3 ms·

Measuring the utility of having the internet in your pocket in megabytes seems crazy to me. I would instead measure it in the number of times you use a map appl

by notJim 14y ago

Measuring the utility of having the internet in your pocket in megabytes seems crazy to me. I would instead measure it in the number of times you use a map application to get where you're going, or the browser to figure out if a store is open or not, or the Amazon app to see if something is cheaper, or the number of times you look up something on your iPad using tethering on your phone. Of course, you might still find that the utility is low :).

sheraz 14y ago
Those reasons were the exact things I thought I would use. But it never turned out that way. I feel like so many of these use cases are romanticized. Mapping on the phone is painful, especially if you have no signal. I tried it in LA and found myself waiting on tiles to load. I just decided to buy a small map and use my boyscout map skills -- which was better. Amazon is great, but by the time I find myself in Best Buy, the decision to purchase has been made. Brick and mortar has the benefit of immediacy. Same goes with tethering and immediate access to information. Coffee shops, office lobbies, and client offices offer all the connectivity my laptop could want. Secondly, I am not the kind of person to settle a dispute by whipping out wikipedia entry at dinner. In terms of utility, I say it is definitely marginal. The times when it was convenient did not outweigh the expense.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- fpgeek 14y ago
  > Amazon is great, but by the time I find myself in Best Buy, the decision to purchase has been made. Brick and mortar has the benefit of immediacy. Even if you're planning to buy brick and mortar, I find it valuable to be able to look at Amazon et al and confirm that I'm not getting ripped off (since, once in a while, I am).
- lmm 14y ago
  I was starting to list examples of how a phone with internet changed my life, but I think they all come down to one thing: using public transport.

by notJim 14y ago

sheraz 14y ago

Those reasons were the exact things I thought I would use. But it never turned out that way. I feel like so many of these use cases are romanticized. Mapping on the phone is painful, especially if you have no signal. I tried it in LA and found myself waiting on tiles to load. I just decided to buy a small map and use my boyscout map skills -- which was better. Amazon is great, but by the time I find myself in Best Buy, the decision to purchase has been made. Brick and mortar has the benefit of immediacy. Same goes with tethering and immediate access to information. Coffee shops, office lobbies, and client offices offer all the connectivity my laptop could want. Secondly, I am not the kind of person to settle a dispute by whipping out wikipedia entry at dinner. In terms of utility, I say it is definitely marginal. The times when it was convenient did not outweigh the expense.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
fpgeek 14y ago
> Amazon is great, but by the time I find myself in Best Buy, the decision to purchase has been made. Brick and mortar has the benefit of immediacy. Even if you're planning to buy brick and mortar, I find it valuable to be able to look at Amazon et al and confirm that I'm not getting ripped off (since, once in a while, I am).
lmm 14y ago
I was starting to list examples of how a phone with internet changed my life, but I think they all come down to one thing: using public transport.