Looking to get iPhone - have a few questions

[loafz]

Long-time lurker, first time poster. I wrote a novel of a post, but for some reason lost it because I wasn't logged in. (wth? lame.). Rather than re-write all of it, I'll try to make it as short and sweet as possible.

I'm looking to get a new phone, my friend suggested an iPhone. Before dropping $400+ on it, I had a few questions which I hoped would receive honest answers to (unlike other places where there is an obvious mac vs. pc debate). I haven't personally tested/played with one yet, but I will go to an apple store to try it out before buying. Before that, I had a few questions, here it goes:

1. USB 2.0. Is this a REQUIREMENT, or merely a suggestion for easier/quicker syncing? I currently don't have a computer with USB 2.0. Will this be an issue?

2. Bluetooth. I would definitely get a headset with the phone. I've seen the jawbone website. Does it deliver what it says? Is it really worth the $120? Any comparable/better headsets out there for a cheaper price?

3. Ringtones. I want to add my own ringtones. Old pages/posts (from july/august) on many websites said "No." but I recall reading somewhere that you can now? Is this now possible because of a firmware update?

4. Additional Cost. I currently have AT&T (family plan). I'd be the only one with an iPhone. Does this mean I only pay the additional service for the phone, but can still keep the family plan? Do I have to change plans? What's the minimum I will have to pay extra; $20?

5. Buy? Is it really WORTH buying? I'm not a die-hard apple aficionado, so I won't be buying it just because it's an apple. I want to buy it because it's cool and worth the price tag. I sometimes have trouble hearing on my current samsung flip-phone. Is the call quality really as poor as many have complained about? Does a headset change it any?

I probably have a few more, but that's the bulk of my questions/thoughts. Any comments/opinions/suggestions are welcomed. I'd really like to make an informed decision before throwing down the money for one of these bad boys. Thanks for the help!:D

[phillips1021]

4 - I also have the Family Plan. You still keep the family plan. you pay $20 more for unlimited data access for your phone number. $20 is minimum. You can pay more if you want to send more text messages ( i think 150 text msgs a month are included in the $20)

5 - I really enjoy my iPhone. But I advise you to go to a store and have someone call you to test the iPhone receiver volume. There have been complaints about the volume of the receiver. I find I must position the receiver right over my ear canal to get the best sound when someone calls me. It is definately not as loud as my previous cell phone (Razr)

Overall, very satisfied with my iPhone. It's great to have one small device that does so much.

[bobb-mini]

1. USB 2.0 is a NON-ISSUE. Can get a USB2 board form anywhere under $20. Well worth the investment.

2. Well, I like billions, google for reviews, (Google=it really works!) and the reviews are so-so.

3. Yes now - pay.

Is it really WORTH buying?
The answer would be different from a teen making MacDonald's wages vs a game tester. Signal quality is more carrier/location dependent.

psssh.... BTW, you could had cut&paste once u found out u weren't logged in to hold it somewhere.

[loafz]

Thanks for the replies Phillips and Bobb.

1. USB 2.0 is a NON-ISSUE. Can get a USB2 board form anywhere under $20. Well worth the investment.I didn't know that! Good to know.

2. Well, I like billions, google for reviews, (Google=it really works!) and the reviews are so-so. I'm always skeptical of review pages when the reviews are so black and white. Some absolutely love it, others completely detest it. When seeing several reviews like that, it makes me question if they are being objective in the review. Which is why I threw out the question here to see if I could get a straight and honest answer.

The answer would be different from a teen making MacDonald's wages vs a game tester. I don't think the answer should be different. To a majority people, $400 is a lot of money to just "throw away" on anything. If a product isn't performing to make it worth it's price, it shouldn't matter if you can "afford" it or not.

psssh.... BTW, you could had cut&paste once u found out u weren't logged in to hold it somewhere. Yeah, I learned my lesson the hard way. When it asked me to log in, I tried going back but it lost everything I had typed. Now I know better!

[Kurahoshi]

Have any fm transmitters been released for the iPhone? I think Belkin or Griffin had one in the works, but I've not seen any actual released products, and I kind of have to have the music available in my car to be worth it.

[Quillz]

I think the iPhone is worth the $399.