OK, I admit it. I'd become the laughing stock of all who know me. They were tired of my complaints about my Palm Treo 750. In fact, I recently ran into a guy who watched me using my Treo and marveled, "My God, you're still using a stylus?" I knew I was driving the Model T of phones in a Lexus world but simply couldn't make the switch. I love my Treo keypad, so wasn't thrilled to switch to the iPhone. And I got over my brief love affairs with every alternative out there, from the Palm Pre to the Droid to...everything else.
Somehow, I fell in love-- and it seemed it would last longer than a brief affair-- with Google's Nexus One. Yes, I know, it still doesn't have a real keyboard but somehow I found its touch keyboard a bit easier to use (not a major difference, but at least a bit better) than the iPhone. The camera is awesome. And I am entranced by its voice recognition capability, at least on maps and directions. So far, every time I've used voice search to make a phone call, I end up somewhere on the internet rather than on the other end of a telephone call. But I'm working on that as well as trying to overcome my old Treo habits as fast as I can.
So here's the challenge. I'm a conversationalist and I can't for the life of me find anyone at Google who wants to talk with me about my Nexus One. Sure, they've got a website with some FAQ's and the like, but I want to talk with someone. Yes, a human being, please. There are lots of things that simply need more explanation than can be handled by their lame Q&A stuff.
I'm not alone. Apparently, there are many people tearing their hair out over the lack of customer service accompanying this phone. And they're sharing their frustration on the web. I should have looked at those comments sections before getting this phone, I suppose. It's like finding out your boyfriend, for whom you fell head over heels, turns out to have all sorts of failings that others would have told you about if you had only asked. Now, rather than break up, you're trying to "make it work."
I'm determined, though. I like Google, feel they are sincere (yep, have drunk the Google KoolAid) about doing no evil, and want this to work. Especially the voice recognition capability. When I get it cooking, it will broaden my circle of potential conversationalists. I'll be able to, yes, talk with my phone. How cool is that?
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
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