Back again…and catching up

After a bit of a hiatus over the last few months, I’m back.  Thanks to who have checked in and asked me to restart the blog…your wish is my command.

Since digital tech is changing all the time, I’ll relaunch with a quick rundown of the equipment/approaches I’m using these days.

Computing:

I’m using four different computers daily – main desktop, kitchen desktop, tablet/laptop, and netbook.

I added the netbook (8.5-inch ASUS) over the summer, and I’ve come to love it. Long battery life (5-6 hours) and small size means it goes everywhere with me.

On the main computer, I’ve added a fourth monitor. I’m thinking about adding a fifth next year, if I can find an external video device at a reasonable price.

Mobile computing:

Late last year, I switched to an HTC Verizon Touch Pro as my PDA phone.  It does most of the things I want, but none of them well. (Not enough RAM or a fast enough processor.) 

After toying with the idea of getting a Mi-Fi last summer, I decided to stick with using my Touch Pro as a wireless hotspot instead. Not as convenient, since I can’t talk and be online simultaneously, but much cheaper. (Free versus $60/month contract.)

Software:

Firefox, Outlook, and OneNote account for probably 99% of my activity these days. Functions associated with all three sync automatically, which makes working on multiple systems seamless.

Over the summer, I made the big shift from MS Money to Quicken.  Switching was brutal – tough to transfer 10 years of data and thousands of transactions, but it had to happen. I’m still not a fan of Quicken, though.

I also upgraded to PaperPort Pro 12 recently.  Not worth the money – stick with 11.

Home video/entertainment:

Replaced all four TVs with HDs this year, which prompted a switch from my beloved Tivos to Comcast’s DVR boxes. The Comcast DVR service can’t hold a candle to Tivo, but it wins on economics: While Comcast’s $9.95/month per box is $3 more than Tivo, I don’t have to spend $2,400 to buy four HD Tivos.

I’m still toying with switching to Verizon FIOS, although Verizon’s failure to be able to answer some of my basic questions about installation have made me wary.  Given Comcast’s continued bad and expensive service, though, it’s tempting.

I also traded my Slingbox Pro for a Slingbox Pro HD.  Streaming in HD is great – an excellent device.

So, that catches me up on tech.  What’s everyone else using these days?

Is "getting away from it all" the right idea?

I was in a discussion group recently where someone commented that she valued "getting away from the electronics."

This struck me as odd: Why "get away from" electronics? That it would be like saying I wanted to get away from electric lights or modern plumbing. They're all just tools that serve functions, no more, no less. Not having them around means I can do less -- for fun or work.

Although the person later clarified that she meant "get away from it all," not just electronics specifically, I suspect her first thought actually reflects what a lot of people feel: Having electronic devices, especially cell phones, Blackberries and other PDAs, and access to "everything" wherever they are creates stress. Leave the device behind, and the stress goes away.

The thing is, that's a terrible strategy.

Sure, we all need time to think, to disengage, and to relax. But, cutting off access to "the electronics" is really nothing more than "shooting the messenger." The pressures and responsibilities don't go away, it's just that you've removed your ability to manage them.

Ultimately, that's not a work/life balance, that's a crash diet. And, like a fad diet, you might see some benefits for a week or two, but when things return to normal, you're in thicker than ever.

One of the things I've learned from using David Allen's Getting Things Done approach to personal management is the skill of "opting in" to focus on something, releasing my focus, and refocusing on something else. It happens on a micro level with ongoing interruptions, and on a macro level, when I chose to devote my time to doing one thing over another.

As technologies make the old boundaries of time and location even less relevant for determining where your focus evaporate, developing an ability to chose your intentions -- without having to cast off your tools -- is going to become an even more critical skill.

To my mind, this means learning more about how to "get to it all" in all aspects of life, and less about getting away from any of it.