iPod Touch or iPhone?

[southern_redhead]

I am really torn on this. I have LONG wanted an iPhone but my husband has always vetoed it as we try to not "re-up" the contract so we can cancel if we ever decide to. Right now we could drop any of our five lines without penalty, I think. I have always made myself feel better about it by reminding myself that the iPhone didn't have a camera with a flash and my Karma did. FF to this summer when I dropped my Karma in the water and replaced it with a dinky but mostly sufficient gophone (still on contract but SIM is in the gophone.) It works okay but I wouldn't say it is quality. I had planned to get an iPod touch as DS has one and loves it. Then the iPhone 4g came out and it appears to have FLASH!! We don't have 4g here, we don't even have reliable 3g (you can sometimes hit a spot but mostly no) so my husband says the phone is useless. I know my son is going to need more storage space on the iPod so I could buy him one of the new ones and take his old one. That still leaves me with the cr@ppy phone, though. OR I am thinking of taking out MY OWN contract and getting the iPhone 4g. For just me it wouldn't be that bad and I don't plan to be without a cell phone or switch to any other carrier any time soon. But then that would leave me buying TWO devices, although then DS could give my husband the old iPod which is something he'd love but refuses to buy for himself. Darn decisions.

My question is this - I don't plan to store movies or tv shows on it but I do want some apps. I also have about 500 songs in my iTunes right now (mostly ripped from my old CD's for sentimental value) and know that I will have at least twice that in music once I get done acquiring all the songs I have on my list to buy. So....if you have an iPhone do you use it as an mp3 very much or do you mostly just use apps and the internet feature? I don't want to get an iPhone and then still have to buy an iPod for my music. I have heard, though, people commenting that the battery on the iPhones can't really suppport everything it is intended for and it frequently runs out and must be recharged. I text quite a bit during the day and I will admit I plan to use the music feature A LOT, I want to stick it in a pocket, snake the earbuds up through my jacket sleeve, and listen to some soothing music to drown out some of the stupidity I hear at work....

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can only tell you about me.

I have a TracFone. I wanted apps Woot had a good deal on an iTouch a few months ago. As far as I'm concerned, I have the best of both worlds - my apps, a cell, and no contract.

My coworker said, just yesterday, that she absolutely could not live without her iPhone. She does some texting (we can't use phones while working), listens to music, has almost as many apps as I do...

Big help, huh? Just two entirely different perspectives. From two young-middle-aged women

 

[MMluvsWDW]

I'm dying for an iPhone. I have the iPod Touch and wish so much that I had internet on it. I'm using an android for a phone and it's so much slower and lags and just doesn't have the UI the iPhone has. Plus I have to keep it pulgged in all day just to use it. My husband has the iPhone. He uses it as an ipod, txts, and used the internet to no end and charges at night. Depending on what you're doing (movies, GPS, etc. it takes more battery).

If you're wanting the internet on a phone I say go for the phone. If you don't care about the internet and carrying two phones get the touch. JMO

 

[syng0]

I have an iPod touch and a Virgin Mifi 2200 hotspot device (about the size of a few credit cards) which is great. I carry both around and have unlimited access to wifi everywhere I go for $40 no contract ! I can start and stop service whenever I want. it's great for streaming pandora, using Internet but not recomended if you want to stream video like Netflix since the speed is not quite that fast. check it out and if coverage is in your area, that might be an option for you if you don't want to be tied to a contract. Good luck making your decision !

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Just a quick FYI the 4g does not mean the network type on the iPhone. You will only get 3g service on an iPhone 4g(eneration). That said I find the cost of that data plan too high.

 

[southern_redhead]

I have an iPod touch and a Virgin Mifi 2200 hotspot device (about the size of a few credit cards) which is great. I carry both around and have unlimited access to wifi everywhere I go for $40 no contract ! I can start and stop service whenever I want. it's great for streaming pandora, using Internet but not recomended if you want to stream video like Netflix since the speed is not quite that fast. check it out and if coverage is in your area, that might be an option for you if you don't want to be tied to a contract. Good luck making your decision !

