I currently have the iPhone 3Gs with service through AT&T. I’ve had the phone since September 2009, when the Mrs sprung it on me for my birthday. It’s been great. It’s pretty much my hand-held computer. I use it to check email, tweet, take notes, check stats, take picture and movies, check the weather and scores, get directions, track my eating, do online banking, and even read and do research.
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Truthfully, I use it way too much. Ironically, I probably use it a lot more for its computer functions versus it’s actual phone and text features. I imagine many people are in that same boat.
Sadly, I've been using this for a week now.
Last month, when I heard Apple and AT&T would soon be releasing the new iPhone, I started thinking it was time for an upgrade of my own. Then, last week, just four days after the new phones were being revealed, I dropped my iPhone while getting out of the car and shattered the glass. Total coincidence, I swear.
After I repaired the phone with some packing tape, I started thinking about my long-term solution. Honestly, looking at the new iPhone 4s, I’m not that impressed. My first inclination is to try and wait for the iPhone 5, which I’m assuming will have many more game-changing improvements. But who knows how long that could take.
The iPhone 4s basically has a better camera and this artificial intelligence named Siri that can help you find things, remember stuff, etc. The improved camera is valuable to me, but I don’t think the Siri thing will be for me. Looks fun, but not practical. Kind of gimmicky. I could totally be short-sighting this though. Matt Buchanan from Gizmodo.com agrees with me:
“Siri’s a lot of fun. But I mostly stopped reaching out to her after the third day, slipping back into my old routines.”
Anyway, now I’m stuck with a shattered phone (who’s screen surprising still works better than any other smart phone in my opinion) and a decision to make:
- Do I roll with the 4s ($199), when I can get it (they are hard to get right now unless you order online)?
- Do I get a iPhone 4 ($99)?
- Do I get a new screen for my 3Gs ($50 through a friend who repairs them)?
- Or do I just stick with the ugly, cracked phone?
I just checked, and even in it’s poor condition, my iPhone 3Gs will go for around $50 on Gazelle.com. That certainly makes me lean towards buying the 4s, as I’d have some cash to throw at the purchase. The upgrade means we will be extending our AT&T contract which isn’t a problem for us. We’ve been pleased with our service there, and have even been able to lower our cell phone bill a time or two.
What’s funny is that I realize this whole decision is kind of absurd. I’m debating whether to spend $199 vs $99 just so that I can have a phone (a phone!) and gain the right to pay $150 each month to make phone calls and transfer a bunch of data. Crazy. I can only imagine trying to explain that to my grandparents.
What would you do? Do you always go after the latest, greatest gadget, or do you wait a while?
About Philip Taylor
