Does Your iPhone Have a Cooler Life than You?

Posted on June 29, 2010 by admin

Recently, I have been contemplating purchasing an iPhone. I have been pulled in by the sleek and simple design, incredible new video and camera features, and all around simplicity. If I took the Fanboy plunge, I would be able to video chat with my niece easily, answer e-mails and work online anywhere, and do many other online ventures that are cut out due to complexity. With that said, would my iPhone have a cooler life?

Mistake #1: Entered the Dungeon Zone

I will be honest. The first mistake I made was stepping into an Apple store 2 days after launch. The vibe was that of 100 high school boys running free in the Playboy Mansion. There were geeks (no offense, I am one) running amok and Microsoft bashing from baby to grandpa. I must say, once you enter the Apple dungeon zone, there is no going back.

I love simplicity…but how much?

Needless to say, simplicity is the meaning of my life. If I could, I would simplify water. So, being that I have and will always have a small place in my heart for the PC, Apple has lured me into with their ultra-simplistic products. How much is too much though….

As I browsed and was told how great the iPhone was (for some reason, no one wanted to discuss ‘The Death Grip’), I realized that the more Apple crap (No offense Steve) I am intrigued by, the more I want to go back to stone tablet, rock and chisel. Has technology tricked me into believing that they are simplistic but are the furthest thing from it? Does improved technology that appears simplistic generate more chaos?

Would I Be a Hypocrite?

I have already decided that I am getting a MacBook Pro as my next computer, I have an iPod Touch, and I am strongly considering an iPhone, but do I really need to get more things?

For the most part, I buy the things I need and get rid of everything I possibly can. The same goes for my approach to a minimalist business. I have a desktop with two monitors and a webcam because it is a simple and productive way to work for myself.

So, would I be a hypocrite if I got something that is beneficial to my business and enjoyable, but also is expensive and may drain more time and focus?

The Force is Strong Within You iPhone

I must say, just thinking about the option of an iPhone is pulling me into it even more. The more I let the idea of owning one run through my head, the more I crave the damn thing. I hate being pulled in by consumerism and I think this time is a slight exception. Sure, I am being completely, 100% honest in saying that its shine is mesmerizing. However, there are definitely positives to taking this leap of faith, especially with me being at a 9-5 again here soon (More on that later this week).

I believe I still have the upper hand on the iPhone (It may disagree), so hopefully, I can maintain such and make a conscious, logical decision.

Does Your iPhone Have a Cooler Life Than You?

Now that you see and understand the internal predicament I am battling with, I must note the overall effect this purchase will have on my life. I want to make sure I have a cooler life than my iPhone.

If I do purchase an iPhone, I am locking myself in to about $100 per month for 24 months. That’s $2400 of hard earned money. That is definitely a downside, but being able to work from such a small device on my growing minimalist business will be wonderful. Along with the financial effect, I want to make sure it doesn’t bring down my new found productivity. I am often annoyed by those who live in their phones. I plan to leave it at home just as often as I leave my cell at home now which will keep the addiction at a low level.

Most importantly….I will live my own life and not that of which my iPhone chooses….if I so do choose an iPhone. I want to make sure that I am not ALWAYS connected and maintain the connection I have with the world when I am not connected. Plus, I want to be living life to the max and that can’t be done when I am Googling “What was the last line of the theme song to Fresh Prince of Bel Air?”.

What am I Going to Do?

Gonna wait…that’s what I am going to do. I do still have control so I will continue to weigh the options.

I need your help though. Please leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. Thanks!!!

Have a great day!!!

David Damron

the minimalist path

Click here to get a copy of PROJECT M-31: Simply Your Life in 31 Days

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  • Karen
    Doooooo it. I just got one today. I actually lucked out and got one as my work cell, but it totally blows away my Blackberry. It's amazing. I was skeptical about all the Mac cult hype, but had plans to get an iphone when it come to Verizon later this year, and an ipad in a few months. I got one surprisingly early to use as my work phone, and I don't want to use anything else now. I'd say just wait until you can afford the expense for sure, because there's no turning back once you get one...
  • Rob
    Hi Karen! I have to weigh in here too. I'm an Apple fan, but also very cautious thinker. I'm currently using a first gen iPhone I only purchased because I won some money on a rare trip to Vegas. I wanted the device, I knew it was expensive, and found myself in a similar spot as you David. In the end, I've learned this decision comes down to mental fortitude as strange as it sounds.

