I love the iPhone. Who wouldn’t? It combines (seemingly) useful music, internet, and phone features in one device. But I doubt I’ll ever pull the trigger on this version for one simple reason: The iPhone has a serious storage problem.
The first units will have either 4 or 8 GB of storage capacity, which is nothing to sneeze at, to be sure. My first hard disk was 200 times smaller than this! But it’s still too small for today’s uses.
My iPod currently has 35 GB of songs, so it’s almost full. And it’s a 4G unit with no video! If I wanted to take along even a few episodes of my favorite shows, let alone a film or two, I’d easily crack 40 GB today.
For me, the best thing about the iPod (and my prior 20 GB Nomad Jukebox) is that it has my entire music collection. Whether I’m in a Beatles or Shellac mood, I’ve got it covered. Apple’s strategy has long been one of sideloading – the PC is the master and the iPod is an accessory. But that’s not what I want. I want the PC to hold a backup, or maybe a home copy, and the iPod to cater to my mood.
I rarely sync, which makes podcasts less than useful. I usually just keep the iPod in my pocket or my bag and plug it in when I want some music. This is the reason I loved the iPhone – it would reduce my pocket clutter!
But no, an 8 GB iPhone is too small for my music library, no matter how insanely great it is. I guess I’ll stick with my 4G until a bigger iPhone appears.