iPhone

For the first entry of nerds2words, I'm taking a look at Apple's newest launch, the iPhone.

So far, the press has treated it with the typical excitement. But what's the big deal?

Well here's what it's got to offer:

• Bright, wide, rotatable color touch-screen
  
• An iPod that can hold about 1,000 or 2,000 songs (depending on the version you get)
  
• All the features of a regular cell phone, including speaker phone, text messaging, conference calling and a high-end camera
  
• Wireless internet, e-mail and mapping
  
• Price: $499 or $599, depending on the model

So, big question: who cares?
Even at the minimum, the iPhone will run you half a grand. Now, the technology is sound, as is most all of Apple's products. It's flashy, it works great, it'll hold as many songs as the biggest economy iPod.

But if you've got a cell phone and an iPod (or some other MP3 player), the biggest advantage you'll have is instead of carrying around two five ounce products, you'll have one. Granted, the combination makes things simpler. For example, you're going out to meet friends at a new restaurant. You can call them to get the address and time to meet, get driving directions, read a review of the restaurant, all while checking out the newest Killers album.

Of course, all this could be done without an iPhone, between your existing iPod and Internet-enabled phone. And you could have that $500, some of which could be spent at the restaurant.

My verdict: Hang on to your money. When the iPhone can provide you with features that are not available anywhere else, then maybe you should consider dropping a paycheck on it, no matter how sleek it is.