I should state that I have become a penny pincher when it comes to services, like cell phone services. I cannot bring myself to pay these 2 year contracts for a phone plan at $80 per month, thats $1k per year (ouch!). I have a T-mobile PrePay plan where I am buying minutes. I pay on average $150 a year for minutes on my unlocked phone and like it that way.
Back to the super phones. The iphone cost a bundle for the early adopters, now its become more reasonable if you get into a contract. I as stated above have issues with contracts. I am more willing to buy the phone strait out, and buy my minutes and only use the other features when I am near a wifi connection. if thats possible, like I said I dont have one so I dont know how that all works and dont think it does with the iPhone. But when this phone came out it was a huge cost, so I immediately dismissed it anyway. And its still a pretty big cost. Last I looked the phone was about $599 unlocked.
Now comes the Google phone, the Nexus One (N1). I have been waiting for this phone to get here. Not to mention that its on my network already. I can get one for $529 +tax. Still too much for my penny pinching ways and I am thinking that there are going to be price reductions since its not a mac device that never really budges in price. So, when the phone hits around half that price I will buy one, if I can be patient and hold out that long.
So, with that said - here is my rant... Phones are expensive and plans are expensive. I know friends and family that have these and other types of super phones. Some are well within their means and others barely afford themselves. Some are even children that have no job, but I dont want to go there. I will name no names nor point fingers... but when I explain to someone that these gadgets are too expensive, and just because your friends have them and are killing themselves to pay for them does not mean that you have to. I get answers like "Its my only phone" or "I need to have it"or "I dont care" or "Someone else is paying for it" or "I use my phone more than you do". Ok, I admit that some reasons like these are legitimate, and good reasons to have to pay for a super phone on a super plan. But it also frustrates me to see these people suffering at their own hand for these things that they say that they need. I would say that in most cases, these people do not NEED their expensive phones but only want them. We are a society of wanters, who actually need very little.
Do I have things that I dont need? Yes, I sure do. I am trying to figure out what a happy medium is though.
