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How Long Could You Live Without Your Gadgets?

DruCipher writes "CNet.co.uk is running a very funny article about Andrew Lim, the resident mobile phone reviewer, trying to live without all his favorite gadgets. The article sees Andrew try to survive without a mobile phone, a computer, an MP3 player and a TV. At the end of his technology detox he feels more relaxed without all his gadgets but cracks after a few days, 'Like all proper detoxes, though, my zen-like calm didn't last for long. Once I'd finished my gadget starvation, I was straight back to the tech binging. A remote control gun you say? Yes please!'"

21 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Re:We Need Gadget Belts... by snowraver1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... and I bet you look super-cool wearing it all.

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  2. How long? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Three days, at most.

    Then I get fired for not doing my job.

    1. Re:How long? by tomhudson · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hey, you're still WAY ahead of the guy with the pacemaker ... though you're a bit behind the one on dialysis.

  3. They can have my smartphone, by Hawthorne01 · · Score: 5, Funny

    MP3 player and laptop only when they take them from [Charlton Heston Voice] MY COLD, DEAD, HANDS! [/Charlton Heston Voice] :-)

    --
    "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
    1. Re:They can have my smartphone, by mollymoo · · Score: 2, Funny

      You mean when you get RSI?

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      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
  4. Re:We Need Gadget Belts... by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 2, Funny

    Am I the only one who remember's TechnoBill from Dilbert, who had an amazing array of gadgets in his gadget belt? He then outnerded Dilbert when his fax connected to Dilbert's fax faster than Dilbert could dial his because "Fool, I have autodial". And he had a parabolic dish on a sweatband.

    I am?

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    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  5. Too long ... by siddesu · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... considering all pain and suffering.

  6. Sadness by digitalhermit · · Score: 5, Funny

    A couple months ago I disconnected my cable modem service with Comcast. They were fast, but down as much as they were up. I missed it the first few days.. No longer could pull down Linux ISOs in an hour. No longer could stream last weeks BSG episodes. But I got by.

    Then my DSL went south. I lost pretty much all connectivity to the Internet. They finally fixed it, but at half the previous speed. It was barely enough for me to serve up my web pages.

    My mail server had some problems recently. I had to rebuild the hard drive and drop it back to a backup machine. Had some backups, but was too busy (ok, lazy) to restore. Didn't feel like reconfiguring the webmail frontend in any case. So I started pushing some of the domain up to a hosting facility.

    I started using dialup internet because the DSL was just horrid. That wasn't as bad as it sounds, but the hosting site didn't support IMAP, only POP3 because they didn't want to store mail. It was easier to use a command line client in any case.

    That worked for a while, but it was still slow. So I had my buddy set up a box with direct modem dial up access. I set up a SLIP connection and could then pull my mail faster. I ditched Pine for the mail utility since it was faster.

    But why have SLIP when I could just drop a modem directly to a console? It eliminated about 8% overhead in packet traffic in any case.

    Heck, why stop there. I could set up a UUCP connection to another machine and really move mail quickly via serial modem. If I strip HTML attachments and just go with standard mail it'll fly.

    Heck, the mail envelope is WAY too much overhead. I should strip that too...

    We'll see how it goes...

    I wonder if the BIX account is still active?

  7. Question: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is a dialysis machine considered a gadget?

  8. A few seconds by rossz · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have an artificial heart, you insensitive clod!

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    -- Will program for bandwidth
  9. I gave up drinkin', smokin', bloggin', and sex... by mcrbids · · Score: 5, Funny

    I gave up drinkin', smokin', bloggin', and sex... .. and it was the WORST 20 minutes OF MY LIFE!!!!

    Guess which one I do most?

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    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
  10. Re:Um... Forever? by Icarus1919 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Only a computer, a television set /stereo, DVD player and camcorder? You're a saint, we should all aspire to be like you.

  11. I don't know, perhaps by Antony-Kyre · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't know, perhaps there is a gadget that can tell me how long I would live without my gadgets.

  12. Obviously a success! by BlakeReid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Boy, nothing says technology detox like a 10-page ad-laden web article complete with digital pictures. It's like an alcohol rehab center with an open wet bar.

  13. Re:Um... Forever? by morari · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, I wasn't counting the digital alarm clock beside my bed...

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    "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
  14. Re:Gadgets don't do much for me by Nephilium · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you ever want to watch a cell phone store salesperson's head blow up... walk in, looking for a cell phone that has two functions, it can make calls, and it can receive calls...

    They didn't understand why I thought a crackberry was a threat from my office...

    And then I caused true chaos... I tried to pay cash for the phone...

    Nephilium

  15. Re:No gadgets, no problem by tx_kanuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    what, no towel? Heaven forbid!!

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    Now, if that makes sense to anyone, could you please explain it to me? I think I've confused myself.
  16. Until June 29 at 6pm! by macslut · · Score: 5, Funny

    Until June 29, 2007 at 6pm! Shortly after that, I'd start to die.

  17. Re:No gadgets, no problem by Anonymous+Monkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    A towel is not a gadget. It can be classified as tool, weapon, clothing, beading, form of identification, or even a religious emblem. But it is not, nor ever will be a 'gadget'.

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    We are the Borg...
  18. Re:Remember - you are not what you own by hb253 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I own an older Porsche and I'm sure as hell not rich. Am I allowed to be philosophical? When people ask me how much I paid for it I say. it was either this or half of a stripped a Toyota Camry.

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    Self awareness - try it!
  19. Re:We Need Gadget Belts... by Vexor · · Score: 2, Funny

    da na na na na na na Batman!

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    ~Vexed and loving it!