[acdha]

Smartphones are a great example: I had Richochet wireless on a Handspring Prism almost a decade before the iPhone, including a web browser. The concepts were there but it needed generations of hardware and software improvements to make it viable as a mainstream product.

[oldManRiver]

I had an iPaq and it was better than the early iPhone by far. PocketPC just needed a touch interface instead of the pen.

Although the pen allowed a lot of fun games. There was a tennis one I really enjoyed.

[jnaina]

I had an iPaq too, along with a range of HTC/HP/O2 Pocket PC and Windows Mobile devices. The overall experience was dismal with a very slow Mobile IE browser and awkward UX using a stylus. Using the iPhone was like experiencing an alien technology. Flew to San Francisco from Singapore just to buy an iPhone and ordered a SIM delocker to allow me to use it on an non-AT&T network.

[oldManRiver]

Having a 206MHz ARM iPaq in ~2003 blew my mind. I had the addon pack for the back and used it over WiFi without issues.

Built and sold several applications for it as well, so easy to develop for as well.

Hell you couldn't even install apps when the iPhone came out, so if you were using what was at least 5 year old technology it's no wonder you found the iPhone to be a better experience.

I bet you think the iPhone was better than the Newton too eh? Kudos on flying to SF instead of just having one shipped to you.

[jnaina]

Yes, bought a Newton also. Gave up using given the Beta level software. Couldn't ship one from the states those days. Apple didn't allow shipping overseas and eBay price was way too high.