I think they have done more to break down the work/home distinction than any other modern tether. The problem with them is that if you have one you are usually expected to respond to all email that comes in, regardless of the actual urgency of the email.
If a device like a Blackberry can be used to get away from the office equal to the amount of time that the office intrudes on personal life, I'm all for it. But more often then not you are expected to put in your 40+ hours at the office and then be on instant on-call once you leave the office. They are not used for balance, but rather for intrusion.
I have a cell modem that I use to dial-up when I'm on the train, and so I use it to leave the office early and come in late about once a week. In other words, my company understands that the balance extends both ways. They get to intrude on my home life, so my home life gets to intrude on work. I work late when when work issues come up, so when home issues arise I come to work late. I use the devices to create the balance, not to let work intrude.
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I think they have done more to break down the work/home distinction than any other modern tether. The problem with them is that if you have one you are usually expected to respond to all email that comes in, regardless of the actual urgency of the email. If a device like a Blackberry can be used to get away from the office equal to the amount of time that the office intrudes on personal life, I'm all for it. But more often then not you are expected to put in your 40+ hours at the office and then be on instant on-call once you leave the office. They are not used for balance, but rather for intrusion. I have a cell modem that I use to dial-up when I'm on the train, and so I use it to leave the office early and come in late about once a week. In other words, my company understands that the balance extends both ways. They get to intrude on my home life, so my home life gets to intrude on work. I work late when when work issues come up, so when home issues arise I come to work late. I use the devices to create the balance, not to let work intrude.