Life Without My Laptop

I never travel without my laptop and my trip this week to the west coast is no different.

But one thing is different. I've been using my laptop less and less and my blackberry more and more.

I prefer to do email on my blackberry and increasingly I've been blogging on my blackberry. The browser on my phone works great and I can get my news and read my favorite blogs just as well on the little screen.

And even when my verizon wireless card doesn't work, I can always count on the blackberry.

I think maybe we are finally catching up with the rest of the world that's made the move to the little screen a lot more quickly than the US.

Comments

[Tony Alva]

Good for you Fred... I began leaving my laptop home when traveling on business the minute I got my first Blackberry. I loathed carrying a laptop onto an airplane. Since 95% percent of what I'd use the bloody thing for was email anyway, it was a relief to leave it at home. My former director gave me the evil eye for showing up to our three days without a laptop for awhile since I had to either bother another manager to access our company's fin apps to do approvals etc..., but the company quicky made 'hotel' work stations available and made fin apps access available via the web. It only took a couple of months before the others were showing up with little screens only.

As long as your not out of town for more than a couple of days the boat anchor can stay at home in my book. Just make sure the charger is in the toiletry kit...

[narnia]

i often read this blog on my blackberry.

[Rick]

Do you post to typepad via the Blackberry browser?

[jim parker]

I use a treo. I'd be lost without my Newsgator web mobile edition. I read most of my blogs via phone.

Plus, Google has a palm client version of GoogleMaps now. And it rocks. It even has a palm style interface where I can drag around the map like in the web browser version. Directions anywhere? Pizza places on the screen I am looking at? Satelite view of the land I want to buy? What more do you really need?

[Bogus Jones]

I was forced into going laptopless moments after turning my recent venture live. My partners and I were all working from home and communicating on IM late at night one misty evening a few months ago when we flipped the proverbial Frankenstein switch for our venture to 'live'. In a moment of absolute blunderosity I turned to the right and poured about 8 of the 12 ounces of beer from my celebratory drink directly into the keyboard of my laptop. Needless to say after spending the next 12 hours taking her apart in hopes to right the situation, I was left high...but not dry.

I had to use and external keyboard and mouse from that moment onward (hard-drive, processor and monitor still worked) and moved to my treo for on-the-go needs. Turns out to have been a blessing in disguise. I can carry needed files, utilize google reader mobile (http://www.google.com/reader/m/view), handle all email, and life is grand.

Thank you beer...is there anything it can't do?!

[Michael Parekh]

As a blackberry addict, I agree as well. Only I just typed in a to-do on my blackberry to get reading glasses soon. :)

[Chris Webb]

I'm with you Fred. I've yet to find something critical that I can't do on my blackberry while I'm away.

It's mostly email and web browsing anyway and with all the great mobile apps for my handheld I'm hard pressed to lug the laptop for quick trips.

[Anthony V]

Yep, reading this on a tiny screen too!

It's all a matter of someone building a device that doesn't suck. 8703e counts. :)

[Gerald Buckley]

Interesting... not a one of you has stated having a problem with the RIM network. That's an interesting testament to what seems most important to you: correct form factor and device level reliability over network QoS. Is that a correct conclusion?

[Karen E]

I cannot WAIT to try the iPhone for this reason. As an unreasonably devoted Mac user, I hope the iPhone will have all the features you describe PLUS great sideways readability PLUS true gadget happiness (that means easy to sync, easy to communicate with all people and software, etc.). We know already it will have the great GUI we Mac users have come to dote upon.

[Mary]

Comments isn't working in your anti-VC post.

#1 quality - NOT an arrogant prick

[Robert Williger]

I agree with you. Even without having a Blackberry (maybe one day soon:)) I find that I prefer checking my email and newsreader off my cell phone.

[maneck]

fred - what blackberry are you using, and what software do you use as a feed reader on it?

[Kevin Cawley]

fred, got another app for you to drop onto your blackberry. if you are still trying to figure out twitter, give it a go on your mobile... check it out at tinytwitter.com. it's a j2me application that i wrote in my "spare" time so i could tweet and view my friends' tweets on on my device. i would love to share with others.

maneck, for a good mobile feed reader check out newsgator go! - i authored that application.

rick, if you have the win mobile version of the treo, you should take a look at newsgator go! too it will give you a richer experience than the web reader.