    There's no question your productivity and speed to decision making astronomically goes up when you have one of these smartphones, especially so with the iPhone because of its capabilities. The information sharing, capturing, and so on, as well as grabbing e-mails, tweets, etc on a train, bus, cab, or walking to the bank is great. It enables rapid efficiency with keeping a zero inbox or handling important information. I think what you are afraid of, which is it being a attention sucking monster is something that will need to be battled by mental practices. I make sure in a live conversation to never to use the device, and constantly leave it in another room while at home, or turn it off altogether (which by the way is empowering haha). While traveling it's on often as it has it's biggest productivity boosts. It's like anything else that we could sit in front of forever, like food or tv, or video games (which the iPhone can get all of these things for us)...it needs to be managed. I think if you approach it like that, it's potential good will far outweigh any bad. My vote is get it...and I think the monthly cost will be a bit less than you expect, I pay $74 a month and I have 2000 txts and 2.99 emergency car assistance added.

    Oh and in thoughts of simpler or more complex...I think that again it will be a mental battle here. It's only a device, one small physical item in your life that you can automate payment for so impact is minimal. How you treat it will determine it's effect on life complexity or further simplicity.
  • daviddamron
    Thanks for your great push Rob---

    I am emailing you right now for more details as to how you got the plan so low.

    Thanks

    David Damron
    TMP
  • daviddamron
    I can afford it now and that really was never the issue. It was more do I want to spend the money on it and will it make my life simpler or more complex.

    Still wavering but we'll see.

    Thanks for the comment Karen....you lucked out that its your work phone

    David Damron
  • Jonathan
    I am very surprised that anyone would describe the iPhone as being simple. To me, a basic cell phone (without even texting capabilities) would be simple. An iPhone is as far away from simple as one could get in a phone (at least with the current technology).
  • daviddamron
    You are right Jonathan. I guess I mean simple to use. It definitely is more complex than most things, but simple in the fact as it "may" make my life simpler.

    Not sure yet....

    David Damron
    TMP
  • dusana
    Maybe it's because I don't know much about either product, but are there really that many more things you can do from an iphone that you can't from your ipod touch? With the ipod touch you are connected any place with a wifi connection right? And hot spots are only increasing. When you start back at a 9-5 will you be at a computer most of the time?

    Now for the cost issue: I like to compare costs with potential/past travels because that is where I like to put any extra money I have. I spent about $1,000 for a round trip to Spain and about another thousand traveling to about 12 cities my last month there. Somehow spending this amount for a cool phone with cool functions that my computer probably has (which I probably don't even use) doesn't add up for me.
  • daviddamron
    Hey Dusana---

    You bring up the most important conflicts within me....

    Could I spend the money in a better way? Probably true, but this "tool" will allow me to spend more time talking with my niece and running my business from the office (ipod touch is great but tougher than you may think to find wifi plus cant use work computer for personal stuff).

    I have definitely not made a commitment yet. Still wavering, but thanks for your push in that direction...

    David Damron
    TMP
  • I live in a rural area and cannot get AT&T (iphone) service here 'cause its all roaming... Verizon works so I got the Droid Incredible...(Android OS)... I see it as an incredible (excuse pun) tool... I am amazed at all the functions in one small devise... So, instead of having a bunch of discrete items I have one *Minimalist* Item to replace: mp3 player, digital camera, laptop, FM radio, voice recorder, GPS turn by turn, safety locator, kindle book reader, ....etc etc and MORE .... oh, and of course a cellphone.... AND it will take discipline to use this new tool effectively without becoming addicted to trivial pursuits. Use the features that make your life more fulfilling with your real world friends and family. AND it is a "we'll see" what happens to me in the next 2 years (contract).
  • daviddamron
    Hey "MaineBob"----

    You seem to be following the same practice as I do. I believe that it will definitely replace a few other items and benefit my business with me being away from it as much as I will be soon.

    Thanks for sharing your experience. If I do end up getting an iPhone I may be switching to Verizon if they get the iphone and just pay to leave ATT.

    David Damron
    TMP
  • Albert Alexandro Moreno
    you don't really need it. a laptop is good enough.
  • daviddamron
    Hey Albert---

    The only issue is that with a laptop I have to lug it around. I have done that for a year + with a netbook and it gets old after a while.

    Still on the fence so we will see....

