Listen. I’m a simple person. All I wanted was a smartphone.
I didn’t know that it was another path to self-awareness.
But that’s what I learned recently, as I became an unwitting victim in the Great Battle of Droid v. iPhone.
This battle is not just about profits. Droid and iPhone are battling for your personality. Your lifestyle. Your very essence of being.
Their theatres of war? Wal-Mart. Wireless Stores. Best Buy.
I innocently walked into Wal-Mart a few weeks ago and started chatting up Electronics Guy about Droid v. an iPhone.
Said E-Guy looked like he spent a lot of hours playing Worlds of Warcraft on 3 different monitors while eating Twinkies.
He was on the Droid team. But, his social skills were lacking, so I never completely understood why. But then, a kindly and very goateed software-engineer type of guy was standing nearby and he chimed in as well.
He talked to me for an hour about why he and his wife had switched to Droids. He showed me his phone. He showed me all his cool apps. (this is starting to sound a bit creepy). He gave specific reasons as to why the Droid was superior.
And with my lawyerly brain, I began to start putting together some inferences and connections:
1. 100% of Droid users that I currently know are friendly techno-geeks or online gamers that like Twinkies.
Did I fit into the Droid demographic? The features were swaying me over to the Droid Twinkies. But I conduct a lot of research before doing anything, so I left empty-handed.
The next day, I went into Verizon. Brad, a droopy-looking fellow with an unkempt shirt, also sang the praises of Droid. When he was able to put a sentence together, that is. That they were out of stock of iPhones may have had something to do with his opinion.
2. 100% of Droid users I know are either kindly engineers, droopy or eat twinkies.
I moved on to Best Buy, where I talked Jason. Jason was clean-cut, well-dressed and well-spoken. He was the most knowledgeable of anyone I had spoken to. After 30 minutes of feature comparisons, I said:
“Jason, I’m torn. Droid has great features, but…I don’t know…what if I get the iPad? I don’t want to have an Apple iPad and a Droid phone. That’s bad techno-karma. And nearly all the bloggers I know have iPhones.”
He realized that the skirmish over features had been won. Now, he was campaigning to win my lifestyle. Jason said,
“Listen. When I think of an iPhone, I think of people in turtlenecks doing their work at Starbucks. Apple sticks their users into a box and makes you play by their rules. You are beholden to iTunes. Those people at Starbucks – they’ve just bought into Apple’s marketing hype.”
GASP.
Is this what it has come to? This choice reflects who I am as a person? A leader v. a follower? Open-minded v. closed? Gullible v. savvy? Turtleneck v. plunging neckline?
Well, I love a good turtleneck. And I love a good Starbucks as much as the next person. But I don’t like iTunes. iTunes and all of its flaws have taken a good 3 years off of my life.
Droid was starting to win. And win big. I could see Apple as the new Evil Empire, and I wanted no part.
But, they didn’t have the phone I wanted in stock at Best Buy, so home I went.
On my last day of searching, I went to AT&T. Met John, a handsome and gregarious salesperson. I told him I blogged. I told him what else I’d use my phone for. I told him I was leaning Droid. He told me he was a photographer on the side and ran 3 different websites.
I said,
“John, if you were a mommy blogger with two kids and you were going to spend a lot of time Tweeting and checking blog comments and going to blog conferences…what would YOU buy?”
John said, “iPhone. All the way.”
I looked at John. I could picture John at Starbucks in a turtleneck.
But what about me? Who would I most likely be seen mingling with in real life?
Twinkie dude? Droopy dude? Best Buy Guy Who’s Clean-Cut But Hates Apple? Or John, in his turtleneck, discussing websites over a coffee?
The battle was over. I bought a phone.
I went home. Put a turtleneck on. Went to Starbucks. Ordered a decaf skinny cinnamon dolce latte. And started playing with my iPhone.
Note: this is not meant to cast aspersions on any of you Droid users. Individual results in buying smartphones may vary.
Now! Go see the Facebook 500 Blogger of The Day!
It’s lovely Rachel from Mommy Needs a Vacation. Her blog is about getting through each day raising her 2 kids and how much I need a vacation….but really, will never get one. So until then, I just take it one day at a time…usually with a glass of wine in hand!
Yeah! A wine lover!!! Rachel is awesome and you should go see her on Facebook right now.
