Originally posted by bicoastalkid
which if you are in an environment where you can actually pay attention to it you are probably near a computer anyway? Yeah, probably for the first week or so, and then you'll just start going on the computer as usual. On a busy day, you may check your email during your lunch, but even still if you're in the profession that would require you to do that, you're probably glued to a laptop anyway. Again, the map feature to make reservations and things, you will probably be near a computer
So yeah, it's cool to have it, but after the novelty wheres off are you really going to use IT when it's just as convenient to use a computer? Probably not.
Actually, I have a job where I'm on the road all day with no computer access and no wifi. Since my job lasts well past "normal business hours", I sometimes need email or internet before I get home and get to a computer.
The iPhone is perfect for that. Not only does it load normal websites (not just the slimmed-down for mobile ones) with all the imbedded stuff intact, but it runs my regular email program as well. No crappy webmail for me, it uses my normal mail. It also checks for new mail automatically every 15min and alerts me, so I don't have to waste time stopping to see if an expected email is there yet.
As for maps, I don't think I'd use it for reservations very often. What I *did* use it for was finding my way to a friend's house. He lives 3 hours away and I hadn't been to his new place before. I pulled up maps and it gave me turn-by-turn instructions from my front door to his. After each turn, I'd just tap the forward arrow and it showed the next turn. This can be done easily and without averting your eyes from the road for more than a second. It's actually less distracting than being on the phone getting verbal directions... and more accurate!
Oh, and about the touch screen that someone said would look like crap after awhile... other touch phones use plastic screens. Yes, they scratch easily and look awful after awhile. iPhone has an optical-grade glass screen that's practically scratch-proof.
My body isn't a temple. It's an amusement park.