How Connected are you?

[Cehrabehra]

I am sitting in an airplane about to leave shanghai for kuala lumpur, checking my mail and typing this response on my iPhone with my ipad on my lap, my laptop at my feet, my server back home downloading show whole I'm gone and that's just one geek out of 5.

 

[Gypsy]

I'm connected but in a kicking and screaming sort of way -- seeing the gadgets as a necessity rather than fun ways to be accessible. I don't like being easily accessible. I have hermit genes. What surprised me is how quickly I've come to depend on my Android phone. Loves it to pieces.

Yeah. I'm a hermit too. My nook does have connection abilities, but I only use them to buy books at 1am on Christmas Eve when everywhere is closed and I get a secret thrill at being able to buy and read any book I want without stepping into a store. Really the Nook enables my hermit tendancies rather than the opposite, when I think about it.

But the phone I just got is an andriod phone too... and I love it to pieces as well. Had no idea I would. But it was like duck... water.


It's really interesting to hear everyone characterize their connectivity. 6 years ago we had no cell phone as well. And here I am today. Connected. Kicking and screaming yes. Creeped out a little but how subversive it is, and how seductive. But... still here.

I will say that my Droid phone is NOT going to be connected to work unless they pay for it. Which... they probably will. BUT... I'm not gonna ask. I don't want to be that connected to work.

 

[Imdanny]

Well, my SO is away on business and if it were the old days of land lines and pay phones, it would be a little more difficult. I like my cell phone and I like texting (him, I don't text more than a couple of friends and only rarely).

My "connected" needs are divided between my cell phone and my iPod (both touch screen) so I think it I'd feel a little more connected if it was only one device but I like them both very much.

 

[geckodani]

I personally have a Desktop and an iPod Touch. DH has a desktop, laptop and an Android.

I *might* upgrade to an iPhone at some point, but am not in a hurry. My phone still has the Cingular logo on it, LOL!

 

[elrohwen]

I don't think I'm that connected. I used to be much more so, but the older I get the less connected I become. I spend 95% of my work time staring at a computer, so I use electronics much less in my out of work life.

I have a work laptop that comes home with me every night, but I honestly don't check it ever. Things can happen in my job and someone might need to get in touch with me, but I tell them to call me and then I'll log on and look into things.

I have a home laptop and I do spend some time online in the evenings if DH is playing video games or something. I check email fairly often, but then very rarely go on Facebook.

I have a blackberry, but honestly rare use it (or answer if it rings). I have a 5 year old iPod but only use it for working out.

 

[dragonfly411]

I'm pretty connected. I have a laptop, which I actually really need because I'm in school and I take some online classes. I have an iphone with way way way too many apps. I now have succumbed to the kindle. I also have a pretty peacock skin for said kindle. Fortunately my iphone serves as a camera and an ipod all in one with the apps and the email, maps, notes, and everything else it has. I don't know how I survived without this phone. Seriously.

Those are the only three though.

ETA - currently I'm not on FB.... had a snooper... that settled that. I do have a twitter account, and I like to read twitter.

 

[meresal]

AN- That is ridiculous that they require it.

I get along just fine without a smartphone, and I am going to fight it as long as possible. I worry that as the child gets older I will need quicker access to other parents and their phone numbers/email/etc. I realize this is probably what the Ipad is for... but I can't fit in Ipad in my pocket.
For now, I just keep reminding myself that only 15 years ago we didn't even have cell phones... and people seemed alright.

 

[Lauren8211]

I am extremely connected!

I have a laptop (that I also use as a desktop - it doesn't move), a netbook (that I use to PS/Email/FB around the house) and a smart phone. I am literally never without phone/email/internet access. Ever!

I love it!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I'm pretty connected. I have a laptop, which I actually really need because I'm in school and I take some online classes. I have an iphone with way way way too many apps. I now have succumbed to the kindle. I also have a pretty peacock skin for said kindle. Fortunately my iphone serves as a camera and an ipod all in one with the apps and the email, maps, notes, and everything else it has. I don't know how I survived without this phone. Seriously.

