The iPhone will flop because of the keyboard
By Jonathan Schlaffer
This is the first time I have heard this, that the iPhone will be an unmitigated disaster because of the keyboard. But according to John C. Dvorak that is exactly the case. I think at least a few of our readers know how he feels about Apple but does his argument have any validity?
Well, Apple’s track record as of late hasn’t been great, there have been problems with their laptops from "whining" noises to flickering displays (a problem that I can confirm first hand) to exploding batteries (though others have had that as well), the question is can Apple pull off a flawless product the first time (and it not be an iPod).
I’d like to think it could but even if it can’t, you are dealing with a company that will (most likely) help you out if you encounter a problem. My MacBook has only been in for (one) botched repair job and Apple is already (very generously) sending me a replacement.
The iPhone is small and Apple is betting that people are going to love browsing the web on the tiny device, I’d rather use my MacBook or really, anything with a large display, that task simply is not suited to any small device.
Now just try typing on it, try typing anything of consequence, you’ll be two finger typing most of the time, sound like fun? I didn’t think so. What about when the "soft" keyboard decides not to work, what then? What if it crashes, what if the keyboard doesn’t come back up? What will you do? The horror, it really is too much for me to bear.
Like many others before me, I have yet to see a "soft" keyboard that is any good, come to think of it, I have yet to see a good keyboard on any small(ish) device.
I don’t think the iPhone will be returned solely because of keyboard problems, it will be that in conjunction with network service problems. I haven’t met a satisfied AT&T customer yet. Everyone on my block has Verizon, no complaints. Can you hear me now?
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June 9th, 2007
Apple has never had a problem with exploding batteries. They performed a preemptive recall of Sony batteries, but there were never any reports of any kind of malfunction in batteries on Apple laptops.
June 9th, 2007
Apple really doesnt have a bad track record. They do however have revolutionary products that are ten times better than anything out there. Sure macs had a whining noise…ooo big deal…they fixed it. PC’s are where the problem is. Ive never been happy with a computer until i got a mac. Viva la Apple!
June 10th, 2007
I think “Blorge” is a great name for this blog. At least, onomatopoeically.
June 10th, 2007
Apple has had few problems. You compare this with PC products,. They are usually worst and often plague 100% of the users. They just don’t get the wide spread publicity like Apple. I had a annoying fan problem with a PC laptop. It took me 3 years too discover that everyone else had it and it could fixed by removing the fan, shaving off a few molding nubs in the fan housing (even then it still was a little noisy, but at least it didn’t sound lke the laptop was on its death rattle). Most of the Apple’s problems are hardware related and may reflect more on manufactoring procedures, then poor design. The iPhone keyboard is software, and Apple is pretty good at that, because of Job’s attention to such details.
June 10th, 2007
Hello my name is Jay - I AM A VERY SATISFIED AT&T Customer. I have had Cingular for years and AT&T in my home forever. Their Service and pricing in my opinion are excellent.
Verizon cripples all their phones more than any other company which is probably why they passed on the iPhone.
Do YOU use OSX ??? If YOU do how often does YOURS crash?? My Mac runs 24/7/365 and maybe has crashed 3 time since I have had it. Oh yea it is a Blue and White G3!!! so that is 3 times in the last 7 years of continuous use!!!! and YES I am running Tiger on it with a G4 upgrade card but my second B&W is still running the original 350mhz G3 and running TIGER just fine no crashes there either but it has only been running 24/7/365 for 3 years.
And how can anybody said the keyboard is bad before the thing is even available for slae.
YOUR POST IS PURE FUD!
June 10th, 2007
Actually, I am a 5-year happy AT&T Wireless/Cingular/AT&T customer. For what I will use it for, I think the iPhone keyboard will be fine. I’ll be adding appointments and contacts and that’s about it. I think it’ll be nicer than the current setup on my Sony phone.
June 10th, 2007
Gee, my MacBook must be a fluke. It’s around a year old now, and I have no flickering of the screen, battery issues or whining noises. Just solid quality.
