Curbing my enthusiasm
Whenever I buy a new gadget I find myself being absolutely besotted with it for a few weeks, then it’s not long before something else shiny and useful catches my eye along with the promise to myself that “I won’t buy anything else after this!”. However, I think there’s one thing that may have finally curbed my gadget enthusiasm or at least put a stop to the endless “I want”. That is the iPhone 3G.
Usually this time of year I’d be thinking of buying a me-to-me Christmas gift. It’s not like I don’t buy myself what I want the rest of the year because I can afford to (mostly!), but at Christmas being self-indulgent is a lot of fun if it involves entertainment. But, I’ve looked around and can honestly say that I have everything I want or need at this time. A bit earlier in the year I mentioned the possibility of buying an AppleTV, but since BBC iPlayer doesn’t look like it’s heading that way anytime soon I have put the idea on the back burner for now. If an iPlayer/AppleTV agreement does come along then that will be the deal maker for me.
I’m 3 months into my iPhone ownership and the novelty hasn’t even begun to wear off. I think what makes the iPhone the most satisfying gadget I’ve ever owned is the constant new apps coming to the iTunes app store with great frequency. There is always something new and exciting to install which has me playing with the iPhone for an hour or two each day – that’s aside from it being a wonderful all-in-one communication tool which is definitely it’s main purpose for me.
So, for the first Christmas in many a year I’m going to be writing out a very short list for Santa which will mostly be requests for iTunes gift vouchers and other non-gadget related things. I never thought I’d say that. Judging from some of the responses to my tweet about this a few days ago on Twitter it seems that I’m not the only one who feels completely content since getting the iPhone. How about you other iPhone users?
N.B. whether all this “being content” will last by the time Macworld 2009 arrives remains to be seen!! 
About the author
I'm a thirty-something Geordie Lass with a passion for Macs. I love playing with new gadgets, Mac software and iPhone/iPad apps.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Sam on December 6, 2008 at 5:55 pm, and is filed under Apple, Communication. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
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about 1 week ago - 2 comments
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Yesterday ‘cancel order’ was greyed out on my iPad order page which made me suspect something was happening, but didn’t expect it
UK iPad Pricing details released
about 3 months ago - 5 comments
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WiFi
16GB: £429
32GB: £499
64GB: £599
WiFi + 3G
16GB: £529
32GB: £599
64GB: £699
Source: Apple PR.
There’s no doubt
Switching to o2 iPhone Simplicity
about 5 months ago - 8 comments
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The Apple iPad
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about 8 months ago - 3 comments
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I must
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about 8 months ago - 3 comments
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about 1 year ago
I agree with these comments, like so many, the iPhone is a gadget freaks dream come true. I have owned an iPhone from the off in the UK, and the only gadget I have bought recently was a NetBook, and the only gadget I will probably buy in the next few months would be an Apple NetBook, if they release one that is.
about 1 year ago
as you know I have the iPod touch and plan to buy an iPhone in 2009.
I think that, ok, iPhone is gorgeous, amazing, stunning etc etc..BUT guys..the AppStore..how great it is? The real big deal is that thing, I have eight pages full of apps (I personally reccomended Poweboat with touch control, no accelerometer. It’s an incredible game).
Damn Sam, why you writing about the Macworld?
It had passed away from my mind and, now that I red your post, I remember that we are just A MONTH away to Macworld and now I’m thinking on it over and over!
uh..new iMac! apple tv! iTablet! cinema display! iCEO! iHome! i….Me!
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
about 1 year ago
Hi Glyn. Yes, a NetBook would probably be the thing to tempt me if Apple ever release an aggressively priced one. When I’m not at my iMac then I have the PowerBook for sofa surfing, although saying that thesedays the iPhone is getting way more sofa-use than the PowerBook.
Hey Oscar. Thanks for the Powerboat app recommendation. I was looking at that a few days ago and since they now have a free lite version than I’m going to give that a go. Looks like fun. The app store is great – but very addictive
I have 70 apps in my library, mostly paid ones but quite a few free aswell. Haha, sorry about the MW09 mention – hope the wait won’t be too painful! Lots to look forward to…hopefully.
about 1 year ago
My iPhone has been most satisfying as well. There isn’t much on my list this year either. The main request I have is a Wacom Bamboo Fun, something I have been wanting for some time now for photo editing.
I mean, I do also want a MacBook Pro, but the likelihood of that appearing this holiday season is slim. I am truly frustrated with the GMA950 integrated graphics of my 2-year old MacBook, and would very much love a Pro-level notebook.
However, I have noticed my MacBook rarely leaves the desk, as I am using my iPhone for casual browsing. I’m toying with the idea of moving my content over to my wife’s iMac and ditching the notebook. Who knows?
Anyway, yes, the iPhone is the gift that keeps on giving, not only from the App Store, but also the nice feature additions and updates from Apple every couple of months.
about 1 year ago
Chris, you said it perfectly: the iPhone is the gift that keeps on giving.
This time last year I had an iPod touch – no apps were available at that time. I’m struggling to remember what on earth I used it for. Oh yeah, music…
about 1 year ago
Whilst I still love my iPhone, I have to admit that my new macbook pro is my current love. Since the 3G came out the iPhone has lost a load of it’s snob value (and lets be honest, that’s part of the reason we buy apple stuff isn’t it?), and the new MBP is quite simply stunning.
The fact that it’s the fastest laptop I’ve ever used is obviously secondary…
about 1 year ago
Graham, You are making me want a MacBook Pro even more. Snob. :p
about 1 year ago
I’m still the same about my iMac, Graham. Although the iPhone is wonderful, I’d be absolutely lost without the iMac which still gets me “oohing” and “ahhing” everyday after over 12 months of buying it.
about 1 year ago
The iPhone is really something. It’s rather handsome and practical. I used to have an iBook G4 with me and carried it on my bed, now my iPhone can do about the same thing.
Speaking of the Christmas ‘loosen up’ attitude, I failed on the same ‘I have everything I want or need at this time’ saying. I always ends up buying a thing or two.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen on MacWorld SF 2009, but I really want to get the MBP before Christmas. With all the firmware patches, I hope it’s now okay to buy one.
Honestly, I really dislike the notion of Netbook. It’s ‘heavy’ if you count something that small, expensive (from what I needed), and I don’t think I can use it more than an hour per session.
How about a Mac mini + telly instead of Apple TV? I do wish we have iPlayer in N. America.
about 1 year ago
Kenneth, a Mac Mini + AppleTV type device would be great. AppleTV, as it is, just isn’t cutting it for me. To have a combined device in the bedroom, where most TV/entertainment goes down, would be excellent paired up with a wireless keyboard.
about 1 year ago
Two words; copy & paste!
I’m currently out of contract and considering my options. The iPhone was one of them, but I’m hearing too many bad reports about it so I’m likely to stick with a Windows Mobile handset.
I had a quick try of the G1 (Google phone) and it was just too flaky.
about 1 year ago
Cannot really justify spending the money on an iPhone yet. Have to satisfy myself with the Touch. Am very pleased with it despite the fact that it isn’t a phone (duh) and it doesn’t have a camera. But it is so much more than an iPod.
If Stephen Fry is correct that iPhones changed the game completely for smartphones then the Touch has done similar for mobile sound-vision gadgets.