iPhone & Facebook: The Fun Factor

I've spent too much time this week end playing with my iPhone. Or maybe, it was not enough time, depending upon your perspective. For the first time ever, I see a future in which the only computer I need to have with me all the time fits into the palm of my hand.

But that's not my key point. My key point is that I had a great deal of fun learning how to be more productive with this incredible elegant tool. My wife, who usually ignores my gadgets and gimmicks for about two years, is already looking at it with a slight gleam of envy.

That brings me to Facebook. I also feel  spend too much time on Facebook, until I realize how productive it is.  I've been on it less than two months.  I have received three speaking invitations, two new business inquiries and at least 10 leads for my SAP Global Survey.

I have never had a more productive business tool than Facebook is turning out to be. Never.

The common thread between facebook and iPod is that they are both fun. They both have addiction encouraging qualities.  They both improve communications and did I mention that they are both fun?

Did anyone out there ever call Windows fun?  How about your online checking program?

When something is fun you use it more. When something is fun and productive it changes the world just a little bit. If stuff like this keeps coming out, then I might become as certifiable geek as Scoble is. As an aside, Robert, it just dawned on me that your new son is scheduled to come into the world on Rosh Hoshanah, the Jewish New Year.  That makes him an honorary Bagel Brother. Mazel Tov in advance.

Comments

[jak]

i am considering picking up the new "discounted" iphone, but i am afraid that the fun factor might be too much, lol. i can see a lot of wasted time in my future. but don't get me wrong, that won't stop me from getting one.

[Geoff Livingston]

Bagel brothers of the world unite! Shana tova.

[T. Idios]

Did anyone every call Windows fun? For MOST of the world .... let me say that again: for MOST of the world .... Windows IS the Internet; Windows IS computers.

I'm sure it's not chic in Sillybone Vally to call Windows fun, but you have to realize that you're digging your own grave. Already there is someone out there who considers himself/herself/itself much smarter than you and you are already passe. Why? Because he/she/it carries your same tired mentality.

Thanks for playing, but you've already lost. There's no way you could have won. It's the way you look at life. You will continue suffer this for as long as you live. Unless you change, of course. Which you won't do.

[shel israel]

Dear Idios,

You would carry much more credibility if you had the cajones to fire your missiles under your own name.

[Ryan]

I honestly want to understand this Facebook thing? It just looks like Myspace to me. I'm not a businessman. I'm not a public speaker. I'm just a software developer that does his job. I have no need for "networking." Is facebook therefore useless to me? What is addictive about it? Just browsing other people's profiles? I don't get it.

[shel israel]

Ryan,
Facebook is a social network. At the core of it, it makes it very easy for people with shared interests to find each other. If you have no need for social networking, then it may not be right for you.

[Robert Scoble]

Ryan: do you ever need your contact list? How about a phone book?

Facebook is replacing both for me.

[Aaron]

I'm doing a web tools seminar for some folks a t a big IT consultancy here in Copenhagen and am going to introduce them to Facebook's 'business potential'. I'd like a few more concrete examples though, if anyone has them?

[Bob]

To each there own,But I for one spend most of my computer time in Linux. Why? Quicker, no "registry" or hardware problems, much less chance of being hacked, etc.

[Jeremiah Owyang]

Very cool! Congrats on the new phone!