Connectivity or Life?

[susie_flo]

Ummmm, do I want an iphone (or equivalent gadge)?  I am really undecided on whether this is a good idea...

My work allowed me to trial one for a few weeks, and I became sickeningly addicted to it.  I spent every tube journey replying to emails, chatting on forums and reading people's LJ/Facebook updates.  On evenings out in the pub, whenever my companions nipped to the loo or I was left alone for more than five nanoseconds, my twitchy hand would dive straight to the iphone...  (G even caught me looking surreptitiously when we were out to dinner, just the two of us!)  When it was time to give it back they had to prise it out of my shaking hand. 

But then after a few days I realised I didn't miss it at all... I got my life back and went back to reading proper books on the train and remembered how to interact with real, physical people...   and how to sit for five whole minutes without needing to pump random information into my brain.

So now I am torn between:

a) get one anyway, because before long everyone will have one and it is futile to resist.  Also it will be cool to have internet and GPS everywhere I go and (and once the novelty wears off I will learn to use it parsimoniously).

b) don't even think about it, you sad, addicted freak (partaking in occasional internetty tipples will never be a reality for the likes of you).

So... do any of you have one, and if so, has it turned you bad?

 

Comments

[steer.livejournal.com]

I find it very useful to have in-pocket internet, email and GPS. Indeed it would be hard to live without. I think the "every few minutes" twich died off quickly for me.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

"I think the "every few minutes" twich died off quickly for me"

That's a relief...

It's interesting the effect these devices are having on things like pub quizzes, with picture rounds and music clips being the only safe way to go these days. (A quiz that G goes to has introduced a 'practical skills' round that changes weekly... last October each team was given a pumpkin head to carve; another month they had to make paper aeroplanes and the one that flew the farthest got the points.)

[steer.livejournal.com]

I like the pub quiz practical test. There's a phone service which identifies music.

[kixie.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I feel tempted to hide your phone and video what ensues...

[steer.livejournal.com]

Yeah --- but we saw what happens when it exploded last week after the John Shuttleworth incident.

I don't know where I am supposed to be because I have no calendar. My phone beeps and tells me what to do. I tell my phone when to beep. It is a virtuous circle.

Without my phone calendar I am like a lost soul.

[kixie.livejournal.com]

Yes, but to see the initial reaction to not being able to check your email every half-second...it would be so funny! You might even get frantic.

And sort out your calendar so I can find out when you're coming round to sort my wifi out, darnit.

[steer.livejournal.com]

I don't check my email that often using the phone. I check calendar and messages pretty often though. I only really check email if I am not going to be home that evening because I usually check it before bed and after getting up.

Calendar is full for January I'm afraid. :/

[kixie.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, so is mine and double booked in some occasions, but you know... I'm guessing we can plan for Feb. Radical idea, I know - bear with me, in the words of Sarah Palin, "I'm a mav-rick!" - but let's jump on out there and see if we can figure something out! ;D

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, shudder, I hate having a full calender. I'm really quite antisocial and get all twitchy if I accidentally organise too many things on days next to each other...

As for mobile internet, you are clearly as badly addicted as me, despite your protestations!

[steer.livejournal.com]

Heh... well, I was thinking of calendar and text messages as traditional phone functions. I use them lots. I use email less often and web less often than that but certainly several times a week.

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

You're protesting too much...

[kixie.livejournal.com]

iPhones are PRETTY.

But, actually, kind of total PITAs.

And I've managed to resist the iPod for years and am just fine with it :D

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Well, I am not one of those people who goes all drooly and fan-girl over all things Apple, but I trialled a blackberry after the iphone and it was thoroughly HORRIBLE!

Hmph. Still undecided...

[whiteshadow.livejournal.com]

I was 50/50 about getting one, but I am glad that I did ... It's nice having everything in one device and now you can watch movies on them, not sure that there is anything else that really does quite so much : )

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

That's encouraging, cos you seem quite sane :-)
(unlike Steer, above, who is clearly denying his addiction!)