Thanks, I guess that is one other thing I didn't mention. We have wifi at work but our vice principal won't give out the password to access the network so....that was another benefit of the phone, having the mobile internet. OTOH it wouldn't get used THAT much because I am busy as heck almost all day, no time to even sit at one of the regular computers we have. It would just come in handy on occassion when I don't want to leave my area to go to the computer lab to look at something real quick. I use my laptop for wifi at home or in hotels and such, I don't really like the 'net on my son's touch so I wouldn't use either device as the primary way to log onto the internet. I do like having the option ANYWHERE though (as opposed to only at home/hotels or public hotspots where I am given the code...) Before I get flamed, it isn't that I think we should all be able to access the wifi at school, I get that there are a few who would never work, they'd always be playing on their laptop or whatever.

 

[Suz725]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE My IPhone 4...wouldn't trade it for anything...I have an Ipod but I use my phone more than anything. I have no issue with the battery on the 4...my old Iphone battery was awful..I had to recharge a couple times a day

 

[syng0]

Just FYI, The mifi device I'm referring to here is portable ! that means you can access your own wifi anywhere you want without using work or another source wifi. I bring it to work, to the pool, to Disney and anywhere I want since it is so small and we can connect up to 5 devices to it ! Laptop, iPod etc....it's great and no contract for unlimited wifi access ,

Thanks, I guess that is one other thing I didn't mention. We have wifi at work but our vice principal won't give out the password to access the network so....that was another benefit of the phone, having the mobile internet. OTOH it wouldn't get used THAT much because I am busy as heck almost all day, no time to even sit at one of the regular computers we have. It would just come in handy on occassion when I don't want to leave my area to go to the computer lab to look at something real quick. I use my laptop for wifi at home or in hotels and such, I don't really like the 'net on my son's touch so I wouldn't use either device as the primary way to log onto the internet. I do like having the option ANYWHERE though (as opposed to only at home/hotels or public hotspots where I am given the code...) Before I get flamed, it isn't that I think we should all be able to access the wifi at school, I get that there are a few who would never work, they'd always be playing on their laptop or whatever.

 

[sasmmb]

Like syng0 I have an iTouch and a Mifi (Verizon though), and love it! I think so much of your decision should be based on carrier. The iPhone is only on AT&T at the moment. I travel quite a bit and AT&T has spotty service and dropped calls in the places I go. Rumor has it that iPhone will support Verizon in January. You didn't mention what carrier you have currently and if you are happy with it. My husband had a Blackberry thru work on AT&T and was offered to switch out to an iPhone and since it was the same carrier with no Verizon option, he changed to the iPhone.

As for battery life, if you turn off the feature to automatically check for email, that saves it from draining the battery in 2 hours to about 1 day. This is true for both iTouch and iPhone.

So I stick with my ridiculously old phone on Verizon, and my iTouch and MiFi for internet, Facebook, check email, cool Apps, etc. I originally got it just for the Apps but so many apps need wifi connection that I was sick of not having that and got the mifi.

Now I can be a passenger in a car without GPS and turn my devices on and direct the driver on where to go. Lots of cool benefits to that.

Now that being said, I still use my old iPod for music as it has much bigger storage capacity and is physically smaller which makes it easier to fit in my pocket when I go for walks.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[dfchelbay]

