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[betterslac]

Are Android phones out of the question?

I think she is smitten by the Iphone's design and interfaces. She really doesn't use what she has for much more than phone calls now, though if she gets one, she will probably use it for some internet surfing.

[elsie]

I didn't even text on my old phone, but the ability to text for free iPhone to iPhone is one of the things that has made the 4S good for me. The best thing though, as far as I'm concerned, is the ability to use Siri to make reminders that sink with my Office Exchange on campus.

[pink_]

Betterslac,

You are aware that there's a 30 day return window on the iPhone, right? She can try it and see how she likes it for a couple of weeks, and if she doesn't love it (or really like it), she can go back to her old phone and wait for something else.  I spent a good hour in the apple store over the weekend trying to see whether or not I could get used to the mini-touchscreen keyboard, and that was really helpful, but I found that it wasn't until I got it home, got it set up with my apps, and really started to put it through it's paces by actually using it, that I could make up my mind.

[pigou]

Are Android phones out of the question?

I think she is smitten by the Iphone's design and interfaces. She really doesn't use what she has for much more than phone calls now, though if she gets one, she will probably use it for some internet surfing.

She may want to look at some of the new Android phones as well. Which interface (and applications) one prefers is a matter of taste. The biggest difference for me is that Apple's iOS does not support widgets - controls for applications that run right on your home screen, without having to open the application first. This is particularly useful for weather apps or pandora, where all the relevant information (and controls) are accessible right from the home screen. I don't think the phones themselves are short of Apple's offering either. Consider, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus Engadget Review. The HD Super AMOLED screen is quite amazing, though the phone may be a little too big for some people.

I'd strongly recommend a trip to both the apple store and best buy - just to get a fuller picture of what's available. I'm sure she will be happy with the iPhone, but I wouldn't purchase it without first looking at alternative options. Smartphones have come a long way in the past few years.

[aandsdean]

Are Android phones out of the question?

I think she is smitten by the Iphone's design and interfaces. She really doesn't use what she has for much more than phone calls now, though if she gets one, she will probably use it for some internet surfing.

She may want to look at some of the new Android phones as well. Which interface (and applications) one prefers is a matter of taste. The biggest difference for me is that Apple's iOS does not support widgets - controls for applications that run right on your home screen, without having to open the application first. This is particularly useful for weather apps or pandora, where all the relevant information (and controls) are accessible right from the home screen. I don't think the phones themselves are short of Apple's offering either. Consider, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus Engadget Review. The HD Super AMOLED screen is quite amazing, though the phone may be a little too big for some people.

I'd strongly recommend a trip to both the apple store and best buy - just to get a fuller picture of what's available. I'm sure she will be happy with the iPhone, but I wouldn't purchase it without first looking at alternative options. Smartphones have come a long way in the past few years.

I just got back from an international trip, and now I'm CRAVING the new Samsung Galaxy Note.  It's got a 5.4" screen, so it's quite big, but OMG is the screen beautiful.  And the virtual keypad is noticeably bigger than it is on my HTC Thunderbolt.

At the moment no US carrier has it, though I gather AT&T is going to get it soon (currently it's only available in GSM, not CDMA, which is what Verizon and Sprint use).  It's super, super cool, though, and I can see it being an invaluable travel companion.  I salivate at the idea of using its GPS features.

[wegie]

I just got back from an international trip, and now I'm CRAVING the new Samsung Galaxy Note.  It's got a 5.4" screen, so it's quite big, but OMG is the screen beautiful.  And the virtual keypad is noticeably bigger than it is on my HTC Thunderbolt.

At the moment no US carrier has it, though I gather AT&T is going to get it soon (currently it's only available in GSM, not CDMA, which is what Verizon and Sprint use).  It's super, super cool, though, and I can see it being an invaluable travel companion.  I salivate at the idea of using its GPS features.

