Was thinking of getting the GF an iphone for xmas, having never used one are they really as good as the hype they generate and the money they cost?

they are a really good all round smartphone thang.
There are some niggles but as I have had a original,3g and now 3gs, but I would still recommend them
but YMMV.

Blimey! I'd hate to think how much you've spent on those.

I sell the previous one to subsidise the next.
I sold the original for £260 and the 3G for £330 and considering I gave up smoking and the inclusive internet cut my phone bill by quite a sum. It has been a good investment, especially as i can have my music and audio book collection with me at all times

I have the iPhone 3GS. In some way's it's fantastic. In other ways, it's abysmal. It depends entirely on what she wants it for or would use it for. I've come to the conclusion that I wanted more of a micro-computer than a phone.

Issues I have:
- I can't transfer photos taken via the phone's camera to the computer. God knows why. It worked successfully once on my netbook and then never again after that.
- I can't pick and choose which photos I do want on my iPhone without having to remove the file from my computer and then syncing the iPhone.
- I can't save email attachments and view them/edit them.
- I can't attach a document on the iPhone to an email.
- I can't use the thing as a USB drive to store things and transfer them to other computers.

On the plus side, got some cool features, loads of apps, and friendly user interface.

Cheers for the comments, I'm surprised moving pics etc off the phone is so difficult?

What I need to do though is speak to O2 and see if they will do a deal on the GF account for the phone and internet access, not sure they will speak to me about it though? If not I’ll have to buy the iphone 3G and leave it for her to sort out the account part.

I’m pretty sure she is any half away through a contract with her Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, which we could sell and knock of the price of the iphone?

I love my iphone, I've had every revision.

Getting photo's off is easy, mine autosync's with my pictures everytime I plug it in (or I can browse to it)

Ditto.

iTunes handles taking photos, music and videos off the iPhone.

IIRC you can also pre-select which photos from your computer that you want to sync up to the iPhone by using iTunes also.

O2 have unlimited browsing on all iPhone contracts AFAIK (and PAYG also).

In terms of deals you can't upgrade to the iPhone IIRC. It's equivalent to starting a new contract.

I wouldn't buy one but I would be really happy to get one as a Christmas present.

Yes that's my fear, so I’ll have to buy her the phone then upgrade her current contract to include unlimited browsing... currently she pays £15 a month on O2 for 3000txt and 400 cross-over mins but no internet access.

Normally Dan I wouldn’t spend so much on a xmas present for the Gf as we have a set limit, she will go loopy if I get it but she does do so much for me through the year and basically takes care of the xmas and all that goes with it, with me doing not a lot as normal.

I have some money tucked away from side jobs etc and I'll sell her Nokia 5800 to recoup some of it....

She did mention she would like a little camcorder to catch more of the family moments but I think that will end up in the back of the cupboard forgotten and she would get more use out of an iphone.

GF didnt want music (has an iPod already) and 3 million usless apps but did want a good web browser, unified messaging/contacts, etc so went for the Palm Pre. She loves it. I also think its a little more girly than the iPhone.

Buy the phone on pay & go & add the Unlimited web bolt-on to the current contract for £7.34 a month

Do you work for O2 sas? that’s exactly what they have just told me........ nice one......