Comments on: The iPhone and the mechanics of desire

By: thebingblog

thebingblog — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:32:42 +0000

I think the previous two comments are both right on point, each in its own way.

Yadgyu of Harkeyville, TX, shows that it is possible to confront mass culture’s infusion of desire-based marketing by batting it back with one of humanity’s oldest weapons in the fight for inner peace and equanimity: humor. The reality of a phone that turns into a light saber is only a few years away, I am sure, but until then it doesn’t hurt to make fun of the whole thing.

Amit from Toronto doesn’t feel much like laughing. When you get down to the nub beneath all the hype, all the noise and innovation, there is a core beneath our culture that’s not as solid as it might be. The only thing I can suggest to Amit is to think about statues of the Buddha. In many, he is laughing.

By: Amit, Toronto, Ontario

Amit, Toronto, Ontario — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:27:49 +0000

What a generation, we want the latest toy, possess it, but do we really use it to communicate love, peace, happiness??? Or do we just seek immediate gratification.

Apple definitely has proved its superior marketing skills, no doubt. The user experience might be unique. But at what cost? Each individual will have to confront this question.

By: Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX

Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:43:02 +0000

This whole iPhone thing is just a bunch of hype. I refuse to get one until it come with the following features:

1) Turns into a light saber.
2) Turns people I don’t like into statues.
3) Makes free money shoot out of ATMs.
4) Enables my Hummer to get 1,000 miles per gallon.
5) Allows me to turn any TV channel to sports or ESPN.

By: Sal, LA, California

Sal, LA, California — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:56:46 +0000

I need some iPorn.

By: Anonymous, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Anonymous, Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:39:52 +0000

Please note: your friend, daughter, son, wife or husband who works for AT&T CANNOT get you a “deal” on the iPhone. So please do not ask.

By: Disgusted, Clue Town, ID

Disgusted, Clue Town, ID — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:07:31 +0000

My goodness, I wish stores charged an “over the sticker” premium on newly released gizmos, like they did on the stupid PT Cruisers. These people deserve to pay for their lack of self-control, it’s just contemptible thing-ism.

This behaviour is one of the culprits of market bubbles and self-inflicted Ponzi schemes.

BTW, the premium funds could be donated to feed ALL the hungry people of the world for a year or maybe to detoxify old cell-phones that poison the landfills.

I enjoy gadgets, but I’ll get mine on sale, thank you, when AT&T is doing a clearance of the iPhone to make room for the next senseless “wonder”. What a generation we’ve become – communication gadget commandos with nothing to say.

By: JERRY EAST HAMPTON NY

JERRY EAST HAMPTON NY — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:34:33 +0000

IM ALLREADY ON LINE ..ONLY 21 MORE DAYS AND 500 HOURS WOW ..PS I OWN THE STOCK

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:29:40 +0000

APPLE’S ENTRY MARKS THE END OF THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AS WE KNOW IT. THE SOFTWARE BEHEMOTH’S iphone WILL CHANGE THE CELLPHONE AS WE KNOW IT. IT WILL ALSO FORCE A CONSOLIDATION IN THE INDUSTRY AND CAUSE OTHERS LIKE MICROSOFT AND SUN TO STOP AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. THE iPHONE WILL BE DISRUPTIVE. Dr KATCH

By: goedkendon@aol.com.

goedkendon@aol.com. — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:28:10 +0000

I have a way to make Steve 50 million in ten days. How can I get to met Him.

By: Hans Lemer. Crater 1 Far side of the moon.

Hans Lemer. Crater 1 Far side of the moon. — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:19:08 +0000

Wow I’ll get one. What a way to go Steve.

By: thebingblog

thebingblog — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:56:30 +0000

Love that Pliny the Younger. We’re a lot like the Romans, actually. Most recently it was found that the ruling class got their water from lead pipes, as opposed to the healthy wells that the less elevated classes still used. The lead leached into the brains of the Caesars and made them nuts. What’s our excuse?

By: Liz Murphy, Bardonia NY

Liz Murphy, Bardonia NY — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:46:59 +0000

The IPhone. How expensive will it be. And what will the battery life be. From what I understand, you cannot just change the battery when it dies, you need to charge it. So, you need to decide, do you want a phone or an ipod??

By: anonymous, atlanta GA

anonymous, atlanta GA — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:20:21 +0000

Revolutionary? ROFLMAO

Apple doesn’t do revolutionary. They take technology created by others and make it pretty. My crackberry works just fine and does everything the iphone does (that I would use) for a fraction of the price. I don’t need, or want an iphone.

By: Karen, Stamford, CT

Karen, Stamford, CT — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:17:34 +0000

Very funny! The “mechanics of desire” worked that way for the TMX Elmos last fall, too.

I agree with Gale–I’ve never wanted a “smart” phone, but I want the internet in my pocket. And I don’t mind the phone, either, though I’ve been without a mobile since last December, and living quite well without it. I’d like more than 8GB for music and videos, though.

By: Andrew Raleigh, NC

Andrew Raleigh, NC — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:15:51 +0000

Buy a Treo

By: Gary, Lees Summit, MO.

Gary, Lees Summit, MO. — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:10:52 +0000

You are overlooking the fact that it’s nothing more than a $500 paperweight without the ability to do “over the air” downloads — another carrier offers that feature, in a cool MP-3 like package, for $99. He who wins the game of “easy access to new music” on a device Joe Average can afford will win this game. The iPhone units will only sell to the techno-nerds and the media hype types.

By: L.J. von Blottnitz Port Alfred South Africa

L.J. von Blottnitz Port Alfred South Africa — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:08:43 +0000

I associate you with FORTUNE. When I was in Germany last July-Aug.-Sept.-Oct I read the clever sarcasm about how WALMART threw in the towel in Germany and withdrew ignominiously with fire sales etc. FORTUNE to my knowledge never mentioned this. The few articles smirked when WALMART slunk away. Could you ask FORTUNE about this ?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:58:08 +0000

Apple stock will be at 200 dollars a share by September I guess with this new phone.

By: L.J. von Blottnitz, Port Alfred, South Africa.

L.J. von Blottnitz, Port Alfred, South Africa. — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:57:47 +0000

I need to record say at least 10 conversations with such firms who tell you that this call wll be recorded for “quality” purposes. I want to be able to saay to them that I am also recording the talk.
I do not need cameras, ring tones, games and all that punk stuff.

By: Scott, Provo Utah

Scott, Provo Utah — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:56:11 +0000

Great article. Mr. Bing: I get it. Great wit and sarcasm. The article is not about the iphone per se, but a great introspective commentary.