About the Author Gigi Ross
I'm a blogger, social media geek, mom and wife, foodie, reality TV addict and Jason Mraz fangirl. Not in that order. I write here about parenting, blogging, technology, social media and pop culture.
{ 63 comments }
I’m looking right now too and leaning droid. Not because of the droopy techno evil empire, but for the features. I loved hearing your take on it though.
Michelle´s last [type] ..Bedroom Ideas
I had no idea there was a iPhone Starbucks rule. I will go first thing tomorrow. Which works out really well for me, Ken isn’t here to make the coffee.
Welcome to the team.
I don’t drink coffee. Guess that is why I love my Droid! Most of my friends that have IPhones like my Droid better. Go figure…. but glad you made the PDA move….
Tractor Mom´s last [type] ..Wordless WednesdayDirty Working Boy
My hubby has a Droid, and I have an iPhone….He researched forever, and I like my easy phone over his….Droid is definitely for techies. You made the right choice- and now you can synch everything…enjoy (and get Bejeweled….totally awesome….).
And Angry Birds…totally addicting. And Instagram if you’re into photography. Hehe.
Courtney K.´s last [type] ..Sins of the Mother
I do not eat Twinkies, I prefer Little Debbie & my pants don’t droop, ever! I love all things Android, my phone, my tablet, but apple does make some great products, I’m glad you found a solution that works for YOU
geekbabe´s last [type] ..The OnlineMom needs your support
First, love how no one even talks about the blackberris anymore. Thats the hateful smartphone that I have. Second, I am waiting anxiously for my ipad and actually that is making me lean a little more towards the droid. Yes, I am afraid apple is after my soul. I can’t help it. It seems like they claim a new one each day. Anyay, I have had all these conversations and I am still on the fence. So Gigi when you are done playing around will you tell me what you think? Thanks babe.
Brittany {Mommy Words}´s last [type] ..The Knight Bangs the Princess
So I wonder what that says about me. I’m getting a Windows phone tomorrow . . .
Rachael´s last [type] ..Mamas Currently Out of the Office Please Leave a Message After the Bleep
The Igadgets have made me a huge apple fan for sure. I’m glad John was there to help!
Ashley´s last [type] ..Alaskan Beauty
Welcome to Team iPhone! I love mine, and I am not that impressed with Droid (I know, I am a bad geek). My hubby defected completely, getting a Windows Phone 7! (talk about an Evil Empire…)
I will be pulling out my turtleneck, and meeting you at a Starbucks soon!
Great post!
Geek.Girl.Wife´s last [type] ..Operation Relocation
I’m a droid owner techno fashion geek cool mom
I had to have the best of the druids with the Google Global Pro 2 lol; Ned has an Phone.
Alright. My husband and I have had the Droids. The apps are okay, the phones work pretty well…it’s a smartphone. You can do all that you want on it. But when we moved to Alaska and found out we wouldn’t have 3G coverage for a Smartphone, we bought iTouch’s. And I’m completely and totally sold on the fact that I will never, ever own anything other than an iPhone when I get back to the states. The apps are top-notch and, let’s face it, this is just a bad A little device. Wear your turtle neck, mama!
Courtney K. @ The Mommy Matters´s last [type] ..Sins of the Mother
Welcome to the iPhone club! I don’t think I could ever go back, love mine!
Jackie´s last [type] ..project 365 photo- 03192011
Good thing you had John to set you straight. I don’t know why, but I never really even considered a droid.
iPhones are the must have, nothing else can compare. Unless someone makes a phone that will walk the dogs and clean the kitchen – if there is such a phone I will make the switch.
Oh, gaaa!
I JUST got a flip phone.
I mix my Apple and Blackberries, fruit is fruit… And I love turtlenecks and Starbucks. But since I always drive thru who cares. Any smartphone is good as long as it plays cartoons to keep your kid occupied in a long checkout queue.
I have a Droid, but that’s only because a)I already had an iPod touch, and b)T-Mobile didn’t have iPhones. Mostly b. But, now that AT&T has bought T-Mobile, who knows what the future holds!
Lisa´s last [type] ..Want to know a secret
Well, it looks like I need to go and buy a turtleneck next week now. I’ve decided on an iphone for my birthday. I’d played with both my husbands and my mums droids but something kept calling me over to iphone. It does what I want it to and looks all sleek and shiny, Apple may be after my soul but I won’t be alone!
