Re: Opinions on Mobile Computing Wanted

While I agree with you, I am not trying to flat out say Smartphones  
dont have there pros/place,  but the topic being "Opinion on Mobile  
Computing" I still stand by my original opinion that Smart Phones are  
categorically poor mobile computers. I am forced to carry a smart  
phone 24/7/365 and I cant say I'd enjoy dragging a netbook with me  
everyplace I go, but I hardly do any mobile computing on the thing  
unless you count checking email.

Obviously a netbook form factor is acceptable for Dale or why did list  
it as an option?

In my experience smart phones in a meeting are bad mojo, nobody ever  
uses them to take meeting notes, and there connection always  
interferes with a conference phone in the area.. Cant tell you how  
many meetings Ive been in in a meeting where the speakerphone breaks  
up horribly anytime someone uses there iphone under the table,  
meanwhile everyone else is trying to figure out what the problem is  
because iphone guy isint paying any attention to the meeting.

Google Maps Mobile is, well quite awesome.. it is also quite useless  
when I need it the most, out in the middle of nowhere w/poor coverage..

If all you want to do is email/message, gps and take some notes then  
by all means get your self a cheap ass, reliable old blackberry and  
call it a day.. dont even mess with something as high-tech and  
expensive as a droid. But if you want an actual mobile computer, then  
well.. get your self an actual mobile computer.

Cheers,
-R



On Nov 16, 2009, at 10:19 PM, Jonathan Hall wrote:

> A smart phone offers one very attractive feature that a notebook can  
> never offer, that for many people is enough to override all of your  
> cons (which are valid cons).
>
> That feature is is the form factor.
>
> It is impractical  to lug around even a small laptop/netbook around  
> in a pocket/purse, and pull it out during a board meeting long  
> enough to make a quick note, or to plop down on the dash of my car  
> to use as a GPS while I'm driving, etc.
>
> There are things that smart phones do very poorly right now.  In 5  
> years, there are many things that smart phones will do very well  
> that right now they don't do well or at all--and that is precisely  
> why the smart phone I buy today WILL be a piece of junk in 5 years :)
>
> But I think to say that smart phones are categorically bad is a  
> pretty narrow-minded statement (just as saying that all laptops are  
> stupid when you can have a smart phone!).
>
> Smart phones and laptops serve different purposes. Those purpose are  
> beginning to overlap, and over time they will overlap even more.   
> But neither will ever completely replace the other.  There is still  
> plenty of market space for both types of devices---and I will  
> probably use both types of devices forever.
>
> --
> Jonathan
>
>
> Ryan wrote:
>> I vote netbook stuffed w/RAM & a perm 3G/EVDO connection for  
>> following reasons:
>>
>> 1. Provider of your choice
>> 2. Service contract of your choice, sign your first born's soul  
>> away or go pre-paid
>> 3. Phones are good for Voice, Computers are good for Data,  
>> Smartphones do both, poorly.
>> 4. Ur less likely to accidently put  ur netbook thru the wash or  
>> leave it at a restaurant.
>> 5. Your netbook still might have some value for you in 5+ years, a  
>> smartphone will be a heap of junk by then.
>> 6, Wide selection of OS's, Apps, & Security options available to you
>>
>> and on and on, Im not keen on Smart Phones.. I find most are  
>> overpriced/underpowered, get horrible battery life and try to do to  
>> everything (or can do for a fee), while not doing anything specific  
>> very well.
>>
>> Not to mention that a Smartphone is worthless w/out a 3G/WiFi  
>> connection..
>>
>> Good luck,
>> -R
>>
>>
>> On Nov 16, 2009, at 1:51 PM, Dale Hodge wrote:
>>
>>> I've got some questions to put to our panel of experts, which are at
>>> least tangentially related to Linux. ;-)  What I'm looking for are  
>>> the
>>> pros/cons of various mobile computing solutions.  What I have now  
>>> is a
>>> 'feature phone' that has limited web browsing capabilities.  What  
>>> I'm
>>> wanting is web/email access while away from home.  The question is  
>>> how
>>> best to accomplish it.  My choices are:
>>>
>>> Smart Phone - Droid?  (Android 2.0)
>>>
>>> Tethering  with -  UMPC  (Nokia N810 or similar)?  Netbook?  Tablet
>>> PC?
>>>
>>> Whatever I use I'd want it light and portable, 12" screen or less,
>>> capable of Bluetooth & WiFi connectivity, GPS either built in or via
>>> dongle.
>>>
>>> For those of you that have used any of the above, what's been your
>>> experience?  What have been their strong/weak points?
>>>
>>> --Dale
>>
>