Thoughts on my iPhone – 3 Years Later

It’s been about 3 years since I bought my 1st generation iPhone 2G and I’m still using it. The device has held up remarkably well over the years. Yes, it’s a little slower now and no longer receiving any updates from Apple (not compatible with OS 4), but I can still make/receive calls, surf the web and everything else the iPhone is capable of.

I thought the iPhone was the perfect device when I brought it home from the Apple Store. It’s still a great phone. Then, less than a year later, the App Store was unveiled and suddenly the iPhone became even more powerful. A whole new world of possibilities opened up.

One of the first apps I downloaded was eReader from Fictionwise. Shortly thereafter, I did some traveling and read two entire books just on my iPhone while on the plane. Great times!

From Full Use to Limited Use of the iPhone

But over the last 3 years I began to realize that the iPhone had so many features that I didn’t use them all. At the app store, I found myself buying a lot of apps (I don’t even want to think how much I’ve spent), only to use them once or twice and then they’d linger on my iPhone until I finally deleted them.

I began to think, I wasn’t taking advantage of all the phone had to offer. For example, the iPhone has a great internet browser. Yet I only went to 2-3 sites regularly. However, most of the time when I needed access to the internet, I had access my computer and home WiFi.

As far as apps go, there were 3 apps that I used on a daily basis. Maybe 4. That’s it. There is one game that I play frequently. But I don’t need a contract with AT&T to use those apps. An iPod Touch would be perfect for my needs.

I even found myself not reading ebooks on my iPhone. That task was relegated to my Sony Pocket Reader.

My Decision to Switch to a Blackberry

Because I used my iPhone for 3 years, my contract had expired and I was free to switch phones and plans at any time. So about a week ago I headed to my local AT&T store and got the new Blackberry Pearl 9100. The phone has exactly what I need, plus a great battery life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not turning into a Blackberry evangelist, it does have its limitations. As a Mac user, I can’t easily sync my iCal with the Blackberry Calendar. I have to use my Google Calendar as a “middleman” to sync my busy schedule. Same for tasks and contacts. And while my Blackberry does sync with iTunes, it can only load non-DRM songs. So all those songs I bought during the early days of iTunes aren’t compatible.

In the scheme of things, these are minor annoyances. I don’t plan on listening to a lot of music on my Blackberry. My schedule and tasks are mostly managed on my Mac.

Nevertheless, the Blackberry is all the phone I need, with the features I’ll really use, and the price is right.

Sometime down the road I’m eventually going to buy a newer generation iPod Touch. So I’m not planning to abandon Apple at all. I love iTunes and everything else that comes with my Mac.

Experimenting With Multiple Devices

The iPhone is a great multi-use phone. There’s no doubt about that. When I told my family and friends that I had my eye on a Blackberry, they were puzzled, know how much I loved my iPhone.

I like to experiment with different devices made by different manufactures. It’s just a curiosity of mine. Maybe 2 years down the road when my current AT&T contract expires, I’ll hate everything about Blackberry. Maybe I’ll love it. But I at least want to give it a chance.

What do you prefer, iPhone or Blackberry or something else? Why? Leave a comment below with your answer!

Related Posts

• Apple Announces New iPhone 4
• I finally have an iPhone
• Apple rolls out new iPhone 3GS, lower pricing
• iPhone One Step Closer to Being Perfect Ebook Reader!
• iPhone Review – One Month Later

Read More: Technology