[asusean2002]

Agreed, iPhone isn't the greatest phone ever. It is however, the best phone to suit my needs and provide me with all the functionality I desire. That's my point. I like Apple cause for me, they deliver what they say they are going to and the device works with my other stuff great. I'm a fan of Apple products, if that makes me a fanboy, so be it, that's your guy's term, not mine. I don't buy anything solely because it's popular, I buy it to fill a need in my life.

[asusean2002]

Look, the success of a device depends not only on the device's functionality, but the marketing and advertising behind it as well. I'm sorry if mainstream America would rather have (in your words) an inferiror product that's well marketed than a better product that's poorly marketed.

If Dell plans to market their phones like BBerry did the Storm, then I'll chip in now for the gravestones for the two phones. You may not like it, but it's the reality.

I know Apple wasn't the first with touchscreen technology, actually, Bell Labs developed the first Multi Touch device back in '84. Which begs the question, how did Apple patent "Multi-Touch"? Which begs the next question "How will the Pre come out touting a multi-touch screen now that Apple owns Multi-Touch"?

I stand by my decision to buy Apple stuff cause it works for me. That's why I like it. And it's greatly surpassed anything MS has ever done for me or any other tech company except Sony - IN MY OPINION.

[asusean2002]

+ "Nobody said anything about Apple until you chimed in friend.. and
honestly I know Apple users who aren't stupid. I myself used a Mac for
couple of years. (Before they went and cheapened themselves with the
iMac) My remarks are about fanboys who have to bring up Apple somehow
being superior every chance they get. Don't blame me if you lump
yourself in as a fanboy. Thats your problem.+

+My home computer runs Ubuntu linux by the way.. Thats not Microsoft (in
case you didn't realize it) so no need for a service pack.. I think its
you who harbours the sour grapes and jealousy if you ask me... Its hard
to get out from under MS's shadow without knowing something about
computers.. isn't it?"+



How is this not a personal attack? He implies I'm stupid...that's an attack on my person.

[asusean2002]

Try moderating the entire post for a change...



Nobody said anything about Apple until you chimed in friend.. *and
honestly I know Apple users who aren't stupid.* I myself used a Mac for
couple of years. (Before they went and cheapened themselves with the
iMac) My remarks are about fanboys who have to bring up Apple somehow
being superior every chance they get. Don't blame me if you lump
yourself in as a fanboy. Thats your problem.

My home computer runs Ubuntu linux by the way.. Thats not Microsoft (in
case you didn't realize it) so no need for a service pack.. I think its
you who harbours the sour grapes and jealousy if you ask me... Its hard
to get out from under MS's shadow without knowing something about
computers.. isn't it?



That's a personal attack, just FYI.

[HellfireJack]

I'm not implying anything about you friend. You're mistaken. If I wanted to insult you openly I would have. I'm not calling you names or making fun of your lifestyle. Being snarky isn't an attack anymore than your sarcasm is.

[mphenterprises]

There is nothing in that post that approaches the level your post did in relation to being a personal attack. If you feel otherwise, click the Abuse button under the post and report it. All the Member Moderators and the Community Manager review these Abuse reports and a final decision is made.

[BimmerJam]

I'm not calling you a fanboy personally, but there are those that get really annoying. Everything n their minds has tobe measured by the standard of the Iphone/ipod. I also like to research teh best device for the money and Apple wasn't it for me.

Thanks for the info on multi touch. I actually directed the purchase of several of the SAMSUNG devices a while ago when they first were marketed. It killed people that they could cut communication contract costs for pagers and phones. They ddidn't even know what text was.

But like I said, the marketing is what killed the devices, not the quality. The interactive phone book was out years ago but is only hyped by the media once AT&T got the centro Pro. Likewise docking stations and other devices dried up unless it's for the iphone. Please don't take this as an attack, but I hate the sheeple mentality of the market in the U.S. It stifled the innovation on the market for add on devices which can really help out users. I haven't seen a car cradle that is for the iphone yet and the ones for the Palm device dissappeared even though they were great.

I hope the Pre does make it although I won't be buying one because first market devices are usually buggy, even Apples. I like the Google devices because so much can be done with an open OS. Dell won't be the ones that do it, but imagine if you could program your car remote from your phone? The G phones offer solutions that Apple will not be able to touch because of the control driven mindset. It works for some, just not me.

