As with every product it is not what I say I want it for, but what I will use it for, that in the end decides if I will keep using it. If a gadget does not do its job properly, I will stop using it. That is why products may be complex combinations of different possiblities, but if it does only one of them good, it will get used. Do not forget that the computer, the most complex product ever made, is good at doing many different things. And because of that is being used widespread around the world.

So in the end we will learn to work with a product, just as with every new product that is launched into a market. But the next generation that grows up with the product will find its real potential and use. Just as most of our ancestors thought that cars were dangerous, we found cars to be both dangerous and usefull.

But I do not think that a gadget or knowing how to use it, will make the difference between success and failure in business. That still will be being smarter than your competition, as always. And to be smarter you do not need a gadget. All you need is use your brain and understand what is possible.

It's sometimes more interesting to buy separate tools for specific objectifs. What do you make good pictures with ? With a camera for sure, and not with a celular phone. Where do you note meetings, update your todo list etc? On an electronic agenda and not on a psp. What do you use to phone and send instant messages ? With your celular phone and not with your agenda.
The only disadvantage is that the pockets of your jacket are full of tools (agenda, phone, etc)

Sometimes it's upsetting me how those cellphone features really get complicated, but once in a while I get to learn a new functionality through a friend or a coincidence and that really boosts my satisfaction of the device to a sudden high.

I get the impression that in many cases, if one would ask the industry why they produce/market certain features, the answer would be "because we can ...". If we look at evolution for, lets say, the last 15 years, it looks more like revolution... .

Although I am in the high-tech area myself, I use a cell phone for one thing, phone calls. I've had my current one for 7 years now and it still does what it is intended for and ususally a lot better, and less expensive than then new hype products.

To me real innovation is a new concept, not doing something we have been doing for years in another way... .

I we look at past innovations that have gone commodity now, most of them are low range, low budget implementations of a useful application.

Still the industry needs the early adopters as a field test, and will then usually based on the feedback there focus on the most used features.

It's very much the same as e.g. the automobile industry, many new features are derived from the F1 research, and later implemented in the general market.

So yes, early adopters and leading edge technology are necessary and usefull, it's up to you to decide if you want to be "test pilot".

All this stuff is very usefull... but like money, it is only if you master it. If it maasters you.. you are lost... or hanging on for 30mn with a hotline.

As the articles state, it is a fact that the average consumer does not profit from all the features that are integrated in such electronic devices. But perhaps we are forgetting one important thing; it's not the average consumer that buys the newest stuff.

The adoption lifecycle (and certainly the one of high tech products) is a topic that has been very popular in the marketing lecture (see f.i. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_Adoption_LifeCycle). This theory states that new products are being picked up by innovators and early adopters, consumers that are characterized to have high demands on features and are willing to spend time learning to use them. And indeed, for the majority of consumers these expert-features are less relevant, but they are perhaps not the core-target to convince at first.

In my opinion, it is the high tech industry's challenge to make an understandable product-range based on skill levels or to make devices that are feature-pleasing for the early adopters and meanwhile user-friendly for the majority.
Let's just see whether the iPhone will be able to please both.