iPhone - 8g or 16g

[SowFam]

I think what she meant was whatever 8GBs they have in stock are the 3G not the 3GS..the 3G I believe will get some of the upgraded iphone software but not all of the features.

From what I've been reading anyone with an iPhone 3G will be able to upgrade to iOS 4 but won't enjoy all of the great features of it. I think that's why Apple is rolling out the 8GB model of the 3GS when they launch the iPhone 4. Most customers with an iPhone 3G will be eligible for an upgrade this year and if they don't want to pay the upgrade price or sign a new contract for the new iPhone 4 then the $99 iPhone 3GS may be right for them.

It looks like they will be phasing out the iPhone 3GS 16GB and 32GB models once all inventory has been sold. This makes sense since the new iPhone 4 is replacing those models in those sizes.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=1574

 

[emma'smom]

As the owner of a 1st Generation iphone (which I love but plan to upgrade since I think the 4G is a big jump in capability from the 3G), I would recommend just waiting until you can buy the 4G (16 vs. 32 is up to you).

Seriously, when things are moving so quickly--don't buy an aging model that will be even more outdated by the time your contract is up when its difference of 100 bucks.

Any software upgrades you can do will be limited by the physical capabilities of the phone. Software upgrades won't add the extra microphone, the front facing camera for face-time calling, etc.

New apps and features will be built off the 4G base. For that minimal price difference, stay ahead of the game. Otherwise you'll end up like a modern version of me where 1/2 the apps won't work on my phone because it isn't fast enough since 1G's and 2G's are now dinosaurs.

 

[hallie615]

I am finally giving in and ordering the new iPhone tomorrow, my questions is 16 or 32??? I really do not want to spend the money on the 32 but i would if people thought I needed it.

I am alos planning on getting the smaller data plan to start with and see how that works?
Any thouughts, I have wanted the stupid phone since it came out but just never gave in to get it, now it is calling my name saying buy me buy me!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I really do not want to spend the money on the 32 but i would if people thought I needed it.

IMO it's a question only you yourself can answer, depending on "how you are".

I myself had no issue going with the 16 because I am coming from a phone that was as basic as basic could get, ie no camera, texting or wireless capability at all. So for me, even the 16 is pretty cool. I expect to do some basic texting and emailing, etc, but not a lot more. I was able to pick my phone up at WalMart for $97 so to me it was a good deal (and seeing how they were literally flying off the shelves, I guess plenty of others thought so too).

I thought about it as being similar to cameras. I do photography, and we go through the same issues with cameras. Which to get? When to upgrade? Will it be enough? Geesh. It's never ending. I "eased into" a camera a few years back and upgraded recently. I figure I'll do the same with the IPhone. Technology is moving so fast, you can never really completely keep up.

I was told about the ability to upgrade the software to my phone, which is nice. Whether I'll actually do it, who knows. (I never got around to it with my last camera and it was still completely fine - for me.) I know I don't have much use for a webcam (I haven't used it yet on my Netbook in a year and a half) and, again, will only use it for basic functions so for me, it's good. I could see how someone else who's into technology or uses it for business might prefer the 32. I did a lot of research beforehand and figured out from what would work best for me.

PS you are going to love your new IPhone. My DH is planning to upgrade from his BlackBerry after playing around with mine.

 

[Green Tea]

I am finally giving in and ordering the new iPhone tomorrow, my questions is 16 or 32??? I really do not want to spend the money on the 32 but i would if people thought I needed it.

I am alos planning on getting the smaller data plan to start with and see how that works?
Any thouughts, I have wanted the stupid phone since it came out but just never gave in to get it, now it is calling my name saying buy me buy me!!!

It truly depends on how much music or movies you want on the ipod. The rest of the functions will be exactly the same. The amount of gigs is just the storage for the ipod. I have an original generation 4 gig phone. Yep, my dinosaur. It holds a lot more songs than I will ever listen to. Buy the one that holds the amount you want your ipod to hold. The rest is the same. If you fly a lot and want movies to stay on there, you might like the 32. If you can switch movies on and off, don't want 50K songs at the touch of a button, the 16 is likely fine.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Green Tea, can I ask you, how many movies does yours hold, out of curiosity? And about how many songs do you have on it?

 

[Green Tea]

Difference is storage between 16 & 32 gigs:

16GB
Up to 4,000 songs
Up to 16 hours video


32GB
Up to 7,000 songs
Up to 40 hours video

If I was buying a new phone now I would absolutely get the newest, 4g phone. As someone said it isn't worth the $100 saved to buy old technology.

