will be looking for a new phone soon and wondering if the the iPhone will do my job.

Need more than just a phone as I currently also carry a handheld PC. What ever I get it must synchronize with MS Outlook contacts and calender on my PC - will the iPhone do this or are there other alternatives?

The iPhone does support contact and calender synching yes using MobileMe Apple - MobileMe - Features - MobileMe on your PC

There are plenty of alternatives to the iPhone out there and many do certain things better. The camera on the iPhone certainly leaves much to be desired and the Blackberries are still generally considered as being the best for mobile email with their full qwerty keyboard. You need to ask yourself really whether you need all the features of an iPhone or whether you really really need excellent email all the time. On the whole the iPhone delivers almost everything you could ever want in a package that works very well. I don't think there is currently anything available that does music, internet, email, photos and applications so well in on complete item. There is definitely a certain amount of Apple desire that is required to own or want one though. Some people will hate the interface, and it is entirely up to the individual whether they get on with the touch screen. Personally I love it and don't believe that raw features are what makes a gadget. If the interface is crap, then you don't stand a chance of using all the features, whereas the iPhone interface is IMO so good that you can use 100% of the features available.

Best way to answer your question is to go to an Apple Store and speak to the techs in there. They're all very knowledgeable and won't try and sell you anything. They'll show you what it does, let you have a go, answer and questions and recommend whether it will work for you or not. Being on the scottish boarders you may struggle to find an Apple Store, but there is one in Glasgow which might be worth the trip. Alternatively, just have a go by yourself in an O2 store.

Beware of the lousy battery capacity which is totally unacceptable for the price. Fanatic Apple zealots will of course deny this problem, but it's there nevertheless. And being an Apple product you cannot replace the battery without voiding the warranty. If you want/need to change battery you have to send it to Apple :P

OK, you could get a next to normal interval between charging if you turn off wifi, pushmail, 3G and so on - but in that case, why buy an iphone at all?

But yes, it looks good

I have to say I didn't think it was that bad. I guess it depends whether you dock it every day or not. In terms of what you're using it's pretty good. A laptop would only last a few hours lets face it!

I have to say I didn't think it was that bad. I guess it depends whether you dock it every day or not. In terms of what you're using it's pretty good. A laptop would only last a few hours lets face it!

True - but if you think of the iphone as a phone it's really not acceptable having to dock it every day. And for a laptop I personally prefer a proper keyboard and a sligtly larger screen. Have to admit that my new asus eee suffer from the same problem, though - to keep the battery going for a reasonable amount of time I need to unplug USB devices, turn off wifi, reduce screen brightness... but at least I have the option to get a battery with higher capacity.

thanks, have had a wee play and do like the interface. Camera is totally unimportant to me, what is really important is to sync with Outlook, I currently use the Handheld PC to syn diary and office and home PC, but could do with having one less device to carry. Will pop into O2 store when I get a minute.

Blackberry Bold. Absolutely amazing. Amazing screen for video, MP3 playback and supports 8gb micro SD (16gb when launched!)

The only downside is you can't play purchased music on it...

I've come from an N95 with an iPhone in the middle and so far my BOLD is the best phone I've had!

Honest advice.

Get one try it and if you dont like it return it under the 14 day cooling off period

If MMS and forwarding SMS is essential, then it wont suit you.

Personally if you need PDA features, stick with PDA based phones like HTC or Blackberry.

my N95 still rocks my world. even after 2 years! I'm not saying it's as slick as the piephone, but it just works, even after i dropped it in a cup of tea.

Beware of the lousy battery capacity which is totally unacceptable for the price.

what kind of life can you expect from the battery?

i'm a constant texter and my current phone (Sony K800i) lasts about a day or two at most.

i dont mind having to plug it in every day but somedays thats not always a viable option.

what kind of life can you expect from the battery?

i'm a constant texter and my current phone (Sony K800i) lasts about a day or two at most.

i dont mind having to plug it in every day but somedays thats not always a viable option.

it's the push email that's killing battery life. mine has the wifi on all day which gets used a few times during the day, to be fair I only make a small amount of calls (if any) and send a few texts but when I dock it of an evening the battery is generally still around 75%+ charged. I'm in no way hindered "lousy" battery capacity; I watched a film and a couple of TV shows on the on a flight this summer and the battery still had charge

cheers, doesnt sound that bad then.

Honest advice.

Get one try it and if you dont like it return it under the 14 day cooling off period

It's honest advice but poor. If you upgraded in the store you cannot return in the 14 days. And before anyone quotes SOGA you need to be aware of this:

When you buy something you enter into a contract with the retailer. If the retailer tells you there is no 14 day and you still buy it, it's part of the contract and therefore legal.

It's practices like this that cause retailers to push prices up and even push some under. The retailer looses 30% on that handset and people are wondering why we are in the economic poo...

There is a fair few ways of doing the research on a product without going through the time consuming process of buying something and then taking it back.

Yea there is other ways of doing it but it like anything else, unless you live near an Apple Store where else can you realistically try an iPhone where people actually know about them as CPW and O2 are often full off bull when it comes to the iPhone.

Most of them dont even tell people that they need iTunes to activate the iPhone when they get home

If anyone has battery killing devices, and needs a backup incase of no mains access, then get yourself a Proporta charger and the appropriate adaptor (supplied with both Nokia, SE, mini USB and Ipod.

Charges my N95 4 times (when N95 flat, and charger fully charged).