iPhone or Blackberry: Are they really a to die for?
@totallyundecided (3190)
Philippines
May 13, 2010 2:24pm CST
LOL. Bear with the subject and no pun intended to techie peeps.
Well, I hate it when some people go overboard just to have these things. I do sometimes but not to the point wherein I have to suffer a big pile of bills to pay (I am exaggerating of course - but you get me right? LOL).
My friend called me this afternoon. She said it was kind of urgent matter. Me. In the middle of my sleep because I was up all night last night doing a part time job - thinking it was really important. I was nervous because it might be my friend's family or what. So, like the hero Flash - I did went straight away to the place where we're supposed to meet.
So, we met. She asked for my help. Because she had a LOT of bills to pay and her salary for this month was spent on her last month credit card bills. PLus - she has to pay her rent on her apartment - electric bill - water bill.
I, on the other hand knows she does well at work and has a good salary, questioned her what happened to her finances. She then showed me her two "precious" items. A blackberry and an iPhone 3g phones. I was like, "WOW. Did you just bought this like today?".
And then she explained that it's now or never so she took advantage of that moment. I know she already had an iPhone but she had it swapped for a 3g handset. Then the blackberry was charged in her Credit Card (she was in her Credit limit but she added cash).
I don't understand really. LOL. I have two phones but they are like the old models: two nokia 3120s. I appreciate blackberry, iPhone but only when I have money.
One thing she said that annoyed me more was she bought the phones so that she could ride with the trend. Wow. Those phones cost more than her apartment's rent, electric bill and water bill plus food for the month combined! LOL.
I am her friend and I wish to understand her more. Bear with me mylotter friends, it seems I am using this thread as my shock absorber but I am sure some of you can relate.
They are good phones, though. I checked them on the net but I don't have that "interest" yet in having them. Too afraid that it might cause me danger because I will be a target to snatchers because I happen to have that expensive phone. And I have nothing against the phones. Just the idea that you lose your sense of responsibility because you chose let your material desires over your obligations. I know mistakes like this happens but still...
Anyway, I hope you guys could tell me some few pointers (not on which phone to buy - LOL) on how I can 'enlighten" my friend. It's 3am here and I am still up thinking on what should I do.
3 people like this
13 responses
@zedrick_11 (931)
• Philippines
16 May 10
of course i would choose Iphone because touch screen phones are in nowadays..
but when it comes with functions of course i will choose Black Berry..
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
15 May 10
I am so not a smartphone person. I don't have a cell phone of any variety as they are all too expensive. (Your friend has two smartphones, the Blackberry & the iPhone.) As I am a stay-at-home a land line suits me fine.
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I do suffer an addiction to computers though. I don't let that addiction put me in debt, as I know how to budget and find deals. Installing most of my own hardware like internal DVD Writers saves me $200+ every time a a writer fries, which is about a yearly occurrence.
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Your friend seems to be making her choices based on love of fashion rather than common sense. Easy credit has made such debt to fashion easier than ever today. I wish I could advise you, but as I am a fashion felon, I can't. Even my own mother has made threats about kidnapping certain articles of clothing past their prime so...
@smooch091784 (973)
• Philippines
14 May 10
I get what you mean. Gosh I just hate those people who would do anything to get these phones even they are all in debt. I would like to get myself a Blackberry, but then, like you said, I am only going to get one if I have extra dough for it. I wouldn't risk my bills just to get a trendy phone, which cost more than my house bills. I'm sure your friend knows about this, but the feeling she has right is too strong to see that she has responsibilities to take care first before doing or getting something that is not important right now. But for me, even I get the trendy phones, yet it won't make me go to bed at night thinking how in the world I'll get money for my bills.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
14 May 10
If I only I could understand this "ghetto fabulous" *(term courtesy of maezee - lol) more, maybe I myself would have jumped in too. LOL.
But what we can we do, we are just audiences of their "desires". We can only support. LOL.
I remember - the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. THERE! It's a great movie about going overboard in your budget. Only in the end, the protagonist was saved - not all of us can be saved. And some can even go to jail for not paying their debts.
Let's hope this will not happen to anyone we know.
Thanks for this, smooch. And let's do our best no to go beyond our budget. LOL.
@smooch091784 (973)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Well we got to be practical these days. It's not all about trend. It's all about being responsible and weighing which must comes first. Like Bo Sanchez says, "Less is more!"
So as much as we can, let's keep it simple. Less hassle and less trouble.
@1anurag1 (3576)
• India
14 May 10
i think that is just a matter of choice and interest.
Every person who owns a blackberry does not need to mail whole day. But they are gadget guy i think. Some sorts of things are also there with me. I also like to have different gadgets with me. No matter how much i could use them. But i love to own them.
1 person likes this
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
14 May 10
I know you wanted to help your friend in this situation. However, I believe she needs to sort this out on her own. If someone else will always be there to help her in times like this then she will never learn. It will just be a cycle and she will continue to have the same problem.
