The iPhone 3GS has almost completely replaced both my laptop and my digital camera (neither of which leaves the house much anymore). It gives me the ability to read and send email, update this blog, shoot and edit photos, record video and audio, take notes, read books, check Facebook and Twitter, surf the web, watch movies and baseball games, play Scrabble, and dozens of other favorite things. Plus it syncs seamlessly with my office and home computers. The only key task it doesn’t address is typesetting and page layout; but no doubt that, tool will come.
With the addition of a black Case-Mate cover, the iPhone also serves as my wallet. I used to tote around all kinds of gear (laptop, camera, phone, chargers, cables, wallet, notebooks). Now I carry one incredibly compact device in my pocket, plus my keys. That’s it: travel light.
So count me among those “fanboys” who most definitely will upgrade to the iPhone 4 as soon as it’s in stores. The new features are worth it: a much higher-resolution screen, better antennas, a slimmer phone, HD video editing, an LED flash for the upgraded main camera—not to mention the addition of a forward-facing lens for video conferencing—and more. Tip: You can check your upgrade eligibility by dialing *639#.
Some people love to hate Apple, but frankly I think that’s moronic. My life is easier, better, less complicated thanks to Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive forcing the computer (and indeed the entire tech) world to constantly play catch-up. They’re among the very few people atop our mass commercial culture who have truly advanced design and usability, and delivered it to a broad audience. As kids, we were shown a future full of ubiquitous monorails and jetpacks and Star Trek communicators; the iPhone is the only device I use which seems truly Space Age.
Yeah, I loathe being forced to patronize AT&T... and wish Apple would get some of its production out of China. But the same goes for Verizon and the rest of the carriers and phone makers, so I’m pretty much boxed in. If I could move to a carrier like CREDO, I would in an instant. Eventually, no doubt that will be possible.
But I’m not getting the first gen iPad. Nuh-uh.