[asusean2002]

Thanks for the post - it's pretty obvious from the tone of a post to determine if it's an attack or not - thanks for presenting your thoughts in a clear manner that provides for good discussion! :-)

Trust me, I'm just as annoyed with those people who are oblivious to the outside world and believe what they have is the best simply because it's theirs. That's just silly. And I respect that the iPhone isn't for everyone - if you need to use it with Exchange, you may as well return it now cause it's sorely lacking on the Enterprise front.

Yeah, I didn't know about the multi-touch being developed by Bell Labs until a few days ago when I was reading about the patent news. Ha, pagers, I remember those!

Yes, mainstream America is nothing but a bunch of trend followers. The SlingBox is another invention/innovation that's been out for a few years, is really interesting technology, yet since it's not owned by a major tech company yet, it gets no publicity. It's a shame and unfortunate that in the end, we as consumers lose out on the latest and greatest technology because some ad-exec can't figure out how to market it to a certain group. The add-on device market you speak about I think is a result of everyone being protective of their technologies, or the big companies requiring the little guys to pay too much of a percentage to get the rights to their property. For iPhone car cradles, check out www.thoughtout.biz - they aren't necessarily specific "car cradles", but they are pretty slick and can be adapted to a car.

I hope the Pre does make it too, because competition is the best thing for us consumers. And you know, that's the first thing I learned about Apple - never buy Gen 1!! Hilarious! Bought my bro the 1st iPod way back when, and that was the last 1st gen Apple product I ever bought. I only bought the iPhone after 2.0 came out - I didn't want to wait for the 3G and didn't want to have to pay more for a data plan.

The G phone certainly shows the most promise of all the phones out there given its open OS. Apple could lose out on some neat features in the future if they don't relinquish a little control at some point. You know, that was the whole reason Apple and Verizon never got into bed together - Apple approached them first, then both companies argued about how much control each would have over devices, support, etc.

It still is absurd that we can use our phones for any number of functions today, can check our email or surf the web from anywhere, yet we can't pick which phone we want then pick which carrier we want. Hopefully the G phone and its open OS will signal a change in this mentality...

[asusean2002]

Fine, if that's not an attack, then:

All people who use Linux are stupid.

[asusean2002]

wait, sorry.

I know some people who use linux and who aren't stupid...

[asusean2002]

So, you've got $1000 to invest in Compaq, Dell, Microsoft, or Apple, who are you going to invest it with?

[BimmerJam]

the add on market was there but due to the massive following for one specific product, or market suppression the consumer lost out. I saw this when I got to singapore in the military and the stores had pre recorded mini disc albums. There was an interface for the computer in Japan but it was regionalized and could not be exported. The reason was that it would have killed the writable CD market and possibly MiniDVR.

On the topic of phones though, I had a cradle for my Treo 600 (until my wife broke my 600) and it was solid. It integrated the phone with the stereo and a charger. The 755 had one but it was never marketed right and getting on now is near impossible. Stereo integration for portable sound is all ipod and Zune. Zune isn't that strong or that good. It could easily be light years better but that's MS. They dont focus on the new market well enough to bring a great product to compete.

The app for cars is already out in Japan, but here it is once again market locked and costly ($75 per month) Lost of good tech out there but our market won't let it in. The open O/S can change all this and it looks like a good possibility. Garmin joined Android 2 months ago and so did Nokia and the just bought the HTC OS. If the right key players sign up and produce the carrieres will have no choice but to work more for the customer.

If Palm is smart they will partner with acer or one of the small laptop companies to re-brand the Folio with expanded memory and a large flash drive using the Pre OS, it would really move the business crowd. It could double as a media and presentation device with less complications than a conventional laptop on a wireless card. If that were produced with a modem tether option (wishful thinking) then they would really be compettitve.

I will bet that Apple will beat them to the market unless the new management wises up.

Thanks for the discussion B-)

[HellfireJack]

Well, I'm sure some people who use Linux are stupid but, personally, I've never met any. I don't run around guffawing at people for their O/S choice. I myself have used just about every major O/S ever released. Heck I've even run Solaris 8 as my desktop computer... I've never even met another person who's tried doing that..



And really I don't get your logic.. You posted "Just sick of listening to baseless claims of how people who buy Apple products are stupid, etc. Jealousy and sour grapes make for one stinky cologne." I responded that I basically knew that wasn't true because I know unstupid Apple users. So..... You accuse me of implying that you are stupid? Are you kidding us? After I explained that I too was a Mac user once upon a time. Am I implying that I'm stupid too then or is it just you that I'm implying that about? Mind you this is after you slander me and get your post removed by a mod. I think someone is doing their best to bait an attack. But I can assure you it won't be coming. I didn't lower myself to attack you to start with and I certainly won't do it now.

