Crackberry

“the First One’s Free” is what they always say in movies, when you’re talking about the hook that most drug dealers use. This is in theme with the “Crackberry”, as it’s been called. But for me, my first Blackberry actually cost me $50, which is pretty close to free when you add on the fact that I didn’t have to change any contracts or pay upgrade fees. Simply buy the used device from a friend who was getting a G1 and go from there.

At first it was easy to not depend on the Blackberry, because I only used the WiFi adapter so I could surf the internet anywhere I found a network signal. The phone still took pictures and made calls, but I couldn’t use many of the features that required a regular data package. And that seemed to be enough.

Then the OS upgrade came out. The new Operating System (OS) for the phone allowed me to use the camera for taking videos. It also allowed for better web-surfing so I found myself using those WiFi hot spots more.

My fall came in Christmas of 2009, when I was going to the Valley to see my family. I added the data package only to make sure I had access to loved ones back in Houston since I wasn’t sure if I could use my laptop from my cousin’s house. I realized all the new features the data package allowed.

Recently, I’ve sent pictures of my new office across the upgraded email software and I don’t use chat programs on my computer thanks to Google Chat on my phone. As we go into March I realize that the data package I meant to turn off before we rolled over into 2010 is still going strong, and… I just can’t stop! I don’t think I want to stop.

I guess The first one really cost me $50.