Paper
I never fought technology. In fact, there are some things I just can’t imagine living without (like, how on earth did I manage a whole college career before the days of widespread email?! gasp!). But, as many of you know, there are certain bits of technology that I can live without (Twitter much? Not me). And now, I’m getting a better sense of just how unwilling I am to move to a completely electronic world. To put it bluntly, I have drawn a very clear line in the sand regarding what technology can infiltrate my life.
So, I have a laptop and am on the computer all day for work (√). I like email (√). I use Facebook (√). I blog (duh, √). I have a smart phone and use it to text, check email and occasionally use the browser or Shazam (√).
But … I don’t have a Twitter account (Ø). I’m not a Tumblr (Ø). I can’t stand having to plow through Disquis when leaving comments on other blogs (Ø). I don’t go app crazy on my smart phone (Ø). I do not understand why Formspring is necessary (have a question – just ask me here!). And there are a few more things you should know about me…
About a decade ago, my parents gave me a Palm Pilot. I was thrilled. A chance to get rid of my paper calendar? YES! The ability to sync with a calendar on my computer? YES! No longer needing to keep a pen? YES! I didn’t once cheat on my Palm in the 3 years I had it. And then? I was no longer amused. There were certain things I missed about my paper calendar that just couldn’t be replicated to my liking with the Palm.
Namely, being able to open it to any given week and see everything laid out in front of me. Not just blocks of time that were booked. But, exact plans. When. Where. With whom. Color coded text for birthdays and anniversaries. Bold and excited text for vacations. It allowed me to more fully digest what times were already committed and where there was room to add more plans. And so? I ditched technology. I got a day planner. A cute, artsy, colorful day planner that excites my creative juices. And, in all honesty, I can’t imagine ever going back to the electronic form.
More recently, there’s been lots of buzz about Amazon’s Kindle. The ability to read books and magazines on a small computer. Light. Thin. Smaller than some books. Text that can be adjusted to your preferences. I haven’t considered buying one, because … well, quite frankly, I don’t read enough to justify the cost. But, I have asked myself, if I read more often or used public transportation to get to/from my job, would I want one?
The other day, I was reading a fascinating article in The Atlantic. We have a subscription and get the physical magazine delivered to our home. I read the first half of the article at home. The next day at work, I wanted to forward the article to a few people. So, I located it online for them. And decided I should just finish reading it there.
I’ve got to tell you, reading online just doesn’t have the same effect. When I’m online, I skim more than read. My eyes dart all over the page. It’s hard to reference previous paragraphs (sometimes I like to do that when reading paper), especially when articles are broken up over many pages (for whatever reason, I generally know where to find passages on the physical page, but it takes much longer to do the same online).
And at the end, my eyes hurt. No matter what the experts tell me about the safety, I just can’t imagine doing any amount of serious reading in front of a computer screen for any long amount of time. (Even at work when I’m editing presentations and papers, I generally print them out to review by hand first.)
By the way, I’m not alone on this electronic reading thing. Even though I’d already drafted this post last week, my dear pal, Marie, blogged about it before me!
At least we now know that since I’m not a technology geek, I likely won’t be spending thousands of dollars on the new LED TVs or a must-have iTouch. Because,clearly that money is budgeted in our house for expensive meat. =)
What technology or electronics are absolutely necessary for your existence? Are there any that you don’t use now and don’t foresee needing in the future?
February 24th, 2010 at 9:05 am
I can’t seem to do electronic calendars either (except at work, but that’s different). Something about needing the flipability of paper--I don’t know exactly, can’t explain it, but I’ve tried and it’s not going to happen.
With regard to the Kindle, I’m conflicted. I work in book publishing, so I know some of the advantages (reading on the Kindle isn’t nearly as hard on your eyes as reading online, I promise) and ebooks are, for better or worse, growing in popularity. I’m actually at a conference about that exact thing right now, and one of the speakers predicted that by 2018, ebooks will outsell physical books. I still don’t know, but there’s no doubt they’re on the upswing.
