Time to get some perspective

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Apple revealed Monday that it has received two million pre-orders for the iPhone 5 in the first 24 hours, despite tech bloggers’ pronouncements that the iPhone 5′s feature list was boring and predictable. In typical fashion the Apple community is now sticking the two million number in the faces of the tech press, using this as an “I told you so” moment.

I think both sides need to get some perspective.

The iPhone 5 is coming this Friday. Many people pre-ordered one and will undoubtedly fill Twitter with gleeful comments about their devices’ shipping status, tracking the package from China to their front door, and others will stand in line on Friday at their local Apple, AT&T, Verizon or Sprint store to be the first of their friends with the shiny new toy.

Already, Twitter has erupted in a cacophony of comments from users incensed that they’re not able to get an iPhone 5 as inexpensively as they expected because of their cell phone carrier’s rules, or fed up with their current plan and wishing to switch to a competitor’s network, or upset because the iPhone 5 didn’t have that one killer feature that would have made all the difference.

Tech bloggers practically tripped over themselves after Wednesday’s Apple event in San Francisco, to declare the event a success or a failure. To prognosticate about Apple’s future, the iPhone’s future, and its relevance against myriad competitors running Android and other smartphone operating systems.

Meanwhile, Narcissus grabs a hand mirror, spreads his legs, squats, and sighs lovingly as he stares at the reflection of his taint.

I really wish the tech blogosphere would get just a tiny bit of perspective.

Apple makes things that some people like and that some people don’t like. They’ve made a lot of money doing that over the past few years. Signs point to that trend continuing.

On Friday, September 21, 2012, the iPhone 5 will be released.

Meanwhile, the world will continue to spin on its axis as if (GASP) none of this matters.



  • MacsenMcBain

    I’m reminded of the scene from Ratatouille…

  • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

    Really a well written post.

  • Dkat

    Well said. Many tech bloggers seem to have no sense of what’s important, except for their own page views and links to their blogs. We didn’t need to see months and months of speculation and rumors about the new iPhone. The only possible justification is to let people who are considering buying a phone know that a new one is one the way. The rest is just filling screens because you think you have to, and now acting bored because you think it shows you’re not in Apple’s back pocket.

    And with people dying, candidates lying, and the earth frying, hearing people crying over when their phone arrives is shallow, at best, and freaking annoying, at worst. Makes us look like pampered assholes to the rest of the world.

  • http://twitter.com/kipb Kip Beatty

    Peter has dealt with serious health issues recently. Sadly, it often takes something like that for people to gain perspective in this world. Without such perspective, there are people who truly believe the battle for smart phone supremacy is as critical to our future as education, health care, and world peace. I’m sorry Peter has come by such perspective the way he has, but I’m glad there is someone in the tech blogosphere who has it.

    • Marathonmanjh

      What are you talking about? Peter’s health has nothing to do with him having a level headed perspective. I have been reading what he writes for years and he has always been very reasonable, objective and impartial. How dare you assume that he “has come by such perspective the way he has”

    • Scruff

      Pete has been a fairly even keel on this topic for quite a while now. Listen to AMB – he rags on both sides of the Apple hater/fanboy fence and has done so for many years (Maybe not equally, but heck…)

      Saying that he ‘gained this perspective through recent hardship’ is completely wrong and a little condescending towards Pete.

  • http://twitter.com/good_ol_c_rod Chris Rodney

    Is it weird that after reading that article, I had a revelation that I’ve never seen my taint?

    Now that I’ve asked that burning question, that being said, you’re bang on with the entire article. People take this stuff WAY to seriously. Name calling, stupid bullet point ads attacking the other guys, it’s really ridiculous. I think my phone is great – after all, I spent my money on it. You did the same and feel the same way about your phone. Congrats – they are still simply phones. Simply gadgets (Talk about your first world problems).

    It’s getting to the point where you have to add this – “What cellphone do you have?” – to the list of things you can’t talk about in polite conversation, along with “Do you think there is a God?”, “Who do you think is going to win the election?”, and “Is Dan going to win Big Brother 14?”

    Calm down people.

  • John W Baxter

    Peter, if you keep writing sensible things like this post, I’ll respect you [even more].

    Please continue writing and recovering your health.

  • Canucker

    Sadly, the sight of people lining up already outside AppleStores (largely for their own self-promotion) reinforces the stereotype that anyone who appreciates Apple’s better products is an ardent fanboy or iSheep. The comment sections on many blogs quickly descend into pointless arguments and insults. Ditto for sports teams, etc. We seemingly are desperate to categorize people based on their politics, religion, sexuality, shopping habits, whatever. Move on, life is too short.

  • supertino

    First the blogosphere makes a killing in page views by covering iPhone rumors for months.

    Then, when they have covered every last screw and chip number that Apple will be announcing, they engage in the next pageview bonanza by declaring how boring the announcement was because it had no surprises.

    Finally, they wrap up their coverage with glowing reviews and reports of incredible sales.

    Rinse. Repeat.

  • http://diskgrinder.tumblr.com diskgrinder

    Ha ha! I got half way through this and read the Narcissus reference.

    AMB heads it’s ugly rear, and I snorted tea out of my nose.

    Brilliant!

  • Scruff

    ** sigh ** but it’s such a beautiful taint wipes away a single tear rolling down my cheek

    Really well written post mate.

  • taotsu

    Thank you!! That was refreshing! And now I am happily gonna wait for my contract to run out and get an iPhone 5S when it arrives!