Great article.

I won’t be purchasing an iPhone either. But, please remember, all phones purchased at the carrier store require activation at the time of purchase.

The only difference is if you already have a GSM phone that allows you to swap out the SIM card, then if you get another phone, you simply plug in the new SIM. Everyone coming in for the new iPhone will be getting a new phone and (probably) a new 3G SIM card. Which really isn’t very different from getting a new Blackberry, Nokia or Windows Mobile unless you get one unlocked off the internet.

As far as the Astak, I REALLY hope they get their device to market at that price point and that it puts SIGNIFICANT pressure on the other e-book reader companies to lower prices.

I belong to a Kindle forum (although I don’t own one) which is populated by people who have managed to scrape together the funds or have that much disposable income during these tough economic times to purchase one for themselves and then give others as gifts.

The rest of us? We use what we have until we can afford one or the prices start coming down.

In California, regular gas is already at $4.50+ per gallon in most places.

My new gadget budget has already been severely affected.