Smitten after five days as an iPhone user

My friends know that I’m not a fan of mobile phones. In fact, I rarely give out my number, and instead encourage people to call my office or else email me. I’ve even blogged about not wanting to be interrupted when I’m inhaling a peanut butter sandwich or driving my daughter to school. (You can read the original post here; actually the comments are better than the post itself.)

So why did I plunk down my MasterCard last week to buy an iPhone?

• I was getting tired of topping up my Virgin Mobile phone, which only ran out of minutes when I really needed them.
• A few upcoming projects will actually necessitate my being in constant contact with a client and a supplier, and much of the work will happen outside my office.
• And honestly, I confess, I fell in love with Apple’s newest toy.

After five days, I have talked on the phone for less than 15 minutes (so the built-in stats tell me), but I’ve used it to:

• Shoot impromptu photos (with a two-megapixel camera, the iPhone will never replace my real Canon).
• Look up arcane facts while watching TV with my partner. (Oliver Stone directed Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July, in case you need to know.)
• Check my email while cooking dinner, for those messages that just can’t wait.
• Watch a couple of YouTube videos while standing in line at the bank.
• Send a text message to my daughter, who is up north working at a camp. (OK, she hasn’t answered, but I tried.)
• Find out what my Twitter buddies are up to before I hit the hay.

While traveling this week, I hope to use the iPhone to locate where the hell I am (GPS is a godsend for those of us who are directionally challenged).

So far I am amazed at the simple elegance of the iPhone and its interface. The applications available from the iPhone App store are mind-boggling in their scope (from Hangman to the Obama “Countdown to Change”). And MobileMe, which synchs my Mac and my iPhone, simplifies my life, unlike the devices I’ve owned over the years, which required me to actively connect my computer to them, and always seemed to be slightly out of synch.

So I guess I have purchased a mobile computing device that happens to be a phone.

One drawback is the battery, which seems to drain very quickly. So far I have charged the phone daily, even though I don’t use it much. I see that Apple offers tips for longer battery life; I’ve made some of these changes today, so I’m curious to see if they’ll make a difference.

Do you have an iPhone? Would you consider buying one?

Comments

[irishfireside]

I'm there with you Donna. I bought my iPhone last month and have found it invaluable. Like you, the phone is the function I use the least!

Just browsing the Apps store has introduced me to products and websites I either never knew about or had heard about a while back, but forgot to look into when I was at the computer.

I've finally trained myself to stop texting/browsing/posting while walking (believe it or not, this is my first mobile phone, so this basic safety tip was new to me).

[Julie R]

Donna, Donna, Donna ... don't forget the most important reason you bought an iPhone ... you look cool with it! Go ahead, you can admit it!

[Sue Horner]

OK Donna, now you have to give me your number, then I can help with the "alternate" use, actually talking on it once in a while!

[Donna Papacosta]

Geez, walking with your eyes glued to the iPhone is not recommended.

Julie, I still don't look cool. Dammit.

Sue, since you and I do meet in person at various places, we SHOULD exchange numbers! In case I get lost; you never do.