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Study: iPhone Users Are Delusional

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

Dear iPhone-owners, you're delusional! Love and kind wishes this Christmas, Strand Consult.

iPhone users can be really annoying. I should know, I used to be one. While I never actually uttered the words, "There's an app for that," (mainly because I live in Ireland where we're currently suffering from an app famine in comparison to the U.S.), I know people who constantly talk about their iPhone like it's a virgin birth or something. Nothing short of miraculous, in other words. Even when you point out the device's known faults, your words fall on deaf ears or, even worse, the iPhoner declares those faults don't matter anyway. ("We'll I'm always near my computer so I don't need the battery to last the entire day.")

CNet reports that Strand Consult recently did a little research into the average iPhone user and found that they'll defend the device because they're delusional. In fact, the folks at Strand even went as far as to liken iPhone-users' behavior to that of those suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Strand found that iPhone-owners have "accepted and defended" the iPhone's technological shortcomings even though these shortcomings can result in limitations in users' daily lives.

"When we examine the iPhone users' arguments defending the iPhone, it reminds us of the famous Stockholm Syndrome--a term invented by psychologists after a hostage drama in Stockholm. Here, hostages reacted to the psychological pressure they were experiencing by defending the people that had held them hostage for six days," Strand reports.

Users offered up a myriad of excuses for all of the phone's flaws, including the fact that you can't change the battery; the device can't handle multitasking; the camera is awful; the phone doesn't support java; and you can only use the it on networks Apple has set out for you.

Here's a snippet of the questions asked, along with a typical answer:

1. The first iPhone was not a 3G phone: What do you need 3G for? You can easily use the iPhone without using a 3G network and anyway, 3G is not particularly widespread, so this is not a problem.

2. The phone cannot send MMS: There is no need to send MMSs, hardly anybody sends MMSs.

3. You cannot forward a SMS: This is a function that hardly anybody uses and was therefore not included in the first iPhones.

4. The phone has a poor camera: The built-in camera is perfectly adequate and the iPhone takes fantastic photos with its camera.

5. It is not a real Smartphone, it cannot multitask: The phone has all the necessary functions and the OS is technically superior compared to other Smartphone OSs currently on the mobile market.

6. The iPhone cannot multitask, resulting in a great number of applications being unusable: The absence of multitasking is a deliberate design decision resulting in a faster UI.

Strand's report into the iPhone also contains what it believes to be 10 myths about the Apple device. Check them out below.

1. The iPhone drives data traffic into mobile operators networks

2. The iPhone helps operators attract new customers

3. The iPhone is good business for mobile operators

4. The iPhone is dominating the mobile services market

5. App store is a huge success that has revolutionised the services market

6. There is money to be made by developing applications for the iPhone

7. It is iPhone customers that are generating the majority of online mobile surfing traffic

8. The iPhone has a large market share

9. The iPhone was the first mobile phone with a touchscreen

10. The iPhone is a technologically advanced mobile phone

We've ordered our full copy of the report but for now, you can check out Strand's summary here.

Follow us on Twitter for more tech news and exclusive updates here.

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njkid3 12/14/2009 8:01 PM
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i always knew they were delusional and now i have proof to back it up

socalboomer 12/14/2009 8:03 PM
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I especially like the myths. . .

I find, though, that nearly everyone with a cell phone uses similar phrases to justify their purchase. I have a Storm and although I love it, there are little things that I do make excuses for. . .

deadlockedworld 12/14/2009 8:04 PM
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this is true of most sports and product fans isnt it? there are plenty of people on Tom's that are delusionally fanatic about one company or another...

pbrigido 12/14/2009 8:05 PM
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No offense to anybody, but I did really LOL in real life.

pooflinger1 12/14/2009 8:06 PM
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I didn't need a report to tell me that iphone, or apple users in general, are delusional. That's like making a report that says the sky is blue and the grass is green.

obiown77 12/14/2009 8:07 PM
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deadlockedworld 12/14/2009 8:07 PM
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matt2k 12/14/2009 8:08 PM
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lol
i have to agree with iPhone users agressively defending their phone, i have had some quite amusing conversation with iPhone users. a great way to kill a few hours when bored.
but other than that i've never really used an iPhone,'cept to play the odd game or 2 when it first came out (im sure everyones been to a party/social gathering where someone's just bought an iPhone and has to show it to everyone)
so cant really pass any judgement. meh

itadakimasu 12/14/2009 8:08 PM
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i'm an iphone user for about 18 months now... I haven't used another smart phone to be able to compare, and the headache of switching services isn't really worth the trouble IMO, unless the droid is going to run errands for me and cook for me too.