I am really torn on this. I have LONG wanted an iPhone but my husband has always vetoed it as we try to not "re-up" the contract so we can cancel if we ever decide to. Right now we could drop any of our five lines without penalty, I think. I have always made myself feel better about it by reminding myself that the iPhone didn't have a camera with a flash and my Karma did. FF to this summer when I dropped my Karma in the water and replaced it with a dinky but mostly sufficient gophone (still on contract but SIM is in the gophone.) It works okay but I wouldn't say it is quality. I had planned to get an iPod touch as DS has one and loves it. Then the iPhone 4g came out and it appears to have FLASH!! We don't have 4g here, we don't even have reliable 3g (you can sometimes hit a spot but mostly no) so my husband says the phone is useless. I know my son is going to need more storage space on the iPod so I could buy him one of the new ones and take his old one. That still leaves me with the cr@ppy phone, though. OR I am thinking of taking out MY OWN contract and getting the iPhone 4g. For just me it wouldn't be that bad and I don't plan to be without a cell phone or switch to any other carrier any time soon. But then that would leave me buying TWO devices, although then DS could give my husband the old iPod which is something he'd love but refuses to buy for himself. Darn decisions.

My question is this - I don't plan to store movies or tv shows on it but I do want some apps. I also have about 500 songs in my iTunes right now (mostly ripped from my old CD's for sentimental value) and know that I will have at least twice that in music once I get done acquiring all the songs I have on my list to buy. So....if you have an iPhone do you use it as an mp3 very much or do you mostly just use apps and the internet feature? I don't want to get an iPhone and then still have to buy an iPod for my music. I have heard, though, people commenting that the battery on the iPhones can't really suppport everything it is intended for and it frequently runs out and must be recharged. I text quite a bit during the day and I will admit I plan to use the music feature A LOT, I want to stick it in a pocket, snake the earbuds up through my jacket sleeve, and listen to some soothing music to drown out some of the stupidity I hear at work....

Just an FYI if you get the Iphone, you are required to get the data plan, which I believe is about $40.00 (or more) per month, in addition to the regular cost of the cell phone service. So, for your separate plan, it will be at least $100 or more per month, just for your phone.

Last year, my DH phone began acting up and we went to Walmart and bought him another phone for $29.00. It has phone, text, internet, camera, etc. So, maybe that's an option to look into. GO to Walmart or Best Buy and look at the phones that you can just put your sim card into and go. Then, purchase the Ipod Touch. You'll get all your Apps, can go online (wifi), and listen to your music, podcasts (audio and video), etc. Best of both worlds and not locked into any contract., and save $100 per month.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Then the iPhone 4g came out and it appears to have FLASH!!

Do you mean it can run Flash programs or it has a flash for the camera? It does not run flash programs, but does have a camera flash.

I have an iPhone 4 (upgraded from a 3G) and love it. I use apps, and also store music and videos, as well as use the internet. If you buy a Touch, you can only use the internet if you can access a wireless connection; with the phone, you can access the internet over the phone lines. Of course, I also use the phone.

You do not want to get an iPhone with a separate plan. It's far cheaper to add it to an existing plan. If you get an iPhone, you're carrying one device; if you get a regular phone and a Touch, that's two things to carry.

 

[lucigo]

I had been considering an IPhone for a while, but really didn't want the extra $20-30 a month on my phone bill for internet, so I ended up getting and Ipod touch. I HATE the touch keyboard and I'm so glad that I just got the Ipod and kept my blackberry for texting (I got it before an internet plan was required). So my vote is for 2 devices. I do love the apps. The other issue here is that my kids play with my Ipod a LOT so this way I still have my phone even when they have my toy LOL!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I have an iPhone and use it for apps, web browsing, music, games and now TV and movies, since they came out with Netflix for the iPhone. I am also bringing it to WDW for the first time, so I have about 7-8 Disney apps. I was worried about Att service but I have had very little in the way of dropped calls..there are certain dead spots in my house but, my tmobile phone does that too(my work phone that I use for when I'm on call).


I love it. But, that new iPod touch looks pretty cool too. It has the retina display, two cameras, Internet and multitasking, like the iPhone. If you really can't do a contract, I'd go with the iPod touch.

 

[beccasmom]

I have an iPod Touch and really love it! I want to get an iPhone, but will not because I don't want the AT&T service contract. We're with Verizon (get a good discount through work) and are really happy with the service (although it is more costly than I would like).

