GM CEO Bob Lutz is a Blackberry Addict

[Guest Josh]

Robert Lutz’s boss and wife both complain about the amount of time he spends on his BlackBerry according to Automotive News. But the General Motors product czar insists he wouldn’t be without the wireless communications device.”It’s an intimate part of my life,” Lutz says. “I use it constantly. It’s 80 percent professional, 20 percent personal.”

Executives say the wireless devices help them stay connected to work around the clock, from anywhere in the world. The devices allow them to get out of the office and still get their work done. If an on-the-job crisis strikes, they add, the devices keep them accessible.

Lutz exemplifies both the risks and the rewards. He told Automotive News he “really went off the deep end” when he developed a penchant for checking e-mail messages on his BlackBerry during “formal situations” at work.

Lutz’s boss, GM CEO Rick Wagoner, cited the problem during his performance review last year. Lutz says Wagoner scolded him: “You’re taking this multitasking too far.”

‘Out the window’

Lutz concedes his wife, Denise, has warned him, half-jokingly, about his BlackBerry use away from the office: “At times my wife says: ‘If you don’t stop using that and start talking to me, I’m going to grab it and throw it out the window.’ ”

Lutz, 74, says the mobile technology caused him some initial discomfort. But now, he adds, his BlackBerry is a constant companion. The device removes an executive’s tether to his or her laptop computer, he says.

“The beauty is it’s completely mobile,” Lutz says. “It’s a huge time saver.”

Lutz says he uses his BlackBerry on his way to airports and during corporate ride-and-drive events. He checks sales data and exchanges e-mail messages with coworkers without disrupting his travel schedule.

“In the old days, that was all dead time,” Lutz says. “This way, you’re still available. You can still grant approval. You can still argue.”

http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/04/03/001576/

[regfootball]

Lutz: "dammit guys, that G6 needs the 3.6hf powerplant. get it done"

Accountant: "um, yeah, Mr. Lutz, we need to talk to you about that. you do those TPS reports yet?"

[Drew Dowdell]

crackberry

it was a major source of stress for me when I was supposed to be relaxing. It would go off all hours of the day.

[Flybrian]

I f@#king hate those things. They're half-ass PDAs and half-ass phones.

[Robert Hall]

I used to have a Palm with wireless and would read email from that....it was fairly useful when I was on the road for the company I was at...(this was 6 years ago). I used to check email at traffic lights and on the freeway when caught in gridlock..

I currently have a Treo phone and read email from it only when I'm traveling for work and am away from the laptop or bored when waiting in the airport.

Never wanted a Blackberry, though..I like being disconnected when I can... I also force myself not to check work email when I'm home and not working.

Edited April 3, 2006 by moltar

[97regalGS]

I f@#king hate those things. They're half-ass PDAs and half-ass phones.

how do you really feel?

[ToniCipriani]

Anyone got his PIN? Message him to tell him what happened to Pontiac, and why are they giving us Bugs!

[regfootball]

I f@#king hate those things. They're half-ass PDAs and half-ass phones.

yeah, they aren't worth sh1t until you can store all sorts of hard core p0rn on them. yah know, lunch break at work, pull out the Blackberry or whatever and watch a little LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE

that, or like star trek episodes.

[regfootball]

or some 80's hair band videos

[Guest Josh]

I have a new Nextel Blackberry 7100I waiting on Lutz at my Sprint store on 13 & Gratiot.

[97regalGS]

I have a new Nextel Blackberry 7100I waiting on Lutz at my Sprint store on 13 & Gratiot.

isn't the 7100 a little dated? how about an 8700!

[caddycruiser]

I actually never knew anyone who had one until an interview recently.

We met at a restaurant for a combo lunch/interview, but out of the 30 minutes there, he spent 20 minutes on his Blackberry. Lots of "I'm so sorry...", etc, and neither of us really said more than a few words. Didn't get the job either, so poo...

Regardless, I think they're cool little things, and it's kinda funny to find out that a guy in his mid 70's is addicted to one! I've complained about him before, but more and more, I'm really liking Lutz

[ellives]

Get the 7250 - the 7100 sucks

I have a new Nextel Blackberry 7100I waiting on Lutz at my Sprint store on 13 & Gratiot.

[ellives]

Spoken by someone who obviously has never actually used one.

I f@#king hate those things. They're half-ass PDAs and half-ass phones.

[deftonesfan867]

Geeks....

[Flybrian]

Spoken by someone who obviously has never actually used one.

I have one, thank you. Most cheap cellphones are more user-friendly. I'd prefer this Kyocera device I had for a few weeks prior because it had a stylus, touch screen, and adaptable keyboard.

[ShadowDog]

Cell phones accidentally belong under the tire of my car.

I do have a PDA (Pocket PC) that gets used quite often; however, I always suggest it's better to have them as seperate devices.

The Blackberry was too cumbersome as a phone, and too small as a PDA.

[Robert Hall]

Cell phones accidentally belong under the tire of my car.

I do have a PDA (Pocket PC) that gets used quite often; however, I always suggest it's better to have them as seperate devices.

The Blackberry was too cumbersome as a phone, and too small as a PDA.

As far as PDA phones, I find my Treo 650 works well as a phone and as a PDA...and it's smaller than my old Palm VII. Though I miss the form factor of my old Motorola flip phone, it fit in my front pants pocket easily..

I have a coworker that has a Sidekick..interesting design.

[zabolots]

The Motorola Q looks promising. Styling of a RAZR with full keyboard and Windows Smartphone 2005.

[Sixty8panther]

Rick: What are you always doing on that Blackberry?

Bob: It's called "work," Rick. Maybe you should try it sometime. It worked wonders for me while I was at Chrysler.

Rick: Why do you always have to bring that up? I'm doing the best I can!

Bob: You're giving me a performance review to me while GM is in a nose dive. Have you ever heard of "prioritizing?"

So true. I think from the mid-1990s to today Ricky was too busy justifying

the cancelation of the entire B-body line, putting the F-body on "hiatus" while

trying to convince everyone that the Pontiac Aztek will be the next big thing.

[Satty]

So true. I think from the mid-1990s to today Ricky was too busy justifying

the cancelation of the entire B-body line, putting the F-body on "hiatus" while

trying to convince everyone that the Pontiac Aztek will be the next big thing.

Because the B-bodies were flying off lots, at sticker, to retail customers, same with the f-bodies. And the Aztek was the "next big thing" (a crossover, a segment that sells well) only poorly styled. Argue all you want, but GM is not in the business of keeping enthusiasts (who do not make up a majority of new car buyers) they are in the business of making money.

And Blackberrys are evil.