‘Just In Case’
Recently, it was reported right here on this blog that I purchased an iPad. For those who know me, yes, this was a significant event. Now that a few months have passed, I’d like to offer an update. Because here’s the backstory: even though I live and breathe PeopleSoft and ERP and professional services, I’m notoriously suspect of technology when it comes to personal matters.
Let me explain as best I can.
After purchasing the iPad in January, I think I opened it four or five times by the first of March. I didn’t have my MIPRO email available to me, I hadn’t downloaded any applications other than USA Today and I was carrying it around in my briefcase along with the laptop that I was hoping not to travel
with anymore! So now my briefcase is twice as heavy which was my primary driver for buying the iPad to begin with – lighten the load! Meanwhile, of course, Apple has now released a new version and mine is ‘old’. (Oh well, as if I would know the difference.)
Last week I attended Oracle’s 5th Annual Maintenance Summit, and we had our demo on an iPad so we could easily take the demo anywhere! During some downtime at the conference, my colleague was able to get my work email, my calendar and some applications on my personal iPad and also gave me some navigation techniques. I was very excited! The magic tool became usable to my luddite self!
So when I left for business travel this past week, I was determined to only use my iPad while traveling. Guess what happened? All went well, but I did have my laptop as a backup – just in case. Not sure when I will be sufficiently confident to leave the laptop behind on short business trips, but I will certainly keep trying.
If it’s anything like my cell phones, it may be awhile. I’ve had one with AT&T and one with Verizon for about 10 years. I’ve carried them both all the time – just in case. I also still carry a Franklin Planner along with me, just in case the calendars on my laptop and iPad decide to fail at the same time in conspiratorial fashion.
Wait. In writing this, it dawns on me that maybe I’m not a great candidate for new technology. Maybe my inherent distrust for personal technology doesn’t stem from the technology itself, but instead long-standing patterns and biases that are hard to break, even in the face of evidence that they can be broken safely.
Mea culpa, I guess.
I love my new iPad, but don’t take away my laptop just yet. And don’t even think about touching my Franklin Planner.
What about you? Is anyone out there a Just-In-Caser like myself, as I am anticipating? Or do I need meds? Let me know in the comments.
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More links:
MIPRO Consulting main website.
