Society

The Gamekeepers

Big boys and playthings, the screen lights up

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The Gamekeepers
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Sreedhar Gupta, director, Abhishek Auto Industries Ltd, cannot fathom how people lived 15 years ago without cellphones or laptop. "It's like I'm in office 24x7. Anyone can call anytime, even access you with e-mails. You get an e-mail, you reply. In business, keeping track of important mails is key." His suit of armour includes a Blackberry, a Sony Playstation, and an iPod. "Making a lifestyle statement is just 10 per cent of my reason for buying gizmos. Mostly, it has to do with convenience and utility. I wouldn't change a gizmo simply because there's a sleeker version."

Gupta's favourite is the Sony Playstation Portable. He recalls buying his first Playstation when in college in the US 10 years ago. The current one has sharper images than most TVs and keeps him occupied on his 90-minute commute back home from work daily. "I'm a big game freak. That's one of my favourite gizmos and I end up buying a new game every other month. My gadget spending would be Rs 30,000 a quarter for a small or regular one. I don't mind shelling out 40-50 per cent more for something good."

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Shubrangshu Neogi, V-P, Brand, Religare Enterprises, is more content with the 'feel good factor'. "I believe in being updated, checking out all gizmos on the shelves. My laptop, my latest Blackberry handheld and my Nokia handheld are essentials. Besides these, I love my iPod. I am getting a Playstation not just for myself but also for the kids."

Rahul Aggarwal, CEO, Optima Insurance Brokers, who changes mobiles every 12-18 months, even has "digital anxiety". "The cellphone, iPod and laptop give you digital anxiety. You are anxious if people don't call. You fret when they malfunction," he says. But form and beauty still matter. "I'd buy a gizmo if it was beautiful even if it is expensive."

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