Or the stereotype that if you’re in the IT field you’re a big computer gamer as in love playing computer games. Do most people in the IT field love to buy the latest hottest Tech gadgets?
Has a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and whatever other social media account out there…
Has to buy the latest Android OS cellphone, Iphone and would be an awful shame if there is an IT person that doesn’t really give that much importance to having the latest, best tech gadget.
What about all of you in the IT field which category do you fall under?
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
Ok too many questions here.
As far as the initial question asked in the topic is concerned, the answer is NO. It doesnt automatically however there are chances a person will lean towards gadgets obsession. But those chances are there in other careers too so it isnt dependent on anything.
About social media account question, not everyone falls into social media thing. Especially facebook i've seen most genuine IT people who are obsessed with their work try to stay away from it.
Same goes for latest phones, not every IT person fall for that.
however being more technical and relatively higher level of curiosity, most IT techs do tend to go for a knowledge of latest IT events and happenings. Does everyone do that? absolutely NO.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
As a programmer, presence on social network is different than what most people think about. When someone says whats your profile look like we normally think about a profile on GitHub or LinkedIn. If, we have a bigger following (people who are using my code), then i have to have my presence on Twitter because its the easiest way to communicate but its not necessary. I can send the updates via GitHub too. If you see my facebook page, most of my posts are public and even pictures too. because i don't share personal stuff there.
Regarding gadgets. NO ... I have never bought a tablet, I haven't bought a smartwatch or wrist band either. The thing is, since you are in IT, you will have lots of information about any gadget and hence you either wouldn't jump onto the bandwagon that everyone else is jumping on or you will take time to make a decision. We do tend to lean towards something which has some geeky touch or which is top of the line but its only IF WE HAVE TO.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
Most of the IT guys I know just know their job, and then IT is such a vast field that they probably may know that one specific thing they are hired for. I don't see them all as "geeks" loving all things technology. I don't see them listening to tech podcasts or tuning into live new product release events or following other geeks on twitter or blogs or even changing their gadgets often enough... or even looking for OS upgrades.
There's just a few.
But again, that's just the group of IT people I have interacted with. So I am not generalizing.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
As someone who has studied IT, I incidentally happen to love computer games. I actually appreciate them more after studying in the field. In terms of gadgets otherwise, I'm not big on getting the latest. I focus more on what I need or what would be useful to me. I have my social media accounts but am not too active on social media.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
Most of the IT guys I know just know their job, and then IT is such a vast field that they probably may know that one specific thing they are hired for. I don't see them all as "geeks" loving all things technology. I don't see them listening to tech podcasts or tuning into live new product release events or following other geeks on twitter or blogs or even changing their gadgets often enough... or even looking for OS upgrades.
There's just a few.
But again, that's just the group of IT people I have interacted with. So I am not generalizing.
I believe then their job is very domain specific i.e., they are working in a company which has a product and they are just enhancing that product. Or the other reason could be that they are in IT field just to make money and has no passion for it.
On contrary, most of the people in my circle (including me) try to keep themselves uptodate with technology. Normally people listen to songs during workout and i listen to IT podcasts. And this is true for lots of other friends of mine.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
My family knew before I did that I would end up with a career in IT. They were right. I solved tech problems since I was little. Apparently, everyone around me thought I was obsessed with computers and asked me to fix their stuff as if I was providing free IT services. I have never thought of myself as geeky/gadget-obsessed person but for whatever reason my family sees it that way. My husband who IS gadget obsessed sees me as someone who just knows her computer engineering for her job and happens to be quite creative.
I do have the latest and greatest Android phone and tablets but mainly because Mr. Theorist loves that stuff.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
^ I am like that and it is funny how my brother who is a CS major and an expert in databases asks for advise on gadgets.
These are stereotypes at best. I love math and from what I have heard, you are supposed to love and be very good at chemistry like analytical & p. chem but that is definitely not the case with me. I love physics and am more inclined towards biology / organic chemistry. I totally didn't fit the mold here.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
Most of the tech gadgets are targeted towards non-IT folks, sure you may have some IT guys buying and covering or talking about them but usually its those who have no clue what they are getting who buy and feed the frenzy. If you read or see review of a gadget, it probably is paid and its fake review to get you all excited about the product. The companies who make these gadgets are designing the products to expire within 12-18 months, even with phones (IOS or android) you noticed how brand new phone looks like crap after 12 months, slows down, starts breaking apart - it is by design and of course the user contributes to the demise of the device. Its same concept as old jet printers, bulbs - companies need to keep selling to stay alive. I've never had iphone, ipad or anything like that because I don't like it and 2nd, I prefer android (which has its own flaws) and 3rd, its too expensive! I used to play computers games almost 7-9 hours a day from 1999-2004! Not all IT guys play games, since I was building my own computers, with latest CPU, RAM and GPU, it only made sense to use that for video gaming as well. I never bought modern gaming consoles (xbox, playstation) nor do I care for them. Most of my resources are invested in my home lab, my website which happen to be related to my career and field.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
As Tirchi Topi Wala mentioned above they are mostly targeted at non-IT folks , i agree with that 100%.
People in IT are just there in the field, does not mean they have to own all the latest gadgets. I see non tech people get so excited, far more than Tech people when they hear new Iph is coming in the market.
This might be surprising but one of my senior colleague has been in the field of IT since 1990’s, been almost 20 years but he has been using old school Nokia mobile, he bought smart phone last week. I used to laugh when I saw him using Nokia mobile just for fun, again it is a personal preference.
Re: Does being in the IT field automatically make a person Tech Gadgets obsessed?
I'm In IT but the hardware/network side and I really don't have an interest to get the latest and hotest new tech gadget.
I'm asking because a client had Mentioned that I don't fit the geeky "IT person that has all the latest gadgets" mold at all.
I just didn't think abt a stereotype associated with us
As it is with all stereotypes, they are caused by lack of knowledge and ignorance about the topic. Today even someone doing consulting job about *selling *a software considers themselves in "IT" but it really isn't IT. IT ki alif bey nahi ati aur IT IT karte phirte hain totay ki tarha.
A friend of mine is CCIE Voice (which means CCIE VOICE and nothing more, nothing less) but people think he knows everything there is about systems engineering, hardware, software, programming, architecture, governance, etc. ,etc.
Your clients statement might be correct to certain point, we have all the tech gadgets that we need **and **use... like I use my phone for everything, I don't need apple watch, iphone and ipad and garmin GPS, like many non-IT folks i know. I don't know anyone in IT who would want to deal with stupid, low to respond "GPS" touchscreens. If you can navigate complex IT problems on daily basis, solve issues, remember IP addresses and other critical information about your infrastructure, I don't think you would need to watch yourself drive home on a dedicated GPS, should be straight forward.
Even though i have worked plenty of times on various tablets still dont own any ipad 