Title: Technologically-Challenged Dude Seeks To Update/Simplify His Life, If At All Possible
Body: I wear many hats: Husband, Coach, Marketer, Technician, Communicator...and sometimes I put on a few more as they fall to the ground and I pick them up.
To this point in the game I've done rather well with the technoloigies I've had at my disposal. However, it's come to my attention that I could be a little more efficient, and perhaps spend a little less coin, if I were more aggressive in the use of emerging technologies, such as WiFi, VoIP, and so on. But, given my limited understanding of what might the best blend of price, stability, and ease of use, I have decided to ask the world of technologically-proficient
Here's what I have at this point in time:
Home telephone - VoIP (provider unnamed) - we get less than a dozen calls a week, and miss most of them because the calls come while we're at our job, at a run or workout, or traveling.
Computer - Toshiba laptop, running Windows Vista, plus a mix of Microsoft, Apple and open source applications. Wireless capability, cable internet provider.
Cell phone - simple CDMA cell phone (the very savvy will know my provider!). I cannot take my phone into my work place, so it's only used when I'm away from work (sit in car, check messages before driving to work, at lunch, before driving home, before/after workout). When I'm out and about I do carry it with me, though.
I recently purchased a 32GB iPod Touch, which - believe it or not - isn't a bad little gadget. Originally I bought it because of the music I want to have available at races and events (one of my other "jobs" has to do with race operations for a race production company...basically means I fill the gaps as needed...get 'er done kind of stuff). It's basically an iPhone without calling capability. It has WiFi capability and I've got some of the social networking apps downloaded, i.e., FB, Twitter, TweetDeck. I also have Skype on it. I found a piece of software for timing and scoring races, which is available only in PalmOS and the iPhoneOS.
WHAT I WANT:
I want to simplify my technology! I know I probably can't get a one-size-meets-all needs kind of gadget. I want to be able to get things done without having to be stuck within someone's WiFi limitations. I want to get as much as I have now, and perhaps a little more, without spending so much, or sending the money to a lot of different people and often overlapping services. If I could get it all from one provider and one device that is mobile enough and small enough but not too small, it would be fantastic.
So, what can you guys tell me?
... browse some of our team's other blogs at http://blogs.didx.net and http://blog.tmcnet.com/monetizing-ip-communications/. Find out how to get your telephone company to offer phone numbers from around the world. You're welcome to comment, contribute, and collaborate any time.
