why i'm returning my touch...any additional comments?

my thoughts on using the touch after 1 week:

1. the wifi isn't as useful as it seems.

the internet only works at a satisfactory speed when you have a full-strength signal. at least in my case, if there's full signal wifi, then there's also a public comp really close by on my college campus. at work, there are pcs there anyways.

2. can't send messages on gmail.

the browser either turns black, or i can't even get the keyboard to pop up on the text box (the exceptions are the address and subject line). i could probably send messages on gmail in standard html format, but what's the point of having "the true internet" in my pocket then? this is where mail.app is so crucial.

3. no physical buttons

i didn't think this would be a big deal, especially with the double-click home trick... but it really is a pain to have to take out your ipod and actually look at the screen each time you have to change the volume or skip a song that you aren't in the mood for. i thought that was a frivolous comment b4 i bought my touch, but it's definitely something to consider...

4. wifi + video + mid brightness = severe battery drain (low-side of 2-3 hrs)

this isn't really apple's fault, just a nature of how much slower our battery technology has advanced compared to computing power. some people say, "well...if you turn off wifi or turn down screen brightness or what not, then you'll get better battery life," but what's the point of paying soo much money for a touch then? just to watch the covers scroll by? (which is still super cool i must admit, just not 400 bucks worth of cool)

5. the "incomplete" feeling

this may sound superficial, but it took away from my experience knowing that this was a severely crippled version of the iphone. with my poor wifi experience, i can definitely see the benefits of paying $20/month for edge that is always on (at least in my area), and having a dedicated mail app. not to mention no calendar input....

If you want any productivity at all, get the iphone (how many times has this been said!). If you want an extremely attractive ipod that has internet only around strong wifi signals, get the touch.

Anyway, this was just for those deciding b/w iphone and touch. i'm returning mine tomorrow for an 80G classic, and I'll buy an iphone after macworld when my current contract runs out.

 

wizzracer:

$132/month?! What plan is your friend on?! I'm assuming that was the cost for the 1st month (with fees and what not)

About the touch having no internet fees...that was my reason for buying the touch in the 1st place! the touch was going to be the perfect ipod on a wifi college campus! but like what i said earlier, the signal has to be really strong in order for the touch to load at acceptable speeds, and whenever i'm in a strong wifi zone, there's a public pc/mac close by.

Grimmgreen:

Yup, everything you said is exactly true. I knew there were no physical buttons b4 i got it, i knew it was called the ipod TOUCH, and yet the lack of physical buttons was more of a negative than even what i could handle.

I knew full well what to expect, I just didn't think it would be as big of a deal as i thought it'd be...what's wrong with that?