iPhone 5 has been unveiled...

[king_biscuit]

Since when did making an informed decision become BS?

btw, I didn't say, nor do I believe, that making an informed decision is BS. I said that to suggest that most smart phone consumers make truly informed decisions about smart phone purchases is BS. Really, though, we don't even have a working definition of "informed decision" here. I'm sure they are informed enough to know smart phones are phones, can access email, and can play games -- I admit that they are armed with that level of information. I doubt, they know anything about cellular phone and data technology, chip core structure, or the linux and BSD kernel. I doubt most of them want (whether they realize it or not) the added confusion of Android fragmentation and "tweekability."

One of the posts in here brags about running a custom kernel on an Android, LOL! Is that the level of information you think most consumers possess?

 

[MJ5150]

I haven't used the word most. I asked you what percentage of people do some research, try a couple devices, then buy what works for them. Then I asked if those are the nerd/hobbyists among your groups. Instead of answering me, you made up some things I didn't say. But hey, it's not worth continuing this conversation. Thanks anyway.

-Mike

 

[king_biscuit]

I haven't used the word most. I asked you what percentage of people do some research, try a couple devices, then buy what works for them. Then I asked if those are the nerd/hobbyists among your groups. Instead of answering me, you made up some things I didn't say. But hey, it's not worth continuing this conversation. Thanks anyway.

-Mike

Ok, well you are welcome... I guess.

btw, your question asks how many people have information going in to a phone purchase, try several phones, and make a decision based on the information and trial; my guess is that a very small percentage of people do this for the following reasons: to recap the above posts, most people are not informed in any more than the most rudimentary fashion about cellular phone technology, and at any rate there is no real opportunity to test phones properly at the counter of the store where they are sold so phones have to be purchased before a proper trial can be conducted.

 

[DigMe]

To me, Apple is trying to skate by on name alone. That's unacceptable, me thinks. What *real* improvements have we seen over the last two iPhones??? Jobs is rolling in his grave.

I think that's a an inaccurate assessment. Jobs was involved in both the 4S and the 5. The 5 shines high above the 4 and is easily neck-and-neck with the GSIII.

bc

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I was staying off this thread 'till I got a little more time with my new iPhone 5.

Upgrading as I did, from a 3GS (both are 32Gig), I have to say I'm very pleased.

The Lightning connector is a non-issue for me. Everything important I do with audio on my phone is digital, so it meets my needs just fine with a 30-pin adapter. The steering wheel controls on my '11 Nissan Versa work fine, and the audio is a little crisper than my 3GS through the same interface.

I was never impressed with Google maps and the GPS in my old iPhone, which is why I have a 5" GPS in my car, so the map app fuss is irrelevant to me. I have tried the new app a few times, mostly just to see what the fuss is about. I live in a small college town, so the 3-D view is a joke. But otherwise, it works fine around here.

Everything else is a huge upgrade. The extra screen real estate is easier on my aging eyes, without the Galaxy III's clunky form factor. Plus, it has a clearer screen, better camera, faster browsing, faster sync (even though it's not USB 3.0), new networking features...

I'm a computer consultant to the veterinary industry, and I spend all day chasing PC problems- the last thing I want to do is have to support a half-baked "smart" phone OS, or learn a new set of apps that cost more and come from a smaller collection..

My wife ditched her Blackberry, and is now loving is my well-used 3GS, which never gave me a moment's trouble. And that's pretty much why I barely gave the competition a glance.

 

[GregC]

You are definitely the one percenter Most people don't need or really want complicated phones with endless options and adjustability. They want a phone/voicemail, email, some web browsing, and Angry Birds, along with a few specialty apps like those that set alarms. Mainly, the phone needs to be really stable, and really easy to use.

My guess is that the Android phone user base breaks down something like this:

10% are phone nerds/hobbists/trendy-Apple-haters

15% Couldn't afford an iPhone and bitterly settled

75% don't know the difference in any of the phones and simply bought what was handed to them by the salesman

Oh, brother. Thanks for dredging up this thread for the fanboytastic condescending assumptions. I'm sure I could come up with a similar list for iPhone users, but it wouldn't be any more valid than yours.