That said, I LOVE physical books. They’re…comforting to me, always have been. I love the feel of paper and the weight and smell. I can see a Kindle or other device for traveling, but for me, I can’t see the joy of a “real” book every being replaced.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:13 am
I blog, facebook, twitter, and tumblr (sometimes), I almost never have the latest and greatest gadgetry. I have never owned an ipod (gasp, the horror) and dont even currently have an mp3 player. My cellphone makes calls and texts (no QWERTY keyboard though). The thought of a Kindle makes me want to cry (I read A LOT, I prefer to carry actual books with me). Seriously the Kindle makes me incredibly afraid for children who might someday see a book in a museum and be amazed that you actually had to turn pages yourself, instead of just scrolling down. I have a laptop (we have one in our hosue that is shared). While there are times I wish I had an ipod or a smartphone but then when I’m sitting outside in the sun playing with my dog, reading a book, listening to the sounds of nature, I’m glad that I dont.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:15 am
I still love physical books, but my kindle has revolutionized my commute. Truly. I’m reading about a book a week in the two hours a day I’m on the train. Easier/lighter than physical book on crowded train, slim in my work bag, download a new book whenever I finish the last one- love it.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:23 am
My phone contract is up soon and I am debating if I want a smart phone. I like the idea that at the end of the day, I can disconnect. I don’t check email, FB when I get home. I have too much to do.
As far as the kindle, I must say that I love it. First it is lightweight and easy on the eyes to read. Second, I get frustrated when I finish a book and have to go to the store/library to get another one now I have a library at my finger tips (especially at the airport). Third, it reduces clutter. I love books and I let them languish on our shelves for years taking up space and making my living room look cluttered.
I have actually read more since having it. So Far I have read 23 books since August.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:31 am
I’m with you on this mostly. i have a smart phone but i don’t have tons of apps on it. you know i tweet though and i love it. BUT the books on kindle and all that…NO THANKS.
and don’t even get me started on tumblr or disquis. omg.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:52 am
I agree! I like owning books, holding them, and smelling the pages. I can’t imagine skimming through links on my Kindle or deleting entire favorite texts from my Sony Reader. Maybe I’ll change, but I also don’t use formspring, hate disquis, and don’t use apps. However I could not be without my Blackberry or other smart phone because I need to check my email on the go. I rarely log in to my gmail anymore.
PS -- Got the thank you card and wow it’s beautiful. Thank you so much and especially for passing along the business card. I now want to invest in some stationary!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:00 am
I won’t get a Kindle or any other kind of digital reader because I LOVE FEELING THE BOOK IN MY HANDS! (yes, I felt it was necessary to shout that to prove just how much I love books :) ) Like you, reading anything other than a short newsletter online hurts my eyes and I’m easily distracted by the other graphics/ads/text.
I still have a planner, the real paper/pen kind. I use it weekly and it makes me feel good. I guess for me I equate Outlook and technology with work since it’s an IT company and I just don’t want the work stuff to infiltrate my life.
Hell, I’m a girl who has a blackberry and has only two apps (not even facebook which I think is getting the boot soon) on it and only her personal email. The rest of it is just silly.. so I suppose I could get by with a non-smart phone (are all other phones dumb phones if they aren’t smart phones?)
February 24th, 2010 at 10:27 am
I must have my books. They love me when no one else does. They are like live people. Seriously. That’s how mentally ill I am.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I admit I love technology for many things. I own a Blackberry, an IPod (one of the old ones but it still does what I need), and a laptop. I love blogging, I am on Facebook (but not every day and I don’t update moment by moment), but I don’t understand Twitter.
But for my calendar I still keep a paper calendar because I like being able to open it up and look at all of it without scrolling.
As for Kindle I’m not a fan of reading books online. I haven’t tried it but I don’t think I’d like it. Despite my brother saying it is great.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
I have to agree with you there. As far as reading is concerned I want a paperback book. I dream of having a library room in my house some day just filled with books. Maybe I’m just a nerd lol.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:45 am
A kindle is not for me. I’m old school and love books. ACTUAL books in my hand.
