It sure seems like there is a lot of buzz going on around the iPhone. I won’t provide any links because at this point you could probably do a google search for “potted meat” and find links to the iPhone and how it is either the greatest or worst device ever. I’ve looked at the demos and a couple reviews and the thing I can say for sure that Apple did (and has always done) is put the user interface as the most significant feature. Some handset makers like Motorola and HTC like to sell their hardware specs first and foremost to distract you from the fact that their user interface is trash, which you don’t find out until after you bought the phone because it’s super-thin or because it makes espresso.

In any case, I won’t be buying an iPhone, and not because it’s $600, or because it’s only on Cingular. It looks hella cool, but Apple and Cingular are both companies with a history of lock-in. I don’t want a device that will do whatever I want, but charges me $0.99 every time I do it. I want to pay for the hardware up front (or on a contract with fixed costs) and hack away from then on, without restriction. Apple learned from the iPod that it’s more profitable to sell services than either software or hardware. The iPhone won’t be any different. If you’re getting an iPhone for $499 or $599, you better save some extra nickels and dimes, because you’re going to need them.