Because of the announcement of the iPhone 4S last week, I was particularly intrigued when I came across an article entitled “Why I Dumped My iPhone – And I’m Not Going Back” on Good’s Website . In the piece the author talks about how he had become overly obsessed with the availability of information and his connection to the Internet. At first his phone was great to help with directions, airport check-ins, etc. But when he began to check his status updates and RSS news feeds while his wife was trying to hold a conversation with him, he realized it had gone to far.

I think  this story is partially about the author’s ability to control himself and just put the phone down, and I can see his point. I am a self-admitted Mac junkie, but I have yet to purchase an iPhone or any smartphone. I am actually due for an upgrade on my Verizon plan, but I’ve decided to stick with a basic cell phone that only makes and receives calls and texts. I sit at a desk with Internet access all day, and I have wireless for my laptop at home, so I really have no need for my phone to keep me connected to the Internet. I make sure to use my time away from computers to read, paint and draw. I find that this secluded, old fashioned form of pencil on paper forces me to think more about what I am working on… and then I scan my drawings and post them on Facebook for all to see.