Monday, December 20, 2010

Why I'm not getting an iPhone for Christmas

For one brief moment in early December, I considered asking Santa for an iPhone. I floated the idea past The Builder, who recoiled in horror. "We'd never see you," he spluttered, in reference to his many veiled hints over the past year that I may have been spending a wee bit too much time 'checking my email' as he calls it.

I thought about that. And decided he was right.

Since I began this blog in January I have spent more time wed to my computer than ever before. The first six months were the worst. I was, literally, obsessed. Writing, reading, commenting, tweeting, Facebooking... and then starting all over again. I have read hundreds and hundreds of blogs, and thousands and thousands of posts. I have tweeted - one moment, let me check - ah yes, 8231 times. That's right. I've told people what I had for lunch (which is the perception of Twitter for those who don't Tweet) more than 8000 times.

And all this whilst working off a desktop computer. Not even a laptop.

Imagine how ridiculous my statistics would be if I had 24 hour, in my pocket, access to the internet. Instead of watching Mr6 practice his Ninja moves, I could have commented on blogs. Rather than helping Mr3 round the gymnastics obstacle course, I could have Tweeted. Instead of taking a book to children's birthday parties, I could have... yes, well. You get the point.

While my obsession with the joys of blogging has returned to a much more manageable level as my first Blogoversary approaches, it is true that I'm easily distracted. And so I must concur with my husband's recoil, and stick with my seven-year-old hot pink Nokia something-or-other. It doesn't tweet or message or have any form of access. It doesn't even have a camera. Yep, we are talking seriously old skool here. Practically trendy again.

Sometimes it's best to stick with what you know you can handle.

Do you have an iPhone? Does it rule your life? 

{image: simonblog.com}

27 comments:

  1. Oh man! And I was going to get you an iPhone for Chrimbo...

    Nah, just kidding! But I do have a spare BlackBerry that you can always have whenever you want it... dangle, dangle... x

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  2. I have an iPhone and I love it. To be fair I am not stuck to it as that is what I have my laptop for. The only 'internety' think I do on it really is Twitter and then only if I am waiting for appointments etc. I do tend to give it to the children more (during said waiting) and find it a great distraction for them :) Jen

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  3. I don't get it, i have the same old Nokia i don't even use to take photos with or if they children use it to take shots (or secretly record me telling them off) i have no idea how to get anything off my phone. Phone is for phone calls, simple life i lead. I blog, 'tis it, 'tis enough. My husband has an iPhone, it's best used as an alarm. He goes off to war every 12 months so he uses that as blackmail/ sulking for me to pay him attention & not my virtual blog friends. When my children email me homework questions, i know it's time to get off the computer & face them. One thing i know, the children won't be doing face book & when they come in from school (the high schooler) has to put her mobile on the counter, home time = family time. I don't get Twitter at all, who would like to know that my daughter who i took to the Shop today ate her lunch & MINE??!! Love Posie

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  4. I do have an iPhone. I am not chained to it. Years of being a rep on the road have taught me when to leave the phone on silent or ...behind. However, it's handy when you can't stand the isolation of working at home all the time, and can check your emails quickly over a latte in a distant cafe, just in case you got an order. And for telling people that you're at a market and need company. And for keeping the munchkin entertained every now and then. And for checking the weather. And so I don't have to turn the Melways upside down. I couldn't live without it, but I actually don't use it as much as I'd hoped.

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  5. No. No iphone but I do have a phone I can access the internet from. And my attention span is getting so short, it won't be long before social media rehab awaits. Not even half kidding. Stay away!!

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  6. I have an iPhone, iPad, iPod, iEverything. I am obviously a huge fan of technology and to me they make life simpler, not the opposite. I know when to put them down. I know when to pass them to the toddler during long waits. And I believe that keeping up with all these gadgets will help me stay in touch with my kids because wether I like it or not, this is the way the world turns now. But secretly I like it:)

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  7. No I don't have one either...every time I get a mobile, I use it for a while and then forget to use it..like atm. I love blogging...I think I like pictures to go with the words and I like a few more than one sentence generally..so tweeting is not my cuppa tea...I don't like the insecurities of facebook and all the friend/ignore stuff. Anyways.....i'm happy...

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  8. I want one, and it will be mine. In a matter of days.

    When I started blogging, I'd talk to Hubby about getting an iPhone (I had iPhone envy because *he* got one!) and he'd say, "When you start making some money from that blogging caper of yours, you can go get yourself an iPhone." He obviously thought that would NEVER happen. Then recently I got a few paid jobs thru my blog, and suddenly - he has no argument.

    HA! Got him.

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  9. "We'd never see you!" craked me up!

    I do have an iPhone, and I actually think it would free up your time! You'd spend less time at the computer because you'd have the chance to get quick updates throughout the day!

