iPhone Phenomenon
Posted on September 28, 2007
Filed Under Intern Blog |
While perusing the web and reading the Postsecret blog, I came across this:
Then I got to thinking about how the new iPhone phenomenon thoroughly depresses me, not because I don’t have one but because everyone seems to want one. But why?
We’ve accumulated laptops, cell phones, personal DVD players, mp3 players and a million other technological gadgets, and now we’re told we should own one that combines everything and costs hundreds of dollars. But why?
I still have a dinosaur of a phone, and don’t get me wrong, I’ll be more than happy when it’s time for an upgrade. For now though, I’m glad it’s just a piece of metal with a cover because I abuse it to no end. My cell has been through torturous times (everyday clumsiness, water submersions, plummets, drops, throws). It’s covered in scratches and dents, which I attempt to conceal in a collage of random stickers. Perhaps this emphasizes something about my personality (immaturity?). In the larger scheme of life though, what does it really matter what my cell phone looks like?
I wasn’t going to follow the whole iPod trend either until someone else bought me one. I listen to it occasionally, but given its hefty price, I don’t put it to use as much as I should. Even though it was a gift, I still feel guilty about it.
And who uses a personal DVD player anyway? Loners? Okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh. And I have to admit, there’s one on my laptop, but it’s boring to watch movies with myself. I can’t answer my own ridiculous questions in a thought-provoking indie or laugh with myself in a comedy or hold my own hand in a romance, so what’s the point?
My iBook G4, however, is my life and the best investment I could have ever made. Someone spilled apple juice on my keyboard one time, and I almost died. If it ever melts in a house fire or gets crunched by a semi-truck, I will shed an ocean of tears. How do you back up all the files anyway? I neeeeeeeed to do that.
So the point is… I don’t have one… an iPhone that is, and I’m completely satisfied in life without owning the new, up-and-coming thingamajig. (By the way, Microsoft Word actually suggests the words thingamajig and thingamabob as synonyms for gadget. Pretty nifty, eh?)
As that postcard confession says, no matter what your phone looks like, you’re still going to have the same people calling you (or not calling you). If you’re going to waste that much money, you might as well just buy some new friends.
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18 Responses to “iPhone Phenomenon”
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I have a MacBook too. Here’s how I back it up… Step 1: buy any USB hard drive. Step 2: download SuperDuper (www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper). It will do automatic backups for you whenever you want. It’s so easy, and then if you hard drive ever crashes you won’t lose anything.
Sweet! Thank you
Iphones are like so overrated!
i can’t believe you said that something microsoft did was “pretty nifty” being the owner of a a mcbook pro 2 ipods and an iphone i am the guy who has to have everything. In my experience with apple everything they do is amazing and being the one time owner of a xbox 360 and pc microsoft is a money making machine that doesn’t care about the well being of customers.
Mmmm… can we say “missed the point” there Matty?
I like your style, Morgan
Great article, but why did you need to throw in what mac you have? …Does it matter?
I hear you, Morgan. I don’t have any of the Apple technology stuff…though I do want an iPod and eventually a macbook. Right now I’m lugging around my clunky Dell laptop and listening to *gasp* old-fashioned CDs in my car. (Confession: I do have iTunes on my trusty laptop).
Anyhow, nice insights.
Given her obvious lack of appreciation for technology these days, I really don’t see why she’s even in the position to even comment on the issue of whether or not she “needs” to have an iPod, iPhone, DVD player etc. Let alone undermine the value and convenience it holds in the lives of plenty of people..
But once again, I remind myself. This is a blog. This is someone’s OPINION.
Thanks, nonetheless. =)
for my backup needs i use “iBackup”
http://www.grapefruit.ch/iBackup/
very similar to SuperDuper from what i can tell, except iBackup is free!
Of course it matters Jessica. It is importan that we know she is qualified to even question the relevance of the glorious iphone. If this article would have been written by a PC user, it would not have had the same message. But really though Morgan, you know you are going to get an iphone. What self respecting Mac addict could resist?
Everyone has their own “iphone.” For gadget lovers it may be that it is the iphone, but for shop-aholics it may be that new pair of shoes you just have to have or musicians that beauty of a guitar etc. etc. etc.
The point is that we are all slaves to what we want if we let our consumeristic(sp?) mindsets get the best of us.
Plus we all know you’re only holding onto your ibook so you can get Leopard in late Oct with your new macbook right?
It seems that technology and a life not focused on material goods cannot co-exist…strange as I input to this blog, on a website that everyone here had to have a computer (or access) to be a part of. I think the artice was great in pressing the idea that life is beyond gadetry but then again gadetry can be a neat way of staying connected to your friends (you don’t value you more if you have an iphone or not). I write to you from my Macbook Pro, so I am in the club…:) An iphone may be nice someday (neat mapquest feature) but until then i guess I will keep getting lost with good friends.
Cool article. I like your candor. I think that the tmobile sidekick is far superior to the iphone for many reasons, the least of which is the (authentic feeling) keyboard for text messaging. Im sure the sidekick 4 will incorporate a more elaborate mp3 system, so the iphone will become obsolete very soon. Who likes AT&T anyway? And about the personal dvd players….sometimes you just have to watch old episodes of Friends (season 1) with or without company….(maybe that makes me a loner I dont know)
I really don’t think it was necessary to say all that… kinda lame.
morgan…
i found out about post secret through reading this blog…
thanks…
jim baker
All I have is a Tracphone. Great article!
I don’t have a laptop or a portable DVD player or an iPod, but I do have an iPhone. It serves as my music (and RelMag podcast) listening device, my internet surfing machine, my email tool for work and play, my GPS system (sorta), it tells me what to wear in the mornings (weather…and I’m in Texas so it changes daily), it is my day planner and contact management system, and of course it’s my phone.
I would be lost without it!
As for your backup question…you have a Mac, just get the newest version of OSX (Leopard) and use Time Machine…a backup utility built in to the OS.
I hear you!! WHO on earth can justify spending $500+, on something so materialistic when people in our own country don’t have a roof over their head or food to feed to their children..our country is the most prosperous, we are also the most selfish! It is sad!