Deciding not buy that tablet on discount
Today I was in the temptation of buying a Lenovo Idea Tab Plus Tablet as its price dropped to $189.99 USD with the stylus. To me that is a steal for the capabilities of that device (8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, 12.1" screen bla bla bla). The only reason I was going to buy it was for reading study material for my Professional Engineering (PE) Civil Exam. To me a tablet solves the issue of not carrying my laptop for reading books, or just not carrying a book per say and being able to read digital media in portrait mode, but I wouldn't replace pen and paper for writing. I planned on giving it to my girlfriend once a I finished, as she will start studying soon. But is it worth it? She dont even cares about devices either.
Some thoughts I had during my day today:
In the past year, I've been working on having a healthier relationship with my devices, specially my phone, and this will surely undermine that effort, as I know that tablets are a big distraction. This a phone on steroids, and a more convenient laptop.
So much money just to read books for 6 months is not a worthy investment in my opinion. If at least if I were to use it as a notepad as well, I think it would be worth it, but I'd still be carrying pen a paper everywhere as I cannot learn by writing digitally.
My eyes are tired of digital media
I already spend 8hrs at work on the computer, I need a break.The thought of charging, maintaining, backing up, protecting, debloating, and carrying yet another device... not fun at all.
Another device tracking me around...
So basically I've been creating a need out of something that in reality is just luxury and will serve no good purpose. It will surely make things easier in the short run, but I'll basically be buying something else to maintain, and that I will need to look for a way to dispose of at its end of life. Anyway my conscience is not at peace with the current state of the world, full of trash. Ask me where the last tablet I had years ago is... A laptop suffices.
Though I'm thankful for the digital aspect of academia as it facilitates many things, I think it keeps me grounded to try and stay more on the analog side.