I really do like the iPhone, but there are some things that are keeping me from making the switch. One of the main problems is the battery. I think its biggest flaw is the non-removable battery. The cost you pay each year above everything else to replace the battery is around $80 dollars! Then if you want a loaner phone while you wait the 3 days it takes to replace your battery, you pay an extra $30 dollars. If there is 3G support in the next iteration of the iPhone, the battery has to be improved or you will only get 3 or so hours of real use out of it. I think the iPhone has potential, but for now I see it as just a pretty toy that you have to baby around (literally) because if you break that pretty screen, you just lost $500 big ones to having a pretty phone.

I'd rather get the phone unlocked (for international travel) without a subsidy. But of course, given that the current phone is neither unlocked nor subsidized, what are the chances of that...

VT808: It's laughable that you try to hide your hate by prefacing your post with "I really do like the iPhone, buuuuuuut". Can you be any more transparent?

- Most major sites like CNET (not simply Apply) rate the battery life at 2-3 years of life.
- 3 hours... you and your lame speculation
- It's $400 for the 8gb
- Comments like "pretty toy" and "pretty screen" and "pretty phone" (use a thesaurus much?) ensure that you're merely a troll. Find a better hobby =(

Look here are the FACTS
1. iPhone replacement battery cost $80.00
2. iPhone loaner cost $30.00
Being without your contacts, calendar, mobile email, and music for 3 days …priceless
Also…
iPhone 8GB $400.00
iPhone 16GB $500.00 (like I said)
Dropping your iPhone once on the ground…heartbreaking

****It’s just a pretty TOY*** …said the TROLL

I would argue the person launching personal attacks is trolling, while the person laying out a cost analysis is simply being rational, but that's just me.

Regarding the iPhone, if this news shapes up to be solid, I'm definitely getting one this year. I've been plotting a course to get one when my current phone contract ends, and a subsidy would really push things along. (For the record, my plan includes considerations for battery life and protection. Smart people think about stuff like that.)