[Touch HD General] mackaby007:
Hey Eaglesteve.

Very interesting finds. I really appreciate it.Until this whole discussion came up, I was convinced that my T-Mobile signal is far weaker in certain areas than I expected, knowing I was in an HSDPA networked part of a city.

I have had lots of 'no network' messages and the dreaded 4 dots for signal strength, but as I usually regained signal very quick (so it seemed at the time), I just thought it down to something I installed as I test a multitude of apps on a regular basis. Never thought to look into it, as when I used my pay-and-go sim by o2, I absolutely NEVER encountered and reception issues whatsoever. This is my experience to date and I must admit that I have been too tolerent of the iPhone's shortcomings.

I'm no fool either and under normal circumstances I'd be making a huge fuss about it, but I'm quite amazed at myself, as I said of my patience regarding its faults/shortcomings and your detailed research and analysis of this particular reception issue and all information you have logically and factually presented, struck a cord with me.

Reflecting inwardly on my experience of the iphone and compared to my experience of all other O/S based mobile devices I have had the privilidge to own, none gave the type of manufacturers software/Firmware support that Apple does.

I'm not saying their perfect.....not by a long shot, but they do regularly release meaningful updates that either correct previous bugs or and introduces new software that either greatly enhance productivity or ease of use and also gives us all brand new features, constantly keeping ones investment up to date with the latest or greatest (arguable) developments on this paltform, according to hardware restraints.

Via jailbreaking I release their 2handed grip on my legally bought device. Yes I'm annoyed that the have done this aswell as I have enjoyed for many years the relative freedom WM affords one. I have however also seen that control also helps them to add and improve features without interferance from third party software. This is why everything on the iphone works so well together. Apples control forces unification in design (to a acceptable extent) as well as maintaing that oh so simple to use GUI.

Your arguments/line of discussion is very fair in my opinion and also accurate. Based on what I've read on this thread alone. I should consider abondaning the Apple-ship....there's sound logical reasons to dismiss the iPhone as a inferior bit of equipment compared to say the HD or any other O/S based smartphone etc, but why then would I still prefer this iphone over anything else?

Because although it seems like a toy (that's only because it's hardware/software integration is so damn capable in the multimedia area), this seeming iPod + phone chip stuck on, is still going to keep climbing and it will improve those areas where it is weak and I predict it will keep on innovating on the same said platform because it has enough of the right type of hardware to warrant it.

This comparison could go on forever, but devices will be released that will shadow what pocket computing was, but only a few will be remembered by all. I do believe the iPhone will be one of them and not because of great marketing either, but because they delivered a very sound product which they are actively supporting and further developing. The iphone has also opened up the eyes of the non-geeky computer illiterates.

I actually like HTC products and wish they would venture a little more out of the comfort zone and focus more on the Android platform as that is the only place they can hope to become number 1. The G1 is ok but is butt ugly...looks do matter.

Anyway thanks for your input, for me at least it has been educational and at times enlightening and even inspiring.

One last thing.....from now on I will only buy technology if I can return it within 2-4 weeks if I find it lacking in areas where it was advertised as being very capable...something unfortunately that HTC has become known for, I can still exercise my legal rights and return it, There is nothing like real world experience when you really want to know if something is good for you or not (we're still talking technology here..lol)