Loaded Down With Tablet PCs and UMPCs

Man, one look at all of my equipment, and it is becoming quite clear to me that a few things have got to go. I might have to reclaim my title of “man of many tablet pc’s” :-)

What all do I have and what am I going to get rid of? Hit the Read More link to find out – and let me know what you think of my decisions.

 

• Lenovo X61 Tablet PC – on evaluation and going back to Lenovo in the next week
• HP 2710p Tablet PC – just purchased for review purposes. I’m pretty impressed with it, although there are several tablet usability things that just bug the heck out of me. Stay tuned for the InkShow on Tuesday ( sorry for the delay – couldn’t be helped ).
• Samsung Q1P UMPC – I don’t use this much, but for testing touch based apps and its support for a long life battery, I’m likely going to hold on to it.
• Tablet Kiosk i7210 UMPC – This is on evaluation from Tablet Kiosk. It is a really nice UMPC, but due to no-support for built-in extended batteries, I don’t use it much.
• MacBook – Ah, yes. The 13″ MacBook. It keeps me balanced in the world of mobile computing, and it is a speed demon work purposes.
• OQO Model 02 – I’m using this more and more as my main mobile computer when out and about. I’m especially using it more since getting some evaluation car and desk mounts from ProClipUSA.com – Look for an InkShow next week from Eddie on these. If you have a ultra-mobile computer, tablet pc, mp3 player, phone, etc, that needs mounting, I’d highly recommend checking them out. They are rock solid!
• Lenovo T60P – a beauty of a workhorse with a 15″ widescreen.
• Nokia N800 Internet Tablet – Purchasing this was mosty just to try out the device. Do I need it? No. Would I like to keep it?  Maybe. It has some fun stuff and Nokia is definitely leading in some interesting ways in terms of mobile internet devices. They are a company I definitely want to keep a pulse on.

So, what is a mobile guy to do with all that equipment? Pare it down, that’s what. I don’t need two speed demons, so the Lenovo T60P is going, and the MacBook is staying. The MacBook offers me more flexibility in computing than the T60P. The Lenovo X61 is on evaluation, so that is no brainer. I’ll replace it with the 2710p – I think it is a keeper, despite its quirks. And what about the UMPCs? Well given a choice, I’d choose the Q1P over the i7210 due only to built-in extended battery support. The main reason for holding on to the Q1P is to test touch applications – I honestly don’t use it much at all. The Nokia? Well, I really don’t need it, but I’m going to hold on to it just so I can continue to play with it, try different apps out – plus it helps keep me balanced in the world of ultra-mobile devices. I’m all about balance in my mobile computing world these days.

So, instead of 8 devices, I’m down to 5:

• 2 Tablet PCs: 2710p and the OQO – one being highly mobile, the other for work
• 1 Ultra-Mobile PC: Samsung Q1P – mostly used for testing
• 1 MacBook – work machine, keeps me balanced and my main video / audio recording machine
• 1 Internet Tablet: Nokia N800 – testing and research use

Hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to pare that 5 down to 2 or 3. Hmm…now that wouldn’t be fun, though, would it?