Apple iPhone Releases Today

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

First of all, I'm posting this in the Soapbox because it's more of a rant than an FYI...

Apple Customers Queue Up for iPhone

So apparently, people in New York City have been lining up to get this thing since MONDAY. At the 24 HOUR APPLE STORE?!

WTF is wrong with these people? WTF do we need a 24 hour Apple store? Why are we all obsessive about and/or slaves to our cell phones?

Consumer whoreism FTW!!!

...it's a damn cell phone!

GAAZ · MOD Black Sheep Commander Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2002

It's also an overpriced craptacular cell phone.

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

Cell phones have got to be one of the stupidest inventions ever. At least on a commercial front. The only people who need to be available 24/7 are doctors and firemen and stuff. It's convenient for emergencies and stuff, though, but... I don't know. I don't think anyone under the age of 16 needs one, that's for sure. And even the 16-year-olds only need it because driving = dangerous and for emergencies and that's it.

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

I wouldn't go as far as to say that cell phones are one of the stupidest inventions ever, I just think that people are way to obsessive about them (and about technology in general). The other day UP and I saw someone using a pay phone in Queens...and it was weird.

The really strange part is that less than 10 years ago (and probably much more recently than you would imagine) people didn't rely on their cell phones for everything and I can't help but wonder how we all survived. How did we possibly meet up with people in crowded places when we didn't have cell phones to call each other and announce our exact locations? How did we find our way if we got lost and didn't have cell phones to call people to get directions? How did we get through being late to something and not having a cell phone to call ahead and announce our impending tardiness?

I remember when I got my first cell phone during my freshman year of college. My parents used to get angry with me because it was always off, and in my desk drawer. I'd only turn it on when I needed to use it, and only take it with me if I was going somewhere for an extended period of time. And now, my phone is on 24-7 and I can't leave the house without it.

I think I'm going to perform an experiment and not use my cell phone for a week. Anyone want to do it with me?

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Ming, I think of my cellular phone as my house phone - and use it pretty much accordingly. Admittedly, there are some ways that it's helpful, for when things change in the middle without prior warning, but for the most part, I tend toward using it in the places where I would have had access to a house phone. Now I just don't pay the pay-as-you-go rates on it.

Anyway, getting back on topic - iPhone is apparently a reasonable thing for those who want to merge their cell phone and iPod. Apple could have chosen a much better carrier for their "exclusive" partnership, however.

SirGunslinger · Rebel without a clue Gender: Joined: 21 Jun 2007

Stupidity is a harvestable renewable resource. Just ask any professional spammer, scientologist, or Infomercial employee. =)

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

How did we do all those things? Human ingenuity. If we were lost, we'd ask for directions. If we needed to locate people in a crowd, we'd *gasp* look for them. If we were late for something, we were just late, or we used the house phone to call beforehand if possible. I don't think any of those are truly necessary uses for a cellphone.

I hardly ever use mine, really. I keep it on and with me, but mostly just in my car in case of emergency. I can't tell you how often I leave it in there or charging at my house. The only times I've used it recently have been occasionally to call Shino when I was missing him, but I could as easily have waited and used my house phone, or just not called him at all and been fine.

I -hate- all these people walking about with their cellphones on their ear constantly, like they can't be bothered to talk to anyone in person, but have to call people all the time. It's ridiculous.

Terin · Huzzah! Gender: Joined: 27 Oct 2003

I admit I carry mine on me all the time, but I use it rarely. Usually if I'm lost on the road or something on the way to a friends place that I've never been before (like the first time I went to Effin's place) I was glad I had it. I have used it as an alarm clock on more than one occasion, and since I have it, I no longer really need a watch. Is it convenient? Hell yes. There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with convenience. How as far as iPhones go - they look really awesome, but the exclusive contract was a bad move, plus I've heard they got horrible reviews and work no where near as well as the demo shows.
Legend, I agree with you about the ear pieces but for a different reason. I hate it when I think someone's talking to me but they're really on the phone, that bugs the crap out of me. But that's it, that's my only beef with cell-phone users. I've never had a situation where a driver on a cell phone was holding up traffic and since "everyone" talks on their cell phones while they drive it leads me to believe that the ones who are giving cell phones a bad name are just crappy drivers. I understand the appeal of the iPhone, it's a pretty looking toy. However this, just like Paris Hilton, isn't worth getting worked up over. ^__^
-T

Shurikane · Dim Panties As String Joined: 24 Sep 2002

Forget the cellphone, let's talk about the subculture of camping outside a store to wait for a release.

People are proud to be doing that. Something is deadly wrong.

Although, the only thing I see coming out of this is a bunch of the first-getters will immediately sell their phones back on eBay and earn an amazingly high profit.

Terin · Huzzah! Gender: Joined: 27 Oct 2003

that's something to be proud of lol.
-T