Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

That Naked Feeling in Meetings

Rarely do I actually need to carry anything into a meeting except my Visor. Its got my email, my web site, my meeting notes, my schedule, my contacts...everything (plus Diddle for note taking). Yet, when I walk into a meeting I always feel the need to bring along a portfolio...or something....so that I don't look "naked".

I have been in a few meetings where I sat with only my Visor in front of me, and I got disapproving looks from others (unfortunately superiors) who had notepads, dayplanners, briefcases, folios and a ton of other stuff in front of them "ready to do some work".

Am I the only one who carts around useless stuff from the bygone era of business productivity for the simple purpose of not offending those who find my reliance on technology threatening?

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

I've had that feeling. Walk into a meeting with a room full of people carrying around pencils and paper. I throw down my Stowaway and CLIE and they look at me like I have a GameBoy.

You would think that since I work in technology, those around me would understand. Hardly, most people just assume they are an expensive toy and have no practical use, particularly in a meeting.

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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

Its worse at school. I get out my Visor and my stowaway for when we take notes from the overhead and the guy next to me looks at his notebook, looks at my Visor, looks at his notebook, looks at my Visor, then asks if he can get a copy of my notes then goes to sleep.

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Did you just go near a burning hot river of lava or are you just happy to see me?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

ZZZzzzzzzzz

quote:

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Originally posted by volcanopele
... then asks if he can get a copy of my notes then goes to sleep.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 284

Re: ZZZzzzzzzzz

quote:

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Originally posted by Keefer Lucas


I suggest that you taunt him with a Power Napping module. http://www.visorcentral.com/content...-389-48-all.htm

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Nahh. Charge 'em for the notes!

As for me, carrying my Visor to meetings means I now carry more than I used to! Then again, most of the meetings I attend could be handled more efficiently with an email.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1062

I have found that a PDA alone is treated as a toy, whereas whip out a Stowaway and people assume you are very serious about the meeting.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

Re: That Naked Feeling in Meetings

quote:

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Originally posted by Keefer Lucas
Rarely do I actually need to carry anything into a meeting except my Visor. Its got my email, my web site, my meeting notes, my schedule, my contacts...everything (plus Diddle for note taking). Yet, when I walk into a meeting I always feel the need to bring along a portfolio...or something....so that I don't look "naked".

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Well, I think I'd offer the same advice as to Deitrich's cellphone OCD: seek professional help.

quote:

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I have been in a few meetings where I sat with only my Visor in front of me, and I got disapproving looks from others (unfortunately superiors) who had notepads, dayplanners, briefcases, folios and a ton of other stuff in front of them "ready to do some work".

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I've never got any disapproving looks. I tend to get questions more along the lines of "which one of those do you think I should get?" or "do you know of any software that'll do X for that?"

quote:

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Am I the only one who carts around useless stuff from the bygone era of business productivity for the simple purpose of not offending those who find my reliance on technology threatening?

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Yep. My Edge, and my old VDx/Stowaway combo never caused a negative reaction for me ...usually quite the contrary. AAMOF, I'm usually the first person that board members/managers come to with questions about their Palms (five Vxs, an m500, and an m505).

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: CA
Posts: 47

Yes, I feel a little 'naked' when I only bring along my VPL; however, just so everyone feels like I'm one of the gang, I bring a small 5x8 legal pad and clip-on pen. I also tend to prefer the 5x8 pad when sharing quick thoughts or sketches among my peers rather than passing my VPL around. Keeps the curious from 'blackmailing' me

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Experience is what happens when something unexpected comes up.

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

Yesterday I had my first real chance to use my Visor for note taking. My art class went to the Library to research some artists, and I set up my halfkeyboard and my Pro on my table and was getting down basic biographical information. I had two people ask me about it, and I know many more looked. The kids at my school arn't as open minded as others may be. I have yet to get the Visor out durring a lecture to take notes, I think the keytapping would draw attention. In addition, my US History teacher thinks that we are 3rd graders, and makes us do things like underline "key terms" and make bullets and numbers in our notes... and she often takes notes up for a grade. As the 'kids' get used to it, I am going to try and move more away from paper and to my Visor. I already threw away my school-issued agenda and only use Due Yesterday (great program by the way). The tides are turning for the sake of good though. One other guy in my US History class got a Deluxe a few weeks ago! As far as feeling naked... I still need to have my notebook on my desk, even if I'm not using the paper, I just don't want my teacher hounding me.

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1062

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonewiz2k
I have yet to get the Visor out durring a lecture to take notes, I think the keytapping would draw attention.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

Yeah, I know what you mean- about 1/2 of the non-PDA public is curious about our devices, and the other 1/2 thinks they are toys.

My favorite experience was when a co-worker jokingly asked if I could share my notes with him (trying to prove the superiority of his archaic paper system), and I whipped out my SiPix Pocket Printer (which I rarely carry, but had this time!) and printed him off a set- acting as if there was nothing unusual about this as I did so.

One of our challenges is to demonstrate that these are serious meeting tools. Often, we undercut this by using them to play games on during meetings (honestly- it is pretty obvious that is what you are doing, even with the sound turned off!), or by doing something as silly as a co-worker of mine did by using some program (geek sounds?) to make people think that their phones or pagers were going off, or to hijack a AV presentation with OmniRemote. (Not that I am saying 'silly' is always wrong, mind you!)

I rarely bring more to a meeting than my Prism and a keyboard (and maybe a module or two)- but then again, I am the technogeek at work, and it is expected of me.

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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

quote:

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You can turn this feature off.

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

I just dont know about taking a lot of notes with the visor. expecially with things like chem and math, where you have a lot of diagrams, arrows and such.

I wanna get a smartpad!

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Macau
Posts: 52

I regularly take only my Prism and my Stowaway to meetings and have gotten nothing but positive responses. Mostly people say that maybe they should get one, and I've also had a few people say that they have a palm/sony/visor and could I help them learn to use it more fully. In the last six months or so, I have had seven friends and colleagues who either got visors or sony PDAs, and at least four of them were because of seeing how I use my PDA at meetings and conferences.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

ROFL!

I also need a small keyboard
But I don't need those undwanted attention

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my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1062

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonewiz2k
I was referring to the tapping noises of my Halfkeyboard, not of the digitizer tap sound in the PalmOS. I should have been more clear.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

There was a thread about the Halfkeyboard. The last post is a pretty in-depth look at my experiance with the keyboard. And I can say since a month after posting, I have gotten faster. The thread is right here.

http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...p?threadid=8211

Meanwhile, I am about to go pick up a GoType for $25 at Office Depot, that is the plan anyways. I'm gonna do some job hunting while I'm at it.. wish me lucky everyone!

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1062

Good luck with the job search and thanks for the link
Kelley