Netbooks: Friend or Foe?

So, I almost bought a Asus Eee PC today. I travel a lot, and I am intrigued by a teeny tiny laptop that costs less than my iPhone did when I bought it. I guess, here is the rub: my iPhone does most of what I want the netbook to do. So, why do I want one?


It all comes down to typing. I want a small package with a usable keyboard. The iPhone is a terrific device, but I haven't mastered typing a long paragraph on it (I am a terrible typist, and it may not be the iPhone's fault). So, the keyboard is really enticing. That makes it my friend.


I have a USB Cellular Modem. That gives me anywhere access via 3G, plus WiFi through AT&T and Boingo. That gives me anywhere access to data. (Although I have that with my iPhone, it is Edge only and that can be very painful. And the iPhone doesn't support Flash...which makes me unable to keep up my affair with old episodes of The Pink Panther on Hulu.) So the netbook, with its gaudy anywhere data and Flash support, again, is my friend.


But here is where things start to fall apart. I am a business user. Powerpoint and Excel and Word run my life. Most of these devices support MS Works, or some kind of OpenOffice.org software. And while I can tolerate and use these kinds of Office alternatives, they aren't the real deal, and I continually run into other people having problem with the documents created via these applications. (This most often happens with PowerPoint clones). If the netbook can't run Office, it is my foe.


There are other issues, mainly with limited storage. I want my music, my video and my files with me. Who knows what you will need when you are on the road. I could take along a USB external drive, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of small and light? If it doesn't fit what I need it to fit, then it is my foe.


So, we are tied, 2 friendly characteristics and 2 foe-ish characteristics. Help me Gadget Guy Readers. While a modest purchase at just over $300, is a netbook a good purchase, or do I need to buy a MacBookAir to satisfy my light and lean desires?

Most Ridiculous Gadget That I have Ever Seen (ps: I want one)

Thanks to our friends over at Engadget.com :

Electric Paper Airplane Launcher :
It launches your paper airplane for you. No more elbow tendinitis for you! Overpower your office enemies with superior airpower! From UrbanOutfitters .

Nokia N97: Blurring the line between Smartphone, Netbook and PC?

There is something interesting happening these days. Lines are being blurred all over the place. Democratic president-elects are appointing Republicans to the cabinet, broadcast TV and streaming media are mushing together, and in the world of smartphones, laptops, and netbooks, it is nearly impossible to tell which one your device is. Nokia has just made the waters even muddier with the Nokia N97 .


Nokia bills this as a dawn of a new era of personal internet access. New era, I am not so sure about, but it looks like my old Psion MX5 collided with my iPhone . This device offers 3G, WiFi, Voice and almost any other method of wireless communication imaginable. As a hunk of hardware, the spec list is enviable, and touchscreen entry, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard is really great. The screensize is generous, and I am sure, like all Nokias, it has been incredibly well made.


But what is it? Interestingly enough, Nokia's press release doesn't mention anything about it being a phone . So, clearly, Nokia doesn't consider it a phone, but rather a mobile computer. They have upgraded a bunch of their Ovi services to add cloud services to the device. I haven't played with the device, but, I suspect, that like most Nokia products, the implementation is thoughtful. 


So, what is this device? Is it a phone (maybe so, but merely incidentally according to the attention that Nokia gives its voice cred). It is a netbook? No, I don't think so... too small. Is it a micro-laptop? No, not enough horsepower. So what is this new breed of device?


It is sort of the ultimate gadget. It is multipurpose, and has amorphous talents so that you, the gadget lover, can make it into what you need. My iPhone is close to this idea, but I think the N97 with its emphasis on data and the availability of touchscreen and real keyboard make this a little closer to the only device I would need on a business trip. And that, my friends, is this gadget lover's dream.


Looking forward to this...

iPhone Batteries

I love my iPhone. It simply makes my life better. I love it. Enough said.

What I don't like is the battery life. By the end of the day, I am on fumes. And when I travel, I often don't make it through the day without a charge. So, I am in the market for a battery extender, charger, whatever for my iPhone. There are two terrific options for the iPhone.

Mophie Juice Pack: This nifty sleeve slides right over your iPhone. It adds a little heft and thickness. But in terms of elegance and "always have it with you"ness, I think that the Mophie is spot on. Works with 1st Gen and 3G iPhones. $99.95 from www.mophie.com

RichardSolo 1800 for iPhone: The RichardSolo iPhone battery takes a different approach. Rather than being integrated on the device, the RichardSolo Battery is a nearly iPhone sized device that you use to charge your iPhone. If you carry a bag a lot, it could be the perfect thing to throw in your bag and keep there. The RichardSolo 1800 can also charge any iPod (except for the Shuffle). It also comes with a light and laser pointer on it...why? Mostly because he's Richard Thalheimer, the guy who founded the Sharper Image. It is available for $69.95 at www.richardsolo.com.

And finally, there is a really simple, really inexpensive backup charger available www.thepocketslution.com. You stick some AA batteries into a plastic doohickey, plug the doohickey into your iPhone. It says that 4 AA batteries will charge a dead iPhone 2.5 times. Well, I don't know if that is true, but at $7.99 it is worth a flyer!

Let me know what you think!

OK...so I am a HUGE slouch...

I haven't posted since March...that is just plain ugly. Pure and simple. Look for more everyday between now and the end of the year.