So what does your love of Apple products actually have to do with Dell phones? I mean really, I've been to many boards to post my opinion before but never have I ever popped into a post about oranges to tell them I love grapefruit and that all oranges can go to hell if they don't like my opinion.. Its odd that you've come to argue about Apple's grandeur in a thread that has naught to do with Apple. It seems to me your just trolling for an Apple/PC war.

I can't wait to see what Dell comes out with for Android. What are you looking forward to from them?

[bwildasi]

Nailing down a winning name, Dell may want to pass on such as Phon-e, Phown, Dell-Mobile, PhoneAid, WinPhone, Celphon, Hellodell, NewerSys, theDell, ItsaDell, Dell Echo, Ear Spring, Telly, Candybar, PicaDelle, YAP (YetAnotherPhone), ItsaPhone, Twosway, Zippy,
IttyBittyPhone, nanaPhone, Gizmodo, Gagaphone, Personal Assitant, Netpost, Neterminal, TTYmobile, dellContact, DELLite, Dellpac, DellDevice, Handy, GigaSmart, SmartyPhone, GetSmarts, FreePhone, Netphon, RingMyDell, Dell Air, Clear Dell, TeleDell, Celldell, Its4U, D&ELL, Transdell, InDell, DellPin, DellDial, Dell Mini, ClamDell, DellShell, DellPing, RingMe, RingRing, FreeSet, AppsPhone, Dell Connect, ConnectMe, IntelliDell, Dellitel, Dell Radar, DellFinder, SpeakEasy, DellSqueeky, Delltune, Dellicious, Delltube, InfiDell, SmartAir, GreenPhone, MoreDell, HanDell, Gredell, SomePhone, NicePhone, Coolphone, ReDell, DellDial, GoDell, Dell O'Hi, Dell Holdme, Dell Beepy, LessDell, Dell Airnet, Dell Direct, Dell It.

[jordan1988]

I think this is a really great idea.... I would deffinately look directly into getting a Dell produced phone!!! I mean think about it, either way you go your getting atleast 2 of the largest, most famous companies in the world, not to mention these companies actually work. I would have to say I would probably go with Microsoft for the OS though, but IDK yet, because that would be unfair seeing as I have not tested the android yet! But deffinately I would buy a phone from Dell... I mean I love my laptop, XPS and just about anything I have ever used by Dell.... plus they normally have excellent support aside from when you get someone who cannot clearly speak English.... that can suck, but hey!! Just hang up and call back!! HAHA!

[SkateNY]

You can already make phone calls using VoIP with a device known as the iPhone. Also with the iPod touch. All you need to do is download a free application.

[SkateNY]

It never fails to amaze how Sooooo many people so inferior about Apple products that they can't talk about them without using adolscent descriptions such as "fanboy," "Steve Jobs as God," and "drinking the Kool-Aid." Some of you people truly need to get life that goes beyond feeling like a POS just because Apple makes popular products. For most of you, high school was over a very long time ago. Time to move on.

[SkateNY]

http://www.crn.com/mobile/213000154

The Channel Wire
January 30, 2009

Five Reasons Dell Should Leave Smartphones Alone.

Dell is supposedly looking to stick its hand in the already overstuffed smartphone cookie jar, planning devices based on both the Google Android operating system and Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS, possibly within the next month as February's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona creeps closer.

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Dell has been working on smartphone prototypes for more than a year. The prototypes include a device with a touch-screen keyboard, similar to the Apple iPhone, and another device with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, similar to the recently announced Palm Pre.

But the computer giant is joining the party a little too late to actually make a splash.

The smartphone market is already crowded, with the likes of BlackBerry, Apple and Palm jockeying for market share. Can Dell get into the market this late and be successful, while also offering innovative products? Probably not. Sure, Dell has been innovative in other facets of the high-tech biz, but when it comes to smartphones, establishing yourself as a major player in an overcrowded field seems more like a waste of time.

Here are five reasons Dell should pack up its toys and go home, before a smartphone flop blows up in its face.

1. You can't beat the Apple iPhone
Many have tried to dethrone the iPhone from its high perch as king of the touch-screen devices. The BlackBerry Storm has yet to reach the summit, and other competitors from the likes of Sprint, T-Mobile and more are still tackling the first hundred feet. Word is Dell is looking to build its own iPhone clone, a touch-screen smartphone that would rival Apple's consumer device darling. Fat chance, considering Apple managed to unload 2.4 million iPhone 3G models in just its first quarter. Success like that would take something more than a rip-off, and we doubt that Dell has what it takes.

