NEED THAT NEW TECH TOY?

Do You Need That New Tech Toy?

(Long Island, N.Y.) Even though I’m a techno-geek, I’m very cautious about technology for technology’s sake. I’m also not an “early-adopter.” I’ll wait until new products drop in price before buying the latest gadget. When that time comes, I evaluate whether or not it will truly enhance my life or just add to the “clutter” (both emotional and physical).

The exception to this was my iPod Touch, a gift from my husband last Christmas, when it was hot out of the Apple factory and the season’s top tech gift. With 32 gigs of storage, it turned out to be more than I need, but it’s a great productivity tool. (The first draft of this article was written in the car on its “notepad” function; some day, I’ll spring for a Word app.)

With the usefulness of my iPod in mind, sometimes I’m just nowhere near a wireless signal and I want email or Web access. Enter Verizon’s 2-for-1 Blackberry sale.

What? A tech writer, social networking addict and Internet marketer without a smartphone? Yes. Did I mention I’m not an early-adopter?

Before I head off to the Verizon store, I’m evaluating my needs on the same basis I evaluate any technology. Whether you’re talking about a faster computer, joining another social media network or buying a new phone, these key points can help you decide if you want to incorporate another piece of technology into your life.

Keep in mind, if you’re looking for “cool toys,” go ahead and make the purchase. I don’t evaluate paintball equipment (or shoes, for that matter!) this way – I just buy them, because it’s fun!

These four points are designed to help business owners decide if a new piece of technology will really enhance the business and is, therefore, worth the cost of ownership.

1 - What’s the ROI?

Just like marketing, advertising, or product purchases, technology for your business should have a high return-on-investment. If you purchase, for instance, a faster computer, will it increase your productivity to the point that it pays for itself in a short amount of time? With new social networks, will the time investment result in new leads and connections that pay off?

2 - Given that all technology has a learning curve, once you learn how to use it, will it help you operate more efficiently?

Nearly a decade ago, I spent a lot of money on Dragon: Naturally Speaking voice recognition software. “All my problems are solved!” I thought. “No more transcribing interviews!”
Wrong. The software, at that time, was so hard to “train” to recognize my voice, I wasted hours with it. I finally gave up. The learning curve was too high to make it worth my while. I’ve been told the software has improved dramatically since then, but I’m hesitant to make the leap. Lesson learned: No matter how cool a gadget is, (and what can be cooler than talking into your computer ala Star Trek?) if it’s hard to use, you won’t use it.

3 - Do you already have something that does the job equally well? Can existing equipment be modified or upgraded?

This question helps us to be not only cost-conscious, but environmentally conscious. When you replace your old tech gadget with a new one, the old one ends up somewhere. If you decide that it’s time to move on, programs like Freecycle can help you pass your old technology on to others who can still get use out of it. The Environmental Protection Agency web site lists places that either recycle or re-use old technology. www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm

Does it work as advertised? What do the reviews say?

One of the main reasons I’m not the first on my block to own a new piece of technology is I want to make sure all the bugs are out first. Has the new equipment been around long enough to be proven reliable, durable and effective?

With my Blackberry conundrum, I’m fairly convinced on all but the first point. It would be convenient to have email access everywhere I go, but I spend enough time in the office that I’m not sure how much more productive it would make me. By managing my time better, I can certainly take care of all my social networking and Web research in my home office; will I accomplish that much more with 24/7 access to the Web?

Ultimately, I’m going to let passion rule over logic and wind up buying one simply because I want it. But I won’t fool myself into thinking it’s to make myself more productive. It was just time to treat myself to a new “toy.”

Dawn Allcot

October 8, 2009 1:10 PM Eastern

E-mail This Page | Follow Us | Return to My Column

You can Bookmark & Share this article by clicking here: