iPhone 5 = i Can't Afford to Stop W&*rking?

[kevink]

http://mashable.com/2012/10/01/iphon...%28Mashable%29

[NW-Bound]

A few months ago, there was a story of a guy in China who sold one of his kidneys to get money to buy an iPhone.

Is that guy regretting not waiting until now to get the new iPhone? Or is he going to sell another body part to do an iPhone upgrade?

What people would do for an electronic toy is mind boggling.

[audreyh1]

Thank goodness the iPad was offered with a monthly no-contract plan. What a revolution! I did keep my grandfathered AT&T unlimited $30 plan - it wasn't offered for very long!

DH informs me that AAPL's profit on their iPhone line exceeds GE's total annual profit! And analysts say the release of iPhone 5 will add 1/4 to 1/2 a point to the US Q4 annualized GDP growth. This is all pretty mind blowing.

[veremchuka]

What's an iphone? .... things you just don't need, just too numerous to mention

[Gumby]

I don't have an iPhone and never will. I do have a prepaid cell phone, which is virtually always turned off (it's for my convenience not someone else's) and is often lost or with a dead battery. It just makes phone calls -- no pictures, no texting, no tweeting or twittering or whatever, no internet, no gps -- just phone calls. And I almost never even make a call. I load $25 on it every 3 months, just so the balance doesn't expire.

If I want a picture, I have a very nice SLR. If I want the internet, I use this computer. If I want to listen to music, I turn on the stereo. And if I want to know where I'm going, I know how to read a map.

[NW-Bound]

I am sure that these electronic gadgets are very handy and probably can replace multiple devices. It's just that I am not sufficiently interested to invest the time to learn to use it. It's not just the money, as I do not even know what it costs, although if it were really cheap, I may try it.

As I said, I am not much into electronic gadgets anymore, although an iPhone may simplify my life (I still need to invest some time though).

By the way, I searched the Web to follow up on the Chinese kidney seller, and the following link was what I found. Turned out that this teenager even got an iPad along with an iPhone for his kidney, but he now suffers renal failure. Good grief!

9 on trial in China over teenager's sale of kidney for iPad and iPhone - CNN

[kevink]

This article in the WSJ really puts what people are spending on phones in perspective:

Cellphones Are Eating the Family Budget - WSJ.com

I've seen how useful these things can be for travel but you have to be really smart and disciplined. Buying a basic unlocked phone and doing pay-as-you-go makes sense, but you have to use wireless as much as possible and really watch your data usage. Personally I go with a $25 basic basic Tracfone and an iPod touch for travel. Our total monthly utility bills are less than what some friends spend on their cell phones alone.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby If I want a picture, I have a very nice SLR. If I want the internet, I use this computer. If I want to listen to music, I turn on the stereo. And if I want to know where I'm going, I know how to read a map.

Read a map?!?!? Who reads a map anymore (unless it's an electronic one)? And paper maps can't route you, can't speak directions to you while you are following the route, or even tell you where you actually are!

My latest electronic map even understands my spoken English, which is very nice.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound It's just that I am not sufficiently interested to invest the time to learn to use it.

Um, a couple of hours at most maybe? At least for the iPad.

I now use it for a huge number of things every day. I know it's tough to understand for folks who don't have one, but it's extraordinarily useful.

[photoguy]

Although computers keep getting faster and cheaper, it seems like cell phones (smartphones) keep getting more expensive. AT&T's voice + data is actually more expensive now then when I got my first smartphone (treo) years ago and it's no longer unlimited.

[Major Tom]

Gosh, I don't have a cellphone of any description. I'm a single land-line household.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Um, a couple of hours at most maybe? At least for the iPad. I now use it for a huge number of things every day. I know it's tough to understand for folks who don't have one, but it's extraordinarily useful.

My relatives all have iPhones and iPads. I have tried the iPad, and thought it was good. I more likely get an iPad before an iPhone.

I have a cell phone, which, like Gumby's, is usually not turned on, and only my wife would call me on that phone, if there is a need for me to know to turn it on beforehand. I cannot even recall its number right now.

I have not had a single Apple product, although I have heard and believe that they are easy to use. However, I am not yet at a stage where I want to simplify down to just one or two things.