Good choice. I love my iPhone! Like Shell, I never considered any other phone.
Rhonda´s last [type] ..RIP Pajamas
I am a Droid user. I didn’t go quite as in depth in my research, I just like how they are sleeker and brighter. And since I can blog and tweet from it, I’m doing okay.
Excuse me, my breakfast of Twinkies is waiting and I’ve had to pause World of Warcraft to write this…
Being a Droid user, I am sorry to hear that you slipped over to the dark side.
It will take time but I will forgive you.
I had an iPhone and switched to a Droid. After getting used to it, I’m pretty sure I like it better. But you didn’t ask me.
Greta´s last [type] ..How We Named Our Kids
This is funny. I wonder what the image is of those like me who have neither one – and just went with the regular old apparently not so popular smart phone.
At first, I thought that you were going to tell me that you bought a Droid, which meant that we couldn’t be friends any longer and I’d have to remove you from my feed reader. Kidding!
(kind of)
Glad you bought an iPhone. I worked in corporate sales for AT&T when the iPhone first launched (lovingly known as iDay) and have had one ever since. Recently, I test drove a Droid for two weeks… it was awkward.
I’m glad we can be turtleneck wearing, iPhone app-ing, latte drinking, social media chatting bloggers together.
Currently sipping my venti caramel macchiato and hoping not to spill any of it down my lovely turtleneck . . .:)
Annie @astonesthrowfrominsanity´s last [type] ..Confessions of My Crazy Love
Great post! Loved reading your thought processes as you bounced back and forth. I admit, I’m a bit of an Apple fanboy. I have an iPhone, two iPod touch 4th gen, a MacBook pro and a batphone directly to Steve Jobs. Ok, not really but I wish.
In my (single daddy blogger) experience you’ve made the right choice! Welcome to the dark side.
Memoirs of a Single Dad´s last [type] ..Parenting Blogs – Leaving Dad in the Dust
I actually think I’m going to skip the smartphone and just get an iPod touch. That way I don’t have to buy a data plan—I can just use WiFi wherever I go.
Rachel @ The Lazy Christian´s last [type] ..Guest Post at Relevant Brokenness!
I just knew an iPhone post had to be in the works. Love it! Laughed all the way through.
You know where I stand: my shirts are never wrinkled or untucked; I have not had a twinkie in over 20 years; Starbucks in my 2nd home; and my iMac, iPad, and iPod would all snicker if I made any other choice. I swear, though, I rarely wear turtlenecks. ; )
Welcome to the wonderful world of Apple. It is a bit of a cult but you will never want to leave.
What does my smartphone say about my lifestyle? I have a 2g iPhone with crust, dried drool, and drop marks/dings all over it. It says that I’m a dad whose boss,,,,errr, wife, won’t approve the purchase of a new phone. 4G?!?! Please! This thing is probably slower than some of the old dialup modems we used to use. And I don’t mind b/c when I’m sitting at the play area of the mall, it’s not like I have anywhere else I’m going for a good long while.
Pop´s last [type] ..Merciful Monday- 32311
Now I know exactly why I want an iPhone.
You’re right about the type of person who get the Droid. I work with programmers and my husband is a major computer geek. And they all have Droids. All of them.
After we chatted briefly on The Twitter I started my campaign to get a new “smart phone”!
http://www.withjustabitofmagic.com/why-i-need-a-smart-phone
I have a Droid and absolutely love it!
I’m not a fan of Apple. In fact the only apples I really like can be found in the produce section. And iTunes? I believe that is the gateway to hell. I dread anytime I have to sync my iPod. That’s 2 hours of my life I will never get back!
It doesn’t help that my husband left his iPhoone at home today. He has the most annoying ring tone ever and it is driving me nuts!
Evonne´s last [type] ..Green skies and ping pong balls
You know I meant iPhone right, and not iPhoone? See, it annoys me so much I can’t even spell the word!m
Know what sold me in the iPhone? The fact that none if the companies who sell it get commission from it. Th other phones re a different story. I figured any phonetat sold itself and still had the endorsement if 2 major phone companies had to be good.
