Ed Baig starts his review in USA Today with these paragraphs:
The mania over Apple’s iPhone launch has created stratospheric expectations that are near impossible to live up to.
Yet with a few exceptions, this expensive, glitzy wunderkind is indeed worth lusting after.
That’s saying a lot.
After months of hype, Apple has delivered a prodigy — a slender fashion phone, a slick iPod and an Internet experience unlike any before it on a mobile handset.
And ends his column with this excellent summary:
Apple iPhone
Score: 3½ (out of four)
Price: $499 for 4 gigabyte version, $599 for 8GB, plus costs of monthly voice and data plan. Two-year commitment with AT&T required.
5 things I like
1 – Terrific widescreen iPod and clever Cover Flow feature.
2 – Smart sensors that change the orientation of the screen from landscape to portrait mode
3 – Gorgeous 3.5-inch multi-touch screen does exceptional job displaying pictures, Internet, maps, e-mail etc.
4 – Flicking through contacts and pictures, pinching to make pix and the Web larger, and tapping on the intelligent virtual keyboard is fun (once you get the hang of it).
5 – Phone is easy to dial despite lack of physical keypad. Visual voicemail.
5 things I’d like to see
1 – Faster “3G” or “third generation” data network
2 – Removable battery
3 – Greater storage (through storage slot)
4 – Extra features including GPS, IM, voice calling, Adobe Flash , and using your own music library for ringtones.
5 – Lower price
