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Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

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Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#71

Post by achughes »

ANH wrote: post #54
ollysb wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

I've never had a case on my iPhones (3G, 3GS), dropped them numerous times on concrete, and the only thing that put one out of commission was dropping the 3G in a toilet. Replaced it with a 3GS in 2009 and it still functions perfectly. Admittedly, it looks beat to heck compared to other folks' phones, but that ain't no thing. Never understood how Apple can sell so many phones if they can take the beating I give them.

This, I think is the greatest argument for the iPhone. While everyone clamors for the new upgrade they really are premium and durable products. Apple makes their money when everyone thinks they have to have the newest iProduct.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#72

Post by jkn »

betterth wrote: post #32
__abc wrote: post #28

I imagine this can be done with almost all handsets, laptops, etc. I'm guessing this is more "human nature" than Apple Fanboy'sm at a large consumer scale.

I know, right? Considering how many times in the trials people have been unable to tell APPLE AND SAMSUNG products apart, you'd think readers here would realize that those people are obviously going to have trouble with products in the same family!

The funny bit here is that we have people who do manage to tell apart two products that are actually the same.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#73

Post by Alex3917 »

JoelSutherland wrote: post #63
Alex3917 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The battery life is almost exactly the same. All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so. The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim. The new cameras are supposedly slightly better, but probably not enough to be noticeable unless you've got a highly trained eye. The only features that the new iPhones have a…

Here is a video comparing the 3gs to the 4s for internet browsing speed. The complicated sites are much different the simple sites are basically the same: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuSYkdyfuTA I expected it to be more of a blowout on ALL sites. I can't tell if this proves you right or wrong.

It seems a little deceptive to test highly complicated sites like apple.com, since you're not going to have a good experience on sites like that no matter how fast they load. The vast majority of the sites I visit on my phone are text-based: HN, Reddit, Google News, 538, DailyKos, RealClearPolitics, etc. On these sites there wouldn't be much difference at all. If I want to go to apple.com I'll do it on my laptop regardless of speed.

And based on the video, it looks like the 3GS is as fast or faster than the 4S for sites that are text-based or optimized for mobile.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#74

Post by bornhuetter »

Alex3917 wrote: post #53
bornhuetter wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> there's essentially zero difference between the 3GS and the iPhone 5. Are you kidding? I'm no iOS fan, but I think that statement is a bit ridiculous.

The battery life is almost exactly the same. All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so. The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim. The new cameras are supposedly slightly better, but probably not enough to be noticeable unless you've got a highly trained eye. The only features that the new iPhones have a…

Were you hoping the iPhone 5 would be better in some particular way?

Because it sounds like you just don't need more than a basic phone. There's nothing wrong with that, but for people who are looking for a high end phone it's a clear upgrade in many ways (for example a larger, higher pixel density screen).

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#75

Post by rimantas »

RivieraKid wrote: post #58
Alex3917 wrote: post #40

It's now been over three years since the 3GS was released, and there's essentially zero difference between the 3GS and the iPhone 5. I honestly don't see any point in upgrading unless I drop my current one, which isn't likely.

The difference in user experience is really small.

Having in mind that most of it experienced while looking at the screen the difference is huge.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#76

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

mikeash wrote: post #51
Alex3917 wrote: post #40

It's now been over three years since the 3GS was released, and there's essentially zero difference between the 3GS and the iPhone 5. I honestly don't see any point in upgrading unless I drop my current one, which isn't likely.

Yeah, aside from the vastly superior screen, the vastly faster cellular data connectivity, the improved battery life, the smaller form factor, the vastly faster CPU and GPU, 2-4x the RAM, and the vastly improved camera, there's essentially zero difference!

Not to mention many big changes in the operating system

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#77

Post by lolsal »

Alex3917 wrote: post #53
bornhuetter wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> there's essentially zero difference between the 3GS and the iPhone 5. Are you kidding? I'm no iOS fan, but I think that statement is a bit ridiculous.

The battery life is almost exactly the same. All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so. The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim. The new cameras are supposedly slightly better, but probably not enough to be noticeable unless you've got a highly trained eye. The only features that the new iPhones have a…

Your thinking is boggling my mind.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#78

Post by randomdata »

Tyrannosaurs wrote: post #5
ollysb wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand why people use cases. What's the point in preserving something in mint condition if you never see it without the case?

It's not about preserving it in mint condition, it's about preserving it in usable condition. I can't speak for others but my case has saved my phone from a smashed screen on several occasions. EDIT: Should possibly also add that I have small children (1 and 3 - that's their ages rather than their names) who use it and I'm damned if I'm giving it to them without a case on...

How do you know that the case saved the day? I once had my case-less iPad fall from a ledge five feet above the surface it eventually landed on and it survived with nary a scratch. They seem fairly rugged on their own.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#79

Post by bornhuetter »

szx wrote: post #61
bornhuetter wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Particularly the iPhone 4(s). It's got probably the best form factor of any phone ever made, but people put those massive black rubber things on them with a circle cut in the back to show the Apple logo. Absolute abomination.

Am I the only one who prefers the older (3GS) designs over the new ones (4+) in terms of ergonomics? Sure, my 4S is beautiful, but it just doesn't feel right in my hand. Something about the aluminum/glass seam bothers me, and so I got a slim case and never looked back.

I've never owned an iOS device (I prefer the Android OS), but whenever I have played around with a friend's 4S it feels really nice in the hand.

It does have quite hard edges though, and I've wondered if they would get annoying after a while.

I never felt particularly either way about the 3GS hardware - it's ok, but nothing special in my opinion.

Re: Give people an iPhone 4S, tell them it's an iPhone 5

#80

Post by achompas »

Alex3917 wrote: post #53
bornhuetter wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> there's essentially zero difference between the 3GS and the iPhone 5. Are you kidding? I'm no iOS fan, but I think that statement is a bit ridiculous.

The battery life is almost exactly the same. All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so. The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim. The new cameras are supposedly slightly better, but probably not enough to be noticeable unless you've got a highly trained eye. The only features that the new iPhones have a…

The battery life is almost exactly the same.

One phone uses LTE, while the other uses 3G. I'm also ignoring how the 5 is easily faster than the 3GS, which requires more power.

All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so.

This will change as the 3GS doesn't get iOS 7 and other apps start requiring it (or a full-featured iOS 6).

The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim.

By virtue of the faster processor + GPU, this is patently false. Also, you'll get fewer Safari reloads since the 5 has 4x as much RAM.

The only features that the new iPhones have are things like Siri and Facetime, which are largely gimmicks with no real use case.

You forgot a faster cellular connection and a high-definition screen.

With that said (I won't speak to the camera, since I don't have an eye for that sort of thing), I agree that iOS updates since iOS 4 have not introduced gamechanging features. Still, it's nice to Facetime with my family given that we don't live in the same city.

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