We have three, no four droids in our house now. Since we’re a sprint family, the iPhone isn’t an option…
But either way, I’ve used both, and can say that I like the openness of the Droid. I like being able to customize the experience, not just add apps. I can change the home screen layout, move things around, try different clock widgets (I prefer having a big, easy to read, clock on my home screen) and such. Functionally I think they’re similar. The Apple’s display is crisper but I think most people’s eyes can’t tell the difference.
I also like being able to disable the internet browser on the phone of my 15-year-old when he gets his happy ass in trouble.
Oh, and World-of-Warcraft is a single display game…it doesn’t work on multiple displays..
ShredderFeeder´s last [type] ..Catching up…
It’s almost time for me to get a new phone and I am doing research up the wazoo! I’m leaning towards the iphone because I have ALWAYS wanted one! But we’ll see!
rosesdaughter´s last [type] ..Random Tuesdays
Congrats on the iPhone!
Well, I am an iphone girl as well. I am also a JCrew cashmere turtleneck and pumpkin spice latte lover. You are good.
I also detest twinkies. Unless they are homemade.
Look to the right. Do you see me? I’m standing outside Starbucks with my nose pressed against the glass. With the Empress.
Enjoy your coffee.
Oh, no. I’m not cold.
Much.
Himself had an iPhone. I ended up with an iPhone.
And since I know also have an iMac and a MacBook Pro…well…
Let’s just say I drank the koolaid.
Lori´s last [type] ..Practice makes…umm…I dunno Pick a word
Well, I have a Droid. We’re Sprint people and couldn’t get the iPhone if we wanted to, but we don’t want to. I have a Samsung Moment and it blows. My hub has an HTC evo and it’s the most amazing thing EVER. I just refuse to buy into the hype. I do what I need to do on my Droid and have never had a problem, but it’s almost out of principle that I don’t’ want an iPhone. This is coming from the girl who refused to buy a DVD player for a LONG time. I hate the uppity superiority of the iPhone commercials — the latest says “if you can’t do XYZ, you dont’ have an iPhone”. I can do all the things in that commercial. I can play music. I can read books. I can do all that stuff, just with different apps. So you don’t have an iPhone? You probably have a Droid and that’s OK!
We did get an iPad though.
Amanda´s last [type] ..Trash or Not Trash
I have a Verizon Fascinate. It’s an android phone. I absolutely love it.
And there are wordpress and blogger apps for it as well as google reader (if you use it… I like it because it makes it so I can catch up on the go). Twitter and Facebook work great on it….
I didn’t go with an iPhone because of the things he was saying – Apple is very restrictive… When it comes down to it, I you will probably love whichever one you get and not be able to imagine having the other one… haha I feel that way about my phone, but I probably would have felt that way with an iPhone too… hahaha
So I guess I’m not really much help……..
I’m not a mommy blogger and my kids are grown. I don’t drink coffee or wear turtlenecks. And I’m nowhere close to being geeky or techy. But after a lot of research, I went with droid. And I love it.
Matty´s last [type] ..States
My mother had a Droid. It was the bane of her existence. Finally my sister and I kidnapped her for her birthday and bought her an iPhone. She is a much happier person now. The End.
Ilana´s last [type] ..Movie Selection- More Crucial Than Ever
Whew! Thank goodness for that disclaimer at the end. I was beginning to get a little offended.
Our Droid decision was mainly based on the fact that we didn’t want to switch from Sprint to AT&T. Because Sprint still thinks my hubby works for Dell and gives us a 25% discount. 25%!!!!
My hubs is a friendly techno geek, and he was very impressed with the Droid (he’s neither droopy nor a Twinkie lover, although he does like a good Chips Ahoy cookie). We’ve never used iPhones, but I am a Mac person (he’s a PC, yuck), so I would like to own one someday. But the Droid is very comparable.
Plus, I look awful in turtlenecks.
I followed the herd and got an iPhone as well. I love it.
And that was a horrible analogy. Mine, not yours.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Coming home
I bought an iPhone mainly because I wanted one from the day they were released. My husband has a droid. I have way more app choices than he does & almost all mine were free. I like how my downloads don’t show up on the phone bill. iTunes auto deducts my credit card so our phone bill is always the same unless he downloads. He had an iPhone, now has a droid. He hates it, he is upgrading to an iPhone next month.
