25 April 2008 178 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

I admit it: I spent pretty much all of last night drooling over cell phones: the n95, the iPhone and half a dozen shiny new toys. I don’t need to change phones yet, but pretty soon, it looks like I’m going to have to break down and buy something that I can both send email with and fit in my pocket. I’ve held out for quite a while, convincing myself I could do without. And I’m pretty sure that this decision isn’t about giving into my technolust. I’ve checked my motives, and I’m sure I’m going to buy a phone for the right reasons.

But as nice as these gadgets are and despite the fact that it’s almost a justifiable business expense, I’m planning to hold out at least until August to make a decision on what I want. I’ve been doing my research and picking the brains of a few people who know a thing or two about cell phones. And all my research tells me to wait.

In the past, I’ve put off purchases for a variety of reasons:

• Waiting until I can afford to plunk down cash and avoid interest.
• Waiting until an expected price drop kicks in.
• Waiting until I can talk an employer into buying it for me.
• Waiting until I’ve heard feedback about new features and new bugs.

But this decision is only in part about money. I do want to save up a little more cash before I decide on a new phone/camera/everything else each of these things do. But, I also want my choice of technology. Just about every phone company and every network has some big plans for this summer. There are rumors of a 3G iPhone being rolled out. T-mobile swears that they’re bringing out a 3G network. I want to wait until I have the full range of choices before me — and hopefully a little information about the experiences other people have had with these new options, as well.

Sometimes the decision to hold off on a major purchase isn’t just about saving money. Sometimes, it’s about planning for the future: your needs, your options and your wishes. And, even then, you can save money: figuring out the features you’ll need in a year can make sure that you pick up a phone (or other gadget) that lasts long beyond your original needs.