Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

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Sunday, July 1, 2007

I Held the Future in My Hands

This morning Hubby and I went for our golf lessons with the instructor we’ve had for 15+ years. Pro “G” is, among many things, a real Mac computer geek and has been an Apple proponent for many years. So when he reached into his briefcase and whipped out his brand new iPhone, I was not particularly surprised.

Apparently he was able to buy two on Friday at the local Apple store after waiting in line for only 30 minutes…no camping out for him. He was already an AT&T subscriber so he didn’t have the inconvenience of having to change carriers and so far he finds the network not nearly as slow as reviewers have been worried about.

The phone is actually lighter and smaller than I thought and the touchscreen is an awesome thing. I was surprised to find it really easy to read even in bright sunlight…something I’m always complaining about when I look at my digital camera display. I didn’t have a chance to actually call someone or look something up on the Web so I have no first hand report to give you but I trust “G” when he says he’s thrilled with the results so far.

Do I want an iPhone…not really. I’ve learned never to buy anything electronic in its first generation and I know the price will come down as the “newness” wears off. More importantly, my sister and I subscribe to another network and, since Apple has signed an exclusivity contract with AT&T for 5 years, I don’t see us changing over. Oh...and did I mention I don't even own an iPod yet?

So, while I actually got to hold the future in my hands, it’s going to be a long time before that future comes to my house. How about at your house?

27 comments:

jaded said...

I like the portability and the ability to compute, but alas...it isn't something I need. Want... maybe a little, but not enough to justify the expense. I hardly answer the phone as it is.

Anonymous said...

They look really neat, but I don't need all that extra stuff. I don't even have a camera on my phone. I just want a phone that does what a phone is supposed to do.

Now, Shelby on the other hand will probably want one - she'll feel she NEEDS it. Fat chance!

Susie said...

I like the idea, but the odds are my grandkids will have one long before I do!
:)

Patti said...

I don't really care about it. I don't even have a camera on my phone...
I don't have an iPod either.

I am content with my (or should I say our) desktop computer.

For now, anyway!

Patti said...

P.S. I've read about "Minerva" more than once..
Tell your dear husband we are awiting more posts. His take on your trip would be fun.

meno said...

I don't have an ipod either. Thanks for telling me that as i though i was the only one.

the moose buyer said...

Hey, I do have an Ipod. I have disco music on it. I am supposed - note key word "supposed" to be exercising with it.

I don't have AT and T either and there are things on my present cell phone I haven't mastered yet, so why rush into something completely confusing?

rosemary said...

No iPhone for me. While we have AT&T we get horrible service in our rural area. We will change to Verizon soon. Oh, Joan, you have to get an iPod. I love mine and it is a great way to ignore the call of the husband.

Carole Burant said...

Makes you wonder what they're going to come out with next! I don't have an iPod either and don't plan on having one anytime soon...my boys have one though. I think it's more for the younger generation. As for an iPhone, I'll leave that to the younger generation also! hehe xox

Travelin'Oma said...

I have to search for my glasses to even read the caller ID on my phone. I can't answer the phone at my kid's houses because they're all different and I don't know which buttons I'm supposed to push. The iPhone is intriguing but I don't have time to read the instruction book.

Michele said...

It takes a while for the "future" to get to my house. I just recently picked up my first DVD machine and I own 2 DVD's. I probably won't get a flat screen TV like all the people I know and will be using my big chunky TV forever. I never had an answering maching until cellphones automatically came with voicemail. I was always told to "get with the times" ... hahaha... I like the simplicities of life.

Joan said...

Patches: I'm with you. Except for calling my sister all the time, I almost never use my cell phone.

Lynne: I don't have a camera cell phone either right now although I'm about to trade in my old one for a new one and it will probably have a camera this time...not that I'll use it.

Susie: I'm sure my niece and nephew will get these things waaay before I do.

Patti: I keep bugging Rick about blogging...I think I'm making a little progress...stay tuned.

Meno: I think there's a huge closet filled with us non-iPod folk.

The Moose Buyer: Be honest...weren't you given your iPod instead of going out and actually buying it? I think that doesn't count! :~)

Rosemary: Ooooo...I never thought about that husband thing with an iPod...I might need to change my views on getting one.

Pea: Isn't it sad to think we no longer are in the demographic that companies cater to?

Marty: Instruction book? What's that? I just keep pushing buttons on things until I get them to work.