Glad you made the right choice
Now that I’ve had this phone for almost 2 years, I will never….I repeat never have anything but an iPhone. I will have an iPad too someday. I don’t mind the syncing to iTunes, when I drowned my phone it made it easy breezy to get all my info right back the way I had it. I sync about once every couple weeks and never takes more than 15 mins. Did I say LOVE…..cause I do!
P.S. I’m in a hoodie sipping my triple venti white chocolate mocha
My contract is not due for a few more months, but I am agonizing over this choice….I hope to figure it out soon.
I hate changing phones….learning new features….
oh well
that is all
AmyLynn´s last [type] ..Crazy Things I Did That Made Me Laugh This Week
This cracked me up. I’m picturing Meg Swan from the movie “Best In Show” at the Starbucks in her turtleneck – tell me you know what I’m talking about.
I’m not smart enough yet, but my iphone day is coming. I’ll need to stock up on the t-necks.
now I know why everyone is Starbucks is giving me the hairy eyeball when I’m on my droid…I’m not really part of their club…
I always thought they were rolling their eyes at the chunky girl ordering a skinny vanilla latte-like what’s the point lady?
phew-I feel better…
I happen to have a Droid but love turtlenecks and order the same drink as you at Starbucks, which, by the way, i do not have with twinkies.
Jessica´s last [type] ..New Feature- The Hot Seat
Ahhh, the iPhone. It annoys me, but so does my husband. In the end, however, they do get the job done, eh?
Nami´s last [type] ..The Barber Moms Tip
i completely agree with you and your assertions. and though i am not a follower, what i think would sway me to the iphone is the marketing. it’s all flowery and happy feeling. in my mind, i see pinks and flowers when i think o the iphone. when i think droid, i think of that dumb commercial when it first came out where something would SLAM and then some alien voice would say DROID. i don’t like that picture in my thoughts.
but, since i am not a follower, i haven’t been sucked in and i am still using my slide phone with tmobile. i just can’t fork over the money to be beholden to yet another piece of technology.
sparkling74´s last [type] ..Please- Please- Please- Make Them Go Away
So happy you got your phone! I’m still on the dumbphone…
Sherri´s last [type] ..Guest Post- I am Not My Hair
Oh, you’re one of those types, are you? Well, I’ll look down on you slightly for being a sheep, from my high pedestal of Android greatness, but I’ll keep on reading your blog anyway!
Narelle @ Cook Clean Craft´s last [type] ..What a Star- Boy’s T-shirt
I am hearing you. I am considering an IPad but don’t know a stinking thing about them or if I can even replace my older than dirt phone with them. Then I live in the middle of nowhere with one bar on all cell phone providers except one. This ‘one’ of course does not offer iphone anything. What’s a woman to do but go find the cutest tech geek. Sigh.
Connie´s last [type] ..Good Times- Good Times
I joined the iphone awesomeness a couple months ago.
I LOVE it.
It has also taken me away from my family.
I married it.
Leighann´s last [type] ..That Old Shack
Welcome to the slippery, slippery slope that is the iPhone. Don’t you love it?
Well, I’m not any of those things. What I am is cheap and the Droid was free with contract renewal at Verizon on wirefly.com, so that’s what’s on it’s way to me in the mail.
You had me at turtleneck.
Now I want an iPhone. I’m done school in two weeks. Then I’ll get one. It’ll take me the entire 4 months until I have to go back to school to figure it out. I’m stupid like that.
Great post Gigi. I have to agree. But I wasn’t the least bit turned off about the stereotype about the Starbucks person buying into Apple. I was like, “Yeah, I totally could go for a hot chocolate with the whipped cream and the chocolate sprinkles right now!”
Sandra´s last [type] ..Dont get your wiener wet
I’m a Droid user who wishes she was an iPhone user.
Maybe I should “accidentally” “break” my Droid so I can make the switch
Natalie´s last [type] ..Monster Likes 11
Thanks again for featuring me for your Facebook 500!! Now, I have an original Droid Eris. It blows. I am counting down the the SECONDS for my Verizon contract to end so they will let me purchase the iPhone for less than $650. Until then, I curse my phone daily and just ordered myself the iPad2!
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation´s last [type] ..Happy Birthday to my 1st Baby!
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