Technology has defined my entire existence -- I have been using a computer since the rip old age of 3 and had Internet in my house from birth. My mother worked from home via an "Internet" connection that required her to turn it on, take a shower, feed me, feed herself and then, finally, be able to upload her documents. 

This immersion in the world of technology has taught me many things, some positive and some negative. I am endlessly fascinated by technology and reporting on it from a developer point-of-view helps me see the other side of the coin -- I get to get in your head, see what you think about when you create these magical devices that have guided me through childhood, adolescence and now literally run my life in adulthood. 

I owned a BlackBerry…in 2008. I wanted it to be an iPhone as I had fallen in love with Jobs' creation while living abroad -- everything was so seamless on my Mac and iPod Touch, and I wanted that in a phone too. But, unfortunately, Verizon only supported BlackBerry, so that's what I bought. 

It was an amazing device. It taught me that sleep is overrated, notifications need to be answered immediately and communicating/working on-the-go is the ONLY way to work. It taught me that Journalism was a career worth fighting for and readers on mobile devices were ten times more picky than those who sat at home with your paper/magazine after a day of work.  It taught me how to be a mobile journalist. It also taught me that I love a seamless experience, and how difficult it can be when a seemingly "awesome" device doesn't provide one. 

As I played with the RIM PlayBook today I realized once again why iAm an iPhone and iPad -- iDevices are sharp, beautiful and make you feel like you're part of something truly revolutionary. 

The iPad offers an amazing experience, and perhaps I have been drinking the iKoolAid for too long, but the PlayBook felt clunky to me as an end-user. Sure, it is a sharp, "sweet" device, but it seems too…computer-y (for lack of a better word). I am a Gen-Y millennial who wants to have a mobile, app-centric experience -- I don't want my cool, trendy devices to feel like the computer I use at home and work. I don't want it to feel like the 17-inch Toshiba I was using in 2002 as part of my high school curriculum. 

PlayBook may survive, however, I think RIM's time is done -- unless they can understand us, they won't ever be able to sell to us. We're either part of the "crazy ones," or we're hobbyists that love the fact that a search engine we started using in the sixth grade now creates a phone and operating system. 

So sorry RIM, but I'm not sorry that BlackBerry no longer fits my mobile needs. We had a good run and I'll always remember you as the one who turned me on to living, working, and playing on the go.