I agree, but at the same time they were seeing something we don't. They were seeing a fundamental shift in their world. No longer would they be dictating letters to be written and sent off, nope. They would be the ones writing these letter and physically generating content, not just ideas. This is a huge shift and one that for many men of that time would be hard to embrace. Me... do women's work? Obviously, it was eventually unavoidable. I think we saw the same push back with email. Not for sexist reasons but for the fear of change. It's now unthinkable that someone would refuse to use email in a business setting but there was a time when people would only write/type letters. Old habits die hard, regardless of the new possibilities.
I personally think that we are used to the changes. I mean, look at the speed with which new inventions come. 5 years ago, nobody used a touch screen on a phone. Most people wouldn't have dreamt of a small computer in their pocket which can also be used for calling. Nowadays the changes come so quickly that most people are used to them. I agree that these changes might not be of the same calibre as the keyboard was to businessmen, but then again, they weren't prepared for change in the technological tools they used.
I would tend to agree except I do think there was a sizable amount of people that initially refused to transform their phones in to personal computers. These people still exist, right b_b? Most of them don't do so because the technology scares them but because they don't want to interject more "connectivity" in to their lives. -There's probably some truth there. Either way, they weren't prepared for the change and it was a barrier to entry for them.
Actually, I am one of the people who doesn't have a smartphone (and doesn't really want one). I see that smartphones are awesome toys, but the reasons I don't wan't one are simple. First is cost. €200,- is way too much for a phone and that is a cheap phone. And secondly, I have a perfectly fine phone. When it stops working, I'll have a look at another one. I am getting a bit tired of the "I must have the latest and greatest thing" culture which is developing. I mean, lying in front of an Apple store just to get your hands on the latest iPhone while you bought a new one 6 months ago. It is madness.
I agree, it would be strange to buy every single iteration of a device just because it exists. My wife is still using an iPhone 3Gs and it works fine. I use a 4g but it has to do with when our "plan" allows us an upgrade at a discounted price. We are both "due" for an upgrade now and are waiting for the iPhone 5. Since we get a hefty price break, I think we'll both get one. I equate it to adult toys. (no not that kind)
Smartphones: Toys for when you are bored on the toilet, in bed or even in public!
I was out with some friends last night sitting around a table and at one point someone needed some useless fact that only tangentially contributed to the story at hand. Immediately, 4 of them busted out their phones and began searching for the answer. My pal Will turned to me and said, "what did we do before smartphones" and I responded, "we actually had conversations".
That is pretty much what happens nowadays. Instead of thinking or forgetting about a small fact, we now look them up. Try imagining you would look everything up in the encyclopaedia during a conversation. Takes the speed out of it.
My grandparents always had an encyclopedia and a dictionary within arms reach of their dinner table. I recall them using it several times a meal during conversations. Great memories.
Seriously? My grandparents also had an encyclopaedia near the dinner table, but they never used it. And I mean never. I think I was the only one who opened it at all...
Well, in my defense the main reason I didn't want a smart phone was because I didn't want to pay another $30-40/month to have internet access on the go when I'm already paying Comcast $55/month for home service, and I'm rarely not at my home or office. But, then I realized that if I bought the phone outright, that T-Mobile only charges $60/month for unlimited everything with no contract, which is less than I was paying at Verizon for just talk/text. The phone will pay for itself in less than a year, so really, I was just practicing good finance!
A savvy consumer! Nice work b_b, would you say that you are "more connected" now? If so, do you find this a benefit or a hindrance? I have a good friend that has no cell phone provider but has an iPhone 3GS that he uses only in Wifi spots. He doesn't want the constant "tether" that connection brings.
Eh, whatever strikes me at the time. This morning on my walk to work I had "Quinn the Eskimo" radio going. I'm a product of the grunge era, so a lot of that (although "Grunge radio" on Pandora is some weird rap station), sometimes I go for the Elliott Smith channel. Lots of singer/songwriter type stuff.