No one can help her manage her bills and finances. She needs to realize on her own that she has to be more responsible and practical especially if she does not have any extra budget for luxurious things.
1 person likes this
@magdafloasiu (91)
• Romania
14 May 10
I don't know...for me a phone (land line, mobile...) is just a phone and nothing more. a camera is just a camera, an agenda is just an agenda and so on. a phone should do what it supposed to do; you should be able on dialing number and talking to people and that's all. it should not become a camera, a computer and I do not know what. I mean is like we want an animal to give us milk as a cow, to hunt as a tiger, to be strong as an elephant, to be soft as a bunny and to be "smart"as a snake. we can not have everything in the same time. I do not trust too much this hibrid phones. I think that they are very sensible. at the end, it is up to you, anyway. it was just some thoughts...
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
14 May 10
Since this is not a product review discussion, I shall not elaborate on whether iPhone is better or the Blackberry. I think your discussion relates to an example of a trait that is becoming common nowadays. I assume there are many people out there whom buy gadgets that's to "die-for" in their opinion, and bearing the consequences later. They are mostly guilt-free when they start to purchase those items that might be slightly or over their budget, but they think that they can figure it out later, and since it's the trend, or for whatever reasons, they must have the product no matter what.
This is what's happening nowadays, and sometimes, even by controlling one's urge, the temptation is there. That is understandable up to a point. But if it starts to cause a financial burden, or is a totally waste of money, it's best not to succumb to it. I like your stance on this; with your cellphone brand model which you have, you are not jumping on the bandwagon. iPhone, Blackberry, and in fact, other forms of gadgets are indeed awesome and what I consider as "nice toys" to have.
But for me personally, at the end of the day, I'll compare my usage, quality and the essential of it. Would I be using all those apps? If the product is up to par in quality, do I really need it? Can I make do not buying it, and still enjoying the stuffs I am doing? So yeah, I have to force myself to be practical like that, so I won't go on a splurge; this is my take on this, others might be different. I think the reality of it is that there are people whom want to keep up with the trend and they think that they can afford it, so yeah.
Up to their discretion. I think you can help your friend this time and advise her not to do something beyond her means the next time, even if it's temporary. If she's really having problems to pay some stuff, she can always sell the iPhone and Blackberry, since the market is still in. Hence that would solve the problem.
@insulin (2479)
• Philippines
13 May 10
Before my boyfriend hates Iphone when they released the 2G but after releasing the 3G one,I think blackberry is nothing compared to iphone for us.There are a lot of things you can do and install in iphone if you just really know how to use it.It's not really something to die for but it's indeed something to cure boredom.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Having a blackberry has been a craze here in our country. Even though it's beyond their budget but they still go for it.
A friend happened to have an iPhone 3g - she's in Singapore now and also has told me the wonders of having an iPhone. She even used it to connect to YM messenger for us to have a chat. Wow. That phone must be superb of a gadget.
Thanks for your recommendation. Ah, you're in davao right? Do you have a pinakurat vinegar there?
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 May 10
First of all, I would ask her why she has both phones, as she certainly can't use both of them at the same time. It seems crazy to me to have 2 phones. I would think having just one is enough without putting the added stress already on her bills. I know what it is like to have credit card balances, and have to pay on them every month. I have got mine paid off, and I am not going to put anything back on them that I don't have to. If she is having a hard time trying to pay her bills, then she certainly shouldn't have 2 phones, as that is insane. If she si complaining about not having enough money to pay her bills, then, buying 2 phones, is absolutely nuts, as he bills should come first. If she has anything left after swhe pays them,then maybe it would be okay, but just the thought of her having 2 phones, I just can't seem to wrap my mind around that one. I hope you are able to guide her the right way. Take care, and happy mylotting. 
@tsmith1970 (11)
• United States
13 May 10
I love my Blackberry Bold, but I've never owned an Iphone.
@marcinwise (391)
•
13 May 10
I think Blackberry is a phone more for a business. And iPhone for anybody who wants to have everything in phone. Apple Appstore is a massive library of applications for iPhone where You can find everything what You need I think. And fully touch screen phone make the life easier. Plus. Everyday You can download some apps for FREE even when yesterday they cost about $5. So Iphone is a good solutions for somebody who using phone for talk, message, and FUN!!! It's worth his price.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Ahhh... Yes, I have heard the triumphs of having an iPhone. But the only thing wrong is that the battery gets lows that fast. Is this true?
@jamesgates1 (12)
•
13 May 10
i say iphone is a must but a blackberry not that good compared to iphone i love the iphones apps and touch screen
@ritesh3511 (4)
• United Arab Emirates
13 May 10
Blackberry is a must were i live. Since the new designs were realease almost every one around me has a blackberry. Their bbm sevice has attracted all my freinds. Its a much faster way of comunicating as its cheaper than text messages as one can send messages internationaly through internet.Thus most students here own one. The funny thing is that i know people who have a Blackberry and an IPhone with the two differnent service providers available here. I recently got my self a Blackberry to stay in touch with my friends without it costing much.
