I figured if I was going to have to carry the *$#^&*@ laptop, it was going to do something.

They still sent us paper forms to fill out.

Now, I lugged the "buffalo bag," samples, briefcase, and laptop bag. The more "cerebral" (read "stupid") of us added a printer to our carry-in luggage. Power cords were essential, as the battery lasted long enough to boot and tell you the laptop was about to die. I'm glad I hadn't tossed the hand truck. Then there were four of us crowded around a 12-inch screen watching a very slow PowerPoint presentation.

Bringing out the cords to prepare the laptop for a sales presentation reminded clients of the snake scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Most of the time, I just wanted to take some notes.

I hate paper; I have two small former forests in my office in the form of piles lying around waiting to be filed. I didn't need any more paper notes, as you can see in Figure B.

FIGURE B

My "paperless" office is anything but. Click picture for a larger image.

The Fire Marshall is getting nosey.

That's when I began experimenting with handheld computers. My first was a Compaq Aero 2100 (further confirming my disqualification as a hardware consultant for all eternity). After two months of trying to get it to do anything, I gave up, sold it to a soon to be former friend, and bought a Palm V.

Palms, Pocket PCs, and CLIE's, oh my!
It only took two days for me to buy my first add-on software (at a price of $39, thanks Palmgear.com), and away I went.

As the years have passed, I've had four other Palm OS devices, including my current CLIE, and the Pocket PC Jornada 320. My addictive behavior is rearing its ugly head again; I really want an iPaq!

I've added QuickOffice Premier (at http://www.cesinc.com), which I've upgraded four times; HanDbase Pro (at http://www.ddhsoftware.com), which I've upgraded three times; and Intellisync (at http://www.pumatech.com), which I've upgraded twice. With this software, I've effectively eliminated the need to carry a laptop on most sales calls. Battery charges last for a week, rather than minutes, even with heavy use.

Lotus Notes, ACT!, and Outlook all can synchronize with a Palm OS device. I can carry all the information I need on a half-pound device rather than a seven pound laptop.

Agendus (at http://www.iambic.com/agendus), pictured in Figure C, is wonderful.

FIGURE C

Agendus shows appointments, contacts, and to do items on one screen.

Dates, contacts, and to do items can be stored all in one program. There's no more fumbling back and forth trying to make an appointment.

HanDbase works with MS Access. Instead of the many forms we are supposed to use, I create a HanDbase form instead. I even created my own form for auto mileage, as you can see in Figure D.

FIGURE D

HanDbase has become my database program deluxe.

The more I work with HanDbase, the more I appreciate everything it can do for me.

QuickOffice, pictured in Figure E, synchronizes with MS Office files.