Posted on 07/05/2006 9:04:54 AM PDT by hispanarepublicana
I currently use a cell phone and a Palm PDA, but I'm considering integrating the two and taking the plunge with a combo "Smart Phone" cell phone/pda device. However, I fear becoming addicted to constantly checking email, not ever really getting away from work, etc. I already check work email occasionally when I'm off work & at home, but it does take some effort to access our system, so it's easy to keep under control where I'm not constantly thinking about work. I'd like to hear from other FReepers who took the plunge. Are you "addicted" to your Smartphone? Is it impossible to ever get away from work altogether? Do business associates/customers/clients expect you to get back to them right away, even "off" hours if they know you have 24/7 access to email?
I've found that most professionals don't like being "available" during off work hours. The exception are workaholics and those who are self-employed.
Some even have two cell phones.
So, if your work has you on the road, or frequently in a situation where access to a computer and the internet is limited - a phone/pda will probably increase your productivity. However, if you almost always have access to email while working, you'll probably rarely use the pda features, and if you don't use it often enough - you'll probably discover that after the initial usage, you'll never use it again.
I think you're right about not being "available", although I do like to be "knowledgeable" and aware of what's going on even if I don't reply. I think I've found that during work hours, when I'm away from email, (which is roughly 15% to 20% of a 40 hr work week), I'd really like the access.
However, when it's not "work hours", I don't see myself using it.
On the other hand, I rarely if ever use my PDA for personal calendar, tasking, etc., but I think I would if it were a part of my phone.
Also, I find myself "neglecting" my PDA more often than not (letting the battery die, not cradling it to sync it up with the desktop, etc.) because I pay more attention to the cell phone. I'm thinking if it were a part of my cell phone, I'd pay more attention to it.
Maybe not though. I'm still weighing it all.
I have the 24 CTU Ringtone I can email ya, for your new gadget. I don't have a clue as to what a PDA, or a Smart Phone/Blackberry Plunge even is.
(;^0)
Well, then we're even. I have no clue what the "24CTU Ringtone is" LOL.
Chances are, you're probably the type who does better with an actual date/address book.
My father has tried the PDA thing for years and he always falls back on his date book. He just has a secretary update it every couple of days by hand.
One use for the PDA/phone that you might find useful is to set up a new email address for use with the smart phone. Once that is done, you can set up an email filter on your work computer (if you leave it on), and messages that meet certain criteria will be forwarded to your smart phone's email. That should cut down on the emails you get on your smart phone.
The question is do you actually keep your computer date books and address books up to date? If not, don't expect to start just because you bought a smart phone.
Thanks for the input.
No, I keep my calendar on my computer and my task list there up-to-date religiously. I do HORRIBLE with "regular" hand-written calendars, etc. I really like doing the calendar electronically. Let's say you sent me an email inviting me to lunch at a specific place tomorrow and you included directions along with names of people who would attend. I would just drag the email to my calendar, your written directions and all, and the directions and everyone's names (because I'm horrible with names) would be there in my calendar both for use in the present and to refer back to. Of course, in the "old" days, I used to print the email and paperclip it to the page the date is on, but then my binder got to heavy to carry.
In that case, you're well suited to the use of a PDA, and you'll probably benefit from a smart phone.
Focus your efforts on features that make keeping your smart phone up to date convenient and easy. Bluetooth is probably the most convenient wireless method of linking and syncing a PDA.
If you're on the road a lot, one other option you might consider is checking to see if your date book and address book software allows you to publish the information to a web site where the latest information can be accessed using the PDA's web browser. Naturally, you'll want to make sure that the information is password protected. Between sync'd data and the web published data you should be up to date all the time.
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