Lee Gomes unloads on technology in his column today, making the assertion that whoever the next president is, they should *not* have a computer in the Oval Office. He notes:
The severe time rationing is necessary because a computer, far from making you more productive, instead loads you down with things to do, and it's important for the machine to know who is boss. Most people don't have the luxury of off-loading their email-reading chores to a group of competent assistants. It's an office perk that presidents are still important enough to deserve.
There's more, of course. But the essential question (answered here as "no") is this: is a computer a useful tool, or a frivolous time waster? Lee should ask the same question about cell phones or land lines, or heck, even about the kindle, for which I am developing a serious jones, while still holding out for version number two. Imagine the time that could be wasted with that! The distractions it would provide!
Look, at the nut of Lee's column is a serious issue -- a PC (or cell phone) is a phenomenal communications device, allowing rapid access to information and context. It can also be a time suck. But it's a tool, and tools are neither good nor bad. For me, I know that the pluses far outweigh the minus. Just one example: I've been a huge OneNote user since the product came out, and have brought all my electronic notes with me as I've migrated computers. Rapid access to meeting notes, the ability to refresh on action items, see what did/did not happen, etc -- hugely valuable (and time saving/focusing)
Lee can't have my computer, and if I needed another reason to not run for president, I now have it.