I have reluctantly joined the billions of housewives and hipsters with an iPhone. The Nokia clamshell I've had for years started fritzing out a few months ago. It'd randomly turn itself off in the middle of calls, and the problem only got worse.

Well, yesterday, it pretty much stopped working altogether. So after getting a delicious lunch at Taco Bell ($5 Volcano Box is a great deal!), I wandered over to AT&T to see my options.

Apparently selling straight-up cell phones is a losing business. I wanted to find a phone that had great battery life, great reception, and texting (I don't even care about the camera, really).

In the interest of market segmentation (and I witnessed this firsthand) - the only people who buy non-smart phones are old people who claim they don't want the "bells and whistles." (And weirdos like me). SOOO, all the non-smartphones were pretty ridiculously big or ridiculous crappy with their Java apps. And the COST! They were $80 or so with a two-year commitment. WTF?! Might as well dump $120 more to get an infinitely better phone.

So I played with a Samsung, a Blackberry, and an iPhone. Guess which one won... yeah.

So while I've long been the technology exec with an aversion to smartphones for fear of intruding too much on my personal life, I have to reluctantly give up this title. The first thing I did when I got my phone? Hooked up our MT calendering and email systems.

Le sigh.

Some observations (which are about two-years late):

  • My "leaving the apartment" behavior of grabbing my iPod, my phone & my wallet is now down to just grabbing my iPhone and my wallet. It makes me feel naked everytime I leave.
  • Battery life is acceptable.
  • 3G is not that bad - I was chilling at the beach last night and was able to download a Twitter client (my iPhone keeps deleting random apps every time I sync - wtf user error?) and post within a couple of minutes.
  • The funnest part of the phone? Adding profile pictures for all my contacts - I ended up loading most of my photos on the phone so I could set pictures.
  • I don't think I've used Safari yet - amazing how location-centric I've become on the web; everything I need is on FB, the Calendaring/Mail app, Wikipedia, and Yelp.
  • I installed Remote, so I could be super lazy and control my music from my bed, which is two long steps from my computer. Lulz.

Commitments:

  • I will NOT install any games on the iPhone.
  • I will NOT check it compulsively in meetings. 
  • I will NOT "install a couple of apps" when I'm bored in public.
  • I will NOT check my work stuff if I find myself having "nothing to do."

The commitments begin tomorrow.

Posted by roy on February 15, 2010 at 07:48 PM in Ramblings | 15 Comments

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Comment posted on February 16th, 2010 at 08:55 PM
i don't understand.. no games?? no installing apps while bored/alone in public so you don't look so alone?? why else would you get a smartphone! =)

PM5K (guest)

Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:21 PM
You already broke the commitment not to install an app when bored in public when you installed Facebook.

I thought you were "vehemently anti-smartphone" (which by the way was a really absurd statement, I'm vehemently anti rape, child abuse, etc, not anti-smartphone).
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:23 PM
I installed FB at home - what I mean are those people in restaurants who install apps.

And I am vehemently anti-smartphone, which is why this post is so interesting in pointing out my hypocrisy.

PM5K (guest)

Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:25 PM
I meant to saw Twitter, pardon me.

I'm also vehemently anti-reading lame blogs, oh my the hypocrisy!

Anonymous (guest)

Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Meant to type "say". I'm not embarrassed by my typing mistake, I just wish it had been a "t" or a "u" instead of a "w"

Oh well.
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:28 PM
:( (on both counts)

btw, you really need to get used a registered account - you're missing out on making fun of all my friends-only posts.

PM5K (guest)

Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Are you finally saying that after ten years you want to be friends?

lawl
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:36 PM
dude, we became friends when we facebooked each other.

PM5K (guest)

Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:37 PM
.....
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 09:55 PM
Real Iphone users jailbreak & unlock.
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:15 PM
i'm pretty sure i've proved i'm anything but "real" anything
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 08:48 PM
i hope you do stick to those commitments.
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 08:01 PM
When is the MT app coming out?

What would you do if someone else installed a game without your knowledge? Would you uninstall it?

What about the new Windows phone that is coming out? Could you have waited for that?

What comes in the Volcano Box? Does it beat the Value Menu?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 08:08 PM
Never. Yes. No. Volcano burrito. Volcano taco. Crunchy taco. Drink. Cinny twists
Comment posted on February 15th, 2010 at 08:32 PM
Thank you for the prompt response -- I shall try out the Volcano Box tomorrow upon your recommendation.

I also hope that you feel better.