Even though I have an iPhone, and I have a blog, I’m really not inclined to write an in-depth review. I sat down yesterday and tried to figure out how I would structure one when it occurred to me that I was having too much fun with my iPhone to really analyze it properly. And time spent writing is time not spent playing with my new toy.

Lucky for us, just about every other technology website has been rolling out their exhaustive reviews. The one that comes closest to my feelings so far is Jeremy Horowitz’s iPhone review at iLounge. Be warned, the complete review is nine pages long, and a bit dry for my tastes. I have to admit that I was starting to doze off by page five, but maybe that’s because I’m already pretty familiar with the device and its features. But if you want a feature-by-feature rundown written by someone who knows his iPods, this is the review to read.

Pros: A truly next-generation mobile phone with world-class industrial design, iPod-caliber audio and video playback, and great telephone performance in handset, speakerphone, or Bluetooth modes. Novel, nice approach to “visual” voicemail. Strong web and photo browsing features are augmented by a gorgeous, high-resolution 3.5” widescreen display and novel multi-point touchscreen controls; iPod functionality benefits significantly from good built-in speaker. Acceptable full-day battery life for typical users, and good e-mail client with initial signs of enough features (some Exchange server support, Word, PDF, and Excel document display) to satisfy more demanding business users. Surprisingly strong EDGE performance for web and even YouTube video use, boosted to sub-laptop speeds when switched to Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) network.

Cons: Two-year AT&T contract required for purchase; not usable with other wireless carriers, forcing users to rely upon AT&T’s less than superb customer service and inconsistent network coverage regardless of their regional or personal needs. No true instant messaging support; overpriced SMS feature. Size, price, limited storage, and lack of user-replaceable battery restrict appeal to a smaller-than-iPod market niche—for now. Significant TDMA noise and other physical and electronic incompatibilities make use of iPod accessories, as well as docking to your computer, somewhat unpleasant. Long-term durability and warranty/out-of-warranty replacement questions remain unclear and potentially significant for all buyers.

If you’re crunched for time, or just can’t be bothered to read a doctoral dissertation on the iPhone, skip directly to the Conclusion and Multi-Editor Reviews page, for a wrap-up of the main review, plus several mini-reviews by other iLounge editors. The mini-reviews are much less formal than the main review, and really convey the sense of fun and wonder that the iPhone provides.

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