The week in your words: iPhone, Wi-Fi and dial-up

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 11 Jul 2008 at 16:51

In a week that saw the launch of the iPhone 3G, a survey on low Wi-Fi take-up and a group of happy dial-up users, we take a look back to see what our readers have made of it all.

Apple iPhones it in

The iPhone 3G hit UK stores today, but the long queues were more down to technical errors with O2's registration system than a surge in demand. You were not impressed.

"I'm just back from visiting the Regent Street Apple store and it was a complete mess. Huge queues outside with armed police everywhere and they quizzed people on why they wanted to enter the store. The O2 store down Oxford Street had sold out 'because their stock was delivered to the Lake District instead'," complains LPArsenal.

Even without technical problems it seems the second iPhone has failed to capture the imagination of PC Pro readers the way the first did.

"Queuing on day one for this kind of thing is a bit peculiar. Even if I really wanted one, I'd not want to look so desperate," claims hywelt, a sentiment echoed by gavomatic57:

"You are advised to take a brown paper bag to the O2 shop, so you can get it home without people noticing!"

Only time will tell if the 3G model is a success, but one member of the PC Pro team has already taken the plunge, signing up as soon as O2 started taking orders. "I admit, perhaps I'm being a little over-eager here," admitted Components Editor Darien Graham-Smith on the PC Pro blog. "But the new iPhone is a more attractive package than the original in every respect."

Wireless woes

New research out this week shows that Wi-Fi take-up isn't as high as previously thought. Perhaps PC Pro readers can give an insight into why?

"I have had a wireless router since 2002 and I've hardly ever switched it on. It is slow, unreliable and insecure. If the computer is sitting next to the router, why would you need to subject yourself to additional radiation?," asks big_D, donning his tin-foil hat.

"I agree completely," chimes in nvj1662. "Last year I cabled the house with Ethernet, television and telephone, all at the same time. Why would I use wireless?"

"I have my laptop plugged in via Ethernet to access the internet, but I do have it configured so I can pick it up and work wirelessly in the garden should I so wish. I have both my printers connected wirelessly. It is simpler because they are in other locations," says Amnesia10.

There it is then - Wi-Fi is fit only for printers.

Dialling up

Wi-Fi may be a technology you can live without, but the same can't be said for broadband connections.

A survey this week revealed that over 60% of dial-up internet users had no desire to upgrade to a faster, always-on connection.

"Are they mad?" asks an incredulous skarlock, backed up by hifidelity2 who claims that his occasional forced dial-up use is a "nightmare".

However, we did find out who these content dial-up users are: they're mums.

"My mother is on pay-as-you-go dial-up and it suits her fine," claims big_D, with hifidelity2 backing him up, explaining that his mother is also very happy with her 56K connection.