My justifications are simple. I need a global phone. I’m traveling enough that it’s becoming problematic not to have one. To get one from my prior cell provider (Verizon) I would have two options: shell out full price for the device or wait until February for a device that’s at least discounted. Verizon only offers three phones that are global phones (and two of those are different colors of a Blackberry model) and I did not want to be stuck with either of those devices. They were so complicated - about a zillion teeny little buttons for the Blackberry and crazy flipping-out stuff on the other one. So I didn’t really like that option much, and the only option anywhere that I actually did like was the iPhone.
What I like about the iPhone, besides the fact that it’s a terribly sexy little machine, is that it’s a lot more than a phone. It’s a lightweight computing device. I don’t really care that it can act as an iPod (I have two of those already!) and the phone part is a necessary evil. What really does it for me is seamlessly, effortlessly, and completely syncing with the applications I already use on my MacBookPro to provide me with timely, mobile access to my full address book, my calendar, and my email. It also gives me maps with turn by turn directions, which is invaluable because I have no sense of direction of my own. Even though the GPS location functionality hasn’t been working for me, I can get directions and local weather reports, including a Doppler radar map, and both of those have already proven quite useful. I’m also enjoying the apps, all of them free, that bring me local movie listings, currency exchange values, Google, IM, Twitter, and nutrition information for fast food restaurants. I can browse the web, make notes, and even use my iPhone as a flashlight.
And it hardly cost more than a global phone from Verizon. I’ll have to pay slightly prorated early termination fees for two lines, and even so, it’s still not much more expensive. On a monthly basis, the Family Share plan for 2 lines with 700 minutes costs the same as Verizon’s service and seems to be about as good. The only difference in the ongoing cost is the additional $30 for the data plan. That’s unlimited data. And now I’ll get a whole lot more use out of the services I’m paying for than I ever would have gotten out of anything else. The switching cost was well worth it for me.
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I’d stop there, but since I actually bought the phone on release day, I’ll tell my little iPhone release day story. I went to Carousel’s Apple Store at about a quarter after 8 in the morning; I didn’t realize that they were opening early at 8, or I might have arrived earlier and saved myself a little time later on. The queue wasn’t too long, and I was prepared for far worse, so I didn’t mind waiting the hour and a half that it took to get into the store. While I waited to get into the store, I had some Starbucks coffee that one of the staff brought to me in line; the new roast isn’t half bad. Once it was my turn, I had an Apple Store staff member assisting me personally the whole time - great service and very good humored.
Everything went easily until it was time to go through the contract approval stuff; my timing was lousy and it was just after the next time zone went online. AT&T’s national servers crashed. I had to wait about an hour in the store to complete my transaction, unable to even sign my contract until AT&T rebooted their servers at 10:30 AM. Shortly thereafter, I was on my way with my white 16 GB iPhone (with AppleCare) in hand, ready to activate. We gave it a try in the store, but iTunes was already hosed by then due to the extreme traffic load. The nice guy who was trying to help people activate their phones sent me home; my phone was “bricked” as they say - a shiny, pretty, expensive brick that does nothing, except glisten enticingly, without activation.
At home, I plugged it into my computer, brought up iTunes, and over the next four hours I click-clicked every so often to attempt to access the iTunes Store for activation. I even downloaded a few apps while I waited. Eventually, it worked, and then I spent a couple hours playing with and exploring my new iPhone. I have to admit that I’m duly impressed with the UI; the touch interface is so easy to get used to, and the consistency in the behavior of the device and its apps is reassuring and makes each new one quick to learn. Overall, I’m thoroughly delighted with my iPhone and really glad I made the leap. It is definitely the best solution for my needs and desires.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Hi Andrea,
I’m a graduate (as of this May) of the iSchool with a Masters of Science in Library and Information Science. I found your blog through my Google Alert for the iSchool.
As a fellow information scientist and someone interested in photography, I’m really excited to read your blog. (You’re my latest RSS feed subscription!)
I also recently purchased an iPhone after several years shackled to Verizon… and an LG Chocolate. I was very tempted to purchase the iPhone when it first came out last year, but the price was too steep. This time, however, it was much more reasonable, and I just couldn’t ignore that. What a difference an iPhone makes!
Do you find your workflow has changed since purchasing an iPhone? What are your favorite applications for it?
August 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Hi Melissa, glad you’re enjoying the iPhone as well. I don’t think I can judge changes to workflow patterns until the school year starts again, as it might make a much bigger difference in a couple of weeks! I’m predicting that the Calendar will be the most valuable asset once the semester gets going.
My favorite apps so far at Twitterific, WeatherBug (love the radar!) and Maps. I’m pretty pragmatic, and those are all very handy for me. I also like AIM for chatting with my husband while I walk between home and campus, of all things. I now prefer using Box Office to looking up the movie listings online, but that’s partly because the simple interface is nice and clean, with nothing more than the information I need.