$99 iPhones at Wal-Mart? > Trained? Really?

reply to N3OGH

Re: Trained? Really?

"You are an anomaly in not finding happy iPhone users.".

It could be that all of the people I know that have iPhones are also co workers...

I don't deny the iPhone is both well liked and popular, I was just citing my personal experience.

I certainly don't doubt your chart, especially the rating on the Palm. I hated that thing.
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power…

reply to Dogfather
As I've said before, the iPhone is ONE model of phone, while the other manufacturers have dozens of phones. Sure, Apple can make ONE nice phone, but can they make 10 or 20 really good ones like RIM, LG or Nokia?

Question is do they need to? Apple outsells all WM handsets combined. Apple outsells all RIM handsets combined. (In the US sales from what I read anyway).

reply to Dogfather
While 79 percent is impressive, this survey is not comprehensive. It first states it used 3,597 consumers. However, there are several flaws with this survey, which make me not take this data at face value.

It should be first noted, the Iphone was released in July 2007 and this survey was done in march. That is ample time for someone to test out their phone, but this leads to one major problem and FLAW.

Of those people surveyed, I did not see a qualifier on time of ownership. Maybe 2000 of these people owned their Iphone for a few weeks? It's like buying a shiny new car, it's always great when you first get it, but constant use tends to show the major bugs. People are on their new item "High". This is a MAJOR oversight on this survey which lends a great doubt to it's accuracy. A good Pre Qualifier on this empirical data would have been a minimum ownership. I did not see this. So 79 percent being happy, while impressive, is something I fail to take at face value. Re-conduct this survey now, and see what the data shows is my thought.

reply to Dogfather
Your thing about the RIM handsets doesn't match up with what I've seen- the iPhone outsells any RIM model by themselves, but not combined.

reply to Dogfather
That may be true, but I think a more realistic comparison would be all Apple phones vs. all Blackberry phones, or all Nokia phones, etc. What everyone fails to realize is that the iPhone is ONE model of phone, whereas BB or Nokia puts out dozens of models.

It's akin to saying the Explorer has sold more than the Tahoe or Suburban or Trailblazer; sure it has, but does that mean Ford sells more than Chevy? Of course not. Comparing one model to a group of models just doesn't make sense.

Surprised some one hasn't picked up on this yet:

How can you compare Apples to Oranges Blackberries ?
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The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

reply to Dogfather

That's actually a really good point about people's first experience with a smartphone being the iPhone... new owners tend to be more satisfied than those who have had the device for awhile and found all the little annoying bits that you ignore or miss at first. Also, new devices tend to work better than old devices...

I wouldn't be surprised if that's also part of the reason Palm's scores are so low- they haven't done much to get new users lately, so a big bulk of the users are probably experienced Treo types who have been suffering with outdated devices for years thanks to Palm's inaction and have only stuck with Palm out of misguided loyalty.

reply to Dogfather
Who is going to spend $400 on an iPhone, then openly admit that it's a horrible phone and that the only reason they bought it was to make sure their e-penis is just as long or longer than everyone elses?

Ever think that's the reason why 79% of all iPhone users are happy?

No. Again, as stated eloquently above, the first time one uses any cool new thing -- of its type -- for the first time, one is impressed.

First time DVR users, of whatever brand, are amazed and astounded (and loyal) when they see what they can do.

First time converged device (SmartPhone/PDA/etc.) users are amazed at what they can do with a single device, and are impressed and loyal... for the honeymoon period at least. Many iPhone users have never owned a cell phone that could do what the iPhone can do, so it's all new to them. (By contrast, some of us greeted it with a yawn.) The iPhone is still in its honeymoon period, not to mention that Apple is typically a heck of a lot better at satisfying users than Palm or Microsoft.

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In a realm outside causality and function

reply to Wills