Review of iPhone

Unless you've been in jail for weeks like Paris Hilton and were denied any info from the outside world, you know that the iPhone comes out today. As a business owner you might be in awe of all the cool features that are promised by Steve Jobs on Mac's new iPhone. Are they worth it? Should you rake out the $500, or $600 needed to play w/ this device?

Well...the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg reviewed Apple's new iPhone for two weeks, and has it posted on Wall Street Journal's website. The link is HERE. There is also another review from David Pogue from the New York Times who had a chance to play with it for an hour at the Mac World 2007 and this article can be read HERE.

For those of you small business owners who are thinking of making a switch from your Blackberry, Treo, or BlackJack... here are a few things to keep in mind:

Pros for iPhone for the business user:

• The keyboard takes a few days getting used to (it took Walt 5 days to be able to start typing as quickly and accurately as he did on his Palm Treo which he has been using for years)
• The iPhone boasts the highest resolution screen, and the largest screen than any other smart phone (really impressive when taking a picture w/ this device)
• It comes w/ WiFi capability, and does switch over from network to network seamlessly as it sees an available network
• The iPhone supports many consumer email services, along w/ corporate Microsoft Exchange system (you might have to work w/ your IT department to enable this feature on the Exchange server first)
• The iPhone is able to receive MS Word and Excel files along w/ PDF files, however you cannot modify, edit or save these files
• You can browse full websites as apposed to their 'mobile' versions, or distorted versions that are typically seen on smart phones
• The touch screen features for browsing the web, pictures, etc are very easy to learn and use
• Its design is slick, slim, and it feels solid
• Battery life is much better than most smart phones on the market today
• Sound quality is good, but the best out there

Cons for the iPhone

• Only works on the Cingular/AT&T network (you can't switch SIM to a different carrier because it is locked)
• Cingular's EDGE, which is the cellular data capability, is very slow (so on the road access to Internet and email will probably be the same as using a BlackBerry on the EDGE network if you already have AT&T/Cingular)
• Blackberry users should note that BlackBerry email services can't be used on iPhone.. but apparently according to the Wallstreet Journal's article yahoo mail has a 'push' email (BlackBerry style) that will work w/ the iPhone
• You can not transfer phone numbers and contact info easily from a previous phone; the iPhone does however sync with an address book and calender list on a PC
• No Instant Messaging system on the iPhone
• Can't use songs as ringtones
• You can't copy and paste
• You can't record videos
• Adobe Flash is not supported on the browser

So... my conclusion from reading the review so far?

I think overall the device seems to be business and personal use friendly, and by adding the features of an almost complete PDA and cell phone to those of an iPod really takes the smart phone to a whole new level. I think the price is pretty fair for the amount of features you get.

My concern is that becaues it is a first generation iPhone I would let the early adopters really test it out on the road and wait for more solid reviews before getting one myself.

With that said, if you happen to have been lucky enough to have gotten your hands on one by tonight, then I'd love to hear what you have to say about the device.

Happy hunting for the iPhone everyone!

Into the Blogoshpere I roam...

Well here is the first ever blog.... took me a while to get into it, but alas here I am. I've been good at reading blogs, but never really thought to have one of my own. Now I'm taking the plunge!

So, what will my blog be about you ask? Well, I'll try to post useful information (I hope) for small business owners who would like real and unbiased information regarding the second largest expense in their budgets; Information Technology (after Human Resources.. according to Gartner Group).

Many small business owners see IT as a headache and something they hate to spend money on, but at the same time, they have to suck it up and pay up. Even though it is something crucial and unescapeable to the success of their company.

So, I'll tackle this issue as best as I can. Also issues such as how to improve productivity at the work place using IT, how to leverage your IT resources to become an ASSET as apposed to a HEADACHE....

:o)

I know, I know... to some it sounds rediculous, and to others it sounds expensive... but why should it be either?

A tall order it seems, but I truly think with technology the way it is, it is easier and more affordable than ever to have an IT system for your small business that almosts runs as smoothly, and sometimes a heck of a lot better than, an enterprise level IT system.

So... join me my fellow small business owners and lets talk some about some BIG cool solutions for your small business...