New iPhone?

[MadMonkey]

Any other folks on here being all nerded out and excited about the iPhone (5?) release tomorrow? I plan on pre-ordering as soon as it's announced. I went and traded my iPhone4 into Best Buy on Sunday for $210, so I'm hoping to upgrade for basically free. As a side note, I have been using an OOOOOOLLLLLLLDDDDDD samsung flip phone since Sunday. It took me two whole days to figure out how to actually text on it.... time flies.

I'm sticking with my Galaxy Note. Best phone I have ever had and I get 3-4 days battery life with normal usage! I don't care that its as big as a phone book it still fits in my front pocket!

[ Image ]

Wow. I'm lucky to get half a day out of my phone with minimal use

[KC5AV]

I've had the 3GS since it hit the market. If my wife hadn't had hers stolen earlier this year, she'd still have hers, too. We went ahead and upgraded her to the 4S in an effort to delay the inevitable need to upgrade, since the 4S had a dual core processor, etc.
That said, I'm almost looking for reasons to not upgrade my 3GS to the 5, even though I'm terribly frustrated by the slow performance of my 3GS. I'll probably upgrade anyway, but I still haven't convinced myself to pre-order tomorrow.

[thenick_ttu]

I've had the 3GS since it hit the market. If my wife hadn't had hers stolen earlier this year, she'd still have hers, too. We went ahead and upgraded her to the 4S in an effort to delay the inevitable need to upgrade, since the 4S had a dual core processor, etc.
That said, I'm almost looking for reasons to not upgrade my 3GS to the 5, even though I'm terribly frustrated by the slow performance of my 3GS. I'll probably upgrade anyway, but I still haven't convinced myself to pre-order tomorrow.

I'm in a similar situation. The wife and I have had the 3GS for 3 years now. Both phones are slowing down so we'll definitely be upgrading but I can't decide if I should go with the 5 for $200 or the 4S for $100.

Any of our board's tech gurus have an opinion?

[RottenApple]

I'm in a similar situation. The wife and I have had the 3GS for 3 years now. Both phones are slowing down so we'll definitely be upgrading but I can't decide if I should go with the 5 for $200 or the 4S for $100.

Any of our board's tech gurus have an opinion?

If you are in need of an upgrade anyway, I would go ahead and go with the 5. Especially since it's going to reset your subsidized pricing anyway.

[KC5AV]

I'm in a similar situation. The wife and I have had the 3GS for 3 years now. Both phones are slowing down so we'll definitely be upgrading but I can't decide if I should go with the 5 for $200 or the 4S for $100.

Any of our board's tech gurus have an opinion?

If you are in need of an upgrade anyway, I would go ahead and go with the 5. Especially since it's going to reset your subsidized pricing anyway.

Agreed. You'll get better use from the 5 longer than the 4S. I've decided I'm not going to pre-order. I read somewhere that folks in the past have had trouble keeping their grandfathered unlimited data plan when they upgrade through the website, so I'll just wait a few extra days.

[thenick_ttu]

I spoke with a guy that owns a couple of independent AT&T stores in North Texas and that's exactly what he told me. He said to do it face to face, rather than online, so you don't accidentally lose your unlimited data plan. He also said that AT&T versions of the phone are unlikely to sell out/go on backorder because AT&T uses a difference frequency that Verizon/Sprint (or something along those lines, I'm not a tech savvy person). He said you could most likely walk into an AT&T distribution center a few days after the 9/21 crazyness and be able to walk out with an iPhone 5 and can avoid the crowds.

[KC5AV]

I spoke with a guy that owns a couple of independent AT&T stores in North Texas and that's exactly what he told me. He said to do it face to face, rather than online, so you don't accidentally lose your unlimited data plan. He also said that AT&T versions of the phone are unlikely to sell out/go on backorder because AT&T uses a difference frequency that Verizon/Sprint (or something along those lines, I'm not a tech savvy person). He said you could most likely walk into an AT&T distribution center a few days after the 9/21 crazyness and be able to walk out with an iPhone 5 and can avoid the crowds.

That's the plan.

[RottenApple]

I read somewhere that folks in the past have had trouble keeping their grandfathered unlimited data plan when they upgrade through the website, so I'll just wait a few extra days.

