1. Locked OS
Just like the hiptop series, the OS on this device will be locked and you know what that means…. No freeware or programs can be installed other than what Apple and Cingular provide you to purchase. This has been one of the biggest drawbacks for me with my sidekicks (1, 2, and 3).

2. 8 GB HDD?! Only for music…..
Yep, only for music. I’m not aware if it will have removable media or not, but that creates a pinch on space for all those applications that you bought.

3. Price Point
$600?! WOW. People won’t even pay that for a playstation 3 which is supposedly the future of home entertainment. If you wanted to be loyal to apple you could go out and get a mac mini with an accessory for that price! Personally I thought that $400 was a bit too much for the sidekick 3 when it came out, but being a loyal kicker I had to get it. Now, a year later, I’m using an unlocked nokia e62 and loving it much more than the sidekick.

4. No 3G.
While apple and cingular might think it’s a cost effective choice now, not including 3G support into the device will ultimatly hurt them down the road. Do you honestly think that users will purchase a phone when they know that a 3G enabled version will be available to them in a year’s time? While some technophiles will front the dough, most will be put off enough to give the series up entirely (like what I did with the sidekick). This isnt a $200 iPod.. Apple cant expect their user base to ditch the device for the next iteration at a moment’s notice.

What’s my point? There are other devices out there that will provide better user interfaces than the windows and palm devices WITHOUT having to sell a kidney or your first born on ebay AND being forced into a two year contract with the nation’s worst and most unreliable data network. Trust me, I worked for Good technology (www.good.com). I know. The decision is ultimatly up to you, I’m just trying to help you see that the iPhone is probably not the best choice.

P.S. my birthday is also in june