Should I buy a 2G iPhone?

[funkyg]

I know I should really be getting a 3G iPhone but I know someone that is selling a 2G 8GB device for £160. Is this a good price?
What are the benefits of the 3G over the 2G. To be honest I prefer the rear of the older one than the newer one.
I've heard that TomTom is on it's way to the iPhone, does the 2G have the GPS receiver or not?

Cheers.

*EDIT* Actually, just done some browsing and I now know it doesn't have GPS. What else should I be looking out for?

[Goldberg]

I was trying my hardest to get a 'cheap' one off fleabay the other week (until the tosser ripped me off, but I got the cash back thanks to DF )

I have now decided that a 3g is probably the way to go after my failed attempts, but the more and more I think about it the more I want a 3GS (although I have heard many people having issues with them.....)

I am on a work contract so my phone (HTC Magic) does not cost me anything which is making the decision hard as I really don;t want to go out and get a £45 a month contract for something that will just be a toy.....

[copykings]

Goldberg, you could always buy a 3GS handset on PAYG, Jailbreak and Unlock it to work on your company contract.... like I did

[ruggie_uk]

I really don;t want to go out and get a £45 a month contract for something that will just be a toy.....

But yet you know you can't help yourself.....
I bought a 3g then a 3gs in the space of 2 weeks - neither of which I could use at the time as they weren't unlocked. But I found myself REALLY needing the extra mp camera and the compass, both of which I haven't actually used yet apart from for testing.

As to original question, I would go for 3G or 3Gs unless you get a real bargain. It's showing its age now and the GPS is really handy - one of the few features that I do use regularly. And if you aren't aware of it - the google maps bit is great - it will even tell you what time the buses are and where to walk to get them. I caught my first bus in 15 years other day and my first train in ages on saturday and the app helped fantastically.

Goldberg, you could always buy a 3GS handset on PAYG, Jailbreak and Unlock it to work on your company contract.... like I did

Yer same here - actually works out cheaper for me using my vodafone than it would have using O2

[Scottio200]

*EDIT* Actually, just done some browsing and I now know it doesn't have GPS. What else should I be looking out for?

You also wont be able to send/recieve MMS on a 2g phone with 3.0

also it will not have any warranty with apple so if it goes wrong your looking at £146 to fix it.

Have a look around, a few iPhone 3g's will be going for £180 as that is what envirophone and mazuma mobile are currently offering for the 8gb ones

Cheers
Scottio

[funkyg]

Cheers guys, I'll hang on for a bit and spend a bit more for a 3G then.

[Goldberg]

So how much is a 3Gs on PAYG..... My Golf membership is up soon so that's a £1200 chunk!

[reverend]

o2 have the 3GS 16GB at £440.40 and the 32GB at £538.30, I'm tempted, just trying to decide whether it's worth all the cash for the upgrade from my original iPhone!

[Goldberg]

24 Months @ £45 = 1080

If you bought the 32gb @ £538.30 and topped up the PAYG sim with £10 a month (£240) if required it would still be cheaper!!

It's a no brainer really!

[crazyal]

I was going from a 3G to a 3GS via CEX, trading in my 8GB and a N95 + cash. But then I read about these problems with the battery heat problems and the coating coming off the screen so I've held fire on this idea for now.

[casio]

im also holding off from getting a 3g or 3gs mainly cos theres no 3g signal where i live and my 2g normally connects over wifi anyway,

before you decide between a 2g and a 3g, its worth considering the battery, its not able to be changed easily, if it starts to die like ipod ones do, it could be a pain to change,

[crazyal]

The battery is a lot easier to change on the 3G than the 2G which is soldered in. For those with a steady hand (and heart) replacing the 3G battery is not impossible.

Replacement batteries are nice and cheap here.

[casio]

true but not everyone is comfy with taking it apart and then desoldering the battery,

we may be fine with it, but if someone hasnt got much experience with a soldering iron they could bugger up their iphone

[crazyal]

Totally agree, not for the faint-hearted by any means.

As for answering the OP, good idea holding off for the 3G. As the 3GS becomes more poular you may find the 3G prices come down a bit (but not much).

[EvilBoB]

I bought a 2G ages ago off eBay... One thing I would say is that you should get an iPhone PAYG SIM card if you are going to go down this route as these devices come into themselves when used with the internet and you get free unlimited 3G or GPRS and free WiFi with the PAYG SIM. You can get them off eBay for 99p (or 11 quid with a tenner of credit).

[herbinator]

flogged my 8gb 2g for £150 picked up a 16GB 3g for £250 flogged that for £350 the next day treated myhself to a 32GB 3gs and am loving it