Comments on: How Dial Up Made Me a More Productive Blogger

By: Daviid

Daviid — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:52:12 +0000

what is dial up?……

By: Jeremy Steele

Jeremy Steele — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:25:07 +0000

It’s amazing how much extra time not opening IM, not checking stats, and not surfing all day can get you. With that said… you’d have to pry my 10 megabit connection from my cold-dead hands – it ain’t going anywhere. It is a godsend to have when sending alpha and beta software to people ;)

By: Complete Geek

Complete Geek — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:06:56 +0000

My life is so plugged in to the net right now it’s hard to imagine being totally cut off. I’ve got problems for sure. Heck, I even sold my old iPod so that I could afford to buy a new iTouch solely for the Wi-Fi capability (it totally rocks by the way).

I’m going on vacation soon and I’m not even going to be able to disconnect then. I’ll be taking my laptop, iPod, digital camera, and video camera. I fear I may be to busy filming and taking pictures to really enjoy myself.

Maybe I’ll take your advice Darren and do without. I’m certain I need it.

By: Reverse Funnel System

Reverse Funnel System — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:12:42 +0000

communicators like im or icq can be very time consuming same as forums. Its good to plan your work each and every day, really an save TONS of time!

By: April

April — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:42:35 +0000

the image….slow down those fingers… its disconnecting, not disconectning!!! ;)

By: Dr J

Dr J — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:52:10 +0000

This’s why I refuse to get internet on my phone. Sometimes I dream about the usefulness of web access on my cell, but I’d be so disconnected from the real world. BTW, do a quick search on “addiction” and see if it’s what you have. :-) I’ll admit that during my undergrad years, I was addicted and had withdrawal symptoms whenever DSL was down.
Dr J

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:57:04 +0000

What a great reminder of time management. When writing on my own blogs, whether AspireNow or ARRiiVE (http://arriive.blogspot.com), I find it tempting to check stats – although I’ve gotten to the point where I really only want to check these every two days. Any more than that is really a waste of time.

Email – we really should only check email every 4 hours – but it is so easy when a pop-up window says “you’ve got mail!”

Thanks for sharing how this time AWAY from technology helped you rebalance your life! At AspireNow, life balance is something I coach about and it’s always good to see someone in the real world struggling — and finding balance through surprising means.

Scott (http://aspirenow.blogspot.com)

By: Empowering Success

Empowering Success — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:10:49 +0000

If I really want to get some work done I shut down my IM, otherwise half my day is wasted (shouldn’t say wasted really) gabbing instead of working.

As for off line writing, what do you use, pen and paper, laptop or that new fly writing device? My wife has seen the commercials for it and thinks it would do me a world of good since a lot of my ideas come to me at night while I am in bed reading.

I think I know what I will be getting for Christmas this year ;)

Ron Killian

By: Karel - Caribbean Public Relations

Karel - Caribbean Public Relations — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:40:52 +0000

All the things you listed as sometimes taking away from your productivity are things I’m often guilty of, and in the back of my mind I know that it can take away from my productivity. When I want to get work done, I go on a computer where I don’t have an Internet connection, because when I think and work offline, I have less distraction.

Discipline for Internet junkies like myself is often tested. Recently, the major Internet provider in Trinidad just released broadband to many areas that did not previously have, and had to struggle with dial-up, especially after an easy day of hi-speed in the office. I’ll be happy when I get the broadband installed, but also know that I have to work on my will ;)

By: Veronica

Veronica — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:36:44 +0000

It’s funny to hear you say that. I live rurally and I have been using only dial up for 12mths. Hoping to have sattelite on in the next month or so.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:24:02 +0000

I still use dial-up pretty often, and it definitely makes you use your time more efficiently (plus you can’t play as many mindless flash games). I really appreciate a broadband connection when I get to use one.

By: Raj

Raj — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:01:33 +0000

And saving the time spent to read those lengthy comments and no headache to reply them too!

By: Ryan Paul

Ryan Paul — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:43:44 +0000

I still use dialup every day at home – we can’t get wireless and satellite highspeed is prohibitively expensive.

It’s no big deal – just wait longer to view things. People should make an effort to acquire more patience.

By: turtie

turtie — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:22:45 +0000

I always find myself checking my google analytics stats at least 10 times a day among other things. Feedburner stats are fun to look at too. Sometimes, less can be more!

By: The Opinionated Blogger

The Opinionated Blogger — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:15:17 +0000

I tend to be an email junky. I seriously check email every time I touch my computer. I know for a fact if I had dial-up again I would be checking a whole lot less. It is really amazing how we take the internet for granted. I remember the good ol’ days when 26.6 was fast!

By: SubscribeToMyBlog.com

SubscribeToMyBlog.com — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:04:01 +0000

All very recognizable. I do my best work at my mothers house, behind her computer instead of behind my own at my desk with al the stuff that distracts me. Getting out of my comfort zone and setting a time frame within which I need to write my articles helps me very much.

By: Cindy S

Cindy S — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:03:14 +0000

Having been forced to use dial up for the last 6 months I can tell you that the productivity boost is temporary. Eventually, you need to stimulation of the outside blogs and emails and news.

I truly miss the little things like being able to see video blogs or youtube. Ah well, I have learned to filter my email and no longer download anything over 50k automatically. Most of the junk mail gets deleted without being read.

LOL. And I am sitting in the only restaurant within 60 miles that offers free wi fi. Woooo Hooo…. I feel like I am at Disney land.

I feel for you though. It drove me crazy for a month.

By: Lisa Marie Mary

Lisa Marie Mary — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:47:12 +0000

I just went through something quite similar. My dad was cool enough to buy me a new Thinkpad. My router, however – was a piece. Completely worthless. So I was having loads of trouble getting, and staying, connected to the internet – especially if I wanted to *gasp!* leave the room in which the router was!

I’ve been so thrilled to finally have a laptop, though, and I really wanted to work in bed, and also out on the balcony. And the funny thing was, having a computer without internet access – made me get a LOT more work done! It was very focused time, without all the bells and whistles of the interwebwonderworld calling out to me! Ha!

I am, however, now connected with a good router. It’s back to ‘Entrepeneur’s ADD’ for me. ;)

By: Abhijeet Mukherjee

Abhijeet Mukherjee — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:30:25 +0000

Darren…I used to think that blogging consistently without broadband is almost impossible…but this post has forced me to change my views

By: coolthought

coolthought — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:24:36 +0000

Sometimes being forced into a different situation (maybe difficult one too) that you can start to relook into things, do things differently (adapt), get new perspective.

Basically, it is like moving from a driver seat to a co-driver seat in a car going for holiday. You will not only start to enjoy the scenery but also realise how you should be driving to make the best use of the driving holiday.