Today was the day. I was ready to go for it and join the hipsters, be part of the in-crowed and by myself an iPhone. My Palm Treo smartphone is about 3 ½ half years old and falling apart. It is time for a change.

After holding out for over a year now since the first iPhone came out and because of the lack of a better choice I am willing to get what at the moment feels too hip and cool.

Today is my sixth attempt to get one. I had been waiting for it to come out on July 11th. There was a lot of hype about the launch because of the new G3 feature and since the price had dropped by 50 %. I waited two days then made my way over to the Apple store in Soho. I was stunned when I got there; the line was about 100 yards long and going around the block. I turned around and left.

Since then I have tried four more times to buy one. At a certain point there were two lines in front of the store, one to buy the iPhone and a second one to get into the store to be able to buy something else.

Since I was willing to spend more the $ 300.00 and wanted to enjoy the experience I went to their flagship store on 59th Street. Architecturally this store is very interesting, it is a glass box with a basement where you can find the sales facilities. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised not to find a line outside.

I was excited; I don’t buy a phone every day. I am walking down this stylish glass staircase to get to the downstairs sales area. The place is packed. Hundreds of people from all over the world look at computer, iPods and iPhones. It is crowded and loud. I make my way over to the region where the iPhones are displayed but can’t get a hold of one since they are all in the hands of people who don’t seem to want to let go of them. While I’m waiting I’m watching people looking at the phones in awe. This triggered a deep realization.

Before I say what I have to say I want to mention that I am a big fan of Apple. I bought my first Apple computer in 1999 when everybody expected them to go bankrupt. I still remember when the huge boxes with my G4 and CRT Monitor arrived and I could not stop staring at the tower and thinking how beautiful it was after I unpacked it. Thanks to the genius Steve Jobs Apple does not have to worry any more today. They revolutionized the world with the iPod and now there is the iPhone. Today Apple is a bigger company then Mc Donald’s and the most desired brand in the world. They know what people want, package it in a way that it is desirable and make millions of dollars doing so. This is a real success story and I’m very happy for them.

But looking at people in the store made me realize how insane we all are (including myself!). My insight might also have been triggered by all the research I have done over the last couple of months. I want to upgrade my computer system and also buy a new digital camera. I read every test of every major digital camera or digital back that is on the market. By now I know the technical specs by heart.

Looking at people I realized that products have become our gods, our motivation, how we define ourselves and how we try to find happiness. Material things are more important then insights, wisdom, growth, transcendence or anything else. It is always about what the next gadget can do for us, that the moment we have what we want we will find happiness.

I am the perfect example. I think that my photography would improve so much if I would have this latest 12 Megapixel Nikon camera for $ 4.500,00. Uhh, bigger file sizes I need a new computer. How about a Macbook Pro, $ 2.600,00 plus a few extras, let’s make 3.200,00. And then there is this old ugly phone. Let’s get an iPhone for 300,-- + Tax + Case + Apple Care, it will be probably around $ 450.00. Finally I have all I need. Ahhh, I forgot I need this new zoom lens with image stabilizer for $ 1,800.00 and then I need a new camera bag to put all this stuff in. Then I’m good, and then I’m happy then I can start to take images that are even more amazing. Hold on I forgot one thing, I need…….

It is endless. We all know out of experience that there is no happiness in any of this. As soon as we have the object of our desire we find something else that we want. And while we move on we forget that we cannot find happiness that way, it is a vicious cycle.

The iPhone is an amazing technological invention in a very cool package. It is supposed to help us to make our lives easier. To be able to browse the web, check our e-mails on the go and even be able to find our location through GPS. But what is it at the end? It is a piece of plastic with a touch screen and a couple of electrical circuits inside. It is cool today, o.k. tomorrow and in three years it will end up in the garbage.

When will we understand that material things will not make us happy? When will stop putting all our energy into accumulating pieces of plastic, metal or stone and focus on what can bring us happiness in the long run, what is going on inside of us?

I left the store; I did not feel like buying a phone any more. I am good with what I have.

 

 

 

 

 "Happiness?" Manhattan/ New York City/ 5th Avenue and 59th Street/ Apple Store 08-13-08 at 05:22 PM

Please check out my website at carstenfleck.com

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