FIGURE E

I have all my forms, documents, and spreadsheets on my handheld with QuickOffice.

I have all my forms, documents, and spreadsheets on my handheld. This alone replaced a small file box I carried in the car. In addition, the forms are with me when I need them, rather than back in the car somewhere.

As an aside, I have to say the QuickOffice guys are great. Their office is nearby, and they didn't even mind that I stopped by for a visit with a problem.

The thumb-board may be small compared to a laptop keyboard, but I type with two fingers anyway! Why should I care about the size of the keyboard?

Infrared made my life simple again. Less cords. I beam a lot now. Out of town with no cradle? No problem! Many times, rather than exchanging business cards with a prospect, we beam each other.

Bluetooth and WiFi make mobile replication possible. Starbucks and hotspots: when I want, I get some coffee and check email or sales numbers. How easy can it get?

Voice record eliminates note taking while driving. Think about it next time you see a salesperson doing 75 down the highway, talking on their phone, driving with their knee, and taking an order on a notepad!

Presentations are easy with the customer's projector and my handheld. It's great! Pop in a CF card and attach the handheld to the projector's port. I can't create PowerPoint presentations on my handheld, but I can show PowerPoint presentations from my handheld. Wow!

I can make and show .AVI files on the CLIE as well.

I'm ultra happy with my CLIE, pictured in Figure F.

FIGURE F


I thought the CLIE camera was just a toy, but I've used it many times to send pictures or short .AVI files back to the home office. Roll over picture for a larger image.

This all brings me to my question: are handheld devices going to replace laptops?

Are handheld devices going to replace laptops?
Handhelds beat laptops for ease in training. A non-computer user takes about three months of intense training and patience to use a laptop, and that's hoping they know how to type! Take the same unwashed, put him on a Palm OS or Pocket PC device, and they'll be up and running in a day or two. I've helped complete novices to be productive in less than 30 minutes.

Now, I can carry one shoulder bag with my printer and paper, handheld in shirt pocket, and the ubiquitous buffalo bag. Rather than being mistaken for a new employee moving in or the repairman of the day, I'm thrown out like a respectable salesperson!

Isn't that the point of IT anyway: to improve productivity? If we spend months and years working toward the goal of digital offices, where is the return on investment? Where is the improvement?

With a Palm OS device, forms can be created that are touch-screen entry, doing away with most typing altogether. Which improves your productivity more, tap and click or months of training?

Granted, the handheld has many limitations, for now. Laptops and desktops win for all other functions. But, for me, the handheld gives the mobile professionals the tool we need in the field.