The Continuing Search for Mobile Nirvana

I love the idea of having information at my fingertips.  Whether it is my PIM information, the mobile web, or my documents.  In the last few years, I've only been able to achieve half of my mobile Nirvana.  Once again I am going to try for mobile bliss.

The Story So Far

Back in the 1990's I had the dynamic duo of PDAs: a Palm handheld and a folding hardware connected full sized keyboard.  It was a winning combination that kept me productive on the go.  Type in web addresses was a snap, composing email messages was a breeze, and taking notes in meetings couldn't be easier.  That last point also ensured I was able to read my notes after the meeting.

When I made the jump to a Treo, things started to fall apart.  Wireless keyboards, connecting over Infrared or Bluetooth were plagued with connection and compatibility problems.  In the end, I became frustrated with the whole solution of wireless keyboards and I gave up on the idea and went back to using pen and paper.  Not exactly the technological wonder I was looking for.

The Foleo and Netbooks

When I learned about the Palm Foleo I was, and still am, excited about the idea.  It was everything I was looking for.  A hardware keyboard; a big vibrant screen to help me really express my ideas; and most of all, it was from Palm so it had all of the important secret sauce that added key features like instant on.

Sadly, Palm decided to not release the Foleo.  Since that time, a number of similarly styled notebook computers, dubbed "netbooks" have rushed in to fill the void left by the Foleo, including the RedFly for Windows Mobile devices.

After reviewing the features of the most popular netbooks, I decided that they weren't for me.  After all, I have my own personal Apple MacBook and a company issued Dell Latitude.  Mobile computing wasn't going to be an issue.  I wanted something smaller that would be instant on and that gave me the ability to many tasks simply and quickly without having to pull out the relatively heavy and slow starting notebooks.

What is a technologist to do?

Mobile Bliss: Take 3

"They" say that the third time is a charm.  I'm hoping that the saying rings true.

I have a small collection of wireless keyboards in the bottom drawer of my desk.  The latest addition to my collection is the iGo/ThinkOutsde Bluetooth Sierra wireless keyboard.  I originally purchased it to pair up with my Treo 700p.  Any one who has used a Treo 700p in the past knows that the Bluetooth stack had, to put it politely, issues.

Years later, I have come to own a Palm Treo 750 powered by Windows Mobile Professional 6.0.  While doing some "fall cleaning" in m home office, I came across my Sierra keyboard.  Could this Windows Mobile device and this Bluetooth keyboard offer the solution that I have been longing for?

I decided that I would give the Treo 750 and Sierra keyboard a chance to prove themselves as the solution to my needs.  As a long time advocate for solutions based on the Palm OS platform, I have to wonder if a Windows Mobile solution work for me.

The testing so far has been good.  You see, I started writing this editorial with the Treo 750 and Sierra keyboard this morning and worked on it throughout the day with multiple interruptions.  Unlike the pairing process under Palm OS, with Windows Mobile 6, once I wake up the Treo from sleep mode the Bluetooth connection comes right back.  That wasn’t the case with the Treo 700p.  After the three-minute idle period, I would have to repair the keyboard with the Treo.  This feature will be highly valued as it provides the same kind of no nonsense, I’m-here-to-work performance that I demand after having used a hardware keyboard for so many years.

There are two things that I don’t like so far.  One is the typewriter key click sound effect that sounds each time I press a key on the keyboard.  Sure it sounds cool I was working on a news floor, but in a conference room, it would get old really quick.  Good thing that I usually key my Treo in silent mode.  The other thing that I don’t like is that when I installed the keyboard driver, the iGo/ThinkOutside Bluetooth mouse driver tagged along for the ride.  Sure it is easy enough to disable the driver, but I shouldn’t have to.  Compared to the problems that I had to endure with IR keyboards and screwy Bluetooth device stacks, these issues seem minor.

I’ll provide you with an update to see how I’m doing with my Treo 750 and iGo/ThinkOutside Bluetooth Sierra wireless keyboard during this week’s 1SRC podcast, show 197, and 1SRC Chat on 9/6/08.

What do you think?  Do PDAs and smartphones with full-size keyboards minimize the need for netbooks?  Or does a full-size keyboard only work when there is a full-sized display to go with it?  How important is instant on to you versus wake up from suspend mode?

Let us know in the 1SRC forums by using the Discuss this article link below.