June 10th, 2007
I would’ve gotten the iPhone had it actually had a keyboard. All of the typing I do on my blackberry is done without looking at the keyboard (we call it touch typing), and I don’t want to feel like I’m back in the 3rd grade pecking at my keyboard.
The samsung imitation phone seems to be better because of its keyboard, as are a few other iphone lookalikes which have a sliding keyboard of some sort.
Finally, AT&T’s dataplans are way too overpriced. I’ll stick with T-Mobile, which provides some of the best coverage, lowest prices, and best customer service where I live. Your mileage with wireless carriers will vary of course. However, I’ll stick with T-Mobile, even if it means missing what the mac fanboys call the Jesus Phone.
June 10th, 2007
This will all be moot in another month, but it seems odd to criticize Apple for hardware you haven’t tried yet.
I’ve only seen a few published reports from people who have actually tried an iPhone. Andy Ihnatko is one and he said it was a good experience. So there is one report.
My company sent me a blackberry to use. I took it out of the box and tried the keys and the seemed far too small. I put it back in the box and put it on the shelf. I’ll get around to using it when they force me to.
FYI, I’ve had Cingular (now AT&T) for a few years and can’t complain. I’ve found that the phone you use makes a huge difference on the quality of the connection (no surprise). I tried a few phones and finally got a Sony Ericsson T637 which I am sort of happy with. The phone functions suck but the RF part of the phone is really good and the battery life is good.
June 10th, 2007
HAPPY Cingular/AT&T customer for 6 years. Will not type much on iPhone. Will enjoy and use all other iPhone features. You are spreading FUD you lame - SO(xxx). Why?
June 10th, 2007
Okay it is strange and new but I have total faith in the virtual keyboard. Why? The answer is a Nintendo DS. If you have one go ahead and try typing on the Pictochat keyboard with your fingers. Granted it is very tiny but it is not hard, at all. Now consider the iPhone, larger keys and it is Mulit-Touch which MUST be different from a regular touch screen since it required a new patent. I have total faith that the iPhone keyboard will work very well simply because a regular touch screen keyboard works fine.
June 11th, 2007
I have no problem with OSX. I have no problems with the iPod. I have had problems with my Core 2 Duo 2.16 MacBook (one week old), flickering screen and a botched repair job… the Apple Store is willing to exchange it even though I didn’t actually buy it there, which I think is very very generous of them.
The iPhone is a first generation product, it is bound to have at least, some issues… perhaps not from the OS but maybe the way things are implemented the first time around.
I’ll be watching but I certainly won’t be buying.
June 12th, 2007
[...] The iPhone will flop because of the keyboard [...]
June 19th, 2007
Apple has always made inferior products. Through sheer marketing, they are able to convince people who buy and own those products that they have premium hardware and software. Every Mac I have ever used was a terrible computer; the IPod is a terrible device; AppleTV was a joke. The iphone will be a terrible device, but no one will care because they have been fooled by good marketing.
July 3rd, 2007
Calling the iPhone keyboard bad is a joke. It may not be as good as PC keyboards, but it beats and other cellphone keyboard. Remember, the device is a telephone!!
August 14th, 2007
AT&T charged me $4500 in error and refused to back down until I sent them a letter from my attorney. I later found out that they were doing the same thing to other customers. They then brought down my bill to $440 and made me agree on the phone that I will not sue. I hate them with a passion. I will wait for the iPhone to come through either t-mobile or verizon and then buy it.
September 16th, 2007
Ha ha ha.
A flop hey? One million sold, 24 days ahead of target, and European telecoms fighting over the rights to sell it.
Proof if ever it was need what FUD has been put out by people who know nothing, includiong those here on Blorge.
Shame on you all.
September 18th, 2007
“Everyone on my block has Verizon, no complaints.”
You’re credibility walked out the door with that statement. Never in the history of the world has there been a mobile phone customer with no complaints.