Spoilt for Choice

A colleague A just asked me what mobile phone he should buy. I gave him a sad smile and said,” I am as confused as you are”. I have wanted to buy a smartphone for the past year. I have looked at so many different kinds of mobile phones- weighing pros and cons, evaluating specifications, moaning over its steep prices- and I am still at a loss. Information was literally coming out of my ears. So I did what I usually do in times of uncertainty- I ignored the problem and started baking to de-stress. Yes, I know escapism is not the ideal solution but it works for me right now, till I reeeeeeeally need a new phone. Maybe that’s part of the problem- It’s a want not a need!

Having said that, - the problem lay more in the plethora of phones available in the market today. Competition is so stiff that unbranded phones resemble the branded, to get into the same market; to attract those with higher disposable incomes. Every phone has to be broken down to its minutest detail to make proper comparisons. How do I decide if the Samsung Galaxy Note is better than an iPhone? Which is better- Android or iOS? Do we really need an 8MP phone or will a 5 MP suffice? Where do Karbonn and Micromax phone really stand? Are they comparable or is it just an eyewash by manufacturers who claim they are? It makes me reminiscent of “ water water everywhere, not a drop to drink”.

Then comes the question of atrocious pricing. Do I really want to spend an entire month’s salary on a cell phone? Can I really justify spending that much money on a phone, when I crib that everything is so expensive today? You would think choosing, deciding and buying would be easy as apple pie. Evidently apple pie is not easy! My journey is far from over.