I envy the working life of gadget reviewers like my colleagues at HWM. They always have the latest and greatest gadgets in their pockets and backpacks. The media events they attend always have pretty models aplenty to show off the new tech toys. And they have their own test lab jam-packed with enough cutting-edge electronics to fill a little IT show.
Whenever I gather with these techies, I feel so Stone Age. I’m a caveman beside these up-to-the-minute maestros of modern consumer technology!
It’s not an easy job for them, though. They have to juggle an array of digital devices, try them out, evaluate their features, determine their pros and cons, write their reviews, and still find the time and energy to chat up lovely models at product launches.
I suffer the same problem on the job. The only difference is, I juggle cars rather than gadgets, and there’s a greater risk to the state of my mental health.
Imagine the stress of writing about a Diablo and a Doblo on the same day, then getting confused with a Fiorano and a Fiorino. Imagine back-to-back testing of a serious sports car with a few hundred horses and a slow jalopy powered by two hamsters with a sense of humour. Imagine battling jet lag and culture shock while test-driving a new model in some strange land in the middle of nowhere.
Closer to home, imagine the psychological torture of looking stupid in a silly runabout – mere minutes after looking clever in a Smart.
