Blackberries - Part Deux

Sometimes I wish I was 16 because I knew eveything back then. Now, I'm finding that answers just lead to more questions . . .

Well, my Blackberry blog got me a few emails and even one phone call from a Blackberry owner who likes to hit guys like me real hard. It seems to some degree that I didn't have the full picture on this issue.

Here's what I'm beginning to understand. Blackberries are a great idea. They are also the best, worst idea to come along in a while. Confused? I'm just getting started!

The Blackberry is a device that can do everything except take pictures (more on that in Blackberries - Part Trois). That means that everything, and I mean everything, can be dumped into that little device. Your calendar, your email, the Web, it's a phone too. What's happening is that people who have them are becomming somewhat overwhelmed with all of the information and requests for information coming their way. Most of us have jobs - but the Blackberry is not our job - just part of it. However, managing the information - in and out - is starting to become a job all by itself.

So, the questions are: Is it all worth it? When you get home - when do you shut the thing off? Do we need to be always on?

The soul-less Curmugeon-bounder-like Capitalist in me says:

"Yes it's worth it."
"Never, ever, shut it off"
"Yes, we must always be `on'."

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a hypocrite about this. I have a phone. Sometimes, thanks to call display, I don't answer some calls that come in.

However, I sure the heck expect people who have phones to answer them when I call them.

I think I have been that way with people with Blackberries too. I am going to have to tell myself, remind myself, that while Blackberries can be always on, people aren't. At least until Scrooge-like Capitalists like me are allowed to insert "implants" into employees so that I can access their brains while they sleep.

I can dream - can't I???