My birthday is next month and my family offered to get me an iPhone. It’s interesting to see how good Apple’s PR machine is at penetrating into the mainstream and reaching even those who don’t follow “tech gadgets” but know that the Apple iPhone is the “ultimate thing” to get. (I guess being on the home page of all major US newspapers on launch day is effective).
I’ve tried to ignore most iphone coverage a few weeks back when that was the only thing anyone talked about. Now that all the ridiculousness and fanboism have subsided, I’m trying to decide whether or not I want the iphone, or whether there’s a better option to replace my 2 year old Verizon Pocket PC. Someone suggested checking out the Helio Ocean. Their website has the following chart to compare the iphone to helio (click thumbnail for full chart):
Obviously the features are a bit cherry-picked, but there are a few notable advantages to the Helio Ocean
- GPS positioning. I use the mobile version of Google Maps all the time and I don’t like having to enter an address (which I often don’t have) to find business around me. Having the phone automatically tell you where you are would make life easier.
- Faster Speed. The 3G Helio Network (which is basically Sprint’s, I think) is much faster than AT&T (and therefore iPhone’s) EDGE, which is notoriously slow in comparison.
- Double Slide-out Keyboard. Sometimes I just want to dial a regular numeric keypad – you know, like a phone is supposed to have.
- Removable Battery. The iPhone’s battery is built-in meaning once it dies (it will eventually) the iPhone turns into a brick. I just had to replace my Pocket PC’s battery, so I like having the option to replace it myself.
However, there are some areas where the iPhone outshines the Helio
- The iPhone is SEXY. The design is far sexier than any other smarphone, and that includes the Helio. And that’s “kind of a big deal”.
- Web Browsing. Even though it’s slower, navigating the web with the iPhone’s browser is far easier than a traditional smartphone’s browser. They UI is unmatched.
- Size and weight. The screen resolution on the iPhone is significantly bigger and the device itself is smaller. Since I always carry my phone in my pocket I like having a sleeker form factor.
- Touchscreen. This is related to the first two items, but navigating the phone with a touchscreen makes the whole process more fun and intuitive.
If you want to make your head spin even more and see “what else competes with the iPhone” check out these posts: Michael is thinking about 3G; Vanessa throws the Pocket PC 8525 into the mix; Scoble blogs about the Nokia N95. For some reason I’ve never been a fan of Blackberries or Treo’s – the keyboards were never as easy to use as my Pocket PC’s. The T-Mobile @Home Hotspot phone is not here yet and the open source openmoko phone is not yet practical.
So at the moment it’s between the Ocean Helio and Apple Iphone for me. Anyone have any suggestions?
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
The 8525 isn’t a blackberry! I had a blackberry before. The 8525 is a PocketPC.
Thanks for the correction, Vanessa. I changed it.
If I were in your shoes, I would take the Iphone for it’s re-sale value. Try it for a couple of months, if you don’t like it, sell it on Ebay and get the Helio.
btw, I’m a satisfied Iphone owner.
I looked at the helio, but we’re on a family plan and only half way through, so I’ve either got to get an unlocked phone on my current plan or get a new phone and extend contract. Getting an unlocked phone is probably my best bet. helio is nice though
Like u i was also offered an iPhone for my 8th grade graduation. and like anyone else in the country, i wanted it more than i wanted a new car! but when it came out, i saw one review about it by the New York Times solely about the iPhone. it told me about the phones advantages and disadvantages. after reading it, my main turn off was i couldnt send pictures to other phones (MMS), and there was no zoom, fun frames or colors, OR even a video camera! And obviously AT&T sucks.
My dad and brother both have an iPhone and they love it but there are little glitches that irritate them: the ringtones suck and they cant download more, they cant recieve calls while on Safari, my brother went 3 days without a phone because the iPhone wasnt accepting his old number from T-Mobile, any website that has Flash Player on it u cant view…..etc etc etc.
But im not gonna ground beat the iPhone completely because there are many plus’ to it over the Ocean: Visual Voicemail, each page moves fluently and almost flawlessly, the touchscreen is unbelievable, syncing is quick and concise, it does have WiFi for when EDGE sucks, getting anywhere at anytime is easy……(again) etc etc etc.
After reading the NYP review and many other reviews (plus the comparison on Helio.com) and Ive decided to go with the Ocean because it has many more features that i want as a teenager. And the plan is awesome! unlimited everything! is that even legal??
This is the review I saw on the NYP:
Apple takes a hold of you and doesn’t let go. If you even have one apple product, prepare to sell devote much more to them. Apple makes so much stuff, but you have to buy more Apple products to do cool stuff! No generic brands, all Apple, all expensive. I was debating the SAME THING!!! Ocean, or Iphone? Then i watched videos, read reviews, and when I learned that I MUST have an itunes account to use it, I went mad. Screw that. If I had an Iphone it would be the only Apple product i would have to deal with, but no, now i have an Itunes account and all this unnecessary crap. Don’t get sucked in, go Helio. It is unique, and developing quite well. Plus, they DO respond to enough feedback!
That’s definitely a big minus – the iTunes requirement. I can’t stand iTunes – I’ve always dreaded using it.
I love my Ocean!!! It’s a great device if you like to text alot. GPS is the main reason why I got it and because of myspace mobile…lol. The Iphone is great, but the price and features is what made me lean toward the Ocean.
ocean is the best phone ote the iphone is good no great compared to ocean. duh ps i have a ocean my dad has iphone . my dad said he likes my phone better. helio is the best . iphone is just popular. get the ocean.
iphone is ugly gag me!!!!!!!!
Markus have you made a decision yet? I have also been thinking over the Ocean and the iPhone. All in all, the Ocean seems to be a better deal. I want something with a keyboard that is easy to use. But I cannot go without something like an iPhone. That is why this December I will be buying a Helio Ocean as well as a 16GB iPod Touch. You can modify the Touch to have all the applications as the iPhone except for the phone part, or course. Good luck if you’ve yet to make a decision.
I’m sticking to my old Verizon Pocket PC for now – until the iPhone opens up or some other company comes out with something even better.
I think you should also consider a Sidekick LX through tmobile. Although video is not supported, this is the most user friendly software I have EVER used. its internet is LIVE, and the web browser may not open more then one browser at a time, but it does resize each and every page to fit your phone, and it comes out sexy each and everytime. I have renewed my car registration with this device through its web browser. It offers jumping. What jumping is, is suppose you have an email link on a webpage simply push the trackball in to select that link and it will bring you right to the email client with the persons email already inputed. The same is with phone numbers if a web site publishes a phone number or you are texted or send a phone number via email it will bring you directly to the phone area and dial that as well. Danger has fixed almost any bug, and is constantly finding new ways to make things easier.
This phone multitasks very well. No matter what you do on the phone you know whats going on in your other applications… If you jump to web browser all of your IMs will still go off, and you will see who sent you a message in the scrolling marquee up top, you do not have to constantly go back to each application to see whats been updated. All in all this phone is AWESOME, except its lack of newer video technology and EDGE speed.
Yes no video sucks, but the LX is thin and has the best qwerty keyboard of any phone.. It remains hidden and flips open rather then slide or clam shell.
Thanks for the suggestion, Steve. I like a lot of the phones T-mobile carries, but their service is terrible in my area – too many dropped calls.
I appreciate your writeup, though. Thanks.
I have a helio and clearly i think it completly kills the iphone but 1 thing it should have is a touch screen with better mp3 player and it will be perfect.also with more memory hello!!!
ive had the iphone
and mine broke after 4 months
and i take very good care of my phones
now i have the ocean and i love it