1/3 of iPhone 3G users reset at least once per day

[Serren]

Recently high profile ZDnet blogger Matt Miller accused Apple of doing the impossible - making the iPhone 3G more unstable than Windows Mobile. Of course this was unfair to Windows Mobile, which is now pretty stable, but it did underline how far Apple landed from its goal of ensuring device stability when it finally opened up its walled garden.

Of course Mr Miller’s experience can easily be dismissed as that of one isolated user, which is why this survey done on the popular Macrumors site is so interesting. Involving more than 100 forum members, the participants were asked how frequently their device needed to be restarted (soft-reset in Windows Mobile parlance). The results were startling and should serve as a cold wake-up call to Steve Jobs.

Around 28% needed to restart at least once per day, 4% more than 3 times per day and 1.5% more than 6 times per day. 2/3 of users needed to do it less frequently than daily, this could range from every second day to never at all. This leaves at least 1/3 of users with a seriously unstable phone. Reports such as spontaneous restarts, inability to answer the phone, and being unable to start 3rd party applications seem particularly rife, and appear to exist even after the latest update to firmware 2.01.

While I can empathize with blighted iPhone users, their experience is what one would expect from users locked into an immature platform. However bearing in mind that the iPhone is a closed system, with Apple responsible for the quality of the hardware, software and even 3rd party software through its app store, the instability of the iPhone is a terrible indictment of Apple’s performance and one can only hope for the sake of its users Apple achieves some semblance of stability in version 3 or 4.

Source = Congratulations Apple, you made the iPhone less stable than Windows Mobile | The Mobile Gadgeteer | ZDNet.com

[Wondermonkey]

If I was resetting the phone even close to that, I'd return it. Considering you have 30 days to cancel your AT&T contract, I hope that those people that were unhappy with the phone did, because that's ridiculous. Mine's been fine, but I'm not 3G. Also, I have a few friends with 3G that have had zero issues, which makes me think it's primarily the apps causing the havoc.

[Quo]

Originally Posted by Wondermonkey

...which makes me think it's primarily the apps causing the havoc.

I would think that people on the Macforums boards would be some of the more tech-savvy people who would be willing to add additional apps, etc. Not that it makes it okay necessarily, but I agree... it's got to be stuff stacked on to the core features that make it more unstable.

[Epyon MX]

Originally Posted by Serren

Involving more than 100 forum members, the participants

I call complete shenanigans. Forum members? No real polling company uses forum members. The numbers mean nothing (or cannot be trusted at all).

For me and my 3G, I have to reset maybe once every two weeks, I'd guess. And it's largely the apps is my guess. But I've gotten into the habit of reseting every other day or so. Most things run better if you turn them off and on once in a while. There are issues with the phone, I'll agree. But cherry-picking numbers with horrible polling methodology isn't going to help anyone. (not you, Serren, the original author).

I should edit the title with a qualification:
Dubious study: 1/3 of iPhone 3G users reset at lest once per day

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by Epyon MX

I call complete shenanigans. Forum members? No real polling company uses forum members. The numbers mean nothing (or cannot be trusted at all).

TEST! Poll added to top, feel free to choose more than one.

[Quo]

Originally Posted by Epyon MX

...cherry-picking numbers with horrible polling methodology isn't going to help anyone.

Gee, seems to work fine for the US political media!!!

BTW, I voted both!

[dmiller68]

Actually my understanding is there are a lot of silent reboots that users may not notice (self correct). I know that several of the users at work have been complaining about reboots. However I would not claim to be an expert in this field.

[lovekeiiy]

you have coworkers who support your evil competitors? I guess we see who are not getting promoted, LOL.

[KEEZY]

When 2.0 dropped it was horrible, and I would have to restart pretty often. The browser would crash and restart. 2.01 seemed to speed things up, but even now, my phone will stop making the unlock sound at random, and I will have to reset it to fix it.

The polling is very unofficial to say the least. I've always heard it's best to restart after installing an app, so maybe that's what these people have heard. However, as the article said, this platform is a closed system. There is no guesswork and the apps have to be submitted through Apple, so they are solely responsible for these issues.

[dmiller68]

Originally Posted by lovekeiiy

you have coworkers who support your evil competitors? I guess we see who are not getting promoted, LOL.

Yep I would say 25-30% of our staff use iPhones. It was cleared originally for testing. It is quite funny actually. We also have a couple people we have stoled from the Apple team. I think they are cool I like the interface the main reason I upgraded to the ipod touch but I'll still with the phone they give me which is any Nokia model I choose.

[Peench]

Rhino has complained about having to reset his phone every so often. Of course has has problems with virtually any electronic item so his experience can't really be trusted.