Did you buy into the iPhone 3G craze?

[Kevin Lee]

Did you buy an iPhone 3G?

[ideasuniversity]

I am still using my old Nokia without camera and all the paraphelania. To me phone is for communication nothing else

[TheRainmaker]

Hey!! I totally agree. While I did splurge a couple of years ago and buy myself a Blackberry Pearl...I find the need / compulsion to constantly upgrade ridiculous. And then I watched The Story of Stuff.

http://web.1.c3.audiovideoweb.com/1c3we ... fStuff.mov

Its amazing how marketers have motivated us to get rid of completely useful and functional equipment etc. only to be 'followers'.

Manufacturers have picked up on this too though - because my mom has a washing machine that has worked for over 20 years, while my 4 year old one is constantly being fixed.....

Hmmm...

Needless to say, I'm sticking with my Pearl for now.....it serves me well.

J

[jvprosperity]

I bought the original when it came out - still love it (on most days). The Calendar is my best friend.

I find it lack sound "loudness" - when it rings as well as the speech that comes through.

Other than that I find it is a great conversation starter at Networking events and if I notice someone else with one we get great rapport built through ownership of this device. OK FINE! I'm quite sold on this device even though it lacks what others mobile phones can do.

[ideasuniversity]

Rainmaker

Hey!! I totally agree. While I did splurge a couple of years ago and buy myself a Blackberry Pearl...I find the need / compulsion to constantly upgrade ridiculous. And then I watched The Story of Stuff.

http://web.1.c3.audiovideoweb.com/1c3we ... fStuff.mov

Its amazing how marketers have motivated us to get rid of completely useful and functional equipment etc. only to be 'followers'.

Manufacturers have picked up on this too though - because my mom has a washing machine that has worked for over 20 years, while my 4 year old one is constantly being fixed.....

Hmmm...

Needless to say, I'm sticking with my Pearl for now.....it serves me well.

J

I totally agree with you. I read recently that John Grisam, the best selling author of all the legal thrillers still write his novel with Pentium 2 laptop.

[Kevin Lee]

Its amazing how marketers have motivated us to get rid of completely useful and functional equipment etc. only to be 'followers'.

Manufacturers have picked up on this too though - because my mom has a washing machine that has worked for over 20 years, while my 4 year old one is constantly being fixed.....

Hi Jude,

Do you think manufacturers are deliberately making their products of lower grade so that we'll need to replace them in shorter periods of time?

I mean, if you can put a person on the moon, why can't someone make a car that lasts for more than 20 years or a cell phone battery hold its "charging capabilities" for at least the duration of a three year contract?

I got my Telus LG Chocolate phone over a year ago with a three year contract. However, these days it only has 3-5 minutes of talk time before the battery dies out!! It's ridiculous. I can't replace the battery since it would probably cost more than a new phone!

What would you do if you were me?

[Kevin Lee]

Other than that I find it is a great conversation starter at Networking events and if I notice someone else with one we get great rapport built through ownership of this device. OK FINE! I'm quite sold on this device even though it lacks what others mobile phones can do.

Hi Andy,

I've heard that people who own Apple/MAC products are typically brand enthusiasts who love to connect with others who share in their passion

PC users don't have that same kind of bond.

[jvprosperity]

Other than that I find it is a great conversation starter at Networking events and if I notice someone else with one we get great rapport built through ownership of this device. OK FINE! I'm quite sold on this device even though it lacks what others mobile phones can do.

Hi Andy,

I've heard that people who own Apple/MAC products are typically brand enthusiasts who love to connect with others who share in their passion

PC users don't have that same kind of bond.

Kevin, I would agree that I seem to have quick rapport with other MAC/iPhone users. At times it almost seems expected... I only just moved to both products in January. I get my PC fix during my day job.

[Kevin Lee]

Kevin, I would agree that I seem to have quick rapport with other MAC/iPhone users. At times it almost seems expected... I only just moved to both products in January. I get my PC fix during my day job.

Well I'm thinking about getting a new laptop by the end of the year... so are there any noticeable differences between a MAC or Dell computer/laptop?

[jvprosperity]

Well for one the MAC is way faster... even after having it for the last 6 months it hasn't slowed down. especially during startup. My PC started slowing down it's startup within 3 months.

you'll find there are not a lot of programs out there for the MAC but I'm increasingly finding that most of the programs I use for business are available as online versions of the product and are typically platform independent - so no worries there.

I like the feel of the MAC and the way the fonts and graphics look on it.

OH, the battery life is amazing even after 6 months I'll typically get a consistent 4 hours from it.

