Monday, September 28, 2009

Attaining Geekdom Amidst Idli-Dosa

I've never been a geek, gadget freak or a nerd. In fact, I'd rather buy some clothes or something exotic to eat given the opportunity, not a mobile phone. Quite unlike The Spouse who looks to change his, and like a true doer, creates those opportunities.

Of late, though, my rather low-tech mobile developed a purple blemish that kept spreading but I hung on to it because I give more importance to character and less to good looks. But then, it gave up character and started switching itself off quite arbitrarily. Just like you'd want to forgive a dear one's bad behaviour despite having to grit your teeth and bear it, I persevered. It continued its caprices and I decided it was time I stood up for myself.

When I exchanged it for a new one, all I was particular about was the number of contacts I could accommodate in the new mobile phone. And maybe a more sophisticated camera that came with a straightforward camera-computer transfer cord rather than some infra-red gobbledygook that my previous mobile was equipped with but that my computer wasn't and I didn't know how to use. Sale concluded, I came back home with my not-so-expensive, still not-so-sophisticated gleaming black mobile phone, and sent off a text message to a friend.


Voila! The font was so nice, the text so clear, and all these were helped by the fact that the screen was bigger. It was as if I was seeing it through a pair of spectacles after being diagnosed for myopia. I toyed with the idea of sending off a few more messages but told myself not to be silly, and sent off just a couple more.

Over the next few days, I fixed the ring tone, its volume, began the task of cleaning up my contacts' list, and gazing at the smileys the phone provided. And sending more text messages. Then, on the fifth or sixth day, I undertook a 6-hour journey to my parents' home, with a big fat murder mystery for company. "Apres le petit dejeuner," I told myself, waiting for the packets of biscuits and chips that are usually sold on the chair car. They never came, and in deference to my sluggish metabolism, bought a cup of what passed for coffee. As I struggled to finish it so that I could stuff the paper cup in the magazine pouch and not have to go to the wash basin to pour it out, I began fiddling with my mobile. And discovered I could acess the Web without having to have it specially activated.

The connectivity was spotty, but I managed to access a few favourite sites, post a status update on one, and surfed some more. All around me, people were busy unpacking foil packs of idli and vada, trying carefully to not let the sambar slosh from the plastic pouches it came in. The smell is usually a big put-off but with my new toy, metabolism, breakfast and big fat mystery were forgotten, and not even the messages telling me I'd been charged a certain amount for a certain quantity of KB could deter me from experimenting with it.

While I'm off to commune with my mobile and discover more about its mult-faceted personality, don't forget to participate in The Write Taste, on till October 15, 2009. There's just two weeks left for you to participate!

17 comments:

  1. I never use my Mobile phone, the only time i use it is when i go to another town so they hubby or daughter can reach me.
    And the first thing i do when i get home is off that damm phone till i use it a a month maybe?
    I would love to take the train journey with you, that would be so so fun.

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  2. I am curious, dearie! Which mobile is it? I read this out to my daughter who is reading a Lemony Snickett and she thoroughly enjoyed it:)

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  3. Sra, I too am not a gadget junkie unlike T. My cell phone too conked out on me cause my son kept dropping it and one day, it was no more. Right now I have a $20 prepaid phone I put my old sim card in. Doesn't have a lot of features, certainly no internet capability, but it is hardy enough to take the beatings of a 3 and a half year old. As long as I can call from it and get calls, I am ok with my 'un-cool' phone.
    BTW, it has been months since I traveled in a train to go anywhere. Nothing of that sort out here, you either travel by car or plane. Takes the fun out of traveling.

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  4. Excellent work! Took me 2 years to master using my last mobile... just in time to be upgraded to a new one.

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  5. Electronics gadgets = guys stuffs, they are pretty much interested what will be the next on the market...I used more my cell in India and for the internet, it took almost 3 days to get activate with the minimum balance of 200Rs. The online map/direction was quiet useful (was not quiet accurate but al least something...)

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  6. mmm Congrats on your new mobile and beware the addiction signs of surfing in your mobile ;) I was keeping myself away of this junk until 2006 when I was forced to get one after I got my second baby (just to keep track of the maid's activities in taking care of the baby, giving reminders etc.) Now as soon as I enter my home I won't know where it goes but I search for it the next day morning before leaving for work. And Sra u remember that u called me several times during Diwali to wish me ? That kind of a speciment I am. BTW I lost my mobile recently and lost your nos. too. Please drop a mail.

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  7. I thought I was the only one who isn't a gadget freak. My mobile is messed up beyond description, I am still sticking to it cuz it is a valentine gift from my husband

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  8. I am not into electronic gadgets either..But the idlis and sambar in the train took me to India for a min,sra!

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  9. My phone conked off for a few weeks....and i just left it as it was until it brought itself back to life again :-))

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  10. I still can't figure out half the features in my phone:)

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  11. I can't even SMS and yet consider myself a techie ;-) If my dad texts me from India, he has to call and let me know that I need to check

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  12. Ha ha.. totally resonated with me, SRA! I was quite happy with my previous phone. Just used it for making and receiving calls - no text, email. My hubby, on the other hand, had changed phones a few times over and was trying to persuade me to change it. Finally on Mother's Day, he gave the new phone to me and I must say, I LOVE it! I don' text a lot but internet, email, Fb etc. are pretty much on this new phone, esp since I can do it while at work! :)

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  13. How true how true. I cannot for the life of me understand how and why all these gadgets are so interesting for men in general. Gah!
    The worst is he insists on buying a cool new thing for me when I don't need it and when I goof up comes the "Did you actually read the manual for this or not?"

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  14. i am going to wait and see if u will ever upload the photos u take with that mobile. then u shall truly be geeky!

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  15. I still have one of those basic mobile phones (no camera) but is actually web enabled (I have never used it!).
    Call me weird, but I think a phone is meant to be just that a phone!!!
    Of course, I'm sure I'll change my mind if I ever get one with more features but then women have the right to chenge their minds? ;-D

    Have fun with the new phone.;)

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  16. :) I just can't relate to this post, I am a geek and a (gadget)freak all the way through. Only problem is that I am equally into the clothes and the exotic food too, so it is hard to choose what to spend my money on. I guess that explains the state of my bank account.
    I do think this cellphone is your first step into geekdom though; hope to see you mobile blogging sometime soon!

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  17. LOL! Continue to have fun with your new phone. Back to work for me...

    Paz (who still doesn't know how to text)

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