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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 451
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Mobile computing devices - What do you carry?
Ok folks, with all the different kinds of devices in all shapes and sizes that are available, and with more to come, have you ever wondered about the devices to use to accomodate your mobile computing habits and usage?
I ask this because everytime a new Pocket PC comes out there'll always be someone baying that it doesn't have this, or that, or whatever. I know that some want everything, but I'm less picky, because I know that no matter what device is released, I'll still have to rely on more than one device for my needs, simply because of the different needs I have at different times. No device is going to be able to do-it-all. Most likely we all pick upon a combination of devices to do our work; however I wonder how much thought do we put into assembling this portfolio of devices?
Looking at the market, I think what we have are the following devices that are available to us road warriors:
1. Dumb phone - Your basic cell phone, makes calls, sends and recieves SMS, and that's about it. With or without Bluetooth, maybe a few Java "applications". An example would be a Nokia 3200 series phone.
2. Smartphone, with or without bluetooth - Running a proper OS that can support a wide range of add-on applications and PC connectivity. Example would be devices on MS Smartphone OS, or Symbian Series 60.
3. Low-end PDAs - These are typically smaller devices, with less features, or crippled ones. The iPaq 1900 series, Acer N series, and most Palms are such devices.
4. Mid-range PDAs - In-betweens that offer more of the above, but not as much as those below. iPaq 2200 series, hx3700 series, the Zire 70s, and the Dell Axim X50 (maybe the Tungsten T5, judging from the overall reaction online).
5. High-end PDAs - Almost everything but the kitchen sink. iPaq 4700 and the Dell Axim X50v are two examples.
6. Smaller PDA phones - PDAs that can function as a phone, but not too big. HTC Magician and the Treo series are examples.
7. Larger PDA phones - Typically more full featured, and usually labelled as bricks. See HTC Blue Angel, the upcoming MDA IV, and Nokia's Communicator series.
8. HPC-type devices - These are fairly rare now, though I really liked the Psion 5mx, and the Jornada 720 then. Closest would be one of the clamshell Sharp Zaurus. Great when the keyboard is great, and the battery life is good.
9. Small tablet devices on other OSes - Not very common as well. Too big to be regarded as a PDA, but typically offering more in features. Samsung Nexio is an example.
10. Small Tablet devices on a "proper" OS - An emerging market I'd love to see more of! Sony U series, OQO are the few examples from this field.
11. Tablet PCs - Tablet only, no keyboard attached. Usually they are quite small, but generally over 1kg, which make carrying them as a legal pad as fun as juggling dumbbells.
12. Ultra Portables - Small in size, typically under 1.5kg, typically no optical drives. IBM X40 and the Fujitsu P1000 series are two examples. Tablet PCs with attached keyboards are included here.
13. Subnotebook - under 2kg. Still small notebooks, but sometimes the size and weight increase from an ultra portable make a difference. Fujitsu S series notebooks come in this category. Tablet PCs with attached keyboards are included here.
14. Mainstream notebook - Under 3kg notebooks, with features that can mostly replicate the desktop experience. Too many examples, but I really really like the Compaq B3800 series.
15. Desktop replacement - Really Big Heavy Things design to well, replace a desktop. Portable in the most charitable sense of the word, but they come with both power-hungry and power-oodles-of-it desktop components.
I might have missed out on a few classes of devices, and the classification I think can do with some further refinement.
For me, I'm undecided on how best to approach this. My aging X20 is still working fine, but if I need a notebook replacement I'm unsure if I should go with something from the following:
- Mainstream notebook and a larger PocketPC phone,
- Mainstream notebook, a small dumbphone with BT, and a high end PocketPC
- Mainstream notebook, a smaller PDA Phone, and a HPC-type device
- Ultra Portable and a smaller PDA phone
The first option offers a lot of power on the go, but the devices are heavier and bulkier. The second and third options offer the freedom of leaving something behind, plus seperating the devices decreases the chance one device will have a flat battery at the wrong time. However buying 3 devices is very very stressful on one's pocket. The last option is the kind of light mobile computing that I like, but potentially lacking in power.
I'm curious to see what you guys have for your mobile computing needs; do they complement each other, and what kind of setup do you tend to gravitate to?
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