Review: iPhone

While I applaud the level of detail in this review, I have to say I am somewhat dissappointed in the fact that the significant shortcomings of this 1st generation device are just glossed over in favor of the slick interface. I read this forum quite frequently but post rarely. However I just had to point out some observations:

Any other device, from any other manufacturer with this appalling lack of features retailing for $500-$600 would ordinarily get creamed in this forum. Some of these missing features are as follows:
1.) No UMTS or HSDPA support, EDGE only.
2.) "Crippled Bluetooth" I believe the only services supported are Handsfree and Headset. No OBEX! Lack of this service in particular seems to always bring accusations of fascist control on other device reviews. Yet not a single complaint about the iPhone.
3.) No A2DP stereo bluetooth on a music centric device.
4.) No custom ringtone options. This is yet another favorite of the conspiricist groups. Yet again....not a peep about the iPhone.
5.) No MMS support.
6.) Browser does not support JAVA or Flash.
7.) No 3rd party application options.
8.) No GPS support.
9.) No voice dialing support.
10.) Sealed battery compartment.
11.) 4-6 clicks to make a phone call!

I could probably go on if I chose to dig deeper but I think this makes my point. Granted, the iPhone does offer a very slick and intuitive interface, and the few features it does offer it seems to do well but considering the price, this device should not get any more than 3 out of 5 stars on any review.

I'm not an Apple or ATT hater but I felt that the excessively high price and lack of key basic features needed to be more emphatically pointed out.

I generally agree with Rich's and Eric's comments but I think perhaps Apple spiked their beverages with the iPhone cool-aide on this one.

Sorry can't agree with the general opinion this time. Perhaps iPhone 2.0 will change my mind.