[TheRainmaker]

EGAD - I'm not going to comment on the PC versus MAC issue as I live with a graphic designer and this is a constant discussion in our house, and at my office!

I will say though Kevin, that yes I do think that manufacturers are making crappy stuff....and why shouldnt they - we all run out to buy the latest...

I think perhaps it is time to replace your cell phone, only because you have used it completely. you can buy new without falling into the hype trap. But if you cant talk for longer than 3 minutes....its not serving you

I think people need to just be more dilligent about what still has life. I know if more people thought this way, we wouldnt have the amount of consumer debt that we have....etc.

I dont have any debt except my mortgage....and my gosh, life is sooo much nicer this way.

I am now starting to think about replacing my car...but my sister, whose husband is a GM technician gave me some good advice. When your repair bills are starting to equal car payments its time to get rid of the car. If they arent, it really is just transportation so focus on getting as much use out of it as possible.

Makes sense to me..

[jvprosperity]

BTW, on the whole cellphone thing. I heard that Bell (most probably Telus too since they share Bells network) will be moving over to a GSM network like Rogers - that should level the playing field and give you access to a whole range of cool unlocked phones.

Eventually Rogers, Bell and Telus will be moving over to new standard that is a level up from GSM....LTE I think?!?

Anyways I believe the Canadian government is also making space for a new provider by selling some frequencys.

Exciting times ahead for communications in Canada and maybe we'll start seeing the competitive rates they have in the US?

[litekepr]

EGAD - I'm not going to comment on the PC versus MAC issue as I live with a graphic designer and this is a constant discussion in our house, and at my office!

I will say though Kevin, that yes I do think that manufacturers are making crappy stuff....and why shouldnt they - we all run out to buy the latest...

I think perhaps it is time to replace your cell phone, only because you have used it completely. you can buy new without falling into the hype trap. But if you cant talk for longer than 3 minutes....its not serving you

I think people need to just be more dilligent about what still has life. I know if more people thought this way, we wouldnt have the amount of consumer debt that we have....etc.

I dont have any debt except my mortgage....and my gosh, life is sooo much nicer this way.

I am now starting to think about replacing my car...but my sister, whose husband is a GM technician gave me some good advice. When your repair bills are starting to equal car payments its time to get rid of the car. If they arent, it really is just transportation so focus on getting as much use out of it as possible.

Makes sense to me..

Very true - the consumers add to the problem. A new tech toy comes out and no matter how insane the cost, people are lined up around the block to get one. I'd rather wait till they work the kinks out and the price comes down

I also paid off my truck in February and have only the usual monthly utility and insurance bills. It is WONDERFUL not to have to deal with all those other bills. The last time I replaced a car, it had been paid off for several years and I made the decision when something went wrong (I've forgotten what), but it had 170,000 miles and the repair estimate was $800. It seemed like a really good time to look for something else. Turns out that $800 was 10% of what my truck cost

Shri

[Kevin Lee]

I will say though Kevin, that yes I do think that manufacturers are making crappy stuff....and why shouldnt they - we all run out to buy the latest...

I think perhaps it is time to replace your cell phone, only because you have used it completely. you can buy new without falling into the hype trap. But if you cant talk for longer than 3 minutes....its not serving you

Hi Jude,

The only problem is that I still have 1.5-2 years left on my phone contract with Telus and ideally, I'd like to avoid paying the full cost of a new phone (e.g. $300). Keep in mind I have no intention of signing another 3 year extension just to get a new phone for $0-50, only for its battery life to die out on me in the next year.

Does anyone have any suggestions for unlocked cell phones that don't cost more than $50-100? However, I still don't want a refurbished phone or one that's too outdated in style

[Kevin Lee]

Well for one the MAC is way faster... even after having it for the last 6 months it hasn't slowed down. especially during startup. My PC started slowing down it's startup within 3 months.

you'll find there are not a lot of programs out there for the MAC but I'm increasingly finding that most of the programs I use for business are available as online versions of the product and are typically platform independent - so no worries there.

I like the feel of the MAC and the way the fonts and graphics look on it.

OH, the battery life is amazing even after 6 months I'll typically get a consistent 4 hours from it.

Thanks for the feedback Andy! I find my Dell laptop is always automatically downloading a bunch of stuff that's only slowing it down and taking up space.

I've had my current laptop for almost 4 years now and it's typically on from 8am to 12:30am everyday (and on screensaver mode when I'm not using it), so I think it's going to die soon. I originally started with only 40 GB of hard drive space to work with (33 GB after the pre-installed software) and I'm always on my last 100 MB, haha.