It sounded to me like the developer in question was trying to convince themselves to buy an iPhone, or possibly a Blackberry. But let’s assume they wanted to improve their productivity, really. They said it would cost them around $100 a month, give or take.
My first thoughts were: What are your goals? Can you achieve them without a phone, or iPhone specifically? Is the tool the catalyst to better productivity?
Expanding on that:
- Is your goal improved contact with customers?
If so, the Blackberry is probably the ideal mobile email machine. It’s not called Crackberry for nothing. The iPhone is a phenomenal device but it’s not linked to serious focused antisocial email answering…yet.
- Do you need to take or recall notes, ideas, contacts when you’re on the go?
Any smartphone, and many un-smart phones, will do fine. How often do you need to do this? More than $100 worth a month?
- General productivity?
Maybe. I’ve had many customers say Tudumo has improved X, Y or Z, but I wouldn’t want to claim that it will do that for you. Who knows? I suspect that’s a bit cart-before-the-horse. I figure it’s possible that buying a given tool will suddenly make you a madly productive action monster, but…the odds are better that you can do something else to improve productivity. For example, work on time management (for free!) or buy one of the many books on productivity for much less than $100 a month. If you find a technique that needs (or is improved by) a smartphone (or any tool), then buy it. Or try one – sometimes the tool can help you learn the skill. But try it cheaply – don’t commit $100 a month on a hunch!
- What is your limiting factor?
If you spend a lot of time on a subway and you're looking for a way to make that time more productive, then maybe a given tool could help. But for most people, their limiting factor might be that they aren't using their time well enough, or that they don't have goals to work towards. A new tool can't help you there. Paper and pencil and a few hours of quiet reflection would probably give a better result.
”Productivity refers to metrics and measures of output from production processes, per unit of input. Labor productivity, for example, is typically measured as a ratio of output per labor-hour, an input. ...”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity
So you want more of X result with as little as possible of Y input. As a person starting a business with limited resources, you need to generate at least $100 a month of extra money, or equivalent free time, or improved service – whatever you or your customers value. Then, measure that against the economic cost – the alternative use of that money. I’m pretty sure I can think of many ways of spending $100 to get me closer to my goals. Additionally, consider that the cost is every month! I have no problem with once-off payments because you can amortize them over the lifetime of their use so it’s easier to find ways to generate value from them. Monthly payments I avoid like the plague, especially if they lock me in for a period of years, unless I can’t get more benefit somewhere else.
Having said all that, would I buy it?
Yes. Ahem, probably around the end of the month, when my service provider gets the 3GS!
Surprised? For me, now, there are many reasons to have an iPhone and it’ll cost about the same as my current phone plan (we get ripped off in South Africa) and I'm very overdue for an upgrade. I get inspired by good user experience and Apple are masters of the art. Also – what’s happening on the app store? Any opportunities? Any good ideas? There’s something to be said for serendipity and I won’t discover anything by sitting here and grumbling about costs. You wouldn’t believe how many requests I get for iPhone support. So I get various tangible (new phone) and intangible (possible business opportunities) benefits with little or no extra cost.
However, it won’t be because I’m looking for improved productivity.
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