Those are the only three though.

ETA - currently I'm not on FB.... had a snooper... that settled that. I do have a twitter account, and I like to read twitter.

Dragonfly - that's too bad you had to cancel your FB account. How did you know you had a "snooper?"

 

[soocool]

I have my laptop which I check several times a day. I shut it off by 7pm. I don't want a smart phone, in fact, I hate my cell phone. When I am out with family, friends, or just shopping alone I want to focus all my attention on whom I am with or what I am doing. It annoys me considerably when I am with a friend who says, she has to take this and then talks on the phone like I am not even there, or when my DH constantly checks his emails on his phone. and then asks me what I just said.

DH and I now have an agreement that there is no smart phone at the table when we eat and catch up and no phone when we go upstairs to bed. There have been numerous times when I could hear his phone downloading emails in the middle of the night and the last time I picked up his phone and threw it at the wall (this was last week and now he knows I mean business).

So believe it or not, by turning off my computer and cell phone at night (I also do not answer my landline after 8pm) I have been sleeping better (this means straight through the night) and my blood pressure has dropped 10 points and all without medication.

 

[VRBeauty]

For now, I just keep reminding myself that only 15 years ago we didn't even have cell phones... and people seemed alright.
:wacko:

uhmm... I don't have a cell phone???

 

[Amber St. Clare]

I have a laptop and a cell phone. And my cell phone is smarter than I am. I don't text. I don't know how to make files. I don't know how to take pictures with my phone. I'm not connected at all and couldnot care care less.

I consider most electronic devices intrusions into my personal space. The other day I was at the gym trying to ask the woman behind the desk something. She was supposed to be working but tap, tap tap, she was way too busy texting to answer my question. The woman who hit my car was too busy talking on the phone to drive safely and she hit my back bumper. The woman doing the elliptical next to me apparently didn't quite understand what NO CELL PHONES meant when I kindly pointed to the sign and asked her to please refrain from using her phone. I really didn't want to hear about last nite's date. And how much exercising can you be doing if you can talk while you are doing the elliptical?

Why is everyone so afraid of a moment of silence?

 

[meresal]

For now, I just keep reminding myself that only 15 years ago we didn't even have cell phones... and people seemed alright.
:wacko:

uhmm... I don't have a cell phone???

I applaud you!

 

[yennyfire]

We have a family computer that my 4 and 6 year old use a little bit (believe it or not, they have homework on the computer in kindergarten!), I have a laptop, we both have iPhone's and neither of us has a Kindle or Nook.

MC, when I read your comments, I spit water all over my screen...you sound like me, but I'd have to humiliate myself by asking my neighbor's kid for help, as mine aren't quite smarter than me (yet).

 

[marymm]

Not connected that much at all -- and it DOES creep me out to see how pervasive it is... I work with computers, and have a laptop at home I use. I have an 8-year old Nokia phone (and I love it - its nice and big (compared to today's creditcard phones) and so old people laugh and point at it - when I pull it out, I almost feel like Maxwell Smart and his shoe phone), but only DH, my family, work, and a couple of friends have the #. No land-line phone. I have hermit tendencies and I really don't like feeling I must respond to electronic contraptions; I just like to use them at my convenience.

I DO crave a Nook though; hoped for one for Xmas but no such luck -- I'm a big-time reader and even though I'd never get rid of my personal library, I'd love the convenience of the Nook to carry around a portable library. And I think I'd find its WiFi very convenient in my commute if I need directions or MTA updates, or want to listen to music.

But when I'm on the train and I see how many people are "plugged" in to something, it is kinda weird.

 

[portia]

I'd say I'm very connected. I have 3 laptops (1 work and 2 personal) and I think I'm pretty close to getting an iPad for those those away-from-computer times (as Italia mentioned) as well as a kindle. I also have a smart phone. My DH has 2 desktop PCs, personal laptop, work laptop, kindle, and too many cellphones/blackberries to mention due to the nature of his job. It's scary working in IT... it's like being on an electronic leash! And with all that I don't do anything on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc (although I do have an account with some of those sites) and really don't like texting much.