Corey Gouker's Machine Inside the Mind

The time has come, I'm going back on what I said and likely going to pay full price for the 8GB iPhone. I've had my Windows Mobile (WM) 6 SmartPhone since March and at first I liked it, but then I started really using the web and trying to use the device for something other than phone calls, text messaging, and email. Guess what? It fails. Browsing the web on Windows Mobile is quite possibly the most unusable horrible experience I've ever had to endure on any gadget I've owned. Scrolling left and right is obnoxious, and I guess this is just thanks to the device itself which has a crappy jog wheel. WM 6.1 was announced some time ago and it's only in the past month that I finally could download it from Samsung through an equally obnoxious process. I tried other apps and even tried finding other web browsers for the device and sadly the experience wasn't any better. Windows Mobile is clearly not designed for your every day consumer. What's more, when it comes to browsing the web I'm not even sure how anyone could get any real work done effectively.

This is all really sad, I had gone from a regular Samsung candy bar phone so WM was a nice upgrade. WM 6.1 turned out to be the most minor of updates which hasn't helped me at all. Supposedly Windows Mobile 7 should bring major improvements from what I've read online. Now though I really feel it's too little too late. My prediction, by the time Windows Mobile 7 launches, Apple will have released their 3rd version of the iPhone and will be the dominant force for the smart phone market and everything that entails.

I've used a couple of iPhones, Dom's, Ivan's, Bryce's, all of whom use it slightly differently. I've probably played with the stupid phone for 30 minutes sitting in a store. One thing comes to mind when using it, it just does what I want. I browsed the beeb on Dom's and it was beautiful, it was an Internet experience that was truly enjoyable. The apps aren't that big of a deal to me, in fact half the crap in the iPhone isn't a big deal to me. So what it comes down to is this.

I'm dumping Windows Mobile for the iPhone because the iPhone has a real Internet experience.

This also leads me to realize I use a phone for 3 things, Internet, SMS, and phone calls. Everything else is a bonus.

For sale, AT&T locked Samsung BlackJack II upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1 - $40.

So this is one I don't think I'll ever understand. I've got a WaMu Online Savings account, and somehow they're providing 3.93% interest / 4% APY. How is this possible when they basically went under and got bought out. 4% is one of the best rates around. Meanwhile looking at my 401K is rather depressing, since January 28th, it's -23.4%. I know it's stupid to look at it short term but it's just lame to think I would've been better off putting my money in a failed bank than putting it into a well diversified 401K (not counting the tax stuff of course). Either way, I don't think I'll ever get over the way credit and savings works. Seems like a complete sham when we can be charged 10% or more in interest yet we're lucky to even be getting 4% on the money the banks hold for us. Sure banks are a bit more reliable at paying up but still. I think maybe I should just invest in salt for the forthcoming apocalypse.