iPhone Road Test: Conclusion

I've now spent a week with the iPhone and I reckon I've covered pretty much all the ups and downs that a new user will face over time.

Overall the iPhone is a pretty great device, if you know what you're getting and it suits your requirements.

It looks very good, feels solid and the interface is very intuitive. For the most part, the things it does, it does well.

There are plenty of great features from which other mobile developers could really learn, particularly in terms of streamlining the interface.

• iPhone Road Test: Day 1
• iPhone Road Test: Day 2
• iPhone Road Test: Day 3
• iPhone Road Test: Day 4
• iPhone Road Test: Day 5

But the iPhone is too expensive for the average consumer and too limited to be considered a real smartphone.

As I said on day four, this conflict creates a lack of focus for the iPhone as it's something of a jack-of-all-trades, and master of none.

With this in mind, I can't help thinking that Apple is relying heavily on the brand and the hype to help carry sales, but it seems to be working anyway.

A lot of the issues I've highlighted over the past week could be fixed with software updates, so hopefully Apple will take note of the complaints and recommendations and implement or fix these issues.

Apple has also said that a development kit will be available in February, which will allow third-party developers to make applications for the iPhone. This could solve a lot of my reservations about the device.

I will write a final review in two weeks' time to offer my opinion after having got used to using the phone on a daily basis.

If there is anything that any of our readers would like me to look at, or anything you would like to add about the points I've raised during my review, please do so in the Reader Comments section underneath this article.

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