Ever since the iPad was first announced I have desired one. I don’t really covet my neighbor’s wife but, if my neighbor had an iPad, I would definitely break a commandment. With the release of the iPad 2 I can only imagine my covetousness getting worse.
My covetousness might be lessened if the iPad 2 ends up being a crappy sequel like Batman Returns. From everything I’ve seen, though, it looks like it’ll be more like The Wrath of Khan.
The Wrath of Khan is probably my favorite Star Trek movie and I imagine that the iPad 2 could be my favorite Apple product. If I got an iPad 2, my iPod and iPhone would end up a lot like Jacob’s other sons after Joseph was born. I could get a case of many colors for my iPad 2 and show it off to all my friends. Meanwhile my iPod would overheat in my truck and my iPhone would be almost forgotten in its old man holster.
The newness and excitement wouldn’t last, though. My iPad 2 would end up collecting dust at home unless I found a practical reason to always have it with me. And that’s really the problem with the iPad. The best description I’ve heard for the iPad is this: “It’s a solution looking for a problem.” And unless my problem is needing a larger version of Angry Birds, then I don’t really have a need for an iPad.
My desire for the iPad 2 shows that, in spite of my best efforts, I still wrestle with the 10th commandment. God commands us not to covet because he wants us to find our satisfaction in him and not in anyone else’s possessions. God also wants us to meet the needs of others and not just focus on our own. And while I might want to spend $600 on myself, there are probably greater needs I could meet with that money.
Because as Spock said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.”
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!
How do you address your desire for more stuff?
I agree that we should not covet over the latest and greatest tech gadget especially one as useless as a tablet. But, for me I’ve got this strange thing where I’m not content with just one, but I need more more more when it comes to technology (hence the 4 computers in my house). I’m sure I’ll end up getting the Motorola Xoom Wifi-only tablet when it comes out anyways.
It’s a vicious cycle in which I often find myself. I’m not opposed to having nice things but I want to make sure that my focus isn’t always on nice, new things.