I want an iPhone! and AppleTV!

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

The problem with cell phones in power outages isn't the phone batteries, it's the fact that the cell towers are connected to the grid and they out with the power.

Ya beat me to it.

Additionally, the land-line systems have generator backups as well.

Again, not infallible; just more reliable.

[NirvanaMan]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

The problem with cell phones in power outages isn't the phone batteries, it's the fact that the cell towers are connected to the grid and they out with the power.

Well if there is such an immediate crisis that would force me to make emergency calls while the power also happens to be down...then it is likely that the land lines would be overloaded for calls as well.

I guess I'm willing to take my chances for what I see as such a small improbability...besides...I've got a Range Rover in case of emergency that should get me most anywhere I need to go. And I'll bring the swords and guns just in case.

WOLVERINES!!!!

[NirvanaMan]

Agree with Alex. DSL blows. Drop the landline. I haven't had one in 6 years.

Hmmm lots of negative stuff on here about cingular/att. That was my leading new cell phone provider choice but maybe I should reconsider. Not sure who to go with then. I have t-mobile now and the coverage is terrible. Constantly dropping calls. I have had PCS in the past and that certainly has its limitations. Verizon might be ok, but I don't like any of their smart phones.

Oh back the the iPhone bit, I think it looks smart and has a few killer new features, like that selectable voicemail. However, I think the lack of a real keyboard will make it difficult to use it for frequent text and email use. The touchscreen lacks the tactile feedback of real keys and will make fat fingering highly likely and will make it difficult to type without looking at the screen. Also, why in gods name is it not 3G enabled? That seems like the most blatent mistake. I can't imagine what they were thinking on that one.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, I'm completely satisfied with my DSL, so it's just a bonus that I can keep my land line for the occassional old fashioned call, and the non-power-dependent reliability.

Heheh, I don't even know what 3G is, so I'm not bothered by it being missing from the iPhone. But if I were to need an internet portable, a keyboard would be a must. And I never want to go without touch buttons at any rate.

Considering how often real-life conditions prevent various screens from being visible, I hesitate to use any device that relies on it exclusively.

[€uroMeinke]

Hmmm considering T-Mobile and Cingular are both GSM and share cell towers I would expect their coverage to be nearly the same - at least here in So Cal.

[Alex]

I've had absolutely no trouble with Sprint. But the only thing I do with my phone is make phone calls so my demands are minimal.

[Kevy Baby]

Hmm... I hadn't considered the keyboard factor. That is one of the things I like about the MDA.

As far as TMobile is concerned (in regards to coverage), I have less problems with it than Verizon. Verizon wasn't bad, I just get better coverage with TMobile. YMMV

I was concerned about the coverage issue when I switched to TMobile. Their standard policy is that if you return the phone and cancel your service within 30 days, you will only be charged the pro-rata for the month's service. I think that others have the same policy and it might be worth checking out.

[NirvanaMan]

Kevy I believe you are correct. I may just do that. Try out Cingular and Verizon and see which I like better....or at least dislike less. I do like the Cingular 8525 phone best of all I have looked at.

HBTF- I thought it was that, but I am now on phone #3 with T-Mobile, so I am pretty certain it is not a phone issue, but rather a network problem.

Oh and 3G is the broadband speed internet access cell phone standard for GSM. Edge is the older outdated slower standard. Every new smart phone that has been developed in recent times and for the future is to have 3G capability, so it is terribly strange that the iPhone isn't going to embrace it.

[Kevy Baby]

One other thing to think about NM is the phone itself. I am not sure if you mean "three different models" or "three of the same phone". I know that Susan's Razr gets better reception than my MDA (both on TMobile).

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

Hmmm considering T-Mobile and Cingular are both GSM and share cell towers I would expect their coverage to be nearly the same - at least here in So Cal.

I would think that too - but I've had much better coverage with T-Mobile than Cingular. Barely had Cingular coverage at my old place but I had great T-Mobile coverage. T-Mobile has some of their own towers and uses some of Cingular's as well. Last time I went to Vegas my friend and I were comparing bars. She's on Cingular. My phone consistently had better service (she has a basic Nokia).

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

HBTF- I thought it was that, but I am now on phone #3 with T-Mobile, so I am pretty certain it is not a phone issue, but rather a network problem.

Could be. I have a Motorola V360 which has better reception than the Pebl (and better battery life). I do know that the Q from VW sucks.