    A word of caution: find a place in your house where you can just put it away and force yourself to not tough it for an hour. Or, a half hour.

    Good luck!

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  10. c'mon, Al, they are fabulous. I have an iphone and I love it. Just watch you don't get too many apps - the kids will take it off you all the time.

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  11. I don't feel so bad about my vintage Nokia mobile phone. I don't have an iphone for the same reason as you - I'd be lost in the cyber world forever more. I do have an igranny though - a crocheted pouch in which to store a mobile. Now that is uber cool. xx

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  12. Hubby bought me an iPhone recently - and I looked at him in horror and said, 'Now you'll never be able to stop me!'

    But it's like blogging - once over the initial novelty of it, you manage to calm down and find balance again. So, while it's not healthy to be contactable 24 hours a day, or to be working constantly, it's handy to be able to go out while you're waiting for an email, rather than feeling chained to the house.

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  13. This is exactly the reason my phone isn't web enabled; I simply wouldn't be able to put in a decent day's work if I could access Twitter 24/7 from my pocket. Glad to see I'm not the only one.

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  14. I recently swapped my iPhone with my husband for his new Android based phone (which I can't work out how to use - despite working in sales for the company who makes it!), anyway, I miss the iPhone. I know what you mean about time spent on the computer but I feel like when I don't have the iPhone now I go back and spend more time on the PC. Can't wait to get another one! It's great for twitter and quick checks/updates but a bit too small for doing anything too time consuming like writing posts or reading blogs.

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  15. I have been wanting an iphone too, & my husbands not to keen on the idea.

    After reading your post you make some very good why not to have one and I feel better for not having one ☼

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  16. Good on your for recognising your potential addiction and removing the temptation! I don't have an iPhone, I figure I spend enough time here as it is, so I'm with you, so untrendy it's almost trendy phone all the way!

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  17. I have an iPhone, but when I'm home I frequently misplace it so it's not a distraction at all. lol. I think once you publish that book you're writing, you'll find you need one.

    I always had just a basic phone until this past summer, and I didn't have my e-mail or fb plugged in either. Now, I couldn't balance being at my kids's activities and getting work done without my iPhone.

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  18. The Fors and Againsts are so close...

    @skippy_2 How did I know you would share my lack-of-self-control issues...

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  19. I don't have one, for the exact reasons you mention (including the sputtering husband).

    I did use my mom's for a few minutes the other night, and I gotta say ... It was like social media crack. I'm gonna have to have another fix soon.

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  20. I have iPhone, iPad etc and yes i am ashamed to admit it but it does rule my life. You should read my post for today. I am trying not to use it only for blog update and checking whilst away.

    X

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  21. I agree with Megan, after the novelty fades, you are left with a phone that is easy to use, works and is a pleasant distraction when you're stuck anywhere waiting.

    I can't seem to wait and do nothing anymore. May not be a good thing....

    SSG xxx

    Sydney Shop Girl blog

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  22. Unfortunately, I am still in the newlywed phase of blogging, so I don't see anything wrong with everything you've listed...but fortunately, I'm not technologically savvy enough to figure out an iPhone or the likes, so my family still has me for meals. There good with that.

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  23. I don't have one either. I have a camera phone which can access the internet if I learn how, but I won't; that's what the laptop is for. I can download songs and listen to music on it, if I learn how, but I won't; that's what my i-pod is for.(all 3 of them). Also I can play my i-tunes list through my laptop. Really, my 3 year old flip phone is used only for checking the time if I think my watch has stopped, and for phone calls and text messages.
    I'll never bother with Twitter or Facebook.

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  24. I love my iphone!
    It broke half way through the year and I tried to have no phone for a bit, couldn't do it and then I tried a 'vintage Nokia' like yours for a bit, couldn't do it either and so I got a new one. I don't tweet nor do I facebook and I haven't set up the email program on my phone because like you I need to be present in other aspects of my life but it is still a brilliant tool. I mean with out it how would I keep track of when my next period is due? How would I remember dentist appointments or convert inches to centimeters at a traffic light? Keep my kids amused while I get my hair cut?? Love it.

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  25. Surprisingly, it has not made my Twitter-addiction any worse. In fact, I'd say that having such close proximity to what I want to see means that I stay a bit more "in the moment" with my kiddos (hence my quieter moments on Twitter of late). YOU know what's important, and I've no doubt you'd find a happy balance ;)

    Now that you've won a laptop however...

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  26. I have an iPhone and LOVE it. On the other hand, my husband really wants to throw it out the window and hope it never finds its way back into my hungry hands. Blogging could be the same way: I love it. He's not so sure. By the way, I LOVE the way you write. It's like a warm lemon and honey drink. Goes down nicely and feels good too. xx

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  27. I was very tempted but my current (much cheaper) phone still works and has a great camera and Internet access....so I resisted, but Smiley got an iPad and we're sharing it :)

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