New Love
Back when I first got a trial BlackBerry, I kind of felt like I was betraying myself, as I am typically very anti-cell phone. It wasn't the fact that it was a cell phone that made me like the original BlackBerry, it was access to my email and the internet. But the fact remained, it was a cell phone. And for me to love it, as I oh-so-dearly did, made me feel... dirty.
It has been since January 1st that I've been getting over the loss of the original BlackBerry. My mourning was made easier, however, by the introduction of new BlackBerry:
New BlackBerry is almost the best of both worlds. First and foremost, it's not a cell phone. Instead, it's a voice over IP phone, so instead of using the cellular network to transfer voice and data, it uses 802.11b wi-fi networks. The obvious downside is that I only have ability to use the phone/internet on it when I'm in range of a wireless network. The good news is that Panera, work, and the toilet in my bathroom are all spots that are within range of a wireless network.
The bad news about new BlackBerry is that it's even more temporary than original BlackBerry. Our time together will be short. But no less meaningful. Because finally, I have found a mobile device that allows me to get my gadget on WITHOUT making me simultaneously feel dirty.
Now excuse me, the new BlackBerry and I are going to go play "Bass Assassin."
Comments
Radioactive JOIP said:
Um. Omar? That list of your wi-fi hot spots?
TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
Glo said:
Down! Down with your hatred of Cellular phones!
Syar said:
what's "bass assasin"?
wait...on second thought, do I want to know?
demosthenes said:
So when do we get to meet the new, new Blackberry? Like, the permanent kind?
I said:
Bass Assassin is now a link to the maker of the game. Note that I've never gone fishing in my life, but fishing games on cute little BlackBerry devices are too cool to pass up.
Katie said:
Not only am I anti-cell phone, I'm also consumed with techno-joy. Which means that instead of reading the manual, if my computer doesn't do something I don't like, I hit it. Or in the case of my CD burner, throw it away. Not my iPod though, I love that thing. Anyways, I feel like I have been privvy to some deep and emotional connection. I feel dirty for reading this post.
X said:
When you said "Bass Assassin", I immediately thought of Bootsy Collins. Needless to say, I was sorely disappointed by the reality.
---X
Onj said:
I still don’t understand this aversion to cell phones as you are a well established techno junkie. Personally, I can’t stand land lines. You know it’s illegal to solicit over cell phones by using an automated dialer? No telemarketing makes me happy. I fail to see the disadvantage to being able to contact anyone you want from anywhere that you are. I think you have it backwards when you think that now anyone can access you anywhere because you hold all the power, you can answer, or not answer. I’d like to think that deep down inside, you really do like cell phones, you just happen to hate the majority of the people that use them, thus by having a cell phone, you become one of those people, and that’s just unacceptable. I can live with that. But I cannot accept that you don’t like the technology behind it. Not with the Treos and the blackberries out there… For medical reasons, I cannot stop using my cell phone. It’s to my understanding that my heart would actually stop were I to lose it. I just can’t let that happen. I don’t have one of those lame holsters for my phone though, those are just stupid. And in spite of what others have said and all the rumors surrounding my cell phone on the net, I have not, in fact, bedazzled it. I do not need dozens of plastic jewels to make my phone look cool. It looks cool all on its own.
cadiz12 said:
when i saw bass assasin, i somehow connected that to 'basin,' i.e. toilet. i don't konw, omar. some things we just don't wanna know.
i'm one of the cell addicts. and i respect your opinion, but i do agree w onj, you can laugh manaically when you hit that 'reject' button. it's empowering.
I said:
You're right, I do like the technology. But cell phones foster inconsiderate behavior. They turn the guy in front of me in line at the store into the jerk in front of me in line who is making the line move slowly. They turn the 19 year old girl who already is a questionable driver into a 19 year old wrecking ball.
Let's say I went out to dinner with a group of friends. Just in case someone better wanted to contact me, I decided to bring my laptop and leave AIM and my email program open the whole time. I wouldn't necessarily answer every instant message or email, only the ones I deemed more important that what I was doing at the time. You know what that is? It's RUDE. And it's no different.
Viking said:
Oh I am jealous... I'm looking at a new one now...
cadiz12 said:
omar, i know you're a man of principles, but really. i think having the blackberry is a lot closer to your analogy of the laptop than a phone (and i'm not condoning 19-year-old wrecking balls). don't hate the game, hate the player who doesn't follow the rules of good sportsmanship.
I said:
Having a cellular blackberry would be closer to the laptop analogy, yes. That's why this particular NON cellular blackberry is so perfect!
And NOBODY who has a cell phone follows these rules of good sportsmanship. It's become acceptable to be rude when it comes to cell phones.
Seventeen Syllables said:
Omar,
As always, I'm with you on the cellphone issue. But really I stopped in to say I like the new look and tag line. And not just because I won the 3000th comment contest and got my own unlimited visa card.
cadiz12 said:
okay, i give up. enjoy your blackberry. and i hope whoever it is that has been so rude to you with his/her cellphone stops immediately.