 

[Green Tea]

Green Tea, can I ask you, how many movies does yours hold, out of curiosity? And about how many songs do you have on it?

I just looked! Right now I have 405 songs on mine and no movies. It isn't full but if I wanted a movie on there i *think* I would have to take some music off temporarily. I have 3 pages of apps.

The storage amounts I listed were off the Apple website. The 16 gig was from a nano ad; I think the 16 gig iphone would hold a little less than that because the OS takes more space than the nano's. But I'm not positive about that.

I have had mine since they were released. Heavy use every day. Mostly on wifi. Love it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Difference is storage between 16 & 32 gigs:

16GB
Up to 4,000 songs
Up to 16 hours video


32GB
Up to 7,000 songs
Up to 40 hours video

Thank you.

PS I love the fact that you're still using your dinosaur.

If I was buying a new phone now I would absolutely get the newest, 4g phone. As someone said it isn't worth the $100 saved to buy old technology.

This is, again, all about perspective. To some, it absolutely is. You (collectively) might be a single person buying one phone for yourself.

But if you're a) either on a super tight budget, or b) a family, buying, say, 4 phones (like me), along with your own user profile and that of your family, then the 4G may indeed be overkill.

And seeing as we're on the Budget Board, I imagine that many here are looking to save the most money possible, even if it means getting less capability on their IPhone(s).

It's kind of like staying at a Value or Moderate yet still being at WDW, IMO. (Or *gasp* having an inside room while still being on DCL.) Others may disagree.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thank you.

PS I love the fact that you're still using your dinosaur.


This is, again, all about perspective. To some, it absolutely is. You (collectively) might be a single person buying one phone for yourself.

But if you're a) either on a super tight budget, or b) a family, buying, say, 4 phones (like me), along with your own user profile and that of your family, then the 4G may indeed be overkill.

And seeing as we're on the Budget Board, I imagine that many here are looking to save the most money possible, even if it means getting less capability on their IPhone(s).

It's kind of like staying at a Value or Moderate yet still being at WDW, IMO. (Or *gasp* having an inside room while still being on DCL.) Others may disagree.

My DH and I each have the 16GB 3GS and even though its only been a year, we are eligible for an upgrade to the 4G. The one thing attractive to us is the reported longer battery life on the 4G, whcih will be even more important when multitasking is an option. My DH went crazy shooting video and listening to Pandora while in line on our first trip to DL and soon had drained his battery.

The 16 GB is more than enough for both of us, as my DH doesn't store much on his and I just move movies on and off. He uses a lot more data than me, so we will probably keep him on the unlimited plan and move me to the least expensive plan. We may also upgrade him to the 4G and keep my 3GS for a while longer. As noted, each person's use will be different and a different iphone may be appropriate for each. -- Suzanne

 

[Golf4food]

I have a 16GB and wish I had a 32GB. If you intend to use it for an iPod, camera, videos, etc. you will want as much space as you can afford.

 

[Green Tea]

I just looked at the new plans. Yea, while they make a big splash that data is less based on less used, the phone plan has gone way up! I pay $59.99 now for 450 minutes, unlimited data and 200 text messages. The new plans are

$69.99 just for the minutes. Then data adds $15 or $25 and texts are either $5, $15 or $20 a month. So my $60 plan would become a $100 plan and data would be limited.

 

[smacky1]

I just looked at the new plans. Yea, while they make a big splash that data is less based on less used, the phone plan has gone way up! I pay $59.99 now for 450 minutes, unlimited data and 200 text messages. The new plans are

$69.99 just for the minutes. Then data adds $15 or $25 and texts are either $5, $15 or $20 a month. So my $60 plan would become a $100 plan and data would be limited.

$69.99 plan is for unlimited minutes. The 450 plan is 39.99.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you currently have an unlimited data plan you will be grandfathered in.

Same for whatever phone minute plan you have (I did this, had a great Family Plan, no longer available, and was allowed to keep it).

They don't advertise this so you have to be sure you're dealing with someone trustworthy and educated to all the options. Right now even salespeople are very confused about it.

You WILL get different information from different people. In my quest I spoke to ATT customer service several times, went to the ATT store, and went to several WalMarts. (Turns out, for me, WalMart people were both friendly and accurate - which also helped me make my decision - can't say the same for some of the ATT salespeople. One of them tried to pull the wool over my eyes in an attempt to make more money, caught him in a couple of lies.) So it behooves you to do your research ahead of time. You can probably fix it later but it's a PIA.

we will probably keep him on the unlimited plan and move me to the least expensive plan.

