43 Folders

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Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

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”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Laptops: A blessing or a curse?

When I got my first laptop, I loved the exhilarating freedom of whipping it out anytime I "needed" it. No matter where I am, I could work on a project, balance a budget, or play a video game. Years later, despite its "convenience", I'm dangerously married to my laptop.

It's with me virtually everywhere. On the bus, at work, at home, in bed. And yes, it even goes with me to the toilet--the perfect time for multi-tasking, right? According to my estimate, I spend twice as much time looking at an LCD screen than high-definition reality.

My laptop, supposedly handy, is now just an easy excuse to work (or procrastinate) at any time, all the time. I need help, and it's time for an intervention.

Do you have an unhealthy marriage with your laptop? Have you switched back to desktops? How have you coped? Please share.

chmgd's picture

Replacing my Powerbook 12" with paper !

At the beginning, when I buy my brand new beautiful Powerbook 12", I was always carrying it, everywhere, from home to work, from work to home, and of course in holidays, just in case... and then I buy a Palm TX, and then I absolutely needed to sync everything - especially iCal and Contacts - and of course nothing is perfect. The Powerbook AND the Palm need energy (well, always thinking about the batteries and about the plugs and every little cables and things to carry), the syncing is not perfect, even with "the Missing Sync"... and one day I needed a break ! I just sell the Palm, and begins to re-use an old-fashion paper agenda (http://www.quovadisplanners.com/), and make a Hipster PDA with very little bristol cards. Well, where is my Powerbook ? It stays at home !.. And my next computer will be a Mac mini :-)

 
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