I kinda want a droid, but I'm not going to cancel service and switch and take the chance of being disappointed w\ the service.

If verizon wanted to buy out my contract, and give me a droid I'd try that.

KyleSTL 12/14/2009 8:09 PM
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Quote :9. The iPhone was the first mobile phone with a touchscreen

It's hilarious because the Palm Treo series (90, 600, 650, etc) predate the iPhone by a half-decade.

Anonymous 12/14/2009 8:10 PM
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tenor77 12/14/2009 8:12 PM
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Straight up fanboi syndrome.

Like twats who debate their console is superior to another.

V8VENOM 12/14/2009 8:22 PM
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This is what Tom's does when hit count is low. If you track Tom's true owners at all, the data is there for all to see how they've suffered since August.

It would appear Tom's continued attempts to motivate the fanboys and girls to post is failing them. Tom's editors, most of the folks who are serious about technology, don't live here any more, they've moved on, these endless childish articles pander to know one other than fanboys and girls.

Please Tom's, get out of the reporting gutter, and get back to technology -- that's what will bring your hit count back up to the "glory" days, not this Inquirer style.

Abrahm 12/14/2009 8:24 PM
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I would say this isn't just for the iPhone users, but any Apple product user in general. I mean, how many times have you heard "I have a Mac, they are immune to viruses and malware"

FHDelux 12/14/2009 8:27 PM
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To each their own, apple people can be fanatical sometimes. I use both OSX and Windows daily, so i wouldn't say i'm biased toward one or the other. With cell phones its the same thing. I know people who love windows mobile, i used to love my treo 700p and i think the WebOS interface is brilliant. That said, i have an iphone and i think its a great device, mostly due to the interface and web browser being so smooth in comparison to other smartphones i've used. Thing is, i cannot say that my iphone is better than say a droid device because i simply cannot afford to hop from contract to contract paying ETFs just to try new devices.

Abrahm 12/14/2009 8:29 PM
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V8VENOM :
This is what Tom's does when hit count is low. If you track Tom's true owners at all, the data is there for all to see how they've suffered since August.It would appear Tom's continued attempts to motivate the fanboys and girls to post is failing them. Tom's editors, most of the folks who are serious about technology, don't live here any more, they've moved on, these endless childish articles pander to know one other than fanboys and girls.Please Tom's, get out of the reporting gutter, and get back to technology -- that's what will bring your hit count back up to the "glory" days, not this Inquirer style.


V8VENOM :
This is what Tom's does when hit count is low. If you track Tom's true owners at all, the data is there for all to see how they've suffered since August.It would appear Tom's continued attempts to motivate the fanboys and girls to post is failing them. Tom's editors, most of the folks who are serious about technology, don't live here any more, they've moved on, these endless childish articles pander to know one other than fanboys and girls.Please Tom's, get out of the reporting gutter, and get back to technology -- that's what will bring your hit count back up to the "glory" days, not this Inquirer style.



You sound like an angry, delusional fanboi....

blackened144 12/14/2009 8:30 PM
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fortmccubble 12/14/2009 8:30 PM
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Upon reading the results of the study, the iphone users who were questioned dismissed this as a microsoft funded study (and we know how bad Microsoft is!)rendering it completely untrue.

norbs 12/14/2009 8:31 PM
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KyleSTL :
It's hilarious because the Palm Treo series (90, 600, 650, etc) predate the iPhone by a half-decade.


