Bold vs Iphone

Since I decided that the internet is a necessity for my trip, I needed to get a new phone. I got internet on my blackberry pearl, but it just wasn’t going to cut it. After doing some research on the best phones with AT&T, it came down to deciding between the Iphone 3GS and the new Blackberry Bold 2.

Well, in order to decide, I did a bunch of research online. If you google iPhone vs. Blackberry Bold, you’ll see that lots of different articles have been written on the subject. I read arguments from both sides, and it seems like a lot of the opinions seem to say that the best phone can only be determined by your intended use.

Well, for me, I just want a phone that can replace a laptop. If I’m ever at a person’s house and I can’t use their computer, or they don’t have the internet or what-not, then I need to be able to make blog posts and do other things online. So, I know that everybody says the iPhone is better for surfing the web. However, I really didn’t want to get an iPhone because I don’t like how controlling Apple is with their software. I remember the first time I bought some songs on iTunes. After buying and downloading them, I realized I couldn’t use the songs on my Pearl, and that I’d have to buy an iPod in order to use them. That just put a bad taste in my mouth, and so it made me not want to give my business to a company that is so controlling.

Well, I ended up talking to a salesman who had owned both the iPhone and the Bold, and he convinced me to get the Bold. Really, when it came down to it, I just didn’t want to support Apple because I don’t like their controlling ways, and I know that once you get one Apple product, you just start getting all of them because they work well together. So, this salesman helped me feel justified in choosing a product that was “superior” to the iPhone and wasn’t made by Apple. Well, I must say that I was disappointed in the Bold 2. It’s a great phone, it really is. But when it comes to using the internet, it just didn’t measure up to how I wanted to use it. I had too many problems with certain websites, and there just weren’t any applications for me to download for those websites.

So, I decided to take the Bold 2 back, suck in my pride, and get an iPhone. I must say, the iPhone is freaking sweet. For my purposes, it far outperforms the Bold 2. Now, I have found some things I don’t like about the iPhone, but I’m finding a lot less than I found with the Bold. Besides, any time I find something I don’t like, there’s usually an app that I can find that solves the problem. I guess the only question that remains to be seen is whether or not I’ll become an Apple addict after this?

Internet – A necessity?

I went to the mall today between my different jobs. I just kind of walked around and watched people. That’s always a fun pastime for me. Anyway, while I was there I decided to go to the AT&T store and explore my different options for the trip. My friend David Schmidt, who went from California to Rome, Italy without money, told me that having internet on my trip would be a great help. So, I’ve been trying to decide whether or not it’s a necessity. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’m leaning towards having it on the trip. For example, while I was in the mall today, there were things that I could have been doing if I would have had internet on my phone. Without internet, I couldn’t really be productive.

The nice thing about not having a home is that I’ll just go wherever I want. If I have internet with me, I’ll be able to be productive no matter where I am. I can go to the mall or to a park and get things done. However, if I don’t have internet, I’ll always be looking for places where I can get access. Some of the things I’m going to want to do are to find places to stay(couchsurfing), know where I’m at and where I’m going with maps, update my blog and other social media sites, etc.

So, I guess I’ve now convinced myself that I need to get internet. Now, the question remains as to whether or not I should get a new phone. I have a Blackberry Pearl, and I got it around 2 years ago. The guy was telling me that the hardware will just be a lot slower than the newer phones, so I guess I should just try out the internet on this phone and see how much I like it.

The funny part about this is that on my trip I’m trying to have as little as possible. I’m minimizing the amount of clothes I bring and other accessories. But, among all of that, having the internet and  a cell phone seem to be necessities. It’s so funny how our world is so connected with the internet these days. Even without a guarantee of a place to stay or enough food for money, I’m going to have my cell phone and internet. Anything wrong with this picture?