There's lots of hype around the new iPhone. Credit Apple with their marketing and entertainment strategy. Apple products don't usually do well in large organizations, but from a consumer perspective, there are none better.

People ask me if I'm going to get an iPhone. Probably not, at least for now. Not because I don't want one, and not because it's expensive, but mostly because I'm not sure how much integration I want in my cell phone.

First and foremost, I want my cell phone to work as a phone. Too many times, especially here in the north country, I can't make or keep a call. Or my messages alert me hours after the call was made. Before my phone does anything else, I want that function down pat.

Yet another reason I'm not clamoring for the iPhone is that, well, everyone else is. It's the latest fad. I think I'll let the initial phase blow over and maybe wait for the 2.0 or 3.0 version. Maybe.

Those factors aside, I'm not sure I want my cell phone to be my iPod, my web, camera, photo cache and everything else. I think it would be novel to have all those functions in one, single unit, but I already have conniption fits when I misplace my phone, iPod, or camera. If I was to have an iPhone and lost it, or dropped it, or forgot to take it out of my pants as I jumped in a lake, it would be game over for a while.

I think what Apple has produced is marvelous example of technical innovation. It will influence the market significantly. But for now, no thanks. I don't mind having separate units.

Besides, it's summer, a time to disconnect. I want a few weeks to spend LESS time with my cell phone, not more.