Well, it's been some time since my last post and I decided I will call it a summer break. Yes, I took a summer break. Or something like that. Not that anything super-exceptional happened... although there was the yearly birthday trifecta (daughter, husband-- the big 4-0, nonetheless-- and mother-in-law) and a series of longer and shorter vacations.
Here's some news:
For those of you even remotely interested, I went with the iPhone. Sausage fingers... not such a problem. And, I must admit I'm in love with the apps. Oh, the apps. So, after owning it for 3 1/2 weeks I can't quite comprehend how I ever lived without an iPhone. Can you tell I'm not quite cut out for third world living? It's really wonderful! Not a single regret.
The other techno news at our house: we bought a Wii. Another how-could-we-have-possibly-survived-without-it purchase. After playing at our relative's house over Xmas and then spending a week on an extended family vacation and enjoying it as our after dinner entertainment, my husband couldn't hold out anymore. We actually stopped at Target on our way home from our trip. I think it's improving our couple quality-time too. Really. Instead of lumping on the couch together after our daughter goes to bed we now engage in sporting activitities. Golf... tennis... bowling. Although I'm not so keen on the boxing. Another great upgrade to our family technology.
So, we have engaged in our own little economic stimulus plan at our house this summer, pumping money into the economy.
Other than that, a slower summer work-wise. Haven't quite been in town long enough to get that sinking into the laziness of summer feeling, and the weather is just starting to crack the 80s this week. Not that I mind the cooler temperatures but the whole season just feels different this year. Soon onto to my favorite- fall!
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
An update...
For anyone who cares, an update on my impending smartphone purchase...
Yes, four months later and I am still working with my almost three-year-old LG. I love it! It has been such a friend. And, it's not that I can't part myself from it. I was just feeling like I hadn't collected all the information in the iPhone vs. Blackberry debate. Unlike most everything else in my life, where decisions are made swiftly, this one continues to simmer. However, after engaging with both devices a bit, I'm now leaning towards the iPhone. I think I will learn to use the touchscreen keyboard. Sausage fingers be gone! And, ultimately, I think I would bemoan the lack of internet capability of the Blackberry. What's not to love about a little phone whose internet browser looks exactly the same as my laptop at home? I gotta tell you, too, after watching a friend try to connect to a website- the effort taking almost five minutes- somewhat unsuccessfully, the Blackberry wasn't upselling itself. I don't have that time to be lollygagging, waiting for my information. And those apps. The siren song of the apps. Every single thing that I refer to on the internet (most of which I won't mention here out of embarrassment) can be accessed on the iPhone. What pushed me closer to the edge of decision was, last weekend when I went out of town, I left my laptop at home. No work. All play. Then my friend canceled dinner plans. And the world was my oyster regarding dining and activity options. If I only had my iPhone, I could have been perusing to my heart's content... Rumor has it, Apple will release a new iPhone in June. So I continue to wait, in order to add to my information pile.
And what about that new Treo? $99?
Yes, four months later and I am still working with my almost three-year-old LG. I love it! It has been such a friend. And, it's not that I can't part myself from it. I was just feeling like I hadn't collected all the information in the iPhone vs. Blackberry debate. Unlike most everything else in my life, where decisions are made swiftly, this one continues to simmer. However, after engaging with both devices a bit, I'm now leaning towards the iPhone. I think I will learn to use the touchscreen keyboard. Sausage fingers be gone! And, ultimately, I think I would bemoan the lack of internet capability of the Blackberry. What's not to love about a little phone whose internet browser looks exactly the same as my laptop at home? I gotta tell you, too, after watching a friend try to connect to a website- the effort taking almost five minutes- somewhat unsuccessfully, the Blackberry wasn't upselling itself. I don't have that time to be lollygagging, waiting for my information. And those apps. The siren song of the apps. Every single thing that I refer to on the internet (most of which I won't mention here out of embarrassment) can be accessed on the iPhone. What pushed me closer to the edge of decision was, last weekend when I went out of town, I left my laptop at home. No work. All play. Then my friend canceled dinner plans. And the world was my oyster regarding dining and activity options. If I only had my iPhone, I could have been perusing to my heart's content... Rumor has it, Apple will release a new iPhone in June. So I continue to wait, in order to add to my information pile.
And what about that new Treo? $99?
Friday, January 23, 2009
Blackberry vs. iPhone
The time has come when I need to incorporate some new technology into my life. I am now working on the road enough, away from reliable wifi, that I need to start thinking about having better access to email etc. My current phone- an LG- is a pretty basic model. It's a phone, first and foremost, and pretty limited in its functions. But it is a friend and constant companion who has served me well. I remember when I first brought it home. It felt so technologically advanced. How soon things change.
So now I'm shopping around. My husband is a diehard Apple consumer. "Consumer" isn't quite the right word because his devotion transcends a mere purchasing of products. Of course, he has an iPhone. I use it occasionally when we are traveling. It really does have everything. I love using the browser, the nav system, and all the fun apps that have been downloaded (by the way, my career advice to you: if you want to make your millions, start creating an app for an iPhone). But, because of the price and the monthly access fees, I really didn't even consider it an option.
