Having had a number of PDA devices (most recently the HTC Wizard aka Imate k-jam aka Qtek 9100), I have noticed that most of what you pay for in one of these high end phones ... you never really use.
One uses a PDA device in awkward locations. Standing up in someone else's office; bouncing around on a bus, sitting in the passenger seat of a friend's car. These are not places where you're really going to be able to concentrate on detail-oriented tasks. So who actually uses the mobile versions of Word/Excel/Powerpoint? And, let's face it, surfing web on a PDA sucks. Apple seemed to have gotten it right, then handcuffed themselves to ATT's EDGE service, so it takes 2 minutes to load the Google homepage. Forget it. All these apps belong on a laptop with proper bandwidth, screen, and keyboard.
I don't really understand the allure of email on a cellphone. I get that some people love it; but as a sysadmin, most of my mail requires me to do something that's gonna need a keyboard. So, I don't need or want it. Finally, I know sysadmins who wish to admin their machines via SSH or RDP from their phones; again I don't see the point. If it's such a simple thing you can do it from a phone in the pub, why haven't you already automated it?
Ah, there's one other point to be addressed: gadget envy. Specifically the chance to evoke same in your buddies when you whip out your ubercool SexyPhone5000 with robotic shoe-tying feature. And I have noticed something: phone envy fades fast. Inevitably someone gets the SexyPhone7000 with shoe-tying feature and breathalyzer. It's a race you can't win.
So what should I reasonably expect in a device I keep in my pocket? Quick list of what I feel are the essentials (listed in order of preference):
- Hearing aid compatibility, preferably to tcoil (T4 classified).
- Vibrating ringer.
- Phone. It needs to work flawlessly, and have an exceptionally simple keyboard.
- Contacts. Names, numbers, addresses.
- Calendar. I don't want to enter new appointments with it; I'll do that at my computer. Or ask you to email the appointment to me.
- Tasklist. Most tasks should be via my computer and synced. But the ability to write one out with a stylus would be nice.
- Notepad. Ideally I would like to just use a stylus and write out my notes by hand.
- Calculator. Because when you need to know what 2073 * 32 is, you really need to know!
- SMS messages.
- PC synchronization and battery charging via USB. One less wallwart to carry around.
- Flip-phone or slider keyboard. I don't want the thing calling 911 from my pocket. And this has actually happened (to a friend of mine).
I would consider the following to be perhaps useful:
- GPS navigation
- Camera
- Voice activated dialing that *worked*
- Multiple-timezone clock. I would love to have a contact list that could tell me the local time for all my contacts!
- Simple file storage. Plug in via USB and use files on any computer.
Phone tricks:
http://www.stootsi.com/store/item.aspx?item=79581156
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