FedEx just delivered a box from Toshiba. My new Tecra M4 Tablet PC waits patiently inside. After 6 months of research + two months from the time I decided to make my purchase, I'm ready to take the next step.
I can't believe it's finally here!
Unfortunately, I've got a very full plate, with several eProductivity projects due for clients over the next few months.
I'm presently negotiating with myself just how much I will commit to get done before I break the first seal on the box.
Will I force myself to have a completely empty in-box (paper & digital) before I peek inside?
Or, will I give in to temptation, rip open the box, boot up Windows XP, Tablet edition and start blogging in ink?
Accountability and integrity. A real test.
What would you do?
Discussion/Comments (29):
Do what I did Eric, tear the box open - live for the moment!!
Mine was imported from the US thoughtand arrived without a local power cord. Now that's REAL torture. Having to drive down to the local hardware store without getting a speeding ticket in order to fire it up.
Congratulations. The tablet is great fun (and a fabulous productivity tool as well)
Posted at 05/12/2005 17:52:54 by Helen Crozier
I would have made that post via your new Tablet PC.
Posted at 05/12/2005 18:05:14 by Rob Bushway
Go for it! You can work on AC power while you charge the Tablet!
Posted at 05/12/2005 18:28:20 by Warner Crocker
Send it to me Eric ;-). I'll look after it for you until you're ready.
Posted at 05/12/2005 19:09:29 by Michael Sampson
Eric, you did the right thing. Just blog about it all. There's real progress, grasshopper...
David
Posted at 05/12/2005 21:02:47 by David Allen
Eric, I'm depending on you to let me know if I need to get one. So, open it up and start using it.
Jon
Posted at 05/12/2005 23:17:21 by Jon Dale
I once heard of a computer hardware company that shipped house bricks in their boxes, to make the month end figures. Sleep well, Eric ;-)
Posted at 05/13/2005 0:45:08 by Nick Duffill
Eric,
Here is one thing I must disagree with Mr. Allen over. While there are without question thousands of things you can get off your mind by scheduling them for future attention, a new computer in the box is not one of them.
To be an adult you need to be honest with yourself. You know you won't be giving your full attention to your client's projects while the untouched Tecra remains in the back of your mind calling to you.
I see your blog as a call for help. In your heart you know what to do. Play with it Eric. It's best for you and for your clients that you do.
Posted at 05/13/2005 4:54:18 by Steve New
Let's see: 30 minutes additional productivity per day = 15 extra hours per month. You just have to do the math.
Posted at 05/13/2005 5:32:46 by James Kendrick
It's a trick!
Posted at 05/13/2005 5:58:24 by Robin Mayfield
I'm really curious to see how loud the fan is and if the speakers work in tablet mode (since i believe they are covered). I've ordered mine, but it still says that its in the packing stage. Any chance for a quick (10 minute) review with pictures :)
Posted at 05/13/2005 6:51:04 by MT
A boy needs a new toy every now and again (and a girl needs fresh flowers -- ideally roses, don't ask me why they are hard-wired that way, they just are). So get on with turning on the new Tablet PC already!!! :-)
Posted at 05/13/2005 6:52:54 by Marc Illsley Clarke
Rip it open then realise how much more work you can achieve using it. No dilemma as you'll quickly save the time it took to set it up :)
Posted at 05/13/2005 7:04:22 by Colin Walker
Go on - you know you want to!
Posted at 05/13/2005 7:05:29 by Colin Walker
I guess I'm hard-wired funny. And my girlfriends too. We don't want flowers (roses or not) because they die and have to be disposed of... whereas technology is forever. Yes, we want technology! Give MEEEEE the Tecra. I've been eyeing one for some time now.
;-)
Posted at 05/13/2005 7:16:29 by Shellifino
How many days before you cannot return? ;)
Posted at 05/13/2005 7:44:59 by Steve Castledine
Stay away from anything new dude
Posted at 05/13/2005 7:57:40 by Fine James
Delaying the gratification will help you get the work done and give you the time later to really enjoy it. Or, you could just rip it open and blow off your work!!!
Glad you got it - I've been following with interest.
Posted at 05/13/2005 8:49:47 by Dean
With the time you have now spent reading all these comments to get to mine, you could have had it opened, plugged in and booting. Everyone needs to take sometime off and enjoy the pleasure of pent up excitement. Its the pleasure of being a nerd, enjoy it.
Posted at 05/13/2005 9:41:24 by dale johnson
OPEN IT - theres always time to catch up on your other work. I wasted two days playing with the latest longhorn build.
Posted at 05/13/2005 9:53:54 by Gregg
I've been checking this page every five minutes to see if the ten minute review is up :P. I can't get any work done. For the sake of productivity every where, please open it :)
Posted at 05/13/2005 10:46:17 by MT
I know you want to, but I took a look at the picture and saw papers, folders, post-it notes and general clutter underneath the package.
Once you've thought and prayed about it and have an okay, go ahead, take the package to your lab. Open the package, you can do it and unless you have homework for school tonight, you won't regret it.
Posted at 05/13/2005 10:53:02 by Tanny O'Haley
I received my M200 in February... At the beginning, I worked with it like a laptop and smoothly I have learned different ways to work with it as a Tablet giving me 6 months to use all the features.
But, you have to be reasonable to do it!!!
Good luck!!!
Posted at 05/13/2005 15:14:21 by Yvan
I can't believe after all the complaining about how long it would take to get one configured to your specs, you would let it sit on your desk unopened once it arrived. Maybe that's too harsh but I feel you owe it to your readers to open it up, get it going, and keep us posted on how you incorporate it into your work.
Posted at 05/14/2005 5:02:08 by Mike Cox
I find it sad to see so many people advising you to go against your muse. Being one of the guys in David Allen's 'A' team, I am sure you wouldn't yield to temptation. David, had a line which went something like "always follow your intuition"... that goes for more than all the other knowledge in GTD. Folks, it is not about logic, it is about intuition/Self/Inner calling which often works in mysterious ways...I am a green belt understudy of GTD who lives with a black belt (my wife)
Posted at 05/14/2005 7:47:59 by Vijay Raman
The space that the box is on sure doesn't look very stable. Maybe put the box on a surface that doesn't look about to take a fall ...
And hey is that a "... for dummies" book next to the monitor?
Posted at 05/14/2005 9:15:37 by TDavid
C'mon, it's the new M4! Just how heavy and big is it? Would you want to use it on an airplane?
Posted at 05/16/2005 10:46:33 by Jordan
I wish someone else had a Tecra M4 so we could actually get information instead of this thinly disguised gloating. Frankly, it reflects poorly on tabletpcbuzz.com to not have anyone with more information than a picture of a box. As to you, me thinks you could be more gracious.
And no, I won't be visiting your page again soon to see if there's more breathless news on your precious box. Here's idle thought #1 for the day....how productive is it to write about this box, and then read all these posts (as it seems you have)? You're a productivity consultant? I would say you've offered zero real information, yet wasted your time and everyone elses time. So yes, that makes you a consultant...but not productive.
Posted at 05/16/2005 11:48:49 by DEM
What would I do? I've currently waited for my Tecra for 2 weeks and counting. When I have the box in my hands, I vow to drop everything and fire it up at once!
Posted at 08/28/2005 13:44:56 by Sam
Discussion for this entry is now closed.