I’ve been so out of touch with certain parts of the technological world lately that I can’t decide on a phone.

Apple iPhone

Obviously, Apple’s iPhone won’t be out for a few months, but I might wait for it. The biggest downside there is price. However, by the time it’s released I’ll have graduated from Auburn, and I hope to have a decent enough job not to worry about cost. What capabilities I do understand seem pretty exciting. I’m definitely leaning toward this phone right now, but I don’t know if I should wait it out.

• Price: $499 (4GB)
• Screen Size: 3.5 inches
• Input Method: Multi-touch
• Operating System: OS X
• Storage: 4GB or 8GB
• Camera: 2.0 MP
• Battery: 5 hours talk, 16 hours audio
• Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches
• Weight: 4.8 ounces

Samsung BlackJack

Before I knew that the rumors of the iPhone were true, I was looking at Samsung’s BlackJack. What really caught my eye with this phone is its design, weight, and dimensions. However, its screen size is nonexistent compared to the iPhone. I wish it had a at least a 2 MP camera and more than 64 MB of storage space. I want this phone because of its aesthetics more than anything (of course, the iPhone looks great too).

• Price: $199
• Screen Size: 2.2 inches
• Input Method: QWERTY keyboard
• Operating System: Windows Mobile 5.0
• Storage: 64MB
• Camera: 1.3 MP
• Battery: 5 hours talk time, 264 hours stand by
• Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.3 x .5 inches
• Weight: 3.5 ounces

Palm Treo 680

I hadn’t really thought about getting a Palm Treo until I saw one at the Cingular store the other day. It seems to be about as good as the BlackJack as far as the specs go, but not quite as pretty. I have heard some good things about this phone from others, so I’m keeping it on the list as I research.

• Price: $199
• Screen Size: 2.2 inches
• Input Method: QWERTY keyboard & touch screen
• Operating System: Palm OS 5.4.9
• Storage: 64 MB
• Camera: ? MP
• Battery: 4 hours talk time, 300 hours stand by
• Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.3 x.8 inches
• Weight: 5.6 ounces

I didn’t list all of the details of each phone because that would’ve taken up way too much space. I’m at a loss as to what I should buy right now. Should I wait for the iPhone until June? I might be simply pulled in by the hype surrounding it right now, but I think it will be revolutionary.

My $45 Sony Ericsson from Wal-Mart isn’t cutting it anymore. It’s good for calling people, except that you’re not supposed to put your finger over this green bump on the back because it’s the antenna.

I’m looking for a phone that will last at least a two years. I’m not sure what kind of work I’ll be doing once I graduate, but it will probably be journalism. If that’s the case, then I’ll need the ability to send things over the Web while on the go. I want to listen to music, but that’s not a priority. A decent camera phone would be ideal, but since I have a 8.2 MP camera, it’ll be hard to look at anything less.

I want an all-in-one package. I want a cheap all-in-one package. Since, that’s not exactly happening right now, I want at least the next best thing.

Which would you choose, and why? Or, would you take another route altogether.

It was around 6:30, while I was working at the library, that I received this call. Of course, I had my cell phone ringer on silent, but set to buzz. This number showed up on my caller ID: 256-***-***. Okay, it might be illegal to show the actual number on here or something. So, I had to asterisk it out. Anyway, I answered the call and said in a whisper, “Hey, I’ll call you back in a minute.”

The voice on the other end shouted, “Why are you talking like that?”

“I’ll call you back in a minute.” I hung up.

I had no idea who it was. I wouldn’t have normally answered it because it was a number I didn’t recognize. But, for those of you who remember the my recent cell phone death, you know I lost all of my phone numbers. So, I figured it might be someone’s number that I hadn’t talked to in a while. Although, I didn’t recognize the voice.

I found myself a nice little corner on the fourth floor (the floor I work on) and called the number back. I got a voicemail that said, “You’ve reached Mary Watts” and bla bla bla. I don’t remember the whole voicemail. I’m like, Do I know a Mary Watts?

So, I called the number back. “Hello,” came the voice from the other end. This was definitely a dirt-road livin’ Alabamian voice.

“HEY,” I wanted to sound like I knew the person, just in case I was supposed to. And what follows is as accurate as I can portray the conversation.

“How you doin’?” Mary asked.

“Good, good. You?”

“Good.”

I gave no reply. I mean, she was the one who originally called me. There was a few seconds of silence, which could seem like years on the telephone. It’s a device for conversation, ya’ know.

“My name’s Mary.”

“Mary who?”

“Marry Watts. I’m 34 years old.”

“Okay. What I’m getting at here Mary is…is there a particular reason you called me?”

“Oh, I just dialed the wrong number.”

“Okay.” I was being very sarcastic at this point.

“I’m 34 years old and single. I have three kids and I’m not married.”

“Well, I was just calling you back. I thought you might be someone I know.”

“What’s your name?”

“Justin.”

“That’s a pretty name…I have blond hair and blue eyes.”

“Okay. Well—”

“I tell everybody that.”

“I guess I’ll let you—”

“You have a pretty voice.”

Well, that’s pretty much the most interesting part of the conversation before I could get her off the phone without hanging up on her. This woman was hitting on me. Some random, possibly drunken woman, was hitting on me.

Very odd. But, this isn’t the end.

About 45 minutes later, while I was home cooking dinner, the phone rang again. I didn’t even look to see who was calling because, well…I was cooking dinner.

I received a voicemail from the same number, but a different voice.

“Mary Ethel called me and said you been eatin’ her godd**** nasty pussy. So, you gone fuck yo’self nigga. And don’t call my phone no mo’ fagot.”

I have to say I was a little shocked and a little amused. It certainly was an odd phone call. It’s just one of those random things that happen to you in life I guess. There’s not much else to say about it. I guess you can just laugh. It is a bit funny.

I’m even going to add another category for this blog post. I think I’ll call it odd occurences or something.