to iPhone or not to iPhone?

I was in quite a pickle last night.  Hardest decision I've had to make in awhile.  Maybe since deciding which grad school to attend.  I spent hours pondering it without really making a committed decision.  What was so  difficult?

Deciding on a cell phone.  And not just finding or choosing one.  Deciding between the Samsung A777:

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And the Apple iPhone 4:

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Now.  For most people, it'd be like.... "Uh... what was so hard about that decision?"  So.  Let me break it down for you.  (Who's already sorry they're visiting The Orange Coffee Cup??)

Both would exist within a family plan with unlimited texting (basically split between 4 people since my grandma on the 5th line doesn't text)

Samsung A777

FREE up front

$10 additional family line, ~ $7.50 texting

iPhone4

$200 up front

$10 additional family line, ~$15 data plan, ~$7.50 texting

Over the two year contract the cost of the Samsung A777 would be approximately $500 for phone and services, and the iPhone4 would be around $1000.  There are plenty of other smartphones on the market but I would only really be saving like... $150 if I got a smartphone that was like $50 (after rebate or something) since it will still need the data plan.

The thing is.  I don't need an iPhone4.  While people update their status and upload pictures on Facebook and check their emails, I've had an orange Samsung A737 and it's served me very well.  I like it.  I make and take calls.  I text.  That's mostly all I do on a phone anyway.  I don't usually update my status to tell you I'm hungry or that I'm tired, or yay, it's the weekend.  And quite frankly, I enjoy my time away from my computer and the internet.

Samsung A737  (Source))

So I was leaning towards the A777 earlier on in the evening.  I thought about how that unspent $500 could go towards something more useful.  Feeding hungry children?  A village maybe?  Supporting a missionary friend?  Savings?  Something else rather than my "un-need" of checking my email on the train?  But then Tim pointed out that I would actually use the iPhone and quite possibly to its full potential.  I could retire/give away/gift my iTouch (though it's 1st gen and quite slow) and the iPhone would become the tool that does everything.  (I must admit the 5 MP camera is a winning point.)  I felt it wasn't simplifying my life but perhaps making it more complicated.  (Especially thinking through this decision!)

But then I wandered over to the iPhone camp since Tim said I would use it, and it's not like I don't want it.  I just didn't see a need for it.  It would be catching up on the new era of phones.  Even if I've adjusted to cavemen-like-calling-and-texting-only.  And it would be for two years, when who knows what kind of technology will come out by then.  Also, the A777 doesn't come in orange (anymore, I think.  It seems like it once upon a time did come in orange, now it's like... all the leftover blues.)

So I went to take a shower to pray and ponder.  (Yes, I prayed about which phone I should get.  God cares about everything!)  I thought about the price and started wandering back to the A777 camp.  Then when I got out of the shower, I was closing windows on a bunch of other phones and CNET reviews, and I came across this article called, "You don't really need an iPhone 3G."  Close enough right?  Was that God speaking?  Is this a sign?

The article was mostly comparing the iPhone to other smartphones and how the iPhone is not for everyone.  That other smartphones are totally competent but that Apple has created a "want," and not a "need."  Ok.  Not exactly head on with my situation.  But then there was this line near the end of the article:

"But then again, we may not need the iPhone 3G because it won't necessarily improve our lives in any tangible way, but we want that iPhone 3G because it's so dang 'cool.'"

AHHHHHH.  So true.  An iPhone (or any smart phone) would not improve my life in any tangible way.  I am a fully functional person without one now.  I won't miss it cause I don't know better.  And I'm okay with that.

Tim already voted on the iPhone so I asked my dad what he thought and he voted for the iPhone as well saying I'd probably use it.  So.  I copped out and said ok to the iPhone.  It's kind of weird.  We've never gone with a "top of the line" cell phone before.  I also have no desire to own Apple products.  Grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to get an iPhone?  Yes, definitely.  Worth the cost?  Still not sure.  But I shall make the best of it.

What do you think I should decided on?  Which would you pick?
                                

Hello World!

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Greetings!  This blog is best summarized as my ramblings, musings, and randomness.  I orginally thought it'd be silly to start a new post-wedding blog and was going to keep going at The Adventures of Alvina & Tim (previously known as The Adventures of Alvina & Tim's Wedding) but it seemed kinda weird posting about fashion and random things on there too! (Especially since... Tim is not particularly interested or involved with the lastest fall jackets or cute shoes.)  :]  I'll also be importing the random/fashion posts from the other blog over as well.  Anyway, I'll probably still post over there once in awhile, especially if I find exceptional wedding inspirational things (like creative engagement shoots or whatnot) or if there is something exciting going on in our lives.  :oP
                                              

cutes

Old Navy

Target

I do like charcoal.  Tis a good color of slight intrigue and not total boredom.

                   

Been MIA cause there's a post I've been meaning to write but just haven't gotten around to.  About photographies.
                               

ruffled

Old Navy

Target

Wet Seal

Forever 21

J. Crew

Target

I think I like ruffles.

     

shopping is fun

I found the Coffemate Peppermint Mocha I mentioned in the last post.  And lets say it might sound magical, but it doesn't taste magical.  I was quite thrilled to find it at our local supermarket and despite the I-normally-wouldn't-pay-these-three-whole-dollars-for-this-novelty-item, I did.  And kind of regret it.  But I guess I would've never known if I had not tried it!  So I've been pouring it into my coffee for the past three mornings.  I figured I've paid for it now, so now I'll use it until it becomes an acceptable amount to toss away.  :-P  It's not terrible, the peppermint (or maybe it's the mocha part?) just tastes unacceptably artificial for my palatte.

In other recent news...

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I picked up this top from Old Navy.  I don't usually shop there, but I occasionally go in to browse clothes for the husband.  It was tax-free weekend, so it was $9 out the door!  I really like it cause it's like... so happy.  :oP  The grey one was super cute too but they didn't have anymore in my size.

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Someone gifted us with a Pier 1 Imports giftcard, so we went to find something(s) we liked.  :]  I got just the bowl in this collection and LOVE. IT.  It makes me happy to eat my cereal (or ice cream or whatever) out of it.  :]  I also really liked the cups/mugs too but... we didn't really need them.  (And you kind of have to buy them in pairs right?  Cause one mug would be weird....?)

We checked out Pier 1 in Ithaca and found this wall decor GIANT SPOON (and fork):

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This picture doesn't convey how big it was at all!  The specs are 10.5"W x 4"D x 46.5"H and it is basically 75% of my height.  :-P  But they SADLY did not have it at the store we went to here (in the Cambridge area) so we had to settle for other things.

                                   

peppermint mocha

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This looks magical.  Year round joy.

         

random esty finds

Random Esty finds I thought were cute.  :]  From Joannarutter's Shop:

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Lovebirds!  So sweet  :]  (Source)

I really dig this hoop-bird thing for some reason  :-P  (Source)

And who doesn't love a cute squirrel?  :oD  (Source)

I was actually on Esty because I found a wish list of mine and saw this on it:

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But then decided I didn't really want it that much.  At least not for $32 dollars and now I'm on Forever21.com to see if they have anything similar to it.  :-P  I haven't found anything terribly exciting yet but these are cute:

Can't you just see this in some vintage e-shoot?  (Source)

Nerding it up  (Source)

Or dazzling up for special occasions  :-P  (Source)