People keep telling me to get an iPhone but I just got a lap top. Seems like overkill. I mean, if my phone can text and take calls and sometimes let me check my email, I’m ok with it. I don’t want to be THAT connected. I already feel overloaded.
Though I would like a flat screen tv.
Just sayin’.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I am TOTALLY with you on the day planner thing… I have always and still use a day planner and it’s more than just a planner for me. It holds bits and pieces of information that almost resemble a journal/diary. When I was younger (and had more time) I would draw and stick all kinds of things in my day planner (concert tickets, stickers, photos…)… I have a whole collection of those kind of planner diaries at my parents house. I just can’t get myself to throw them away.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:47 am
One of things I need to do to under the terms of my legal malpractice insurance is to “Double Diary”. So I keep a physical planner and a iphone/outlook. I do it for work and personal stuff because I just got in the habit. I guess I get the best of both worlds. I generally record it on whatever is closer and then “sync” every evening.
I also just cannot get excited about a Kindle, though I think they are awesome for kids and college students for their text books. Or even for cookbooks. I cook with my laptop on the counter to follow recipes all the time. But for pleasure reading -- I love holding a book. I LOVE used book stores. I love being able to give a friend a book that I enjoyed so they can enjoy it next. I love smell of a library. But I bet I would learn to love the Kindle too if I committed to it.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
I hate reading things on a screen, and ALWAYS prefer a book, or a printout, because that way I know I take everything in, and don’t just skim. I will definitely never need an iPhone or a Touch or whatever they’re called because I don’t do that well with new technology -- it took me a week on my phone to figure out how to turn off the French option! I know tonnes of people that have email and Twitter and everything on their phones, and I just don’t think I’d ever feel the need to have that. It’d interfere with real life too much. I like my online time to be spent at a computer, and my personal time spent away from the internet. :)
February 24th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
You know why I’m so thankful I went to college when I did? Online course registration. My sister had to get up at the crack of dawn and stand in awful lines to get the classes she wanted. I just set my alarm for the time when registration opened, quickly registered online, and went back to sleep. WIN.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
If you redd more often and used public transportation to get to your job, would you want a Kindle?…YES! That is me and now that I got a Kindle for Christmas from my BF I am sold. I especially wish I had one when I was reading a 1000 page book last fall…
February 24th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Um, I don’t even know what a Formspring is.
Which, I suppose, shows you which side of the fence I am in. Although I am ITCHING to finally get an iPhone (I have a Blackberry and like it, though don’t LOVE it).
I will say, though, that my brother has a Garmen and I am IN LOVE that that little thing. On the flip side, though, it has enabled him to be totally dependent on it and he doesn’t even know his way around our neighborhood. Is that part of the future of technology?
February 24th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I have a blog, twitter, and a smart phone but beyond that I’m pretty old fashioned. I have a physical calendar, love vintage books, I use a Filofax, a real journal & spend most of my free time doing hands on things: cooking, baking, sewing, knitting.
I just can’t get old fashioned anything out of my head. My two biggest wants right now are a small record player & a vintage typewriter. One of the best things about my iPhone is I get podcasts on it, which to me is like TiVo for AM radio =)
Unless a technology facilitates conversation & sharing (facebook + twitter) for me, I usually prefer the tried and true method.
February 24th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
haha, that line about managing college before email had me laughing out loud. or even college before GOOGLE!!
i have a blog, facebook, and twitter, but i find i can only manage 2 out of the 3 at a time. if i get on facebook, i notice i won’t use twitter at all that day. blogging does seem to be the constant, despite how infrequently i post these days :-)
February 24th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
We are pretty much twinie twins on the tech frontier. I however hate paper calendars (even though I totally get what you are saying). I would get a kindle if I were still traveling a lot for work -- but since I am home now and broke, I am a big library girl.