    David
    TMP
  • Personally I don't see how an iphone is more minimalist. With an app store that has 1000s of different programs available, it seems to me to be a gateway to masses of more stuff. Not quite so tangible 'clutter-up-your-shelves' stuff, but stuff nonetheless.
    It might not tie in with your view of minimalism, but I prefer tools/devices that do only a few things, but do them well. That way, it's a lot harder for me to be distracted. I can't use my camera to find out the last line of the Fresh Prince theme tune. I have to go to my laptop (I looked at my kingdom I was finally there to sit on my throne as the prince of Bel Air) which lets me concentrate on using the camera to take pictures.
    Just my two cents.
    Tom
    P.S. If you're set on getting it, Apple UK sells them without the need to sign up for a contract (16gb = GBP499, 32gb = GBP599).
  • daviddamron
    Thanks Tom...and thanks for finding that line...hahaha....

    There definitely is the sense that my life will not be as "minimalist" but at other times I feel I can do a lot via an iPhone and don't have to go out of my way to find a laptop to work on.

    You bring up valid points....still on the fence....

    David Damron
    TMP
  • If getting the iPhone will help streamline the tasks you already do, then go for it. As long as it's in your budget the cost of the plan might be worth the time you save doing your everyday tasks. I know the iPhone has a certain geeky sex appeal, but in my opinion any one of the Android smart phones out there offer more features than the iPhone and usually at a lower cost.

    here's a decent unbiased comparison :)
    http://www.pcworld.com/article...
  • daviddamron
    Thanks Mike!

    I re-evaluated the cost today and it looks like the iPhone will "only" cost $80/per month which is comparable to most smartphone plans. The whole verizon getting iphones in january is throwing a kink in the plans too now.

    Thanks for the link...

    David Damron
    TMP
  • Anders Ronnau
    Dave, I have those exact same considerations going for me. I love your headline with the Force. The Force is really strong in this one. The iPhone has it all, and yet I too am wavering. I love my old Nokia that doesn't go on the Net, yet I want the sexy iPhone. I want all the posibilities that is has to offer, yet I never really miss them and my life is not already full of moments that I don't know what to do with.
    Phew - what to do...
    /Anders.
  • daviddamron
    On top of all that Anders...rumor has it that Verizon is getting the iPhone. That means I will have to consider waiting. What to do.....

    David Damron
    TMP
  • katie
    As someone that is on the other side of the iPhone, (as in: I had one and then sold it to buy a simpler cell phone) I am amazed at how much time I spent in front of it. I have never texted, and I swore that I wouldn't be one of those people constantly checking my email - and then I found myself checking it at dinner with my husband. That's not fair to him, and now that I have sold my iPhone, I can't help but think that I never, ever want to be important enough to need to be reached 24/7. In fact, I'm going the other direction, and when my contract is up next week, I'm going to pre-paid. The $30/mo. data plan was infuriating, because it's just more service that they can pass along service charges, taxes, and fees to you. Oh, and I constantly dropped calls with my iPhone, but they might have fixed that now. Now, I really enjoy being one of the few that doesn't have in headphones when I take the bus or the train - I feel much more...zen? I enjoy simpler things: reading, word search puzzles, de-stressing, or just spacing out.

    Just my own thoughts... I love your blog.
    Katie
  • daviddamron
    Hey Katie---

    Your exact experience is what I am worried about too. I love the capabilities but hate when people always can contact me. I usually just leave my cell at home and use it primarily as a voicemail. A major part of this decision is that I will be starting back at an old company I worked with again and don't want to go 9 hours without taking care of my personal business on breaks and lunch.

    Still wavering....

    Thanks for your in-depth opinion.

    David Damron
    TMP
  • $2400+ to use for two years says it all for me. I'm sticking with my old faithful cell phone.
  • daviddamron
    That 2 year commitment sucks man. I used to have cricket which was unlimited everything for $45 with no contract and still is. I may just go back to that. Still wavering...

    David Damron
    TMP
  • Sometimes I think minimalists want to live a boring, dull life. If you want the iPhone this much, get one. Don't be afraid to live an enjoyable life.
  • daviddamron
    Love how straight forward your response was Joshua. That's the way I am leaning. However, that 2 year contract sucks.

    David Damron
    TMP
  • bemorewithless
    This is a tough one! The more I simplify and actually get out and live my cool life, the less I use my iphone. While I love the sleek design and great features, I have had to cut the cord on the one reason I originally bought it - instant accessibility. If you are not thinking clearly, phone/text/email/tweet/fb/skype/apps....will take over and have a cooler life than you.

    Would you keep your itouch if you bought the iphone?

    Good Luck!
    Courtney
  • daviddamron
    Well, I enjoy my touch, but only use it when I travel. The big thing for me is wanting to stay connected when I start working at a 9-5 again. Thanks for your take...I am still wavering.

    David Damron
    TMP
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