I spent all summer fighting friends off as they insisted that my life would be better if I only invested in one of these new Netbooks. With an 8 lb laptop that I lug back and forth to the office each day, and a price point of several hundred dollars and falling, it was tempting. However, I resisted but continued to follow this new computing phenomenon.
Then in the WSJ this morning, Walt Mossberg posted a review of the new Verizon Droid, which uses the Android operating platform on a new Motorola handset. In it, he said “like the iPhone, the Droid is really a powerful hand-held computer that happens to make phone calls.” A powerful hand-held computer, huh?
It got me thinking .. as computers get smaller, and phones get bigger and more powerful, at what point do they converge? As I thought back to my 8 lb laptop – there are several reasons why I continue to lug it around: the large screen, comfortable keypad and the ease of having all of files, email, etc in one place. However, when I’m back in the office – I plug it into my docking station and upgrade both of those features to a full keyboard and 27” flat screen monitor. And I already duplicate my emails to my Blackberry. Do I really need such a large laptop most of the time?
I’d be an early adopter of a hybrid smart phone/netbook if I could combine all the benefits of my Blackberry and laptop into one device, without losing the convenience. We’re almost there, as many phones allow you to review and slightly edit many different types of files. However, I’ve not seen a phone with the robust storage to keep the 1.8 GB of files that is the full record of my professional and academic career. And what about those few times (like today on the plane) where I actually do use the laptop, including large keyboard and big screen?
So I’ll throw this challenge out there: when a phone company creates a phone that allows me to store all my personal files, data, etc on it – and then dock into a more productive suite of attachments (mouse, keyboard, screen) when I need it, I’ll switch. Laptop, gone. Blackberry, gone. Until then, I guess I’ll carry around 8.5 lbs of Blackberry and computer.
