My Very Own Bura3i

I have a proposition to make to anthropologists out there. I propose we coin our era as: "The Gadget Craze Era". Only fair right? I mean, the sheer number of new gadgets that make their way into the shops and eventually into our lives, is frightening. The only image that comes to my mind is that of bacteria multiplying overnight in a petri dish in my microbiology lab back in college.

You buy the coolest cell today, two days later it's old news. Everyone is out on the search for the perfect accessory. It's nothing short of a race, and just thinking about it leaves me breathless.

Where do I fit into all of this? I fear, I am the ugly duckling! :P
I am seriously gadget-challenged, and what's worse is that it is totally and completely by choice. I feel no urge whatsoever to purchase the latest mobile, or the trendiest ipod, or that killer digital cam. I couldn't care less. I mean, I'd check it out and maybe even mutter something that sounds like "sweet", but just when you think this piece of technology won me over, I would walk away without a trace of longing in my heart. Meh.

Just a glance at my mobile would expose that disturbing (to others!) truth. When every one's mobiles now not only work as radios, videos and faxes, mine suffers from what would be referred to in medical jargon as stunted growth. It can do what cells were originally designed to do; make phone calls and send texts. Period. Oh and it works as my alarm clock. That's all it does, imagine? *gasp*

I am perfectly happy with it, but find it amusing how some people are offended by my mobile.
"WHAT is that? you can afford to buy a new one, so DO THAT". But that's not the point at all.
Not that I feel the need to defend my position, but rather to shed light on it. Here's some of the reasons I'd choose a basic mobile over a fancy one any day of the year:

1. It's very light, easy to carry around and can fit in all my purses.
2. I'm not sure if that's universal or if it's something about me, but my mobiles always have a STRONG tendency to free fall whenever possible- the likelihood of this happening increasing tremendously if I am at the top of a staircase, giving the mobile a chance to bump and roll all the way down. Having a simple and inexpensive mobile saves you the heartache of watching good money broken into a million pieces.
3. I never worry about keeping my mobile close to me. I throw it around wherever I am, be it in the gym, restaurant or work. Because let's face it, people are as tempted to steal my mobile as they are my used gym socks!!

Makes sense, no?:)

So anyyyyway, back to the original subject. I hardly own any cool gadgets. My sole pride and joy would have to be my mp3 player, which I got as a gift from my awesome bro. And my hand-me-down digital cam from my awesome sis.

But "times have changed" (that's for you sis:P), and today I find myself staring suspiciously at a pretty cool laptop that claims to be my property. Yes, believe it or not, I have purchased my own laptop, out of sheer necessity. But the thing is, I'm still confused. For years, a laptop on the table meant it was my dad's, sister's or brother's. I would ask permission before I used it. And my relationship with it would last only as long as it took to check my mail. Now this thing on the table is mine. I have mixed feelings really. I'm not sure how to handle the situation. I don't think I was cut out for this.

I was admittedly excited at first when I unwrapped it from the box and eyed it adoringly for a good five minutes. But now it seems that every time I am away from it for more than 30 minutes I need to be re-introduced to it all over again. I'm telling you, gadget-challenged with honors.

Maybe I should personalize it a bit, to encourage a sense of ownership that seems to be lacking at the moment. I think my last conversation with my friend, left me inspired.

Me: So I got a laptop.
Fatima: Ohhh, I miss 3awad.
Me: 3awad?
Fatima: Yeah.. I had to sell him, poor thing.
Me: 3awad?
Fatima: 3awad! My laptop. That's what my roommate used to call him.

Giving him a name sounds like an idea that's worth a shot. So, apparently "3awad" is already taken. I guess that leaves me with, dunno, "Bura3i"?