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.

Toreus's picture

No choice...

I can't tether my MacBook Pro. We have no spare room in the apartment to set either my laptop or my wife's laptop (they're twins) anywhere permanently with external keyboard, mouse or monitor, so we are always computing in our easy chairs (life's rough, I know). My work laptop stays at work unless needed. I access it remotely most of the time.

While I'm on the home laptop a lot, I find the best way to avoid using it all the time is to have a good book to read. I rarely take it anywhere with me; the times I'm out of the house are rarely times that would offer me an opportunity to use the laptop.

 
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