Michele: Sometimes the "simplicities" of life help eliminate all the stress that people seem to suffer from. I've always said "new isn't always better."

Kelly said...

I totally want one. I dont think I will ever get one though.

Lynn said...

FYI, Ten and Twelve will NOT be getting the new iphone thingy, unless their wonderful aunt and uncle want to fork over $600 and a subscription to AT&T (lol)...and by the time they can afford to buy one for themselves, the current phones will be obselete!

Joan said...

Lynn: Oh darn...I was sooooo hoping their loving parents would fork over the big bucks so I could play with theirs. Rats!!!

Anonymous said...

Like you, I always wait for new stuff to be one the market for a while until I buy it. That way they get the bugs out and the prices are lower.

Unknown said...

I haven't really figured out the hype about it and don't see myself buying one anywhere in the near (or distant) future! It wouldn't suprise me if my daughter came home with one, though!

Linda said...

This one definitely won't be coming to my house as I just don't have the money that it takes to be up on the latest technology. I'm with you in that I don't even own an iPod yet!

One of the paramedics who is a self-professed techno-geek got his iPhone on Friday and he is pleased as punch with it. Of course he's young, single, and has the money for such luxuries. Unless I win the lottery, it's never happening here!

Joan said...

Rhea: Yep, I feel like that about everything...including cars. I never buy the first to come off the line.

Dana: It's obvious that the hype is geared for those who seem to have all the discretionary money...18-35 years olds.

Linda: Since my middle name is "sale," I just don't see myself buying most of these gadgets which really never get discounted. And when they do, they're obsolete!!!

Val said...

Well, as someone who manages to live without a mobile phone, and refuses to have a microwave in the kitchen when there's a perfectly good oven there, I don't think there's much hope of my owning one of these iPod or iPhone thingies. Less is more!

Joan said...

Val: I'm impressed. I'd live without a cell phone if I could convince myself I didn't need it for emergencies. That would be pretty difficult since I had my flat tire a while ago and used it to call the Auto Club. Now the microwave...that I'm not sure I could ever live without.

Mom said...

While visiting in California last week we were amazed at the long lines camped out waiting for the privilege of being among the first to own an Iphone. I don't get it. I am happy to wait until the lines are gone, and even then I can't figure out why I would need one of these new gadgets.

Midlife Mom said...

I don't think I will be getting one any time soon either. I can hardly manage my regular cell phone, have never text messaged or taken pictures with it so I think I'm over my head any way! lol! Now, I DO have an Ipod and once I mastered it with the help of my 10 year old grand nephew I really love it for when we travel. Now I am trying to master a new camera as one of the horses knocked over my Easy Share which I loved. My fault, I shouldn't have left it where he could get at it. I'm really not much into learning all this new technology.

Sorry to hear of the demise of your suitcase!!! heehee!

Ralph said...

Guys like to have new things first. Did Pro 'G' have the fist titanium driver on his course? How about guys competing with each other with gas grilles and lawn mowers also? The I-Phone is nice, but I need a phone (I gave the company phone back when laid-off), and we need a camera. I don't think much of multi-tasking electronic devices, as I still feel that that there are compromises and that specific devices will work better as a phone, camera, etc.

sari said...

I always get the free phone they offer if you renew your contract, ha ha. Mine is finally a camera phone but I don't pay for the internet service on it so I can only take pictures and have them on my phone.

I have an iPod and I love it. It's great for walking or ironing or the like. But I won't pay for an iPhone, nosiree.

Renee Nefe said...

Ha! I barely own what can be called a cell phone (tracfone) and we don't have or want an ipod (dd thinks she wants one but doesn't understand what one is yet.)

we are so techno-unsavy that it's scary.

I'm just not buying into this fad.

Joan said...

Mom: Thanks for stopping by. And I just love the photo on your blog of the line of shoppers waiting outside the store.

Midlife mom: Before our Ireland trip, I kept saying I wanted a new camera but then I decided it was just too difficult to learn yet another new gadget so I stuck with my old one. I haven't mastered my old cell phone either and I'm about to trade it in after two years.

Ralph: I agree that there are compromises when a device does more than one thing. My current cell phone doesnt have a camera but, when I trade it in shortly, I'm pretty sure the next one will come with one whether I like it or not.

Sari: When I get my new cell phone, I'm know I wont pay for the extra services to send any photos I take so I dont really see the purpose of having a camera phone. Oh well...

Renee: I only see my cell phone as an emergency tool and it did come in handy when I had my flat tire a while ago.