What is the big deal with the iPhone?

Really, what is the big deal with the iPhone? Why all the hype over a piece of glass and plastic that makes and receives calls and texts? It is a communication device after all, and they all serve the same basic functions.....or do they?

There are so many choices when it comes to phones anymore, and getting lost in the shopping process can be easy. You have the Blackberry, the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and iPhone4, and even more smartphones like the HTC Sense, the Samsung Galaxy S line of devices, and on and on. Even Dell and Acer are developing SmartPhones now. So, with all of the choices, which one do you pick? That answer depends on one main factor....YOU. Noone else can tell you which phone will be better for you or which one will provide you with the most features and functions.

My personal favorite of all of them is still the iPhone. Now of course this is probably due to the fact that it is the one I have. But, there are also other factors that play into that decision. Most of those factors are due to the fact that my iPhone is jailbroken, however, many of the great features of the iPhone can be utilized even on a stock device. Let's take a closer look at some of those features.

To me, just the phone itself may be it's best feature. Whether it's the iPhone 3 or iPhone4, the phone itself fits perfectly in your hand. I realize how silly that may sound to the casual user, but to me, it is probably the most important factor of a phone. And, whether you are holding the iPhone up to your ear, holding it flat to get on Facebook, or have it in your pocket, it is the perfect size.

The screen is also great. No, it's not as good of a resolution as the new Super AMOLED screens, but it is reliable. As long as you don't drop the phone, the screen will last a long time with no issues. And if you do happen to break the screen, it is relatively easy to replace.

Battery life is not bad. Depending on how heavily you use the phone, your battery can last at least a full day. Mine, on the other hand, typically last a few hours seeing as how I place a lot of load on the battery fairly consistently. But, the recharge time is quite impressive, you can fully charge from 40 or 50 % in less than thirty minutes. And, despite what Apple will tell you, the battery can be replaced if necessary. I would not attempt to replace the screen or battery unless you are good with small electronics because you can ruin the phone by doing so.

There are hundreds of thousands of Apps for the iPhone also. And every one of these apps serves a purpose. Whether that purpose is to help you navigate through downtown, add emoticons to your texts and Facebook updates, or to pretend like your phone is a LightSaber, they are all important apps. And they are fun too, i mean who doesn't want their iPhone to fart on demand? (on a side note, Apple has said that they have enough Fart Apps in the appstore, so if you're finalizing your dream app for surprise farts, then turn to something else, they don't want it)

The fact that the Iphone is also an iPod may be one of the biggest draws for the device. You don't have to carry a separate music player with you, therefore raising the convenience level of the iPhone that much more. And you can plug it into your car (if your car is properly equipped) and play all of your music right through your car stereo.

Ease of use is another great thing about the iPhone. Everything is right there at your fingertips. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, email, Instant Messaging, Pictures, Games, etc. There seems to be nothing that you can't do with the phone. And it is all right there, at a swipe of the thumb.

Good device support is a must, and the Iphone has it. Now, that is not saying that Apple gives all of the support out there. But, the Iphone has one of the strongest communities out there. The users of themselves are the ones who provide the most help. There are countless sites, forums, guides, etc. out there giving you all of the information you will ever need for your iPhone.

Oh, and let's not forget the core feature of the iPhone. Yes, it does make and receive calls too. I know, kind of crazy, but it's true. Texting is also nicely integrated into the iphone.

Now I know what you will say,. all of the other SmartPhones out there do all of this and then some. And it's ok to think that, but the iPhone is still my favorite SmartPhone on the market. I just think it really puts all available features together nicely, upgrades are constantly being handed down for it, the community is so strong, it's lightweight and versatile. Say what you will, to me the iPhone is the hands down top choice.