When I use a computer, I like my fast and big quad-core desktop with a few terabytes of HD storage, and linked to a server of a few more TBs. And when I want to surf reclining in bed, I have my laptop. When I do RV'ing and use GPS, I want to see the map on a netbook which has a much larger screen than little portable GPS's (I do have a pocket and waterproof GPS for hiking).

I was never a multi-tasking person, therefore my toys tools reflect that. I like single-use tools.

PS. Another reason I am more interested in the iPad than I used to be was that I have stopped working, and will be strictly a "media consumer". As I no longer need to lug a laptop for work travel (to run both software bought and self-written), an iPad looks more attractive.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound I have a cell phone, which, like Gumby's, is usually not turned on, and only my wife would call me on that phone, if there is a need for me to know to turn it on beforehand. I cannot even recall its number right now. When I use a computer, I like my fast and big quad-core desktop with a few terabytes of HD storage, and linked to a server of a few more TBs. And when I want to surf reclining in bed, I have my laptop. When I do RV'ing and use GPS, I want to see the map on a netbook which has a much larger screen than little portable GPS's (I do have a pocket and waterproof GPS for hiking). I was never a multi-tasking person, therefore my toys tools reflect that. I like single-use tools.

On the phone - we have an "old technology" [i.e. not smart] cell phones too, which we prefer to keep simple. They stay on, because we don't have a land line.

What's a desktop? LOL!

Reading in bed is a LOT easier with an iPad than a laptop.

I confess to owning multiple GPS units too. We have a larger screen one for the RV. Our much maligned car GPS unit finally died, so we got the new voice recognition GPS from Garmin which works amazingly well. DH uses our old hiking GPS for carrying with his camera gear. And my new camera body will have GPS built in - yay!!!!

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoguy Although computers keep getting faster and cheaper, it seems like cell phones (smartphones) keep getting more expensive. AT&T's voice + data is actually more expensive now then when I got my first smartphone (treo) years ago and it's no longer unlimited.

This does seem to be getting outrageous. I'm hoping this is a "last gasp". Doesn't seem like they can keep charging that much for data plans because there are lots of alternatives. I guess a lot of people like to use their phone for data. Fortunately, I have never felt the need. [I don't text on my old-tech cellphone either]

[NW-Bound]

Don't know about easier reading in bed with iPad than laptop. Laptop clamshell allows screen to stay up for reading, while main unit/keyboard rests on tummy. Very nice position!

I was involved with GPS technology in the early 80s, not since Day 1 but perhaps Day 2 or 3. It took a 50-lb rack-mount box to have a rudimentary GPS receiver. Now, it's just a chip; the rest is all for display, keypad, antenna, battery, etc... The more one knows about a specific technology, the more impressed he is with the progress there.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound PS. Another reason I am more interested in the iPad than I used to be was that I have stopped working, and will be strictly a "media consumer". As I no longer need to lug a laptop for work travel (to run both software bought and self-written), an iPad looks more attractive.

Oh, congrats!

The iPad is great for web surfing and email. I prefer reading eBooks as well. It's nice not having to deal with a stack of bound paper. We use appleTV heavily in our house as well, so all our TVs and stereos are integrated with our devices (whether laptop or handheld), and it's really great listening to music, watching movies and TV programs, showing photos, showing video, playing clips off the internet on the TV. I could go on and on.... [obviously I already did!]

PS - the iPad is just very easy to "prop up". I never hold it up. I always has a cover that could help act as a bit of a stand as well as offer major protection and keep if from being slippery.

[Gumby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 . . . paper maps can't route you, can't speak directions to you while you are following the route, or even tell you where you actually are!

Don't need any of that. I usually memorize the map before I start out. I know what roads I'll need to go on, how they generally trend, the approximate distance between junctions, what towns I'll pass through in what order and whether I'll cross any rivers. I could generally tell you within a mile or two where I am at any moment.

And when the EMP comes, I'll still have my paper map.


I'll also still have my telephones at home -- 4 incredibly rugged and simple rotary dial phones, one touch tone.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby I'll also still have my telephones at home -- 4 incredibly rugged and simple rotary dial phones, one touch tone.

You failed to mention your two cans and string back-up communication system...

[Gumby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo You failed to mention your two cans and string back-up communication system...

Semaphore flags, actually.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby Semaphore flags, actually.

Oops, I forgot. You Navy guys went stringless long ago...