Interesting discussion... I'd add that expectations play a huge part in your ultimate feeling for the iPhone as it currently stands. Whether your expectations are/were based on reality or fantasy, research or desire, truth or imagination, all come into play.
I came into it riding the wave of hype with expectations simply of an incredibly cool new device. What I really wanted was the new video iPod with a cool touch screen, the phone and internet were just coming along for the ride for me. What I found when I actually used the device was a decent phone (admittedly missing a few common features, but still extremely usable in its core phone functions), and to my surprise, the best portable internet device I've owned - all on top of the video iPod I wanted. Not to mention the best user interface (with such a small basic footprint) I'd ever experienced. I am very anal with user interfaces, so when I find one that really works for me, I tend to latch onto it.
What I've seen from a lot of complainers is that they are either the type that 1) will always find something to nitpick on, or 2) it just happens that one of the missing features happens to be their personal #1 expectation. As an example, I had a heated discussion with someone in another forum complaining about the lack of voice dialing. It didn't matter what I or anyone else said, he was completely fixated on bashing the lack of voice dialing and refused to acknowledge any of the other features because of this. Yes, I concede it's a missing feature at release that would have been great (if done properly... though I have to say I don't know a single person aside from myself who has ever used voice dialing). But why should that one thing negate everything else the product has to offer?
Personally, I accept that as an early adopter of a new piece of tech, I'll get some bugs and missing features - the important thing is that the device delivers as intended, and to my expectations. And that the potential exists to fix and upgrade the shortcomings, which I have faith will happen in time. Call me a fanboy if you want, I say I'm a realist.
Oh, and back on the original topic, I think the majority of the forum here is fine with constructive complaints, even rants at times, as long as the intention is to inform or generate discussion, and not simply to incite controversy.
I came into it riding the wave of hype with expectations simply of an incredibly cool new device. What I really wanted was the new video iPod with a cool touch screen, the phone and internet were just coming along for the ride for me. What I found when I actually used the device was a decent phone (admittedly missing a few common features, but still extremely usable in its core phone functions), and to my surprise, the best portable internet device I've owned - all on top of the video iPod I wanted. Not to mention the best user interface (with such a small basic footprint) I'd ever experienced. I am very anal with user interfaces, so when I find one that really works for me, I tend to latch onto it.
What I've seen from a lot of complainers is that they are either the type that 1) will always find something to nitpick on, or 2) it just happens that one of the missing features happens to be their personal #1 expectation. As an example, I had a heated discussion with someone in another forum complaining about the lack of voice dialing. It didn't matter what I or anyone else said, he was completely fixated on bashing the lack of voice dialing and refused to acknowledge any of the other features because of this. Yes, I concede it's a missing feature at release that would have been great (if done properly... though I have to say I don't know a single person aside from myself who has ever used voice dialing). But why should that one thing negate everything else the product has to offer?
Personally, I accept that as an early adopter of a new piece of tech, I'll get some bugs and missing features - the important thing is that the device delivers as intended, and to my expectations. And that the potential exists to fix and upgrade the shortcomings, which I have faith will happen in time. Call me a fanboy if you want, I say I'm a realist.
Oh, and back on the original topic, I think the majority of the forum here is fine with constructive complaints, even rants at times, as long as the intention is to inform or generate discussion, and not simply to incite controversy.
