iPod touch who needs an iphone...

[roisin and mac]

Since I'm locked into Verizon because they have the best U.S. overall network and I travel so much, an iPhone is out of the question.

But I was very much looking at an ipod touch for just those reasons. I know this is a bad thing but I'll be traveling away from home and get a phone call and need fast internet access for business.

I'll pull off & try to find a nice residential neighborhood, start trolling the culdesac's with my laptop open scanning for networks. I have yet to be unable to gain wifi access. Telltale signs are usually named Netgear or Linksys. Pull over and surf away. Done quite a few internet "gotta do it now" auctions that way.

Same for big cities. dozens of networks pop up and about a third are open. Holiday Inn's always have them too. Since I do frequent HI so much I just walk in, have a cup of coffee and start surfing like I own the place. Even mooch a breakfast if complimentary buffet running

There was a company selling a kit that attaches to your dock that could do VOIP and had sites for free but limited VOIP service. Who needs the iPhone?

Heehee, that comment really made my day!! I love the bit about the free brekky

 

[Baron58]

complain about me posting flamebait threads

Fixed that for you.

 

[mosx]

Glad you're happy. I have a small company and was using AT&T. Plan costs were outrageous and when Verizon family plans came along, it was good for us. I do miss Nokia phones & now possibility of getting an iPhone though.

Story is had ATT. Verizon & Sprint both were trying to get our small business plan so we sent employees who travelled w. one of each's phone for a month. So we actually had a test of three diff. national phone providers for one month and took a poll at end of month. Veriaon won hands down. Sorry. Consumer Reports verified findings.

I hate Verizons crippled phones and a lot of things about them but they do have what i need for a phone - coverage where I need it.

Consumer Reports? Doesn't mean much to me. Is about the same as HP winning a JD Power and Associates award for their outsourced customer support.

As I said, I had Verizon Wireless up until the iPhone was released. Four different people sharing this house with four different handsets. Each one complaining of dropped calls, bad reception, etc. all over Southern California. Theres a Verizon cell tower just down the street and we could barely get a signal.

Switched to AT&T and I have yet to experience a dropped call on my iPhone. Call quality has been better and I have a constant 5 bars wherever I go.

I even just dropped Verizon's landline service because of the price and bad call quality.

 

[Madame Defarge]

Thinking about getting a iPod Touch instead of an iPhone

It sounds like there are a lot of satisfied Touch users out there.

I need a bigger iPod but the Classic has been getting so-so reviews, compared to the Touch. Since I'm not a big cell phone user anyway, I thought it would make sense for me to get a touch so that I can access maps, the internet, email and PDA functions on the go.

Anyone with a Touch, wish they had gotten an iPhone instead?

 

[FaulknerM]

Yeah looking back i think i should of gotten the iphone, at the time i didnt want to pay for a data plan but now i am wishing i just gotten the phone. The touch is great but i feel like i dont really use it much beyond music,video,etc. When i really need its PDA esque features there is no wifi around. And i would like to have the phone and have one less gadget to carry in my pocket...

 

[Madame Defarge]

Yeah looking back i think i should of gotten the iphone, at the time i didnt want to pay for a data plan but now i am wishing i just gotten the phone. The touch is great but i feel like i dont really use it much beyond music,video,etc. When i really need its PDA esque features there is no wifi around. And i would like to have the phone and have one less gadget to carry in my pocket...

When you say there is no WiFi around, do you live in an urban area?

In the dumb question department - Is the WiFi free? If not how do you pay for your time using the connection?

 

[aethelbert]

When you say there is no WiFi around, do you live in an urban area?

In the dumb question department - Is the WiFi free? If not how do you pay for your time using the connection?

Even in high population densities, there will still be many areas that lack free wifi. Just because some person found free wifi doesn't mean that it's everywhere on earth. And even if you do find a free connection, it might be slow or have poor reception.

 

[jons]

I had Verizon before ATT as well, and I can attest to the fact that, in my area, ATT coverage is MUCH better.

The iPhone has done a lot for my productivity, and fits the way I work very well, so I, for one, need an iPhone

- js

I had Verizon before getting my iPhone.

They are certainly NOT the best network.

Dropped calls on many different brands of phone. Despite being less than a mile from the tower I, and room mates, only had about 2 bars of signal inside the house.

With my iPhone I get 5 bars everywhere and have had only two dropped calls since I got it last August.

I get coverage where Verizon wouldn't, such as the local mountains and middle of the desert.

Verizon is just overpriced and overrated.

It felt good calling them and telling them I was canceling and switching to AT&T.

 

[uraniumwilly]

I recently became an owner of a Touch. I've been looking into the applications. I've also been looking at the various FAQ's and threads trying to decipher if the majority of apps on the iPhone apply to the Touch (I understand phone-oriented apps would not apply to the Touch.). If they didn't, I'd be very unhappy with my Touch. That would be the only reason I'd desire the iPHone. That said, when the price goes down and 3G becomes the standard I see myself buying an iPhone, say, in a year or so.

