I'm talking about clocks.  Do you prefer an analog clock -  the kind with the numbers 1 to 12 and an hour and minute hand, or a digital clock - the kind with the numbers 1 through 12 and 00 though 59?

I prefer analog clocks - and here's my reasoning.  When I look at an analog clock, I'm not particularly looking at the exact hour and minutes, but rather I'm looking at the position of the hands to gauge the time.

When I see the minute hand between 12 and 6, I'm thinking it's that much past the current hour.  When I see the minute hand between the 6 and 12, I'm thinking it's that much more until the next hour.

When look at a digital clock, what my mind does is convert the digits into an analog clock and I use that image to determine the time.

See, if I glance at a digital clock and see 10:51 or 10:15 - it doesn't register as quickly as if I was to glace at an analog clock and see either 10 minutes until 11 or 15 minutes past 10 o'clock.

I guess the bottom line is, when I look at a digital clock, I just see numbers.  When I look at an analog clock, I see the portion of the hour that's past or the portion of the hour that's left.

Have you ever thought about it - digital versus analog?  Think it has something to do with us growing up with just only analog clocks?  Have you ever tried to find an analog clock/radio?  I've looked far and wide for a nice analog clock radio.  I finally found one on-line, and it cost me a pretty penny.

Not only does this clock radio have an analog clock, but a digital clock too (though I don't look at the digital part).  It set me back almost $100, but it's loaded with features.  One of the best feature is that I set the alarm time separately for each day of the week.  So Monday through Friday is set and Saturday and Sunday it's not.  And I never have to remember to set it on or off every night.  The radio and/or buzzer ramps up so it doesn't jolt me awake.  And the light has a dimmer so I can adjust it.  Of course there is a snooze bar (a must have).  And the main reason that it cost so much is because it's an Atomic clock.  It sets the time using the U.S. Atomic clock based in Fort Collins outside of Boulder, Colorado.  Unfortunately, the radio signal barely (if at all) reaches Hawaii.  So I use the manual setting.

But getting back to the topic on hand.

Are you a analog or digital clock type of person?  Have you ever given any thought to the concept I've explained above?  If not, now that you've read it, does it make any sense?  Is your watch analog or digital?  Is your alarm clock analog or digital?  Do I have too much time on my hands?