This review is based on our experience of using iPod Touch 2G together with Nokia E71 and N95.
You might be wondering what these two Nokia cell phones have to do with Maxis iPhone 3G in Malaysia. Keep on reading to know its relationship…
As you know, iPod Touch is the same as iPhone without Bluetooth & function as a cell phone. You can expect everything in iPhone to be made available in iPod except these two setbacks. And from our experience, these common benefits you can get either from iPod or iPhone:
Learning Tutorials
There are a lot of courses available online. In fact, there are “MBA in a Box” courses (either accredited or not am not sure) out there. By transferring all those tutorials to my iPod Touch, I can view them while nursing both my two kids. Tutorials like how to use Photoshop good for professional photographer.
Handy Web Browser
Both of my kids are very demanding. As much as possible they want me to be with them. I think they just are trying to prove they can do something to me. While sitting beside them I can curik2 masa surf info in Internet, YM or replying my blog comments.
Audiobook Specials
I find audiobook works well only for non-technical subject. Abridged or Unabridged doesn’t matter to me (at least at this point of time). Best of all, you can get most audiobooks in iTunes cheaper than in other online stores. So far I’d listen to “The Magic of Thinking Big” & “The Tipping Point”.
Podcast Updates
Podcast is great for fast updates. Abiy love listening to his podcast while driving to office. He claimed that Podcast helps him to reduce stress while on heavy traffic jam. Since then, he barely switch on radio. He’s also using his iPod to listen recorded webinar (sbb most of the webinar recorded in US time) just like you attending forum or seminar.
Reading eBooks
Both Abiy & I prefer reading eBooks than physical books recently. Because, eBook seems to be able to explains 500pg book in very concise & conclusive manner; probably into 40-50pg instead. Not to mention the content very up-to-date since it never have to go through 3-9 month of editing & printing time. Actually, we are currently trying to justify ourselves if subscribing Wall Street Journal (WSJ) through Amazon Kindle if economically viable.
These are the top 5 ways we used our iPod Touch. In addition, iTunes offers various application for your daily usage at much cheaper price than others. For example, we paid $14.99 for one application to track our daily expenditure in our N95 & E71 which you can get the same function but with better graphics for only $1.99 each for iPod or iPhone.
Obviously, you can watch TV shows, video clips or Youtube videos and listen to music, songs or maybe recorded ceramah agama in iPod Touch or iPhone. Abiy keep on watching all the new Smallville series on his iPod Touch when we first arrived in KL. We also keep some of Hafiy’s favorite Youtube videos to entertain him during long journey.
Enough about iPod Touch or iPhone, let’s talk about the data usage.
This will give you idea if Maxis iPhone 3G Plan is economically viable for you…
We subscribed to unlimited 3G/EDGE/GPRS data usage on E71 from Celcom. Both Abiy & me used this facility for Google Map (mcm nkg tpt yg tak biasa), read online news, google kt mana nearest Kopitiam, read email esp. from our customer, and kadang-kadang see stock price. With all these ‘light’ activities, we consumed 1.1 – 1.5Gb bandwidth. And we haven’t used our Nokia to surf Internet from PC (which I guess will consume more bandwidth)
The same usage on iPhone probably consumed 1.5-2.0Gb because iPod & iPhone collecting full feature website than just ‘compressed size’ surfing using our Opera Mini in Nokia E71. This haven’t include the nature of you to be addicted surfing more with iPhone.
With Maxis iPhone 3G Plan, you can only get free 2Gb data package RM250/mo or RM375/mo. Unless you are heavy phone call user, this maxis offerings really not worth it. If you are considering an iPhone 3G from Maxis currently, I think wait for better package from Celcom or Digi. Or at least, wait for better iPhone this June/July…
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