A lot of folks, including myself, saw no need to subject themselves to AT&T's crappy network and service (which I unfortunately had previous experience with) when the iPhone first came out, nor did we feel the need to switch from an Android phone once Apple finally started selling the phone to better providers.

 

[king_biscuit]

Oh, brother. Thanks for dredging up this thread for the fanboytastic condescending assumptions. I'm sure I could come up with a similar list for iPhone users, but it wouldn't be any more valid than yours.

A lot of folks, including myself, saw no need to subject themselves to AT&T's crappy network and service (which I unfortunately had previous experience with) when the iPhone first came out, nor did we feel the need to switch from an Android phone once Apple finally started selling the phone to better providers.

I'm not an Apple fanboi. When I was in college I was the biggest Linux (the real magic of Android) fan/nerd you could meet. I had regular correspondence with Richard Stallman, and became a member/contributor of the GNU/GPL mailing list to help answer questions for developers who were using the GPL or were considering the GPL. My heart is still with the open source code movement, and I have no love lost for Apple for taking advantage of the BSD welfare license to pilfer BSD and not really give anything back to the community. I do think all of the armchair "experts" who are posting here giving Apple advice on innovation and business are pretty hilarious, though! And I don't think most cellular telephone purchasers know anything about their cellular telephones -- including most of the ones in this thread.

My numbers were made up just like your "a lot of folks" above was made up.

As far as dredging up a thread, it was only two weeks old and still quite relevant.

 

[DigMe]

A lot of folks, including myself, saw no need to subject themselves to AT&T's crappy network and service (which I unfortunately had previous experience with) when the iPhone first came out, nor did we feel the need to switch from an Android phone once Apple finally started selling the phone to better providers.

one thing to remember is that many of us bought into iOS because there was NOTHING even remotely competitive to it. Not being an Apple guy I was waiting for some kind of awesome competitor phone to come out because the iPhone made all of the blackberries and whatnot look like Startacs. iPhone Gen 1 came and went. Then iPhone 3G came and there was still nothing cool competing. There were some lame attempts like Blackberry Storm, etc.. So I broke down and got it. Apple was deep into their 2nd generation when Android finally came out and I don't know how long it was after that when someone finally put it all together into a really good competitor.

Regarding AT&T's network - that was another thing that convinced me to switch - I had no signal at our land in the country and my friends on AT&T had five bars. it's very specific to geography.

bc

 

[Eric Perry]

I think that's a an inaccurate assessment. Jobs was involved in both the 4S and the 5. The 5 shines high above the 4 and is easily neck-and-neck with the GSIII.

bc

Perhaps. Well, I personally think the GS3 is a much better device than the iphone 5, though. The difference is this though: From the original Galaxy, to the S2, to the S3, we've seen pretty substantial upgrades. Has Apple kept up with that pace? I don't think anyone would agree they have. Yes, Apple absolutely had a better device when the Galaxy first came out. But the pace at which we're seeing upgrades and improvements easilu favors the Galaxy, in my opinion.

I see Apple as something of a Harley Davidson. All the hard core types love their Harley's and scoff at everything else. The time and effort that goes into Harley R&D doesn't even compare to the "rice burners", however.

 

[Eric Perry]

Regarding AT&T's network - that was another thing that convinced me to switch - I had no signal at our land in the country and my friends on AT&T had five bars. it's very specific to geography.

bc

I have AT&T and have great service. I switched from Sprint after I bought my house because I had essentially NO service. I agree it's all about geography.

 

[Marlat]

Why would anyone care what phone other people buy?

If anyone thinks owning a technically superior or cooler looking phone makes you a better person it might be time for some life re-evaluation.

 

[MatticusMania]

Then I'm a 1%'er.

