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I don't have one. I don't want one and I've sworn up and down never to get one... How do you handle the information overload? Is the Blackberry convenient for you or is it too much sometimes?
A friend of mine, suggested that I write about what life would be like without Blackberries (or is it Blackberrys?).
I think I can pretty much tell you that one myself. I don't have one. I don't want one and I've sworn up and down never to get one. I think it's too much information for me altogether. I know there would be less harried people running around trying to answer emails while they walk, ride, eat. I'm already quite reliant on my phone, and being all the more reliant on some sort of super-gadget would be discombobulating. We already can't remember the time before the phone. I wonder what will happen in the future.
I'm pretty sure it's a bit of an annoyance as well. I mean having the thing beep would be a irritating at best. I'm terrible with technology. I shut off after the work week is over and I don't answer unless it's urgent. It's too much work really for me.
How do you handle the information overload? Is the Blackberry convenient for you or is it too much sometimes?
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Comments
07.27.09
I've got a smartphone, and I'll agree that there are times where it's an information overload. But that's my own doing, not the device. The phone is only a tool.
I have one because (a) I'm a nerd and like gadgets and (b) I am in a place where I can't get access to my personal email for a good portion of the day. But there are blocks of time where I don't even look at it. It's still there for my convenience, not the person who's calling / emailing / texting me.
07.27.09
I've been all over the map on this one, and I've carried a smartphone for nearly five years. I got one because it was neat and fun and because I was away from my desk quite a bit during the day. Then I grew incredibly attached to it, thinking that I had to be able to respond immediately to anything. Eventually I realized that I wasn't that important, and if I was, I wasn't leading and managing effectively. If I had a good team that was prepared, they could handle it.
Now I have an iPhone and love it because I rarely have to carry a laptop anymore. I have my contacts, calendar, and email synced, but I only receive email on it when I manually tell it to download - so no buzzing when it comes in. I've really enjoyed all of the other apps (Timewerks, Food IQ, Evernote) that help me to stay on track in achieving my goals and stay organized.
I just returned from a full week on a cruise - not a single voicemail or text message waiting for me, and I spent about ten minutes a day keeping up with clients via email. That's certainly something I never thought was possible a few years ago.
07.27.09
When I got a new job about a year and a half ago, they forced me to take a Blackberry. I hate it. It's so clumsy compared to a PC: the endless scrolling because the screen is so small, the teensy unreadable graphics, the very long pauses to connect to any link. Plus my workplace slapped so many security constraints on it, I wonder why they bother to make us carry them at all. I never use it except on the subway going into work, so I don't get surprised by a crisis when I get there.
07.27.09
A blackberry is essentially a messaging device. If you don't message often (email) then it's not really worth the money you paid for it and the money you are paying for the data plan. The browsing experience is not that great and media capabilities are low.
I've been through a number of smartphones and smartphone types. I've settled for the iPhone because everything is synced wirelessly and I use it mostly for music/podcast playback and not so much as a messaging device. Sure it's great to have email accessible and it's great to have an RSS reader for when I am waiting for the bus, but most of my device's time is spent listening to NRP, or googling something.
When I was given a blackberry for work early on it was like a bad tick. I had to check my holder every five seconds - beep or no beep. I finally gave it up and realized that these devices are just tools and I check them on my schedule.
07.27.09
@Andrew - good point. It's there for your convenience and not anyone else's. Most people don't really realize that.
@Kendra - yes, they do have some really neat apps for sure. I'd particularly like one with a GPS thing on it, given my near non-existent sense of direction!
@Nomi - I hear ya. I know a lot of people who have to get one through work. It might be a different situation though, because you're not a slave to it. Unless you work 24 hours a day.
@Dr. Pepper - It's a good thing that they are all-in-one like that. I guess it varies by purpose.
07.27.09
I was the same way Mehnaz. I swore to myself that I would not get a "crackberry" for the sake of my sanity.
Eventually, I was finding that I did not have access to my personal email at work, and lets face it, not being able to sporadically check your mail made me feel sort of lost. I finally sprung for a blackberry for that sole purpose.
I made the promise to myself that I would not have my work email follow me where ever I went. It is a choice you do have...to not have yoru work email on yoru blackberry. So far so good. I have not collided with anyone yet because of my face glued to teh screen, I have not had system overload either.
I understand the apprehensiveness to give in. I think if you set rules and bounderies, it won;t take over your life. I put mine on silence at work, so I am not constantly checking if I got a message or an email.
But, I can totally see how someone could become obsessed with it! It's all reletive I guess.
07.27.09
Most blackberry users seem to be using it to check personal email or message friends. The real addicts you see are those who are using it with their MS Exchange server at work. Chances are if you are one of those people, your boss didn't give you a choice, but insisted you get one. That's a completely different case from the people who use it for personal reasons.
I've used Blackberry, and various Treos, and almost went with the new Palm Pre this year but settled in on the iPhone. I think it is the most "complete" smart phone out there, though the Pre was a very close contender. I use mine mostly for internet browsing, phonecalls (duh!) and the ipod. I don't have any of my emails set up on it though, and barely use the text messaging, so not sure I can be considered the typical addicted smart phone user.
07.27.09
@Starstrey and Miles - you both make valid points about using it for different purposes and establishing boundaries.
I think my main issue is with smart phones or really any kind of technology having far more power than what it should be used for. I know people who are on them during movies, concerts, dinners out. It's disrespectful of the people you are with. Even CEO's take a day off once in a while.
thanks all for commenting!
07.27.09
I recently purchased my first smartphone (Palm Pre) and like Norcross stated, you can't blame the device it's the user's fault for allowing themselves to become consumed. It can be easy to slip into the routine of checking your email every five minutes, but as with everything in life, you have to have a balance.
07.27.09
I worked at a radio station three years ago and the boss was CONSTANTLY on his Blackberry, even when we were having one on one meetings. I think if I had the nerve to do that in front of him I would have been fired! I think Blackberries are the tool of the devil, seriously. Your company invests maybe 300 bucks into the BB and the plan and they literally have you by the balls 24/7 because they EXPECT you're going to get addicted to it and get more of THEIR work done on YOUR time.
07.27.09
I prefer to call it a Dingleberry instead. That way, when I am pulling it out of my back pocket, I can say, "Excuse me, my Dingleberry is vibrating."
07.29.09
thanks for your comments guys. from what i see, it's not so much the case of having a blackberry but more about what you do with it :)
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