I’ve always been known as an early adopter when it comes to latest and greatest technology or toys. I don’t know how I have gained that reputation but I somehow have.
Latest gadget I have gotten my hands on isn’t really all that leading edge. It’s not even something that was released recently. My Treo 650 has been out in the market for more than a year. There is a confirmed release date for the next model Treo. But even still with the unusual lateness in my giving into my need for the gadget, others view my Treo with certain amount of cool factor.
Anyways.. that’s not the point of today’s post.. It’s about the reason for the Treo… otherwise known as the Killer App. One application that totally justifies the purchase and the continued use of this device I would like to refer to as “my new toy”. My wife also seems to believe it is a toy since she has told me to stop playing with it and put it down. Before I get completely off track again.. let me stop myself and explain what I mean by Killer App of Treo.
Actually.. For me, it’s a two fold. (I know.. I said “One application” up there.. but hear me out..) First out of the box experience was crazy simple! I took the phone out of the box, plugged it into the power after installing the battery. Went straight into the HotSync app and proceeded to synchronize it to my computer. I synchronized using my already existing profile that I used with my old Sony Clie. It was the first time I have changed my cellphone and never had to sit and enter in all of my contacts. I know that seems like a simple concept but really.. the simplicity and convinience cannot be understood unless personally experienced it.
So here I was 20 mintues (the first time sync actually took a while) after taking it out of the box and with three taps on the screen of the Treo, I was already up and running. Ahhh..
Second part for my usage is how it has completely changed the way I use email. I have been using e-mail since 1993. So I’m not new to the whole wonders of cyberspace and the often overlooked convinience of e-mail. Not only has it replaced the old fashioned snail mail but it also have become primary mass communication amongst my friends although this blog concept has been taking away that duty for some time now. With my Treo and an idea of “push” mail (well.. ok.. so it’s not a true push like the blackberry.. but close enough), I have started using my e-mail in place of phone calls and IM. SMS messages were cool.. but it would only be useful if the other side had to have a cellphone and some even with a cellphone would not even answer my original text but just proceed to call me.
Treo and e-mail in combination, although quite similar in usage to SMS and not really a brand new technology, have become something quite different for me. And add gmail to the mix where I can filter messages I really want to get on my handheld before forwarding to my IMAP account.. it is thing of a .. well.. umm… very well used toy.
So… wanna contact me and make sure you get a response right away?? Don’t bother calling my cell because chances are I’m stuck in a meeting. But e-mail me.. and I will respond even if I’m in a meeting. No wonder blackberry has been dubbed crackberry.
Wednesday, January 4th, 2006, 8:40 pm | 
He Says | 
RSS feed
| 
Respond | 
Trackback
1/5/2006 at 11:58 pm
I am kind of glad that I don’t have instant (and constant) email / IM access, actually.
With email, I don’t get that much email, but I would still check for new mail all the time. Most of the time, it would be “0 new messages”, and then I’d find a way to waste more time, but answering old messages for no reason.
With IM, that would just suck me into the virtual reality of IM, and then I’d be sitting at a restaurant with all my friends … and my face stuck into my gadget, socially ignoring the people I’m physically with!
I can’t see that being a good thing … unless you can your Skype going on it and use it at the WiFi hot spots as free long distance.