You should just check to see if you do this, if you lose the ability to go back to unlimited if you want. That's no longer available.

reported longer battery life on the 4G

This is an issue that I've dealt with on cameras, too. The final nail in the coffin of my latest phone was that the battery life was getting worse and finally not holding a charge. I agree it can be frustrating. I keep chargers in both the car and the house and throw the phone on there regularly. I don't imagine, unless I use it a ton, that it will be an issue that affects me too much or that I'm not ready for. It may be for others.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I just looked at the new plans. Yea, while they make a big splash that data is less based on less used, the phone plan has gone way up! I pay $59.99 now for 450 minutes, unlimited data and 200 text messages. The new plans are

$69.99 just for the minutes. Then data adds $15 or $25 and texts are either $5, $15 or $20 a month. So my $60 plan would become a $100 plan and data would be limited.

This is Apple and ATTs way of subsidizing the cheap cost of the phones that you pay initially. Basically you pay the rest of the cost over the two years of the contract. Buying the phone out of pocket, without a plan would be much more expensive, so they get you either way. It's the cost of using the phone. There are a lot of articles online about this if you google it (for those unfamiliar with the concept).

I'm not sure if someone mentioned this here yet, but the thing about the unlimited data plans is that there were two things happening. Either a) people didn't want to spend the $30 or b) people payed the $30 but used the unlimited data astronomically. They figured that by lowering the price, more people would sign up, especially those never having an IPhone before, and since it was costing them a lot allowing astronomical use of data, they'd "limit" what people could use, and make them pay if they went over. They were pretty clever in that they figured for the vast majority of users, 2G would be plenty.

 

[Green Tea]

$69.99 plan is for unlimited minutes. The 450 plan is 39.99.

The Apple website says one thing, the Att another. My son just did a live chat with ATT and they agreed 39.99 but Apple says the other. I cut and pasted before but took it off bc it is all jumbled. but this is from the apple site

iPhone Voice, Data and Messaging Plans
Whether you buy your iPhone from the Apple Online Store or an Apple Retail Store, or directly from AT&T, you’ll get the same, simple AT&T rate plans. AT&T FamilyTalk plans are also available for up to 5 lines. (FamilyTalk plans are available through Apple Retail Stores and AT&T.)

AT&T NationSM Rate Plans
Plans include Visual Voicemail, Rollover Minutes, and Unlimited Mobile to Mobile.
Anytime Minutes 450 900* Unlimited
Night & Weekend Minutes 5000 Unlimited —
Additional Minutes $0.45/min. $0.40/min. —
Per Month $69.99 $89.99 $99.99
* Includes unlimited calling to any five numbers on any network.
Data Plans
Data will allow you to access the internet, surf the Web, and check email.
Data 200MB 2GB 2GB + Tethering**
Additional Data $15 per 200MB $10 per 1GB $10 per 1GB
Per Month $15 $25 $45
** Tethering allows you to share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop and connect to the Internet. When your iPhone is tethered, you can still send and receive data and make phone calls.
Add a Messaging Plan
Any Messaging Plan can be added to any Voice Plan.†
Messages Pay Per Use 200 1500 Unlimited
Additional Messages 20¢ per text
30¢ per multimedia 10¢ 5¢ —
Per Month — $5 $15 $20

 

[Green Tea]

I would take the plunge and upgrade, but I'm not sure I can keep the unlimited plan. I never made the leap from the first generation to 3G. At that jump you had to change the data plan to the one that was $10 a month more and no longer included any text messages. Now I want to go to 4G, which allows upgrading and keeping the plan, but I don't think it will allow me to keep mine. I will get bumped to limited data, I think.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm not sure I can keep the unlimited plan

You can.

I will get bumped to limited data, I think.

You will not. But you need to make sure you don't when they are entering your upgrade data into the system.

 

[Green Tea]

I couldn't have kept my current plan if I ever moved to 3G. I would love to keep the same one. but if the Apple website is wrong, and it appears it is wrong, then I actually could save a little to switch. But I like what I have. Never any unexpected fees

 

[Pea-n-Me]

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=30854

AT&T*, the U.S. smartphone leader, today introduced new wireless data plans that make it more affordable for more people to enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet. Customers can pick the new data plan that best meets their needs – either a $15 per month entry plan or a $25 per month plan with 10 times more data. Current smartphone customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension.

Doing a little searching around to find the link above, it seems there's a lot of misinformation and confusion out there over this. But it was the one piece of information that everyone I talked to was consistent about.

The two things I saw new today is that it may not apply if you add tethering ?? and there already seem to be some possible scams around. Wow.