With all the buzz surrounding Apple’s new iPhone 4, there’s no question that people are interested. Even those who have never owned a smart phone are turning their heads.

And why shouldn’t they be? You can do just about anything on the little gadgets nowadays. You can multitask now, having several apps open at once. The pixels are so tiny that the human eye can’t even perceive them, making for a crisp, realistic image. And the new front camera allows true video calls. They are fully functional mini-computers, not just phones.

So the question comes down, as it does so often, to money: is the new iPhone 4 worth the price tag compared to other smart phones, say the Android-powered Droid or even the older iPhone 3GS? Maybe. Maybe not, though.

Consider that a large portion of what you’re paying for when you buy new technology—especially new technology from a company like Apple—is the overall product experience. Apple has gone to great lengths to ensure that everything on that phone works exactly as they want it to. Alterations can be done with little to no fuss, and buying apps is a breeze, as well. This is all good, except when you consider the proprietary nature of Apple.

Want to use a new iPhone with a service provider other than AT&T? Won’t happen until next year, if ever, since Verizon has shifted their energy to Android-powered phones.

Want to replace the battery on your iPhone 4 someday? The iPhone needs to be serviced for that, whereas the Motorola Droid and other smart phones can just take a new battery.

Want to use an app made for other smart phones? Only if Apple decides to port it to the iPhone, since they control everything.

A large portion of the battle between Apple and other smart phone companies like Google’s Android stems from the fact that Apple and AT&T are doing alone what Google is doing in cooperation with other companies. Google’s approach produces open-source software, a friendlier, easier-to-port alternative, for use on the many different Android-based phones and other platforms, as well.

Still, let’s not be too harsh on Apple. They produce amazing bundles of technology and the new iPhone 4 is no exception. Setting up an Apple product’s features is nearly non-existent. Things work right out of the box. You just buy new apps, for which the iPhone currently has more support than Android.

Want to edit the HD video you just recorded? The new iPhone comes with a mobile version of iMovie, allowing you to edit without installing anything extra or transferring the file to your computer.

Want to make a video call? All built into the phone.

While Apple is playing catch-up with the iPhone 4—other smart phones already had many of its most noteworthy new features, such as multitasking support and dual cameras—the superiority and ease-of-use of its features like that amazing screen and all the prepackaged software cannot be denied, nor can Apple’s overall more user-friendly-right-out-of-the-box nature be ignored when comparing it to most other smart phones on the market. If you aren’t a geek or a power-user, that’s probably a very good thing.

For those of you who are geeks and power-users, however, or for those who just enjoy exploring your new technology without limitations, the iPhone may not be for you.

Related Iphone Articles