Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Apple's newly revealed iPhone causes buzz at U. Florida
By Drew Harwell
Independent Florida Alligator (U. Florida)
01/11/2007

(U-WIRE) GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Forget walking barefoot in the snow. Can you believe that people used to carry their cell phones, iPods, cameras and laptops as separate devices?

Now, thanks to Apple Inc., that primitive era has ended.

The tech company's Tuesday unveiling of the iPhone — a mobile phone, media player and wireless browser that's sexy, too — has some students in an uproar over its sleek design, extensive features and high-tech appeal.

For others, though, the steep price and carrier restriction makes it a hard sell.

Guy Fortney, an Santa Fe Community College freshman and self-proclaimed Apple fan, said he won't buy one because of the $500 price tag.

However, the compact design and its promise of a lighter load enticed Fortney, who on a daily basis carries keys, a wallet, a cell phone, an iPod and a pack of cigarettes.

Kymberly Burns, a University of Florida theater performance sophomore, has loved her iPod for the two years she's owned it and said she may buy an iPhone when it's released in June, though she's still apprehensive.

"I love that Apple is such an innovative company," she said, "but I kind of want my gadgets separate. What if it messes up? I can't listen to music or talk on the phone?"

Burns thinks the iPhone will catch on less with college students, who typically have more constrained budgets.

She added it would probably be popular with professionals in their late 20s who are "too busy to worry about different things" like separate devices.

Apple's marketing seems to be aiming at that age range, too: The iPhone has been shown playing songs from adult alternative bands U2 and Coldplay, finding a Starbucks on Google Maps and checking stock prices.

However, UF chemistry freshman Janelle Coyle thinks younger, college-aged people will most likely get the gadget.

"Older people have things to do other than listen to music," she said.

Playing music is just one of the iPhone's highlights.

It can also display photos and videos; send phone calls, text messages and e-mails; browse the Internet; take pictures; and track its location with a Global Positioning System.

Like other smart phones such as the BlackJack and the Palm Treo, it's light — weighing as much as a McDonald's cheeseburger (4.8 ounces) — and compact — about as thick as a pencil (.46 inches).

But, unlike its competitors, it has only one button, with every feature accessible by a touch screen.

When it's released in June, the phone's 4-gigabyte version will cost $499 and the 8-gigabyte version will cost $599.

However, these costs are only available to customers who sign a 2-year contract with Cingular, a company with a record of spotty coverage in the Gainesville, Fla., area.

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