have been clamoring quad core for the iMac for a couple years now and look where it is. It wouldn't surprise me if next year they do a new case and add only a couple features on top of what 3G S already has (just like the original --> 3G).
 
Ah a lesson I learned many times on impluse buying which I feel a lot of people are doing on the upgrade to 3Gs. After they upgrade they argue and justify the reasons.

For me a rule I have learned for myself is for big things to sleep on it for a few days and think about it. Normally I find several reasons why I would regret it and general happy with that way of doing things. I regret fewer things that I buy and less stuff ends up in my junk storage.

Does not mean that I still do not end up with a log of junk just reduces it.
 
So are you saying you have an iPhone or you don't even have one and you're bashing the pictures they take anyway?

My digital camera takes roughly the same quality pictures as these http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyi/sets/72157619833958006/


I have a 3G and the picture's I take with it are garbage.. My friend went out and bought a 3Gs and the picture's still don't come out as good as the little kiddie camera I bought for my daughter..

All I'm saying is if I want to take pictures of things I will take my camera.. If I want to take a video of something I will bring my video camera..

If I need to take a quick picture of something without worrying about detail and looking at a fuzzy picture then I will take it with my 3G..

James
 
Worth It For Me-Maybe Not For You

I paid $499.00 plus tax and $18.00 activation upgrade from 2G iPhone. Was it worth it to me? Well after playing with it I have to say yes. The extras storage (went to 32GB), compass w/map orientation and faster GUI and Safari speed works really well for me. Plus now I have a spare in case one of my kids kills or loses their iPhone.

Installing 3.0 OS on my original 2G iPhone was a good bump up. For a lot of people that will be enough until the next iPhone update. It is hard to give advice to those trying to make a decision whether it is worth it. Go play with a friend's or get an in store demo and decide for yourself.

I missed the excitement of the first two iPhone launches as I came late to the game last November. But this third generation launch sure didn't generate the crowds at my local Apple and ATT store that I thought I would have seen. I don't know if that is a reflection on the new hardware, or the economy?

My only misgivings over my purchase is AT&T cellular service not being able to take advantage of what the hardware can do (MMS/tethering/faster Internet). It is also a kick in the pants every time I get dropped calls. My VZ friends love to call me back on a dropped call and say, "How is that iPhone thing working for you ;)". Frankly speaking AT&T isn't worthy of Apple's iPhone. I feel like I'm driving a Ferrari on a one lane dirt road. Everything looks good until I hit an AT$T pothole.:eek:
 
Best thing for upgrading from 1st gen to 3G was the fact that you can sell your 1st gen for more than what you pay for 3G and just about everyone is eligible for the discounted price.

Existing owner from 3G to 3G S⃣ just make much less sense when most of us who bought 3G using our eligibility is not qualified for the discount price, and I can't imagine the value of 3G being that high when Apple lowered the price to $99 for a brand new unit.

So from the cost alone, upgrading from 3G makes very little sense. Then you evaluate the additional features, and it simply doesn't justify the cost no matter how you spin it.
 
No buyer's remore for me since I sold my 3G for $45,000.00, so my 3GS is actually paying me in monthly installments to use it (in cash). Also, my 3GS is much faster than my 3G. it use to take me 2 seconds to open my apps...now it only takes me 1 second.
 
I upgraded to the 3gs simply for the speed of the phone. I like having a phone that I am the bottleneck when it comes to doing things and not always having a keyboard lag and taking 2 seconds to open a text message. The video, camera, compass, voice control, and battery meter were just added bonuses.
 
Everyone is different. I don't see enough of an improvement to upgrade a 3G to a 3G S. The only reason would be memory and video capture. That's really it. If I had a 3G I'd wait until next year. Then you'll probably see something you really want to upgrade to.
 
The "massive" upgrade is with regard to 3G speed over EDGE, but it's only one aspect of it, with A-GPS being the other feature. 3G S adds a lot more features to 3G than 3G did to the original.

Personally, I find the faster speed across the board more noticeable than the jump from EDGE to 3G (mostly because I used wi-fi most of the time on the original iPhone).
Exactly.

If you use wifi all the time the 3gs blows the doors off of a 3g on even something like loading a webpage.

Seriously, i have a 3g and a 3gs right next to me (and a 2g somewhere around here) and if i load apple.com on both of them. The 3gs is done before the 3g is halfway there. (Both freshly restored.)

This isn't a "trivial" upgrade. The 3g was amazing when you were in a 3g area instead of edge (and not wifi). The speed of a device is something you will use every single time you perform any task on the phone.

If messages opens 2 seconds faster (It does, seriously) 20 times a day. Thats 4 hours a year i save.
 
Exactly.

If you use wifi all the time the 3gs blows the doors off of a 3g on even something like loading a webpage.

Seriously, i have a 3g and a 3gs right next to me (and a 2g somewhere around here) and if i load apple.com on both of them. The 3gs is done before the 3g is halfway there. (Both freshly restored.)

This isn't a "trivial" upgrade. The 3g was amazing when you were in a 3g area instead of edge (and not wifi). The speed of a device is something you will use every single time you perform any task on the phone.

If messages opens 2 seconds faster (It does, seriously) 20 times a day. Thats 4 hours a year i save.
I couldnt have said it better myself. The 3G S is that fast. Reading how fast it is doesnt do it justice. The 3G is almost unusable after experiencing the 3G S.
 
I couldnt have said it better myself. The 3G S is that fast. Reading how fast it is doesnt do it justice. The 3G is almost unusable after experiencing the 3G S.
Thanks and yea, I would pull my hair out to have to go back.

(I'm actually surprisingly impressed by the video as well, I won't use it much and it wasn't a huge selling point, but damn it comes out decent outdoors.)
 
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