Nothing seems to invite superstition and strange behavior like the new and complex world of technology. As we're learning to use and interact with a bevy of personal devices, we're each developing small, but hugely strange, habits. Habits largely without any sort of redeeming value beyond making us happy and comfortable.
Everyone's got their quirky habits, right? Like any of you are perfect. Psssh!
We wanted to unleash 10 awesomely weird, unusual tech-centric habits we're totally guilty of:
- Unplugging only at 100 percent. Yeah, it doesn't matter. But we always do it anyway.
- Leaving the plastic screen guard on our new gear for as long as possible. It's there to ward off scratches, isn't that a good thing?
- Going into the Apple Store at the mall when we don't need to buy anything. Even if you have an iPad at home, isn't it fun to play with the ones in the store?
- Using our laptop for warmth. Sure, we could put the DVD on our bedroom TV, but cozying up with Mr. MacBook sounds so much better in the winter.
- Being nearly OCD about washing our hands before we handle white tech. What? Those little rubber earbuds stain so fast!
- Opening up a GMail tab every time we fire up our browser. Even if we just checked for new messages a split second ago on our phone.
- Re-routing our GPS midway along our journey. We want to make sure we're still on the shortest route, OK?
- Taking our phone to the bathroom (and sometimes even our laptop). What? You do it too.
- Spending more for something "official" or "approved." Sure, generic would be cheaper but we'd rather have the real thing.
- Not opening up the box until we're ready to use our new tech. It keeps that new feeling, like it's fresh of the shelf.
If you, too, want to clear your chest of your own bizarre techie behavior, share it with us in the comments!
(Images: Flickr member Artnow314 licensed for use under Creative Commons, Do You Unplug at 100 Percent battery?
Find Your Style: 20 Classic to Contemporary Kitchens to Add to Your Inspiration Board
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Surfing the web while on the can is the new reading the newspaper on the can. It's why my family calls our computers "craptops".
My husband is still carrying around his Motorola XOOM in the box it came in with the protective sheets all over it.
Wow I am guilty of 8/10. LOL
I'm guilty of all except 1,4, 7 & 8. My laptop is plugged in whenever I'm at my desk, no matter the charge level. I was also always taught that it was a really bad idea to snuggle in bed with laptops because the bedding can make them overheat.
8 repulsed me. The hygiene aspect of using a touch screen on the toilet made me gag. In fact for a long time I thought it was a throw away joke on Scrubs. I find it really disturbing there's a percentage of people who are so plugged in that they can't even relieve themselves without having instant entertainment in the bathroom with them.
Am carrying sanitizer with me whenever I have to use public computers from now on.
Have never done any of these. And I'm not sure what's more disgusting (and depressing) about #8: the fact that people do it, or the "What? You do it too."
I once had the original plastic screen last on a cell phone 7 months before it finally fell off.
1, 2, 3, 6, 10 (and sometimes 9)
Never, ever 8
People seem really touchy about #8...
What's the issue? Presumably, your hands aren't covered in fecal matter upon entering the room with your device. So, you use it while you're doing your thing, then rest it somewhere (sink/floor), flush, wash hands, take electronic device with you when you leave.
Seriously, bathrooms can be so boring when you're in there a while. My bf takes upwards of 30 minutes on the can, regularly.
I'm only guilty of 7 & 8 but I'm sure I have more than 10 others that are not covered here. It doesn't matter to me if I won't be using something for weeks, I gotta open NOW! Can you really leave a "present" sitting around waiting to be opened? ;-)
I don't do any of these except for #3 & #5. I always feel bright and happy in an apple store, its a place of possibilities. I take protective covers off immediately, that way I can enjoy the beautiful glossiness of my new toys.
I am guilty of the following...
- seriously considering how a new tech purchase will go with my decor (one of the deciding factors of my new hp envy printer)
- turning flattened boxes upside down outside the house due to paranoia that potential burglars will know what goodies I just received
- I will clean my relative's keyboards if they are guilty of not maintaining on their own (dirty white apple keys drive me crazy) Have iKlear, will travel.
For those guilty of #8, yuck! Don't you know that's what Us Weekly is for?
If you're spending 30 minutes on the can, ur doin it wrong. Seriously, that's not healthy.
#10
I just got a 2011 13" MacBook pro on Friday. It was overnighted to me at work...I waited all day to to get it home.
I washed my hands and properly unboxed it. Lol
I need a life
@ Aimsly.... THANK you... I agree wholeheartedly. It's really not that difficult to do.
I'm pretty sure Steve & the gang designed the iPad with bathroom usability in mind.
@laura-o ; just because we're IN there for 30 minutes, doesn't mean it's actually taking that long lol....the bathroom is sometimes the on chance you get to be alone and in complete solace with no distractions.