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Re-thinking my mobile tech

Right now, I carry an iPhone, an Asus EeePC netbook (running Ubuntu 10.04 NBR) on a daily work day basis. When I travel, I carry the iPhone and usually the EeePC. I also own a 13″ Toshiba laptop that I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7, but I only use the Toshiba only for teaching and presentations.

My thought process is:

  1. Should I sell both the Toshiba and the netbook and get a thinner, lighter laptop?
  2. Just sell the netbook and stay with the Toshiba?
  3. Sell the netbook and get an iPad or one of the upcoming iPad competitors running other operating systems?
  4. Sell the Toshiba and the netbook, and get a slightly bigger netbook to replace both devices?

As a traveling tech trainer and troubleshooter, my netbook is extremely handy to have with me when troubleshooting, backing up dead hard drives, or just being productive at a coffee shop during the day when I have a few moments. However, I know my Toshiba is horribly under used and I dislike having a device that has such small usage times.

Option 1 or 4 probably make the most sense, but option 2 has a lot of practical merit as well. What do you think?

My most important mobile tech remains my smartphone.

I think I was the first person (and one of the only people) to purchase the Handspring Phone Adapter almost 10 years ago in my home town. I carried various Palm PDAs and immediately recognized the promise of having a single device that combined the utility of a PDA with the necessity of a mobile phone. When Handspring and Sprint combined on the bulky phone combination (see attached photo), I was thrilled and not disappointed a bit about the promise and possibilities of the combined device.

Smartphones today are thinner, lighter, and much smarter than my first devices, but the space is developing quickly and for techies like me, it makes decision making difficult. I switched to the iPhone from the now defunct Palm Treo almost two years ago and have had almost no problems. It’s light, thin, and powerful. ATT’s coverage lacks in many ways, but not enough to scare me away from my purchase.

This summer as my current 2 year contract expires, I now am finding myself intrigued and impressed with the new Google Android phones. Apple will release a new version of the iPhone this summer, and Android operating system and phones continue to make huge strides in usability and utility.

My last question is:  iPhone or Android? and why.

My goal is to get my mobile tech from 3 devices to just 2. I’ll keep you posted, but would love to get your take on my situation and how you handle your own mobile tech needs…leave a comment below!

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9 thoughts on “Re-thinking my mobile tech”

  1. I opt for option number 1 – sell the Toshiba and Netbook, and get a thinner, lighter, faster machine. Possibly one with touch screen, and a swivel screen so that you can show clients things as you’re doing them.

    2nd – As you know, I too use the iPhone. I’ll be switching to an Android phone when my current contract expires next year. The reason has nothing to do with AT&T – I’m honestly satisfied with them, and they all are really about the same when it comes to customer service, and coverage.

    But the android has a lot more techies that are backing up the android store because the Android phones are built on an open interface, and not a filtered proprietary one. This means that some of the programs and apps that are missing on the iPhone can/will be available on the Android phones soon – if not already.

    Technology is moving at a fast pace again, and forcing us to make a lot of decisions in shorter amounts of time.

    I agree fully that 3 devices is too much – and someday only one will be needed. Right now, I don’t see the iPad as a usable device, though others (2 million of them to date) would disagree with my assessment.

    If you do get a Droid – let let us know and write up an in depth review

    1. Great feedback Matt…thanks! I’m really leaning towards the Android phones too, but want to see what iPhone 4 truly brings since I have 2 years invested in the iPhone. I REALLY like the “buy, but return within 24 hours if not satisfied” option in the Android Marketplace. Makes why more sense than shelling out a buck or more for an unknown product.

  2. Option 4 sounds like the best option. You can reduce the devices and maintain the best functionality.
    also after seeing what Android can do I’m getting an HTC Droid Incredible next month. with the (capabilities/usability/companies/devices) amassing behind Android I think it is more than capable of overtaking the iPhone in a matter of months

  3. There are a few of us old fogies out here who don’t have any kind of a cell phone, much less a smart phone. Pity us.

  4. I’ve never had a cell phone, and never really wanted one. But, having just turned 20, i find that to stay in touch with friends, a cell phone is almost a necessity. I’ve waited for the good stuff, and i will be getting an Android phone soon. I think the GPS abilities w/ google turn-by-turn are what i will use the most.

    P.S. Rick, i don’t like the idea of contracts or lock-in, so maybe later this year you could look into and provide your opinion on the best looking pay-as-you-go Android phones/providers.

  5. I will choose the #1 option. A thinner and lighter laptop can meet all your needs and I don’t like the small screen of netbook.

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