Then, over the holidays, I saw an ad for a Blackberry. Okay, I have to admit, part of why that little device looked so appealing is the cool frosted pink color which is one of the options. I started checking out the Curve and realized that I could get one for what seems to me a more affordable price. Let the comparison shopping begin!
Heading to Verizon, where I am currently a customer, I previewed the various options. I know I want a Qwerty keyboard and nothing too flippy. I know I need something I can grow into. I really like the features and look of the Blackberry. I like the fact I can synch my iCal and contacts to a Blackberry. The only thing that seems to be missing is the super-cool web browser that, on the iPhone, looks like I'm sitting in front of my computer screen at home. But, my goodness, the fees! Huge disappointment hit as I realized the monthly access fee is most definitely not in the cards right now.
By default, my husband is an AT&T customer. I have mixed feelings for AT&T based on some incidents in the early 90s. But, at this point, I might need to ditch my beloved Verizon and go on a family plan at AT&T. Then, it might be affordable. And AT&T has a good red color if I go with the Blackberry. So off I went to AT&T. There I encountered the lovely Justin. What a nice man! He patiently hung out with me for over an hour, answering my questions and even seeming to enjoy the experience at some points. Great customer service. Even better, he and I did a little digging and discovered the Curve that I might really want- the 8900. Currently only available in Canada, it has all the good Curve features with the upgraded browser of the Bold. This might be it! So I wait until February for it's alleged release date. The best news? My husband and I can have joint plans on AT&T whose total price will be equal to or less than what we're paying now.
In the meantime, the comparison shopping continues. I have until March to decide. Ultimately, I don't think I'm quite enough of a grownup for an iPhone. With the pricetag, I keep having these visions- nightmares really- of dropping it and either having to replace it or downgrade and, at that point, I'll be inextricably tethered to its charms. About that touchscreen: I just don't think, right now, I'm a touchscreen kind of girl. I have sausage-finger-itis with the iPhone. I'm told it will improve with use but what if it doesn't? Those little raised keys feel so much more natural to me. And the fingerprints. Oh, the fingerprints. I find myself obsessively wiping the iPhone. Do I want to be tied into that kind of care and feeding? All highly scientific factors, I know.
The over-thinking continues...
So now I'm shopping around. My husband is a diehard Apple consumer. "Consumer" isn't quite the right word because his devotion transcends a mere purchasing of products. Of course, he has an iPhone. I use it occasionally when we are traveling. It really does have everything. I love using the browser, the nav system, and all the fun apps that have been downloaded (by the way, my career advice to you: if you want to make your millions, start creating an app for an iPhone). But, because of the price and the monthly access fees, I really didn't even consider it an option.
Then, over the holidays, I saw an ad for a Blackberry. Okay, I have to admit, part of why that little device looked so appealing is the cool frosted pink color which is one of the options. I started checking out the Curve and realized that I could get one for what seems to me a more affordable price. Let the comparison shopping begin!
Heading to Verizon, where I am currently a customer, I previewed the various options. I know I want a Qwerty keyboard and nothing too flippy. I know I need something I can grow into. I really like the features and look of the Blackberry. I like the fact I can synch my iCal and contacts to a Blackberry. The only thing that seems to be missing is the super-cool web browser that, on the iPhone, looks like I'm sitting in front of my computer screen at home. But, my goodness, the fees! Huge disappointment hit as I realized the monthly access fee is most definitely not in the cards right now.
By default, my husband is an AT&T customer. I have mixed feelings for AT&T based on some incidents in the early 90s. But, at this point, I might need to ditch my beloved Verizon and go on a family plan at AT&T. Then, it might be affordable. And AT&T has a good red color if I go with the Blackberry. So off I went to AT&T. There I encountered the lovely Justin. What a nice man! He patiently hung out with me for over an hour, answering my questions and even seeming to enjoy the experience at some points. Great customer service. Even better, he and I did a little digging and discovered the Curve that I might really want- the 8900. Currently only available in Canada, it has all the good Curve features with the upgraded browser of the Bold. This might be it! So I wait until February for it's alleged release date. The best news? My husband and I can have joint plans on AT&T whose total price will be equal to or less than what we're paying now.
In the meantime, the comparison shopping continues. I have until March to decide. Ultimately, I don't think I'm quite enough of a grownup for an iPhone. With the pricetag, I keep having these visions- nightmares really- of dropping it and either having to replace it or downgrade and, at that point, I'll be inextricably tethered to its charms. About that touchscreen: I just don't think, right now, I'm a touchscreen kind of girl. I have sausage-finger-itis with the iPhone. I'm told it will improve with use but what if it doesn't? Those little raised keys feel so much more natural to me. And the fingerprints. Oh, the fingerprints. I find myself obsessively wiping the iPhone. Do I want to be tied into that kind of care and feeding? All highly scientific factors, I know.
The over-thinking continues...
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