Why I won't buy an iPhone 4.
Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 8:38PM Among my friends I'm pretty much considered "the Mac Guy" and of course that translates into being "the Apple Guy". Every time the boys from Cupertino release a new product every one of my friends at one point will call me, eMail me, voice mail me, or smoke signal me and ask me, "So... what do you think of the new iThing?"
First off, I want to say that I think the new iPhone 4 is pretty bad ass, even with the potential reception issues at hand, and the fact that the HTC EVO seems to out perform it in every single category, I think that if I were in the market for a new Phone that this new iPhone 4 would be the one I bought.
I think the double cameras are great, I think the flat back is MUCH better then the stupid rounded back on the 3G and 3GS. I dig the fact it records video at 720P. Face Time may be cool, but the jury is out. I think it is a marvel of technological achievement, so you may wonder, "why WOULDN'T you want to get one?".
Here is the purpose of this entry. The reason that I won't be getting an iPhone 4 has NOTHING to do with the technology but everything to do with economics. Simply put, I already have a phone. The phone that I have, I've had for 1 year. In my world, a phone needs to last me for 2 years. Therefore I am going to wait another year before I buy a new phone.
I'm always amazed at the "Leo Laporte Types" that have to have EVERY SINGLE product that ever comes out. Or if not every brand that comes out at least every MODEL of a given brand. So i may not have to have an iPhone, an HTC, an Android and a Blackberry but I at least have to have every MODEL of iPhone. Pure and simple people... this is not healthy. Its not financially wise, and it just isn't smart.
We need to be a bit more aware of the brilliant marketing that drives us into owning every single thing that gets shoved in front of us and have a bit of will power to stand up and say no, at least once in a while.
The other thing that bothers me is what I would call, for lack of a better term, "forced justification". If you look hard enough you could 'justify' any purchase. I could come up with a good enough, legitimate excuse, to buy an iPhone 4 if I wanted to. But no matter what the reason I'm still going to go against my own personal rule and 'logical lifespan' of 2 years to hold onto a phone. Its for that reason that I'm gonna hold onto my 3GS for another 11 months.
Notice I said, 3GS. I was in the Palo Alto Apple store the day the first iPhone was released and had it from day one. I did not however, go out and stand inline to get the 3G. No, I held on to the first gen iPhone until its 2 year life ended and then gladly picked up a brand new 3GS last summer.
So why am I telling you this? If you want a new phone there is no way I'm going to talk you out of it. BUT the thing I CAN do is try to get you to rethink some of your purchases. Ultimately, in the long run, we as consumers are better off if we temper our purchases and not fall prey to every marketing gimmick that gets thrown in front of us and, most importantly, not over extend ourselves and our credit cards in an attempt to "keep up with the Laportes" all the time.
I also want to say that I DO own stock in Apple, and I probably would see my stock go up if everyone in the country bought a new iPhone, and yet, I DON'T believe it is good for us as people, and as consumers.
I'll probably think of more I want to say, and I may add on to this in the near future.
Take a deep breath people, you may not need that new Microsoft Kin.
Reader Comments (6)
Your Father taught you well Machopper. He would be proud. But...you're right, it's REALLY cool. I too have another year on my contract with my 3GS. I will wait. Unless of course my phone were to "accidentally" get lost, stolen, run over, or dropped into the bay.
john...
i actually had a problem... a real legitimate problem with my 3GS last week when we were in Santa barbara and I took it in on the last day of my warrantee and they replaced it with a new phone...
well...
a new 3GS...
fen
(holding out for the iphone 5
Good points but did you look on selling prices of 3GS on eBay? Average price is about $300.
Since you already have and will keep an iPhone (data plan), spending $199 but earning about $300 is like they paid you a $100 for switching the phones ;) How's that for economic reason to switch to the iPhone 4 now?
The iPhone presentation was great mostly because I was so happy to see Steve Jobs looking so great. I really love that man. I love him because he doesn't want porn on the iPhone! I also think one of the best speeches I have ever heard was the one Steve made to the Stanford Graduating Class a few years ago. I just like him. I really have had a love affaire with Mac since 1988.
At the presentation there was a lot of interference - until the 5200 people who all had to be asked to turn off their computers, cell phones and iPads reluctantly did so! When Steve compared the design of steel with the Leica Camera, he did cause me to swoon a little. To know it is thin - when I thought it was thicker - was great. I love the idea of 2 speakers!!! I, too, love the flatness, Chris.
Now, I have only had 1 iPhone - the second generation and I think it is time for me to make the move - I save money by doing it now instead of later, right? Then, too, I keep thinking, at 77 I won't be around a lot of years and the one thing I really love and appreciate are the things I get from Apple. I love my Mac computer (s) all of them, I love my iPad!!!! and I use these.
I don't use the iPHone a lot but I think I would use the new one because of the iMovie - what do you think? I also don't spend a lot of money on going out, clothes or gas for my car. I have a 2007 VW Convertible with under 10,000 miles. So?
You did make me think, though! I will wait as long as I can for the new phone and keep checking the savings.
Really . . . steel design, 2 speakers. Hmmm sure would look good in my hand. Did he say like a Leica?
The only thing I will say about Leo Laporte is he has a weekly radio show and a Mac-centric podcast. He gets coin for knowing devices like these inside and out. He needs every model because people ask him advice :)
I think people forget that the Leo Leporte type actually makes a lot more money than the average person and he's probably not buying it personally. And I totally agree with Chris' argument that you don't need to upgrade every time there's a new model. It's expensive and not sustainable unless you are making mega bucks.