So for now I'm sticking with my BlackBerry, which is a really nice phone too. I'll switch to the iPhone if it ever gets to Verizon!

 

[luvthemouse71]

Just FYI, The mifi device I'm referring to here is portable ! that means you can access your own wifi anywhere you want without using work or another source wifi. I bring it to work, to the pool, to Disney and anywhere I want since it is so small and we can connect up to 5 devices to it ! Laptop, iPod etc....it's great and no contract for unlimited wifi access ,

I have the Virgin Mobile Mifi too...bringing it to Wdw Thursday with my iPad ( I have a thing for gadgets).

Forgot to mention, you can also tether the iPhone to laptops and such( not the iPad though)

 

[southern_redhead]

Like syng0 I have an iTouch and a Mifi (Verizon though), and love it! I think so much of your decision should be based on carrier. The iPhone is only on AT&T at the moment... You didn't mention what carrier you have currently and if you are happy with it.

So I stick with my ridiculously old phone on Verizon, and my iTouch and MiFi for internet, Facebook, check email, cool Apps, etc. I originally got it just for the Apps but so many apps need wifi connection that I was sick of not having that and got the mifi.

Now I can be a passenger in a car without GPS and turn my devices on and direct the driver on where to go. Lots of cool benefits to that.

Now that being said, I still use my old iPod for music as it has much bigger storage capacity and is physically smaller which makes it easier to fit in my pocket when I go for walks.

Good luck on your decision!

Excellent points. We use AT&T currently. Verizon in our area is PITIFUL. I doubt I'd change from AT&T, not in the next 2 years anyway.

I guess I need to check into the MIFI thing. Is it...big? I just picture some huge fob thing sticking out from a port. I really need to google image search LOL Thanks to everyone for the info - new things to ponder!

 

[southern_redhead]

Do you mean it can run Flash programs or it has a flash for the camera? It does not run flash programs, but does have a camera flash.

I have an iPhone 4 (upgraded from a 3G) and love it. I use apps, and also store music and videos, as well as use the internet. If you buy a Touch, you can only use the internet if you can access a wireless connection; with the phone, you can access the internet over the phone lines. Of course, I also use the phone.

You do not want to get an iPhone with a separate plan. It's far cheaper to add it to an existing plan. If you get an iPhone, you're carrying one device; if you get a regular phone and a Touch, that's two things to carry.

Camera flash, yes, sorry! I miss the superbright flash from my Shine and Karma!

 

[syng0]

It's the size of 4-5 credit cards stacked up. very small !

Excellent points. We use AT&T currently. Verizon in our area is PITIFUL. I doubt I'd change from AT&T, not in the next 2 years anyway.

I guess I need to check into the MIFI thing. Is it...big? I just picture some huge fob thing sticking out from a port. I really need to google image search LOL Thanks to everyone for the info - new things to ponder!

 

[Noah]

If I were you, I would check out the newest ipod touch model. i believe there is a video camera on it. If it can do video camera, it can probably take pictures too.

Also, in order to own an iphone you need a data plan. If you don't need internet on the road, definitely stick to the ipod touch and use the wifi at home. This will save you $30 a month of phone bill.

 

[tlbwriter]

One reason I insisted on the iPhone is because I didn't want a separate MP3 player and phone. You don't have to renew your contract with AT&T - you can buy one without a subsidy (but you'll pay more) or you buy one from eBay (and again, you'll pay more). I wouldn't worry too much about needing to change phone companies unless you do that often, or are planning to move. Also, while the apps do suck up the battery life, the iPod function doesn't. Last week I went to the grocery store and saw my battery was at 14% and said oh well, I'll listen to music anyway for a few minutes until it runs out. I wandered around the grocery store for almost an hour, and when I was done, my battery life was still at 14%. And this was with a 3Gs - supposedly the 4 is even better.