People that know me see me as the gadget tech guy. Dave always labeled me as the tech guy although I have yet to ask whether that is due to knowledge or just racial (I'm inclined to think both). I always have the videogames. I always have the televisions. I always have the random whatevers that do something that doesn't even make sense or is practical at all (my slingbox, BOOYA). However, there is one thing that has not come into my grasp. There is one thing that taunts me, begging me to get it, only to have restraint come over me and take over. It sucks to be financially responsible I guess (okay, just this one time.) The iPhone is my white whale.
Now, I'm usually pretty up on getting a new cell phone every year to two years. I knew I wanted the iPhone as soon as they said it was 1.) by Apple and 2.) going to be the major technological gadget people want to get their hands on. Being someone who desires attention obsessively (seriously, compliment me on something random and watch me swoon), this would be the perfect match to my impractical Celica in Michigan weather and the three video game systems I never have time to play. But alas, there is a catch with the iPhone. It came with an enormous commitment and payment plan (used to be 3 years and like 70-80 bucks, now reduced but still). But worst of all, it came on AT&T.
Now, this doesn't normally bother people because they can switch loyalties on a dime. I can't. I've been with Sprint for almost 10 years. 10 freakin' years! I had a brick cell phone since high school. It was the friggin' locker phone for Kronner and myself our senior year in high school. I still have Duster Chick's phone number in there (long story short, some girl with giant boobs raced us to Great Lakes Crossing when Dave and Schwieger held a sign saying 'show us your boobs' our junior year and put her number on my windshield. It was a butterface so we never heard from her again, aka, we called and got a wrong number) so I feel like Sprint has given me good service. However, I'm probably fooling myself. The Sprint service for me is just decent, I do have pockets of no service or roam, but for everyone else, they hate it with the passion of a thousand suns. Kronner switched out after Nextel got screwed in the buyout. His service was just pathetic and I keep hearing from everyone else a similar story.
Now, I'm just a loyal guy. I usually go to the same places to get things because I know the people and I'm not a big change guy. I go to the same EB Games in Port Huron to reserve stuff because I know the staff there. I go to the same carry out Thai places because the lady always gives me free egg rolls and awesome food suggestions. And I always use Sprint because well, I haven't had major issues with them. However, times are changing and let's face it, I want a damn iPhone. It doesn't help that my contract is up and my Motorola Q is a piece. Seriously, awful battery life and the thing is buggy as all hell.
Come May or June, when the new 3G iPhones comes out, I may not have a choice but to finally switch, maybe get a family plan with my girlfriend. But Sprint finally countered today with the new Samsung Intrigue, with improvements on the iPhone and a replaceable battery. So it comes down to this. I can stick with Sprint, gut it out just because I'm afraid of change but enjoy my current situation. Or I can step out on a limb, get the iPhone, make the huge commitment and hope it works out. It's an interesting problem to have. Too bad one option will cost me 600 bucks. Then again, so did my PS3. That didn't pan out now, did it...
