The Teckki Says

In reading the article Phones, PCs put e-book within reach of Kindle-less, I can't help but ask how many times are we going to have this debate? Everybody wants to think that they can do everything from their phone. Every generation of smart phone is supposed to replace all of the older, larger devices it incorporates.

By now, Dell, HP and other large footprint computer companies should have shelved their desktop and laptop operations a long time ago. With so much computing power built into our phones, we should have all replaced our "big boxes" with these devices. In fact, we should be upgrading our old, less powerful smart phones with newer models that would allow us to throw away more hardware, like mice and keyboards, because if they aren't already built in, touch screens will finally render these devices obsolete.

But everyone I know still has a computer.

It's the real estate, stupid!

Smart phones are definitely more powerful than computers of just a few years ago, but I am not doing work I did a few years ago, I am doing TODAY's work! My screen of a few years ago was 19", it's now 22", and a larger one would not hurt. The likelihood of me putting larger screens into a backpack or a back pocket have long been nil. Looking at pictures, documents and websites on a 2"x2" represents such a step backwards in both size and resolution that I can't see (no pun intended) why we still think smaller is better in this case.

My need for memory (4GB and counting), hard drive space (160GB primary, several external drives) and connectivity to
additional devices (I have a hub in addition to 8 on board USB slots) requires more than I can expect from a device as small as a smart phone. Try sticking a thumb drive (which many of us have) into a phone slot.

There are things that I find wonderful about a smart phone: Keeping my contacts and appointments, acting as a portable Yellow Pages directory, a GPS system when I get lost (or before), and text messaging. Since I use email as a documentation system, I limit usage to quick notes and replies, and I don't attach nor appreciate receiving attachments over cellular lines.

Oh, I forgot the most important thing I need from a smart phone - the ability to make calls.