 

[savanahrose]

I had Verizon before getting my iPhone.

They are certainly NOT the best network.

Dropped calls on many different brands of phone. Despite being less than a mile from the tower I, and room mates, only had about 2 bars of signal inside the house.

With my iPhone I get 5 bars everywhere and have had only two dropped calls since I got it last August.

I get coverage where Verizon wouldn't, such as the local mountains and middle of the desert.

Verizon is just overpriced and overrated.

It felt good calling them and telling them I was canceling and switching to AT&T.

You had 2 bars while in the house?!!! WOW lucky you, I didn't have any. I had to go outside and hope to get 1 bar with Verizon. I live real close to a tower also. I was told by someone I met that I LIVED TOO CLOSE to the tower and it was right over us. I now have AT&T and I no longer have to hope to get a signal. Sorry OP for waylaying from the topic.
As for me...I need an iphone. I thought about a touch but it wouldn't work for me.

 

[AppleNewton]

i agree with akonradi ~ someone asked a question Why an iphone? in ipod touch forum, he answered the obvious.


Id like to have both personally myself, but I opted for the ipod touch, nice music player, wifi (since i dont travel alot i can use the wifi in my home or at work). its sufficient enough for me, but wifi is not everywhere.

i have a service contract with another provider which i havent had any issues with yet and still have a while left with it, hopefully by then; the en dof the year well see some new functionality and 3g with the iphone and ill look into at&t.


but either way it seems like both are a decent product'

 

[mosx]

You had 2 bars while in the house?!!! WOW lucky you, I didn't have any. I had to go outside and hope to get 1 bar with Verizon. I live real close to a tower also. I was told by someone I met that I LIVED TOO CLOSE to the tower and it was right over us. I now have AT&T and I no longer have to hope to get a signal. Sorry OP for waylaying from the topic.
As for me...I need an iphone. I thought about a touch but it wouldn't work for me.

Haha well, I live whole mile away from the tower for Verizon

Funny enough, the AT&T tower is in the same area. My iPhone right now shows 5 bars.

I also forgot to mention my sister's husband was a truck driver. He did cross country shipping. He chose AT&T because he had coverage across his entire route. Verizon didn't provide that. Not even in the form of leeching off others networks.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

If I may interrupt in this babble fest..
Anyone else who has a cellular phone pays $60 a month also, except with iPhone you're also getting unlimited data/ VM/ 200 texts. The iPhone combines an iPod touch with a Phone and also a camera and bluetooth device (assuming the iPod touch doesn't have hidden bluetooth, but I really hope it does). So there are many reason to have an iPhone

Sorta off topic but... Are mobile phone plans over in the US of A really that expensive? I can get 500 text messages (and unlimited to people on my carrier), unlimited data over 3G, 60 minutes of video calling, 900 minutes to people on other carriers, and 1100 minutes to people on my carrier all for the low low price of around $250 HKD (about $30 USD). Or was the 'every one else pays $60' just an estimate?

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Sorta off topic but... Are mobile phone plans over in the US of A really that expensive? I can get 500 text messages (and unlimited to people on my carrier), unlimited data over 3G, 60 minutes of video calling, 900 minutes to people on other carriers, and 1100 minutes to people on my carrier all for the low low price of around $250 HKD (about $30 USD). Or was the 'every one else pays $60' just an estimate?

I believe 60 dollars per month is the cheapest iPhone price, and it comes with something like 200 text messages, unlimited data network use, and 450 minutes.

 

[CrazyLazyMan]

It sounds like there are a lot of satisfied Touch users out there.

I need a bigger iPod but the Classic has been getting so-so reviews, compared to the Touch. Since I'm not a big cell phone user anyway, I thought it would make sense for me to get a touch so that I can access maps, the internet, email and PDA functions on the go.

Anyone with a Touch, wish they had gotten an iPhone instead?

I just recently purchased an iPod touch and I must say that I really do love it. My decision to purchase it was a result of playing with my buddie's iPhone for two or three weeks. I would have bought the iPhone but AT&T is not available in my area.

Now that I have the touch I wish I could have the iPhone instead. To me, having access to the internet at all times and not just in wifi hotspots is a big plus. Also, the camera is pretty handy to have. And having external speakers for not only listening to music but for using the calendar alerts as they were intended is big for me. But until AT&T comes to me the iPod touch is the next best thing.

 

[digitalnicotine]

I don't have AT&T coverage in my area either, hence getting the Touch. The comparisons of coverage are slightly amusing, both with cell and wifi, because there are so many factors that can affect how well they perform in any area, such as interference, and tower locations.

