[Fightin Whitey]

I just got a iphone 4 (not the 4s), after years with a Motorola non-smart phone.

It was mostly a matter of a free phone and a throw-up-the-hands surrender on my part because I didn’t want to fall completely behind the technology curve.

I have Windows on my laptop, etc., and now I am stumbling around with the iphone, which seems fine, if rather an overkill for my needs. But I am hoping you might tell me just what is meant by ‘closed’ system vs. open...sorry for my ignorance, and if it is more than you want to go into, no problem...thanks...

[Rio]

I believe that ipad/iphone are considered "closed" since you can only get apps from apple itunes. With droid or windows systems, apps can be picked up from numerous sources and don't have to go through apple's screening.

[Gator113]

Is cost/price the only factor or was there some other reason that you chose iphone 4 over 4s?

I ask because I bought a 4s last night and it should be here tomorrow.

[varmintman]

Generally an open system means a system which anybody can write software for or manufacture accessories for, and there are degrees of openness. LINUX is a totally open software system, the PC is open in the senses I mentioned except that Windows itself is not open and there is a constant war against standards being waged by MicroSoft.

Apple is generally the vendor of least open products. I got rid of an Iphone 4 around last November and purchased a Samsung Galaxy Android phone which I've been much happier with for several reasons, not the least of which is heat, i.e. the Samsung phone doesn't heat up after ten minutes of use.