February 24th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I use a paper calendar and love real books (I have a problem reading on-screen) but I do love technology to an extent. I love blogging because of the community it provides. I love facebook because it allows me to stay in touch with people who I might otherwise not. I’m on the fence about twitter. I do have a twitter account but I find myself having to remind myself to use it. Kindles make me sad.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
So, Nilsa, I have a kindle. I never asked for it and as a book collector was a little put off by it when it was given to me for Christmas last year. I felt like I was cheating on my books. One of my life goals is to have a bigger personal library than Cotton Mather and having books inside of a machine doesn’t allow me to add to my collection (not physically). And, I read a lot. I have grown to really like my Kindle. I don’t read books solely on the kindle, but have found a balance between real books and cyber books. Like, when I am look lazy to drive to the bookstore or something. And, reading on the kindle isn’t at all like reading on a computer screen. There is no glare and it really is like reading the page from a book. And, don’t judge me, I didn’t read back over this before I hit submit. :)
February 24th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I don’t think I’ll ever give up plain old books and mags. If glossies go completely online I don’t know what I’ll do! The plight of newspapers has been depressing me for a while. I would like to think there is enough room in this world for online content like ours AND traditional print. And I’m SO with you on the gadgets. I barely know how to use my Iphone. Ah ha ha
February 24th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I’m a total paper person. I like writing on it. I have scraps of it in my purse with to do lists all the time. I actually even have a check register. I cannot get into having everything on the computer. And I’m very much on the fence about kindle. That said, I would die without email and IM.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I absolutely cannot imagine my life without my iPhone. I know how dramatic that sounds (I really do), but I use it ALL THE TIME. Even though I intentionally disconnect regularly, my average everyday personal and professional life is wrapped up in that thing. But a kindle? Never. I like the smell and weight and texture of books too much. And my personal journal will always be hard copy because I like to paste in ticket stubs and draw in the margins.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Technology musts for me are desktop computer (I’ve never had a laptop), TV of some sort and TiVo. I have a basic mobile phone where you have to hit a key multiple times to get to the letter you want if you are into that newfangled texting schtick. Remember those? My husband got a Droid a couple months ago and it is intimidating to me, so I don’t see a smart phone in my near future.
I think that in theory technology like the Kindle is a great idea. But when it comes down to it? I like a calendar I can flip through and write in. And I love books too much to ever have a device that takes away the thrill I get from the feel of them in my hands and on my lap.
As for online activities, I use Twitter, have pretty much given up Facebook, and rarely chat. I think that’s about it. :)
February 24th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
i despise electronic reading (aside from blogs and such.) i should be grateful that many of my profs post readings online (not sure how legal that is, but i won’t tell!) so we don’t have to spend $$$ on textbooks, but i swear the information just doesn’t stick half as well when i don’t have a physical paper book in my hands! i feel the same way with the planner! i have an iPhone and it has a calendar in there which i use to set reminders, but i also have an adorable paper planner which i love to death and am equally attached to! nothing beats being able to flip through the weeks and sort your life out!
February 24th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I don’t think I can handle a Kindle. I definitely can’t handle spending my money on one.
I only recently synced my work calendar to a google calendar I share with A., and that gets synced to my phone. I have to admit -- I love it. Waking up in the middle of the night worried about a deadline that may or may not be the next day? Just look at my phone, which is always next to me. I love it.
I don’t really want another iPod. I received an iPod shuffle as a gift, and making sure everything is compatible, etc. is a pain in the butt. No thanks.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
A woman after my own heart :-) I have paper on me at all times. I love to write things down. In college, I literally hand wrote all of my papers before typing them. I’ve never had, or wanted a palm pilot, I love doodling pictures and thoughts in my planner/journal, and I love to write letters and send them via snail mail.
And I have the hardest time in the world reading articles/stories online. I would much rather get my hands all black from newsprint or flip through some other paper periodical. And the smell of books is the sweetest smell on earth.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I think reading online really encourages skimming, so articles and books are not necessarily welcome here! :)
I think I will always use my laptop, garmin watch and MP3 player… what else is there? I can do without navigation, or a fancy phone. I suppose Steven would like the tv to remain as well ;)
February 24th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
So, what is Formspring anyway? (THAT’s how out of it I am!)
