First, the New York Post printed an extremely unenthusiastic review. Then AT&T released its rate structure for the iPhone: the cheapest option is $60 a month. Which, while comparable to other smart phone plans, is probably more than the average cell phone user wants to pay.
But I'm glad the damn thing is finally coming out, just to end the months of hype. I mean, I love gadgets as the next guy. But it's gotten completely out of hand.
I'm sick of hearing about how awesome it's going to be. I'm sick of hearing about how it's going to be impossible to get one. I'm sick of hearing people bitch and moan about how it can only be used with AT&T. And I'm especially sick of hearing industry people--the ones who should know better--talk about how it's a mistake to get the first gen iPhone and all the bugs that'll come along with it, and then in the very next breath, admit they'll probably get one, anyway.
Will I probably get one at some point? Sure. But not in the extremely foreseeable future.
For one thing, buying any expensive gadget when it first comes out is like playing Russian Roulette with five bullets instead of one. Hell, it's been almost two years since the Xbox 360 came out, and Microsoft still can't figure out how to get them to stop breaking after a few months. Also, I'm a Verizon guy. If I can't get an iPhone without switching plans, I'll wait until either Apple makes them available to everyone, or other manufacturers start making reasonably approximate facsimiles.
But most of all? I don't want to be one of those tools who will soon be out in full force, riding on the Metro, walking down the street, sitting in restaurants, or whatever, whipping out their new iPhone just to show it off. There's nothing worse than people who consider gadgets as status symbols. And much like when iPods first came out, there will undoubtedly soon be a wave of iPhone-related muggings.
Unlike the iPod muggings, though, I don't think I'll have too much sympathy for some of the victims. You want to flash a $500 toy around in public, fine. But don't be surprised when doing so you get knocked on your ass.
4 comments:
That'll be the next thing: "Woman on Metro is beaten for her iPhone."
I don't want that to happen, I'm just saying that between the gitches of the first version (remember the ipod? and it's 4 versions til it had the glitches worked out?) and the "hey, look at my new phone" -swipe-...I'm gonna hold off and I truly hope that others do too.
Not a sermon, just a thought.
I was thinking more in terms of: "Annoying would-be hipster on Metro is beaten for his iPhone."
But yeah, I see your point. I've edited the post to make it slightly less heartless.
So I should not buy things simply because people would break the law to steal them? I guess I shouldn't get a car, it might get stolen or get a laptop because it might get stolen. Or hell, carry cash or a wallet because it might get stolen. Get real. People shouldn't be afraid to buy things for fear of being mugged for it.
And I bought the iPhone, not because it is a status symbol (because frankly being able to buy something that costs $600 really isn't saying anything...any joe blow with a credit card can get one), but because it's a fantastic piece of technology that regardless of whether you care about it, will change phones forever. It's the standard, much like the iPod now. And so far, I have not encountered any flaws or bugs. I'm sure there will be some but you cannot guarantee that with any piece of electronic equipment. And I'm sorry, but Mac's operating system on this is beyond brilliant. I hate that they hyped it up because I would have bought it regardless not because its new but because its worth every penny. I do hate that it is not on Verizon, I will give you that. But it'll come, it'll happen. And when it does, I'll buy one and switch back to Verizon. For now, I'm going to enjoy spending my money on what I want to spend it on and hope people will not be so concerned with how I choose to spend my money.
The point wasn't that people shouldn't buy an iPhone for fear of being mugged. It was that people shouldn't treat it like a regular cell phone, and flash it around in public, as they'll undoubtedly do.
And while the iPhone may be the standard, you can't escape the fact that it's still tied to AT&T. Within a couple of years, Verizon will come up with comperable product for a cheaper price.
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