What is hilarious? Where the site got that info from? I know iPhone users and none of them thought that... It's a well implemented touch screen but not the first touche screen.

keither5150 12/14/2009 8:33 PM
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Apple users in general are delusional. While I appreciate certain aspects of OSX I prefer Windows for too many reasons to list. There are definite pros and cons for each OS.

I will not defend MS like Apple users defend everything that has an apple logo on it.

It worries me that people can be so easily lead to believe the media hype or advertising.

I used my brother's iphone over a weekend. I personally prefer the BB for typing. The touch screen is brutal.

norbs 12/14/2009 8:34 PM
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cyberkuberiah 12/14/2009 8:38 PM
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this so called "stockholm syndrome" is omnipresent , if one has the critical eye to look . this article itself helps open up that eye .

norbs 12/14/2009 8:38 PM
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FHDelux :
To each their own, apple people can be fanatical sometimes. I use both OSX and Windows daily, so i wouldn't say i'm biased toward one or the other. With cell phones its the same thing. I know people who love windows mobile, i used to love my treo 700p and i think the WebOS interface is brilliant. That said, i have an iphone and i think its a great device, mostly due to the interface and web browser being so smooth in comparison to other smartphones i've used. Thing is, i cannot say that my iphone is better than say a droid device because i simply cannot afford to hop from contract to contract paying ETFs just to try new devices.


Why do people even lock onto one brand without trying others. I could not live without windows, but I really appreciate apple products. There is more the life then which OS or brand you use.

Hanin33 12/14/2009 8:45 PM
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stefn :
Meanwhile Apple just goes about its business. Its very profitable business of redefining the distribution of audio, video, print—all things digital. Keep the faith.



right... i guess history began for you when the iphone arrived?

cyberkuberiah 12/14/2009 8:52 PM
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norbs :
Why do people even lock onto one brand without trying others. I could not live without windows, but I really appreciate apple products. There is more the life then which OS or brand you use.



yes , all these are just side-effects of information overload . marketing information , which basically means "let us care for you" has encroached upon real competitive intelligence , which is "i can take care of myself" . this does not mean marketing is evil , but there is just too much of it and very little critical thinking is left in the mind , especially teens and kids .

Steven Bancroft 12/14/2009 8:52 PM
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ravewulf 12/14/2009 8:55 PM
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WIN.


Also sounds similar to religous fanatics.
"My religion is the only TRUE way, and everyone else is going to hell"
And all the creationists etc

ravewulf 12/14/2009 8:59 PM
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Steven Bancroft :
When was this questionnaire made? The date isnt listed in the source. I ask because many of these questions have an invalid response to the current hardware."1. The first iPhone was not a 3G phone: What do you need 3G for? You can easily use the iPhone without using a 3G network and anyway, 3G is not particularly widespread, so this is not a problem.TRUE, This is why I waited for iPhone 3G. No defense.2. The phone cannot send MMS: There is no need to send MMSs, hardly anybody sends MMSs.MMS is live.3. You cannot forward a SMS: This is a function that hardly anybody uses and was therefore not included in the first iPhones.Forwarding is live.4. The phone has a poor camera: The built-in camera is perfectly adequate and the iPhone takes fantastic photos with its camera.Iphone 3GS has a great camera5. It is not a real Smartphone, it cannot multitask: The phone has all the necessary functions and the OS is technically superior compared to other Smartphone OSs currently on the mobile market.True multitasking doesnt mean its not a smartphone. Some native apps do run in the background.6. The iPhone cannot multitask, resulting in a great number of applications being unusable: The absence of multitasking is a deliberate design decision resulting in a faster UI.Jailbreaking and using Backgrounder solves this issue and many others"



In case you didn't notice, you are the target of this study. The point is all of these features should have been in version 1 and worked out of the box without jailbreaking.

Harby 12/14/2009 9:13 PM
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Steven Bancroft :
Jailbreaking and using Backgrounder solves this issue and many others"



If I didn't know better I'd say you're joking. The sad part is that you're actually serious about this.

cyberkuberiah 12/14/2009 9:27 PM
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obiown77 :
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I got an iphone.



i bet that is not what your momma thinks ...

cyberkuberiah 12/14/2009 9:29 PM
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