I think my boyfriend’s love of tech toys is rubbing off on me. Last weekend I agreed to help him pick out furniture for his new apartment, but somehow I ended up parting with more money than he did! The man cannot commit to patio furniture, but he gets a vicarious thrill out of watching other people spend money. Still, I think my purchases will come in handy.
Purchase #1: a headset so I can conduct phone interviews via Skype instead of eating up all my cell phone minutes. There’s a reason I don’t have a landline, but it’s a long story involving roommates and a trip to India… In any case, I’m sure that using a headset is better for my neck than cradling my cell phone on my shoulder as I type like a madwoman.
Purchase #2: a motorized laptop cooling station. My laptop seems to generate enough heat to keep a small Russian village warm for the winter. Not what I need in Boston in July when I’m too cheap to turn on the AC. Hopefully this will help.
Potential Purchase: a BlackBerry. Still debating the pros and cons of this one. Right now I have a very basic cell phone, but I’m eligible for an upgrade and mobile email access is tempting. Any insights?
My fiancee always fights me on the new tech stuff…then she uses it…i.e. Skype and loves it. Not sure where the backlash comes from. Last 3 gfs same thing ;->.
I’ve been using a Blackberry forever and love it, but you have to be disciplined. Also, I think my next purchase will finally be an iPhone b/c it now will have enterprise support. Discipline is still the key.
As for Skype, download a program called Pamela so you can record convos. Also, I use a Bluetooth ear piece for this. Frees up the hands to take notes on the interview while you do them.
Hope it helps some!
@Christien: nothing would please him more than convincing me to buy an iPhone. But it’s not happening. At least not right now.
I’m loving the laptop cooling station … I have to run my air conditioner down here in Texas, but at least I wouldn’t suffer third degree burns when I actually work with it in my lap!
I have always been stubborn in regards to cell phones, which I consider one huge collective scam. Because of my increasing freelance duties, however, and my tendency to work from mobile offices and interview sites during my full-time job, I finally bit the bullet and invested in a BlackJack II from AT&T. I LOVE IT. Yes, it was expensive, but I considered it a business investment, and it’s awesome to be able to access my e-mail and Microsoft Office anywhere I have a signal.
Before you purchase a BlackBerry or other smart phone, I’d recommend reading up on some reviews, especially on CNET, and trying out various models in-store. Good luck!!
Susan,
what a coincidence since I have been thinking about a head set and my husband is looking for a cooling system.
I’ve been thinking about a smart phone too so I can have everything in one place. But I just read an article about how the physical act of writing things down is actually better for your creative side of your brain. Who knows. I’ll probably be unorganized either way.
@Katy
Haha! Interviewing during your fulltime gig. I do that all the time. Hm, maybe I do need a smart phone.
both my wife and I use the Dash (HTC Excalibur) on T-Mobile. Depending on what service you use, either a Blackberry or Windows Mobile based smartphone is a good option. A fringe benefit of mine is that I can attach my phone to my laptop via USB and use it as a wireless modem (with the data plan) if I’m in a place where I can’t otherwise get WiFi.
I got my Blackberry via http://www.letstalk.com They have great rebates. I paid $99 and got $200 in rebates.
Hi Susan,
Cellphone buying guide and article that may be helpful -
http://www.komando.com/buyguide/
index.aspx?id=4724
and
http://www.komando.com/buyguide/
index.aspx?id=1300
Mark
Susan, I think that having a smart phone makes good sense for busy freelancers. My clients really value my speedy replies and accessibility when they have a question, and I’m sure yours feel the same way, so I saw it as a sound business investment.
Of course, I might not have made the leap if I hadn’t just been assigned an article on smart phones, and ended up becoming obsessed with the new iPhone. I swear, I spend more money because of tech writing than I make doing it!
The issue I had rationalizing it was that as a freelancer, and working from home, it’s kind of silly to have a smart phone if my computer is essentially 5 feet away. Deciding whether it’s right for you is really about balancing how often you’ll use it with the cost and benefits of having it. That being said, I’ve only had mine for a few days, but I love it and it’s already made me money by helping me close a valuable project.
Good luck with your decision! (And let us know how Skype works out for you – I’ve been resisting it because I have a flat rate for unlimited North American calling, but it would probably come in useful for some of my overseas clients. I’d love to hear how it goes for you, and whether you find it to be a useful business tool!)
-Dachary
http://dacharycarey.com
I’ve been struggling with the whole blackberry issue too. My interest isn’t in the mobile e-mail access (although I tend to “store” info in e-mails rather than my head). What i really want is all the MS outlook calendar, task, and contact information in the palm of my hand when I’m running errands for myself and more importantly my PA clients.
My concern is less the cost of the phone itself and more the cost of the service. I work full time at a non-profit and part time as a personal assistant, but I finding it difficult to decide if it’s worth the extra $60 a month. However, since I’ve shelled out $400 in chiropractor co-pays over the last 3 months due in no small part to the GIANT paper planner and stacks of paperwork I find myself lugging everywhere, an extra $60 a month might be worth it.
I don`t get a ton of e-mails, but I like being able to check them in my dead time – commuting, standing in line, etc – and I very rarely respond using my Blackberry. The real benefit I find is having the information mulling in my brain already. When I do sit down to respond, my answers come in an instant because I have already thought them over.
Oh, and ps, your postings are so helpful to someone learning about the writing business. Thanks!
@Erin: good point! Often when I’m out and about, I’ll remember to check X website and have to write myself a note to do it later. It would be great to just check it on the spot and move on!