Want or Need

With the near simultaneous releases of the Palm Pre and Apple iPhone 3GS, technology fans are frantically comparing specs to see which new phone makes the most sense for their needs. Factor in the strong and steady offerings from RIM and their Blackberry line-up and you can see just how fun, um, I mean, how difficult it will be for tech heads, um, users to choose their next business phone.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying your technology. That they all play games or allow you to waste time surfing Facebook or Twitter while waiting for a flight is all well and good. They all let you check your email, surf the net, take pictures, each one a bit better than the others in particular areas to be sure, but all are similar in function for most of your basic business needs if not eye-candy.

And there is the problem. Too many of us make the mistake of following our wants when we should be following our needs.

In my case I’ve been a dedicated iPhone user since day one. I enjoyed my original iPhone and yet immediately traded it in for an iPhone 3G last summer. I even briefly considered going for the new iPhone 3GS except for the insane price point for upgraders and the shoddy service provided by AT&T here in the States. But it is faster and does have that new camera and there is a real compass and…

But the truth is I should have never bought an iPhone in the first place. Not the first iPhone, not the iPhone 3G, and certainly not the iPhone 3GS.

What I really should have done is waited and purchased an iPod Touch and a cheap emergency cell phone. Why? I personally just don’t make that many mobile calls. I almost always use my iPhone while attached to a WiFi source since we only have spotty Edge coverage here in the sticks where I live and I’m miles away from the nearest 3G source. Sure, it’s handy to check email while on the go via the cell network or shoot a Tweet into the cloud while in the middle of nowhere, as slow as it is, but I often find myself just waiting until I get to the office or get home so that I don’t get frustrated using the horrible AT&T Edge network to try to do my business.

As a result of my lust for the sexy gadget I’ve overpaid thousands of dollars over the last two years in equipment and carrier fees that ultimately were not entirely necessary. Sure, I’ve enjoyed the experience and there are a few occasions where the iPhone has saved my bacon, but on a cost-benefit basis? Ouch.

I’m reconsidering my ways as of today.

Get what you need and invest the difference in something else that you need. If you’re taking money away from something else that would further advance your life just to buy the latest and greatest gadget, well, that’s just the wrong thing to do. So I’ll stick with my iPhone 3G for the next twelve months, since I’m locked in anyway, and instead try to decide where else I can invest the $500 it would take to upgrade to the iPhone 3GS. There is a lot of power hiding in that $500.

Are you investing your technology dollars wisely?

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Cover image provided by jelene

Article image provided by Apple