We all have something that puts us in the 1% of some category or other.
Im in the 1% of people who have read Finnegan's Wake. Ok, Im still reading it, but soon enough...

Why would anyone care what phone other people buy?

If anyone thinks owning a technically superior or cooler looking phone makes you a better person it might be time for some life re-evaluation.

True.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Why would anyone care what phone other people buy?

If anyone thinks owning a technically superior or cooler looking phone makes you a better person it might be time for some life re-evaluation.

90% of the people in countries above 3rd world status?

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Why would anyone care what phone other people buy?

If anyone thinks owning a technically superior or cooler looking phone makes you a better person it might be time for some life re-evaluation.

Yup. Three words. First world problem.

 

[king_biscuit]

There are no longer any first, second, or third world countries. Those were cold war terms to distinguish between the western democracies, the communists, and the unaligned.

 

[DwaynieAD]

There are no longer any first, second, or third world countries. Those were cold war terms to distinguish between the western democracies, the communists, and the unaligned.

Or used commonly to denote developing countries.

 

[GregC]

I'm not an Apple fanboi. When I was in college I was the biggest Linux (the real magic of Android) fan/nerd you could meet. I had regular correspondence with Richard Stallman, and became a member/contributor of the GNU/GPL mailing list to help answer questions for developers who were using the GPL or were considering the GPL. My heart is still with the open source code movement, and I have no love lost for Apple for taking advantage of the BSD welfare license to pilfer BSD and not really give anything back to the community. I do think all of the armchair "experts" who are posting here giving Apple advice on innovation and business are pretty hilarious, though! And I don't think most cellular telephone purchasers know anything about their cellular telephones -- including most of the ones in this thread.

My numbers were made up just like your "a lot of folks" above was made up.

As far as dredging up a thread, it was only two weeks old and still quite relevant.

That's all well and good, but it doesn't change the fact that in each Apple thread I've bothered to read here, you're in it beating the drum for their products, exaggerating the perceived flaws of the competition and rather snidely putting down some of those who disagree. Sounds pretty fanboy-ish to me.

My point was not about your numbers, but the nature of your assumptions.

 

[king_biscuit]

That's all well and good, but it doesn't change the fact that in each Apple thread I've bothered to read here, you're in it beating the drum for their products, exaggerating the perceived flaws of the competition and rather snidely putting down some of those who disagree. Sounds pretty fanboy-ish to me.

My point was not about your numbers, but the nature of your assumptions.

I'm no more an apple fanboi than you are an Apple hater/Droid fanboi.

 

[GregC]

one thing to remember is that many of us bought into iOS because there was NOTHING even remotely competitive to it. Not being an Apple guy I was waiting for some kind of awesome competitor phone to come out because the iPhone made all of the blackberries and whatnot look like Startacs. iPhone Gen 1 came and went. Then iPhone 3G came and there was still nothing cool competing. There were some lame attempts like Blackberry Storm, etc.. So I broke down and got it. Apple was deep into their 2nd generation when Android finally came out and I don't know how long it was after that when someone finally put it all together into a really good competitor.

I've no doubt that many had good reasons for buying into iOS; I have no interest in putting down iPhone users. But for a good number of people, including me, the amount of time between the introduction of the iPhone and the first decent Android-powered phone was shorter than the term of the contract they were locked into at the time. So the choice was already there the first time I considered a smartphone. (Never owned a Blackberry, I can't stand'em.)

Regarding AT&T's network - that was another thing that convinced me to switch - I had no signal at our land in the country and my friends on AT&T had five bars. it's very specific to geography.

bc

My experience with AT&T is no longer recent, so they may have stepped up their game. But at the time, Verizon (who I'd switched to) was much better where I live (Chicago), as well as the places I regularly traveled to--South Florida, rural North Carolina and NYC.

 

[GregC]

I'm no more an apple fanboi than you are an Apple hater/Droid fanboi.

That's funny, because I've made no assumptions about iPhone users, said nothing good about Droid phones or anything bad about iPhones in this thread, and I own a couple Apple products.