Today I realized yet again how strange people get over gadgets. Granted, I don’t really understand it, but it is fascinating nonetheless to watch human conditioning at its finest. Ok, maybe it’s not so much conditioning but it definitely IS marketing. Apparently sometimes these things seem to fail me altogether.
It was Andrew’s birthday a week ago and he wanted the new iPhone. From what I understand this thing can do anything and everything. It probably makes a damn good cup of tea, amongst other things too. So, today we ventured to the Apple store at The Grove to purchase said item.
Now, I must admit that I am already prejudice towards The Grove, because I hate crowds and I definitely am mesmerized, in a bad way, about consumerism and how well it works, even in our “weak” economy. So we get to the store to find a huge line. According to the nice sales kid we, too, can have the new iPhone, if we stand in line for three hours! Somehow this didn’t really discourage any of the brave shoppers at all. Patiently they stood there, waiting to purchase a phone; a $300 phone! Fortunately for me Andrew also hates crowds, so we decided to venture to the Apple store in Pasadena.
I think Andrew would definitely have qualified for the Grand Prix or some Nascar event! He was driving like a maniac, because we HAD to get to the store before it closed! One cannot wait any longer, given the fact that one has “been excited for the past few weeks about it coming out.” I was baffled but hey, if the man wants an iPhone for his birthday I will get him one.
We arrived in Pasadena and there was no line. They had managed the crowds differently and so we walked straight in, right before they closed. Andrew was parking the car and I was in the store asking the sales kid “it’s a phone! What is the big deal about it?” He explained it to me but somehow the stuff he was saying failed to impress me the way it apparently impresses everyone else. We got Andrew’s phone, transferred his stuff over from his old phone and left.
I am still a bit baffled. Why would anyone stand in line, namely for hours, for a gadget!? I mean, unless the thing does my laundry, cleans my house and cooks for me, I simply don’t get it. Do I need a compass on my phone? Uhm, no! Do I need to be able to be constantly online? Not so much! Maybe I DO need to play Vampire Wars whilst sitting on the toilet, but somehow I doubt that too. I think I am missing the gene where this kind of stuff makes me jump and down with excitement, or even remotely amazes me.
I have had the same phone for two years. It texts, I can call people and even take pictures. Whoohoo! I think I am good and hey, I didn’t have to stand in line to obtain it. Meanwhile, my husband is currently lost in the bathroom, probably playing Solitaire on his new iPhone 
Hahaha … I don’t get the mad rush mentality either. And I definitely am not a fan of the Grove (too many bourgeousie Russians). I will say, that somehow I thought it would be a good idea to purchase one of said gadgets this past weekend, walked into and AT&T store and realized once I got there … “Oh shit! They just came out with a new one!” Of course, they were out of stock. Poor timing on my part – totally unintentional. I did, however manage to order one online last night. For me, it isn’t about getting the latest thing – my current cell phone is 6.5 years old and a relic – it’s time to upgrade for Chrissakes! Yes, I want to get that nifty screen that changes with the angle you are holding it, but I don’t get all the hype concerning this particular phone gadget that has people lining up for hours with an almost cult-like calling to get it before everyone else does. I guess I might discover what this is next week when mine comes in the mail!
Heathecliffe! You bought an iPhone? WOW! I bow to thee