Consumers weigh costs, benefits of iPhone

Although it costs more than the average phone, many agree it's worth it.

Instead of having to carry around a calendar, iPod, camera and a cell phone, iPhone owners now only have a small device to pack.

Less than half an inch thick, 4.5 inches tall, and not weighing more than 4.8 ounces, the Apple iPhone has proved good things come in small packages, according to buyers.

With an 8 gigabyte flash drive and a 2.0 megapixel camera, this phone allows its user to listen to music, get directions, send an e-mail, get online, take pictures, check stocks, look up videos, and of course, make phone calls.

But are all these gadgets worth the price?

"It was definitely worth it," says Chris Fildes of Faith Lutheran High School. "I paid $500 for it, but Apple announced they were giving a $100 rebate."

Some high school students were able to keep their money in their wallets, receiving the iPhone as a gift from their parents.

"My parents got it for me when we switched plans," says Ross McMullan, a senior at Advanced Technologies Academy. "It was a late birthday gift." Even though he didn't pay for it, he says it was worth the money.

Arbor View senior Shay Mikalonis, who received a $440 phone from his parents for his birthday, says he wouldn't have spent that much himself. He says the receptions is not very good and he can barely hear through the phone.

"I put it on speaker phone to hear good, but other than that, no problems," Mikalonis says, adding that he uses texting more than any other feature.

Users say not all the features on this phone are relevant to high school students.

McMullan, Fildes and Eric Powell, a senior at Faith Lutheran, agreed they have no use for the stocks feature. "I don't own any stocks, so I have no interest in them," Fildes says.

Other features help high school students stay organized.

McMullan uses the calendar feature often. He says it helps him keep track of his daily activities and is a good way to keep everything organized.

For seniors such as Fildes, the phone is helpful when it comes to college. "I always e-mail on it, especially when I need to talk to lacrosse recruiters or keep in touch with family."

Palo Verde High School freshman Erica Drache says she loves her iPhone but has one complaint.

"I like that it shows my entire conversation when I'm texting," she says. "My battery dies really often though."

Some worry that the iPhone provides teenagers with an unnecessary, excess amount of technology.

However, Mark Cheney, the curriculum staff and development coordinator at Faith Lutheran, disagrees.

"Technology is so common in today's age," he says. "It's not too much."

Jacob Kothe, Faith Lutheran Middle School principal, says he would like his own an iPhone.

"I don't even know what all it can do, but it seems cool," he says.

Having such technology readily available may make it easier to cheat, but Charlie Bowline, Faith Lutheran High School principal, says, so does everything else.

"Putting things into your calculator is cheating, and it's all a violation of our school policy," he says.

An easy distraction, the iPhone has been confiscated many times.

"I've taken about four or five of them, but it's the same kids over and over again," Bowline says.