February 24th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
im with you. i much prefer to have a paper appointment book, to write things in, see it all laid out in front of me. while the kindle may be for some people, it’s not for me. i like the feel and smell of a book!, in my hands.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
I’m totally with you! It’s kind of weird because as I read this I kept nodding my head in agreement! I have tried to do the whole electronic calendar thing but it just doesn’t work for me. There is something about a written calendar. I’m the same with making grocery lists. Even though I could make a note in my black berry, I prefer to carry around a small note book & write things in there when I think of them.
And yah -- no desire to get a kindle. I read a lot, but can not imagine ever buying one. I love the feel of a book in my hands and I love that I have bookshelves full of books. I like to lend books to people & the kindle would obviously prevent that from happening. Maybe I would feel differently if I traveled a ton for work, but I can’t imagine ever working in a job where I would do a ton of traveling. My family keeps trying to convince me to jump on the Nook/Kindle bandwagon but I don’t think it will ever happen!
February 24th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
I’m with you on most everything….except I love my itouch! The more I use it, the more I wish I had an iPhone as opposed to my Blackberry, but I like Verizon too much.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
I have to say, I cannot live without my computer, iPod and Blackberry. Those are a must. If I had to choose between blog and Twitter, ew that would be a tough call.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:39 am
i’m not sure about the kindle myself. someone brought it with them to india while i/we were traveling and i can see how it’s justified great travel companion… books can get really heavy and kindles can store lots of books! but, i’m with you on the computer screen reading.. i just can’t do it really. i MIGHT consider once they’ve been out longer. this is only the first of its kind right? i figure there will be newer, better models in a couple years…
February 25th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
i hate to admit it, but i love new technology, regardless of whether or not i need it. that’s not to say that i’m out there buying it the second it’s released, but i do look forward to reading about it.
i’ve been notoriously late with every new piece of technology that comes out. my first macbook was given to me as a graduation present from high school, about 2 or 3 years after the newest one had been released. i bought my first ipod nano almost a whole year after it had been released. i’ve only had the 99¢ phones up until the last 2 years, when i finally treated myself to a blackberry, which i got for free anyway because J upgraded his at the same time and it was a buy one get one free thing. i got an ipod touch for christmas 2 years after they were released, and i only use it in the car. i didn’t get a wii until last year and J and i bought our first TV, a 37 inch vizio that was on sale after christmas.
i feel like i’m justifying myself, but i like this list. we didn’t buy anything until it went on sale or was gifted to us. the only thing i use religiously is my computer. my phone is for when i get the random call or text and for email when i’m away from home. that’s about it. J and i only play video games once or twice a week. we love movies way too much.
February 26th, 2010 at 7:58 am
I don’t use a paper scheduler and haven’t in years, although I do maintain a wipe board calendar at work just for visual sake. I’ve been using Palm Pilots for years and am now on a Blackberry for that same purpose.
As for what technology I cannot possibly live without? I’m not sure. Maybe just a simple iPod so I have my tunes.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Catching up on some older posts in my reader today! I’m definitely a little of both: part electronic-loving fiend, part paper-cherishing softy. I own a ton of journals, I LOVE reading books (and smelling them and sharing them and dog-earing the pages…), and I make lists on post-its ALL the time. But I also blog, email, chat, tweet, formspring (though it’s definitely getting OLD fast), facebook, and a million other electronic things. That said, I can’t see myself ever enjoying an entire book on some electronic screen, versus the real thing. Sometimes I underline parts I really like (or even make proofreading marks, as if I would ever actually submit them to an author or publishing company), and I pretty much ALWAYS dog-ear the pages and fold the book backwards, creating creases on the spine, and even though my husband thinks that’s terribly destructive of me, I like that I can tell if I’ve read a book just by looking at it.