If you're considering purchasing, and want/need to know how well the wifi will work in your area beforehand, consider getting a wifi hotspot detector, and check out the places you frequent to see if there are unsecured networks you'll be able to access on the go. There are several available now that come in the form of anything from Tshirts to keychains, and usually cost between $20-$50.

Regardless of where you live, there may or may not be any available, as akonradi stated. It's pretty much luck when you find them, and often, the signal is less than optimal. When you think about it, the people who are more likely to get high speed access and a decent router, are just as likely to secure their network. Many of us have stated our experiences (luck) with this, and it varies widely regardless of urban or rural, so it's not something to count on.

Someone asked how you get free wifi. Basically, you can go to businesses that offer wifi access as part of their services, such as coffee shops, restaurants, book stores, libraries, etc., or you can happen upon them out of sheer luck. They are a lot more popular these days, though. For home use, you'd need to set up your own wireless network in order to use the wifi features on the Touch, (unless you have a nearby neighbor with an unsecured network).

 

[Nermal]

(assuming the iPod touch doesn't have hidden bluetooth, but I really hope it does).

I've seen a Windows PC detect a USB bluetooth device when I plugged in my Touch, but I don't know whether there's actual hardware there or if it's just the common firmware reporting it.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

I believe 60 dollars per month is the cheapest iPhone price, and it comes with something like 200 text messages, unlimited data network use, and 450 minutes.

Actually, my question was, are most plans that expensive? (not necessarily just the iPhone plans, other ones like T-Mobile)

 

[roisin and mac]

If you're considering purchasing, and want/need to know how well the wifi will work in your area beforehand, consider getting a wifi hotspot detector, and check out the places you frequent to see if there are unsecured networks you'll be able to access on the go. There are several available now that come in the form of anything from Tshirts to keychains, and usually cost between $20-$50.

I second that. I am about to do the same thing, just having trouble choosing the best wifi detector (if anybody has a recommendation, feel free to fire away lol)

 

[Cheffy Dave]

If I may interrupt in this babble fest..
Anyone else who has a cellular phone pays $60 a month also, except with iPhone you're also getting unlimited data/ VM/ 200 texts. The iPhone combines an iPod touch with a Phone and also a camera and bluetooth device (assuming the iPod touch doesn't have hidden bluetooth, but I really hope it does). So there are many reason to have an iPhone

I love my i-Touch ,main reason, the songs on the road are my taste, w/o the mindless DJ bable and commercials, WiFi is everywherehence so are
directions to clients. I'm not waiting for an all inclusive i-Phone, but just and Apple phone, w/ maybe GPS-PERIOD!
That's just me.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I second that. I am about to do the same thing, just having trouble choosing the best wifi detector (if anybody has a recommendation, feel free to fire away lol)

SWEET!!
www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwarriorcontent/canarywirelessreview.htm

 

[anbudub]

Actually, my question was, are most plans that expensive? (not necessarily just the iPhone plans, other ones like T-Mobile)

Any phone plan that includes unlimited data use is about that price. If you don't have a data plan, plans are around 30-35 dollars a month (unless your on a family plan). One of the major reasons why I went for an Ipod Touch instead of an Iphone, I don't need a data plan.

 

[Lostatsea3]

I'm in the middle of nowhere. (New Hampshire) AT&T up here is HORRIBLE there is absolutely no coverage. Usually you can pick up some coverage from other companies that AT&T share with, but usually you can't use those for data transfers. I would get an iPhone in a flash if they improved the coverage, and I know a bunch of others that would too.

 

[Digital Skunk]

AT&T sucks because they can't get insurance coverage for the iPhone. Either AT&T or Apple needs to work on that, but the way things are going now, Apple is selling the phone to any schmuck with cash so I doubt they will do it.

I am sitting on the fence still. May drop Sprint and pay $200 if AT&T rolls out 3G coverage and Apple give a 3G phone. EDGE has the worst speed that I have ever seen and have plenty of iPhones take forever just to render a google map. Sprint's EVDO is blazing fast and I never have a problem with it, the price is right (and cheaper that what I would have with AT&T even with insurance on my phone) and coverage is just as good.

The second biggest hurdle is productivity. Hopefully the app store and that vaporware of SDK possibilities will fix it, and make the iPhone a real smart device, comparable to the rest of the world's smart phones.

I will get my sore butt off the fence when AT&T starts bring us a real network, and Apple give us a smart phone with applications to do real work. I can feel it coming, and when it does I will ditch Windows Mobile in a heart beat.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

Any phone plan that includes unlimited data use is about that price. If you don't have a data plan, plans are around 30-35 dollars a month (unless your on a family plan). One of the major reasons why I went for an Ipod Touch instead of an Iphone, I don't need a data plan.

Oh I see. Thanks.