Bring It On

Yeah, just like that. Since 2004 I've been using Orange SPV E200, which is actually produced by HTC and known by the name HTC Voyager. It was my first smartphone that worked reasonably well and the one that ran .NET micro framework under Windows Mobile 2003.

I've been thinking about the upgrade for quite some time now but the prices of the new models have been everything but affordable, so I waited. Some of the newer Windows Mobile phones looked really nice and me being a Windows .NET developer that would be the most logical choice.

Then I realized that I don't actually have to buy a Windows based phone ;) and that maybe I should consider iPhone as well. This coincided well with the launch of iPhone 3G that fixed several issues I had with the original iPhone: the price isn't insanely expensive any more, the phone is reasonably capable for the modern phone (read: has 3G) and the thing that decided for me: I could keep my old subscription (and not pay 49€ for "unlimited" Internet which is actually limited to HTTP, POP and 500MB per month)! I don't think many providers in Europe offer this but Orange here in France does.

In the end, the phone cost me exactly the same as would a brand new HTC Diamond - 179€. Considering how all of the reviews of HTC Diamond noted the sluggishness of the UI where the iPhone's UI is really fluid, it was no contest in the end.

Besides, I am a bit curious about the Mac platform itself and will most likely soon buy a MacBook (as soon as new models come out, supposedly very soon). Make no mistake, I still stay first and foremost a Windows developer (thus the MacBook will be dual-boot with Vista x64), but I simply want to see what all the hype is about.

For now, I am really pleased with the iPhone 3G, but keep in mind: it's just a phone. I really don't understand people who stood in lines for days to get ahold of one. I had to wait a week or so until the phone was on stock (it sold out within 2 hours of availability), ordered it online and got it two days later, no fuss.

One final and important note: through iTunes (a bit weird), I was able to move everything important from the Outlook 2003 into iPhone: contacts, emails and tasks. It just worked.

More detailed review of iPhone will follow once I get to use the phone a bit and get to know its dark side too.