“I hadn’t bought a cellphone since October 2008, when I got the first phone running Google’s Android software, the G1, on its first day on sale. Since then, I’ve reviewed scores of phones for The Associated Press, and I’ve given personal recommendations to friends and family,” Rachel Metz reports for The Associated Press.
“As a gadget reviewer, you’d think it would be easy for me to pick out a new cellphone. I know what’s out there, and I have access to the top devices. At any given time, I have a disturbing number of ‘loaner’ smartphones crowding my desk, waiting to be reviewed or sent back to a handset maker or wireless carrier,” Metz reports. “As it turns out, this made it even harder to make a decision. Part of me felt paralyzed by choice, while another part of me felt no existing phone had everything on my wish list of features. I also hesitated knowing that anything I bought would soon be replaced by a newer model.”
“Finally, the iPhone 4S was announced in October. I reviewed it and was impressed enough with the hardware and new software to brave the launch day crowds and get a white 16-gigabyte model that runs on Verizon Wireless’ network. It cost me $199 and will tie me up with the carrier for two years,” Metz reports. “Now, several weeks later, I’m happy with my decision.”
“Not long after I switched, I got a tempting offer in the mail from T-Mobile. Come back to us, it pleaded, and we’ll give you any smartphone for free,” Metz reports. “For a moment, I imagined returning to T-Mobile’s welcoming arms and snagging a new Android smartphone. I’d pick an expensive one, naturally, as the letter said I could have any one I wanted.”
“Then I remembered why I switched to Apple’s gadget – and changed networks – in the first place. Most people won’t get their hands on as many phones as I have as a gadget reviewer, but chances are they share my desire for getting the best product at the best price,” Metz reports. “For my money, the iPhone 4S gives me the right combination of brains, beauty and reliable service. And so, I set the letter aside and got back to playing around with my new iPhone.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Why settle for anything less than the very best, especially when it costs the same or even less?
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dow C.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Eye-tracking study finds Apple iPhone, iPad draw more attention than Android wannabes – October 28, 2011
Sprint CEO Hesse: Apple iPhone 50% more network efficient than Android phones – October 27, 2011
Android smartphones highly-fragmented; after-sale support lags Apple’s iPhone by wide margin – October 27, 2011
Apple’s Siri makes Google and Microsoft look foolish; begins to cast shadow over the industry – October 25, 2011
And the rest will eventually follow too
To each their own but I just can’t imagine being on Verizon. I can’t work with a client on the phone and view websites, files or any data access while on the phone. AT&T works great in this regard.
+1
Having been an AT&T customer before precludes me from being an AT&T customer again. Having been screwed over and not gotten any satisfaction out of AT&T (post-Cingular buyout, no problems before that) makes me not want to ever deal with AT&T ever again.
Replace “ATT” with “Verizon” and I have the same story. I’ve never been treated so badly.
I have friends who would say that about Sprint/Nextel. So in other words, they’re all ass hats.
The only carrier I ever liked was the *OLD* AT&T Wireless (before the Cingular merger and name switch-back). AT&T pre-Cingular was price competitive, had great coverage, great customer service, and I had a good phone (for the time) – Sony Ericsson T616.
++
Ass hats fighting for their place in line to be the first against the wall when the revolution comes…
No one will rue their passing.
I was in Cupertino, CA two miles from Apple World HQ with an iPad with ATT.
The best I could get was 2-bars 3G when I wasn’t shunted to their Edge network.
At&T? You can keep it.
Your bandwidth was impacted by the Apple HQ RDF. Call the dead zone the mother ship shadow, if you will, bending the space-time continuum.
I don’t doubt your use case, but I have never, ever needed to talk to someone on my iPhone while poking at a small web browser. I find the AT&T commercials so incredibly contrived that they border on ridiculous.
And AT&T sucks in New York.
I have used multiple features/apps requiring internet access while talking on the phone so many times I cannot count so believe me, the ATT ads are not contrived. Just because you live a simple life, doesn’t mean everyone does.
I at the misfortune of being giving a Samsung Galaxy II by my UK network FREE but i at and i have nothing but problem with it and now i hate the thing…i at a iphone3 for over 2 years…i feel so cheated by my network because the give me this crappy phone…that i decided that i will never again using them…and going back to iphone….NEVER AGAIN SAMSUNG
I’ve got a good friend who has had to return his Galaxy II twice now. He was having all sorts of issues with his too. Touch screen not responding, or he’d answer a call and could hear the person but they could not hear him.
Makes me wonder about that model in general. hmm.
> Come back to us, it pleaded, and we’ll give you any smartphone for free…
ANY? Now, that’s desperation for the only major U.S. wireless carrier withOUT iPhone.
AT&T works great in that regard, when AT&T actually works. Try living in SE Michigan with AT&T’s huge dead spots then tell me how great no connection and dropping calls is. I haven’t dropped a call since switching to Verizon on 10/14. I was a loyal AT&T customer for 6 years, I do not regret switching to Verizon! I am quite content talking on my Verizon iPhone 4S, while surfing on my Verizon iPad2.
The primary reason I own a cell phone is to make calls while out and about. If the phone, no matter how great the phone, can’t perform that simple duty due to the horrible network it is tethered to, then I could care less about any other supposed feature / advantage they may have. AT&T needs to concentrate on making their network work everywhere, then they can blow their horn about surfing while talking.
I wonder what AT&T will hang their hat on when the iPhone goes LTE 4G and everyone will be able to surf and talk?
I thought the analyst said the 4S was a disappointing mild upgrade. ???
Moariphone. Keep making it cheaper, keep putting it on more networks and keep making more period to fulfill new demand. The masses of Droid settlers need to be relieved of their pain.
What’s really amazing is that this reporter, who reviews the latest and greatest mobile phones, took 3 years to decide not only to get an iPhone, but ANY new phone.
And then he only gets 16GB. Truly amazing.
@Bizlaw
I believe SHE said that she bought a cell phone in the fall of 2008.
So she wasn’t forced to make a decision for a vwhile. So her process seems reasonable. Yes she did pass up earlier iPhones.
But when someone like her, who seemed to have been platform agnostic, goes thru the process and buysand enjoys her iPhone I think it would be influential and persuasive for others in a similar situation.
Don’t belittle those who buy the 16 GB iPhone. Money is an issue for many.
Others may feel that 16GB may be all they need.
Their next iPhone may be in a different configuration.
The great thing to me is where she wound up and that she is happy with her purchase.