<smugness on>
Had one for two months now ;-)
</smugness off>

The best thing is that for short trips, it completely replaces a computer as well as a phone, and with the stylus as well, you can make notes. Even WH, who called me a size queen when I got it, has tried making notes with the stylus, and has noticeably stopped complaining. And as it's almost the size of a paperback, it's a perfect size for reading, particularly on trips where you're stuck in economy class or on a crowded train.

And for good measure, the carrier subsidy I'm getting over here means it's *much* cheaper than a 4S to both buy and operate!

[aandsdean]

I just got back from an international trip, and now I'm CRAVING the new Samsung Galaxy Note.  It's got a 5.4" screen, so it's quite big, but OMG is the screen beautiful.  And the virtual keypad is noticeably bigger than it is on my HTC Thunderbolt.

At the moment no US carrier has it, though I gather AT&T is going to get it soon (currently it's only available in GSM, not CDMA, which is what Verizon and Sprint use).  It's super, super cool, though, and I can see it being an invaluable travel companion.  I salivate at the idea of using its GPS features.

<smugness on>
Had one for two months now ;-)
</smugness off>

The best thing is that for short trips, it completely replaces a computer as well as a phone, and with the stylus as well, you can make notes. Even WH, who called me a size queen when I got it, has tried making notes with the stylus, and has noticeably stopped complaining. And as it's almost the size of a paperback, it's a perfect size for reading, particularly on trips where you're stuck in economy class or on a crowded train.

And for good measure, the carrier subsidy I'm getting over here means it's *much* cheaper than a 4S to both buy and operate!

I used to love you,
But it's all over now...

[wegie]

Sigh. First it was P_S and my dinner out, now it's Andsdean and my phone :-(

I will say that the battery is almost as bad as an iphone -- but running wifi, the monster screen, and various multimedia bits in tandem was always going to be a killer. The good news is that as it's a removable battery, one can buy replacements and have a couple charged up for really long journeys.

Additionally, the SD card slot means I can carry more media if required. WH and I have something like 80gb of music between us, so being able to just have more on a card was a point over the iPhone 4S, as I would have had to have bought a 64gb to compete (the 3GS this beast replaces was groaning at the seams). SD cards are a lot cheaper.

It also plays well with other devices, particularly those that are DNLA certified. The first day I had the beast, I had no problem streaming a ripped mp4 over wireless from the NAS in the front room. I haven't yet tried to make it play ball with my wireless-compatible TV, but I suspect it will be fine.

My only real complaint is that a couple of the really useful apps for living in this neck of the woods are iPhone only, and nothing on the android market is really as good.

[infopri]

Until two months ago, I was using a phone so old that the company I got it from no longer exists.  Let's just say there were no smartphones when it was made.  But I finally broke down and decided to get a smartphone, and I went for the iPhone 4S.  (I already had an iTouch--which is basically an iPhone without the actual phone---that I'd gotten for free about a year ago, so I had a good idea of what the iPhone would be like.)  I love it, but with reservations.

Siri is a big disappointment.  For most things, she understands me fine, and when she does what she's supposed to, she's pretty amazing.  But more often than not, she tells me she can't help me at this time.  (Presumably, the servers are busy?)  And her voice-dialing capabilities--my biggest reason for wanting her--are pretty terrible.  I've given up on voice dialing--even in the car--and just do it manually.  Also, there are times she turns on for no apparent reason when I'm in the middle of doing something else, like making a phone call.  If I have my Bluetooth earpiece in, she talks way too loud, even though the volume is set properly for ordinary human voices.  I'm beginning to really hate Siri.  She's not ready for prime time, IMHO.

But otherwise, I love the phone.  Like someone upthread, I'd been hoping/expecting that the 4S would have 4G, but the truth is that the 3G+ is fast enough for me.  So far, I haven't noticed any delays in getting my data, etc.

[mended_drum]

I'm still using the iphone 3gs, which I got for $45 when the 4 came out.  I'll upgrade to the the iphone 4 when the 5 comes out.

Yes, I'm cheap enough to prefer being one level behind.