I love gadgets!

Summary

Marie Rebelle recounts her journey from a gadget-less youth to a tech-loving adult, cherishing each new piece of technology from tape recorders to smartphones and digital cameras.

Abstract

Marie Rebelle reflects on her personal history with gadgets, beginning with her teenage years when her only gadget was a tape recorder. Her fascination with technology grew with her first encounter with computers at age 22, where she was paid to digitalize documents. She fondly remembers the era of DOS and 5 1/4 inch floppy disks, and being the first in a military hospital to own a personal computer. Her love for gadgets expanded with her first mobile phone and digital camera, leading to her current collection which includes a Samsung S7, a Nikon D5600, a Samsung Tab 7 2020, and a Garmin Vivoactive 4S. Despite owning some gadgets that she no longer uses, such as a Nintendo Wii balance board and a Fitbit, her passion for technology remains strong, with a particular affection for devices that possess a certain 'magic'.

Opinions

Marie has a deep affection for gadgets, considering them to have a 'magic' quality.
She values the evolution of technology, appreciating each advancement from tape recorders to smartphones.
Her first experiences with computers and the internet were particularly impactful, shaping her love for digital technology.
Marie enjoys experimenting with her current gadgets, such as her Nikon camera and Samsung tablet, and finds them both enjoyable and productive.
She is not averse to discarding unused gadgets, like the Nintendo Wii balance board and home trainer, to avoid feeling guilty about not using them.
Marie's latest tech enthusiasm is her Garmin Vivoactive 4S, which she loves for its functionality and wearability.
She acknowledges a fondness for spreadsheets and statistics, hinting at a broader interest in technology's analytical capabilities.
Marie encourages readers to support her and other writers by using her referral link to join Medium.

A youth without gadgets, and now an adult loving things with ‘magic’ in them

My youth was without gadgets. Or, maybe I should rephrase that… my youth was without digital gadgets. The only gadget I had back in my teen years was a tape recorder. And gosh, I loved that thing. I used to hold it in my hand, listening to the music — no headphones — while I walked to see my friends or lying in bed at night.

First computers

I was about 22 when I first came in contact with computers. I had to digitalize documents, and they paid me per word. I loved it. Sitting there, typing things and seeing it appear on a screen? Bliss!

Then I got a job where I learned the basics of computers. Back then, we had DOS, and the knowledge I gained still benefits me today. I come from the time of the 5 1/4 inch floppy disks. This job was back in Pretoria, but then I moved to Cape Town and was the first in the military hospital with a personal — not mainframe — computer.

It was only when I moved to the Netherlands that I went on the Internet for the first time. Where I loved typing on a computer, I loved it even more to surf the Internet. The sound of a modem calling in… that will always melt me and bring back good memories.

First mobile phone

My first mobile phone was a treasured gadget. And so was every mobile phone after that. Those first phones were for phone calls and text images only, but gradually phones developed into what they are today. I never had a problem with always being reachable, and still don’t. I love having my phone with me at all times, not only to be able to text messages to whoever but also to be on Twitter, to write on WordPress, or simply play a game.

Where I started out with a simple Alcatel phone, I graduated to a Nokia 3010, had an HTC with a keyboard, and went from a ‘junior’ Samsung to the one I have today and had for many years, a Samsung S7.

First digital camera

I love digital cameras. I had a couple of analog ones but bought my first digital one in the Netherlands. It was a Sony, which stored photos on a 3 1/2 inch floppy disk. I had that one for about two years when Sony upgraded it to store photos on a mini CD-ROM. From there, I had several cameras, settling on the one I have now.

My current gadgets

As said above, I’ve had my S7 for a couple of years now and since it works perfectly fine still, I continue to use it. I will only consider replacing it when it can’t handle the things I want to use it for.

My current camera, and another gadget I will use for as long as it fulfills the wishes I have for a camera, is a Nikon D5600. I love experimenting with it, and the different lenses I have, and to use it both when going out on photo trips and applying what I had learned during a photo course, and for self-photography.

A gadget my husband bought me at the beginning of this year is a Samsung Tab 7 2020. I was watching a series on a Dutch streaming service on my phone, and he thought I deserved a bigger screen. Ever since I got it, I have used it every day, and not only to watch series but also to write. We spend a lot of time in waiting rooms, and then I can at least be productive while waiting.

My newest gadget is a Garmin Vivoactive 4S, and you’ve guessed it, I love it!

Unused gadgets

I had quite some gadgets I ‘really needed’, used them once or twice, and then stopped. The Nintendo Wii balance board and home trainer are examples of those. We sold them, and that cleared me of the guilt for not using them.

The only unused gadget I still have is the Fitbit. I used it for months… and then I stopped. Months later, I started using it again, for about a month. I stopped again, and it has now been in the same drawer for about four years. I might sell it since my recently acquired Garmin — which is much nicer to wear — does all the Fitbit did, and much more.

PERSONAL STORY