How to buy technology

This is one of my occasional notes to self.

When buying technology - especially technology of the personal and portable kind - always, always let the heart rule the head.

This thought has been prompted by the rediscovery of my old friend the Nokia 8310 found languishing in a box full of wires* in a dark and dusty cupboard.

Gosh, I loved this phone.  I remember vividly the first time I saw one, sat outside a pub with my friends Gemma and Chris.  Chris, who always has the latest and greatest gadget, pulled his phone out of his pocket and Gemma and I exploded into a cacophony of cooing. Chris is quite a big bloke, and I have to say the 8310 seemed incongruous in his paws. In hindsight it really was a girl's phone.  But a beloved girl's phone at that.

I got my own as soon as I could, and kept it way longer than considered respectable by technology upgrade enthusiasts.  I eschewed camera phones for yonks because they were so damn ugly in comparison. I'd still use it now without a hint of embarrassment. In fact, I think I just might.

Every phone I've had since, including the one I have now, has been forgettable.  For all the functions and features, each has disappointed.  All were head choices, selected after a process of research and semi-rational comparison, all left me feeling flat and wistful.

Perhaps the iPhone will reignite phone delight?  The wonderful Stephen Fry's description is the most compelling piece of persuasion I've seen for it so far...

"Beauty. Charm. Delight. Excitement. Ooh. Aah. Wow! Let me at it."

* I can't describe the sense of dejection and depression a big box full of wires gives me. Wires and cables are one of the most miserable aspects of modern life. If I ruled the World wires, cables chargers and the like would come in a rainbow of colours, textures and patterns and be sold and exchanged in haberdasheries like ribbons.  I like ribbons a lot, they make me very happy.

Comments

[Gordon]

I hadn't consider that reason for buying an iPhone. My cold reasoning self says that it isn't quite what I need, yet it would be nice to get excited about a gadget again.

Hmmmm

[np]

I've got to agree that most whizzy gadgetry turns me off. Nothing can replace seperates when it comes to music - certainly not an Ipod in one of those doc station things.