2. Isn't Dell trying to save money?
Granted, smartphones are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, with the iPhone costing around $174 and the BlackBerry Storm costing about $203 per unit, according to a recent iSuppli report. And, oftentimes, smartphone margins are pretty high. But in this time of economic uncertainty, branching into a new market could work against Dell, especially when the company recently revealed a plan to cut $3 billion in operating expenses to combat slumping PC sales.

3. Remember what happened to the Axim?
Dell already tried to crack into the lucrative mobile device market with its Axim line of Windows Mobile-based PDAs. Dell's Axim Pocket PC play, an early iteration of a true smartphone, was short-lived, fizzling out about five years after it made its debut in 2002. The Axim family, which saw several models, was officially discontinued in April 2007 amidst declining sales of PDA form-factor devices, a similar fate suffered by Palm's original line of handhelds. The difference, however, is that Palm forged on, and forged on quickly, capturing early smartphone sales. Dell, on the other hand, let the Axim line die and left it dead for a while before going back to the drawing board. This much time out of the market could work against Dell as it tries to gain traction in a market it abandoned once already. Does any smartphone user want to hang their hat, or their data, on a device made by someone that has already failed in the market?

4. No one likes a Johnny-come-lately
You got to start somewhere, but unless Dell is bringing something new and innovative to the smartphone market, it shouldn't even bother. Of course, Dell hasn't officially made its smartphone intentions known or even confirmed that a smartphone is on its product road map. But if one is, it darn well better be good. If Dell builds a touch-screen, it's already been done. If Dell tries its hand at a 3G device, it's been done ad nauseam. Is there really anything new that Dell can add that hasn't been done already or isn't currently under development by market masters Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd., Apple or a host of others that want their piece of the smartphone pie? Doubtful.

5. Dude, you're gettin' a Dell
Dell has become somewhat notorious for its customer service, or lack thereof. Just this month, Dell reached a $3.85 million settlement with 46 states that complained of customer service abuses by the company. In a statement, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called Dell's abuses "significant," noting "customers faced unacceptable obstacles obtaining warranty service on their Dell computers and others said they never received promised rebates.

"Dell must hit delete and then reprogram and restart customer relations by keeping all its promises. More than the money, this agreement provides profoundly important business practice reforms," Blumenthal continued.

Dell, however, said the issues brought in the legal settlement affected only a "small percentage" of customers, and many of the business practices raised in the complaint had been eliminated by the computer manufacturer before the settlement.

Still, that wasn't the first time Dell was in hot water for shady practices. In May 2008, a New York State Supreme Court Judge said Dell was running a classic bait-and-switch scheme and denying customers promised deals. "Dell has engaged in repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct, including false and deceptive advertising of financing promotions and the terms of warranties, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive practices in credit financing, and failure to provide warranty service and rebates," the judge wrote.

Lawsuits based around customer service issues aren't too enticing to the smartphone-buying public, which is always wary of someone trying to pull a fast one. If Dell expects to succeed in the smartphone market, it had better keep everything above board, or the initiative will go bust before it begins.

[ahawesome]

"Tell me, who did Apple copy with the iPhone? If you decide to copy
something or imitate it, your iteration better far and away exceed the
predecessor otherwise you just look foolish, i.e. BBerry Storm, LG
Dare, etc."



Thank you very much, asusean2002, for saying this. I agree with you 100 percent! Whenever I see a phone that claims to be the next "iPhone killer," I think about how much of a lie that is. For the reason you mention, no touch screen phone created yet has done this. And as far as I'm concerned, none of them ever will if manufacturers continue to do what they are doing now.

[HellfireJack]

I don't get what you're saying SkateNY... "Soooooo many people so inferior about Apple products that they can't talk about them without... " What does that even mean? Do you mean someone feels inferior because of Apple products? Or perhaps you mean Apple products make all men feel inferior.. Quite a philosophical quandry you pose to us... Wait, did you just forget a word or two in there or maybe this is some variant of English I'm not aware of?


And your points... Who referred to an Apple product as a fanboy? Apple products are fine products and most definately do not fall under the fanboy category as they are neither fans nor boys. They're not even human. They are phones and computer products. They're also not Dell products which is what this story is about and I might point out for the sake of the others NOWHERE does anyone claim these phones are "iPhone killers". The only people saying that are people who've come to defend the honour of the lovely iPhone to tell us how much better it is than these as of yet unreleased phones. I might also point out that the person who called asusean2002 a fanboy was asusean2002 himself. So perhaps you should complain to him.



What features do you hope Dell incorporates into these new phones? I tell you.. I'm giddy with anticipation...