Everyone who lined up or bought into the first iPhone has been a raving fanatic or a silent critic. Apple products tend to bring out the faithful worshippers and smother any opinions of weaknesses.
There was a period soon after iPhone 1.0 when people were aghast at the AT&T billing detaiil they got for all their calls and online details; there was enough paper to take out a forest and deliver the statement by a parcel truck.
The iPhone was slick but slow. Everyone now assumes the iPhone 2 will be faster, and include GPS.
The price point is the main issue. Originally $599, reduced to $399, the iPhone 1.0 was a high priced bragging machine. The new iPhone 2.0 will go on sale for $199.
That should bring in few sceptics and resisters. But how was the price achieved? Was anything left out, or is there a service provider subsidy included?
Ideally, I’d like to have an iPhone like device that has more memory and fast Internet access, without the Apple proprietary lock in. Yes the iPhone can be hacked to open it to other networks, as was done in Europe and Asia before it was officially sold, but sometimes hacking turned them into expensive paperweights, without warranty recourse.
Tonight when Steve Jobs gives his keynote speech at the Apple convention the party faithful be satisfied as usual, but will he bring in more converts for the iPhone, or for something new?
The enterprise is still skeptical that Apple is serious about business requirements over consumer frenzy. Ease of use must also come with security features for business to adopt the iPhone whole-heartedly.