 I am perfectly content with my Droid, now that I have learned how to
use it. My husband, however, insisted that the Droid he owned had
too many bugs and he simply couldn't function with it.Obviously,
he functions at a much higher level than I do.
Two weeks after he bought his iPhone 4, he learned that the new
and improved iPhone 5 would be released soon. He was shocked. I was
not.
There has never been a year in the history of cellphones where a
new model didn't appear on the shelves immediately after you had
bought the old one. He's a grown man. He should know this.
In spite of these temporary frustrations, my husband is a
techno-junkie. He needs -- not wants -- the most advanced gizmo out
there.
Unfortunately, my cellphone contract is up for renewal soon. In
his mind, there is no reason why I shouldn't get the iPhone 5 and
then hand it over to him in trade for his iPhone 4.
As cavalier as this sounds -- and I am aware of how it sounds --
I nonetheless understand his obsession. One does not live with
someone for 30 years without understanding their foibles.
He is correct in thinking that I wouldn't know the difference
between the two because I never use any of the more advanced
applications. He may not use them either, but at least he could if
he wanted to.
Still, if I had less self-esteem, I would think that I and my
cellphone contract were being used. As it is, I have decided,
instead, to use the knowledge of what he wants from me -- that I am
under no obligation to give him -- as currency. With this knowledge
I can buy the restaurant of my choice at which to eat, the movie of
my choice to watch, the channel I want to watch, the argument I want
to win.
For the next few months, while he gamely but subtly tries to sell
me on his iPhone 4, I will reap the benefits of an agreeable
husband.
Last night, I even got to watch a movie on Lifetime at a time
when my husband normally watches "Deadliest Catch" or some other
ghastly series where you must decipher the script from between the
bleeps.
[to top of second column] |
 The trick is to act as if there might be the slightest
possibility that I might trade in my Droid for an iPhone 5 and then
trade phones with him… without actually saying it.
He actually has the more difficult job of trying to:
-
Convince me that
the iPhone 5 is better than my Droid.
-
Then convince me that his iPhone 4 is
way better than the iPhone 5 ... for me.
"I just figured out the map program on my Droid." I told him.
"It's wonderful! It can even find restaurants in the area. Want to
see?"
"My iPhone 4 can do it faster," he says.
"Then the iPhone 5 must really kick butt."
He looks away and blatantly lies, "I heard the iPhone 5 map
application stinks. So, which restaurant do you want to go to?"
"I think Applebees," I said.
"Applebees? Again?"
"You got a problem with Applebees?"
"Nope."
Of course, after the terrible sacrifice of letting me have my way
for months, if I don't hand over the iPhone 5 after I have traded in
my Droid, he may spontaneously combust. At the very least, he will
never forgive me, at least until the iPhone 6 comes out. How long
could that be?
[By LAURA SNYDER]
Laura Snyder is a nationally syndicated columnist,
author and speaker. You can reach her at
lsnyder@lauraonlife.com
or visit www.lauraonlife.com
for more info.
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