Confessions of a Fugitive Mind
April 24, 2008
Berry Thoughtful
Being in the market for a new mobile phone has made me think about things I never really thought of in the context of phones before.
First and foremost being my own motivations for purchasing a new phone. My current phone is two years old. I know that only because my wireless provider sent me a letter to remind me that I was eligible for their phone trade-in program. The phone is fine, except for it's propensity to turn itself off and incorrectly estimate the remaining battery life. But I've been living with those things for almost a year and it hasn't driven me to purchase a new phone. Until recently, anyway. I've been toying with the idea of getting a BlackBerry or Smart Phone, but do I need one or just want one because all of the ads say I do? I can't help but wonder if I could make due with the old one for another year.
Then there's the whole BlackBerry phenomenon itself. It's a logical step in personal computing and communications, but how many people really need to be connected 24-7? It's like a little cult too, with every email ending with that little "sent from my BlackBerry wireless device" tagline that feels like advertising. Until you realize that it has been turned into a status symbol. Only the most important, well-connected, self-sacrificing people would give up their personal time or interrupt another meeting to send you a message from their all-powerful Blackberries. A message sent from a BlackBerry, no matter how short, seems to have more impact in a business setting than many that are not. That would be a nice edge, but I know that I want a better work-life balance than most Berriers seem to have.
Posted by criminal at April 24, 2008 4:32 PM