Too much talking about iphone apps. Too much chatting on Bchat. especially in non-laptop classes.
I can see the benefit, but - in reality - you are at business school. Your email is never going to be that important. I carry my laptop everywhere though, so have access when I need it by just getting to a wifi spot. I find it extremely annoying to be in a bar chatting to someone when they start pissing about on a blackberry or an iphone. I can take it from someone I am recruiting with, but if you are a fellow student you really need to get a grip.
More my point was that they are not entirely necessary, and the issue of a $100 per month data plan next to a $35 standard bill might be of issue to some people. The same way you are told macs aren't viable at business school, you are given the feeling that your world will fall apart without a smart phone. I am pretty sure most the great business leaders have been able to cope without, and am of the feeling that they are an intrusion a lot of times.
Maybe I just don't get enough email or something.
I am in the distinct minority at my school for not having one. I think it makes people *feel* like they are business people to be honest (there is a good PhD there - notice how you can pay someone $40k in New York but they get all crazy business because they get a blackberry). I am not to argue that they are handy, but they are about $800 a year of convenience and not really worth it to my mind.
If people want you enough, they can phone you. Plus I really appreciate my sanctuary in the pub, and actually get a negative externality from all the others busy doing whatever their crackberry addiction calls for.
Terry - you are at Stanford.