Speaking as a former Apple Senior Advisor, if this does happen (which has always been EXTREMELY rare (and usually has a singular cause which I'll explain in a minute), a simple call to Apple can get it resolved. When you get ahold of the Apple Advisor, just explain the situation to them and ask for a Senior Advisor. The SA can then get you in touch with AT&T's Product Management Center (PMC) who can resolve the issue. Please note that you cannot get to PMC by calling AT&T directly. AT&T's General Care advisors do not have access to PMC and can rarely help you in situations like this.

As for what usually causes these issues, it's usually because a has 2+ lines on their account and their phone isn't eligible for upgrade but one of the others is. So they upgrade line 2, and then try to activate the new phone on line 1 instead of the line it was ordered under (line 2). This causes no end of trouble. If you are ordering your phone on one line in order to use it with a different number, please, PLEASE, complete the activation on the line it was originally ordered under. Then go into an AT&T store (corporate, not reseller) and have them do a SIM swap. It takes all of 15 minutes and will save you multitudes of trouble.

[RottenApple]

He also said that AT&T versions of the phone are unlikely to sell out/go on backorder because AT&T uses a difference frequency that Verizon/Sprint (or something along those lines, I'm not a tech savvy person).

Heh. They said that with the 4s too and it wasn't true. AT&T is more likely to go on backorder because 90% of iPhone carriers worldwide use the same frequencies as AT&T. Verizon and Sprint may also go on backorder, but that's because Apple will manufacture fewer CDMA/GSM models due to the decreased market share.

That being said, with even die-hard Apple fans like myself being somewhat underwhelmed by the iPhone 5, I doubt we'll see either model go into backorder. For the first time ever, many of us are skipping an upgrade because there isn't enough difference. Frankly, I think the vast majority of iPhone 5 sales will come from 1) first time buyers and 2) current customers who are using 3G, 3GS, and/or 4 models. I just don't see too many iPhone 4s owners upgrading to the 5.

[92f-fan]

He also said that AT&T versions of the phone are unlikely to sell out/go on backorder because AT&T uses a difference frequency that Verizon/Sprint (or something along those lines, I'm not a tech savvy person).

Heh. They said that with the 4s too and it wasn't true. AT&T is more likely to go on backorder because 90% of iPhone carriers worldwide use the same frequencies as AT&T. Verizon and Sprint may also go on backorder, but that's because Apple will manufacture fewer CDMA/GSM models due to the decreased market share.

That being said, with even die-hard Apple fans like myself being somewhat underwhelmed by the iPhone 5, I doubt we'll see either model go into backorder. For the first time ever, many of us are skipping an upgrade because there isn't enough difference. Frankly, I think the vast majority of iPhone 5 sales will come from 1) first time buyers and 2) current customers who are using 3G, 3GS, and/or 4 models. I just don't see too many iPhone 4s owners upgrading to the 5.

well Apple went to back order in under an hour
ATT now also showing extended ship dates for orders placed on website
I ordered one. Kept the unlimited data - be here next Friday - no need to deal with the crowds and traffic

I am beginning to wonder why Im paying essentially $200 a year for hardware AND $1500 a year for service... for a phone ...
But its how I make my living and its deductible

[snatchel]

I stayed up and ordered at 2 a.m. when they went on. I'm glad I did, it took me forever to actually get through on the Apple website. I placed my order at 2:45 a.m., and apparently they were sold out about 10 minutes after.

I should also hav mine Friday... no lines, be shipped directly to my door. Sweet.

[x007x]

I thought about buying one then turning it around and selling it for $100 more, and i'm pretty sure someone would buy it.

[ffemt300]

I just upgraded to the new iOS. Not impressed....

[snatchel]

ffemt--a friend of mine upgraded her iOS on her iPhone 4 and it's a battery killer!

My iPhone came in from UPS today. Pretty slick. Noticeably thinner and longer, the screen looks great, and everything works just like before. All the changes are subtle, yet appreciated. I'm really enjoying it.

[Thomas]

I just upgraded to the new iOS. Not impressed....

Supposedly it isn't possible to upgrade back to iOS5 unless you previously had jailbroken it to copy some critical system files.

So far I haven't seen any convincing reasons why I should "upgrade" to iOS6 much less the iPhone 5 (from my iPhone 4). If I needed to or really wanted to, I would probably get the Nokia Lumia 920.