For a long time now, the desktop computer has been playing second fiddle to the laptop. Laptop machines have become more powerful and innexpensive. You can get very near the power of a desktop and the mobility too. But things are changing, primarily due to the smart phone and portable tablets.

Smart phones like the iPhone and Droid phone are packing a great deal of power and functionality into our palms. Smart phones are so good now, they can take on many of the rudimentary tasks of a notebook. Add to that the new iPad and things get even more interesting. I’ve tried using an iPad as a notebook replacement and I will tell you it’s not there yet, but I do believe the platform will get there soon.

The other big realization I made is that I rarely use the power that my notebook has when I am mobile. When mobile, I mostly like to consume content and blog. I don’t generally produce a lot of audio or video. I would prefer to do that on a larger screen at home. The power of a big laptop, than, is wasted. What I really wanted was something at home that was big and powerful and that could be hooked up to large screens; a desktop machine. For mobile, I wanted something very light and with tons of battery life.

What I did was get a 21″ iMac for home, connected to a second 21″ monitor. For mobile, I went for an Asus Eee PC. Now you may asking me why Iwent for a netbook instead of an iPad. It’s a good question and I’ll tell you why. The iPad is an elegant, beautiful piece of technology, but it has several drawbacks. I do think it’s a little heavy, especially after you have been holding it for awhile. Also, the sides don’t provide enough space to grip it and my fingers always slip into the touch area, resulting in unwanted actions. They keyboard is surprisingly good for a touch device, but still not quite as good as a physical keyboard. In addition, I have not found a good way to lay it in your lap while typing. The angle never seems to work. With a netbook, you have a hinged screen, so I can adjust the angle at will. Like many Apple products, the second and third generations of the iPad are the ones to wait for. There is also the fact That I was able to get my netbook for around $250 whereas an iPad would have cost me at least twice as much.

Is the netbook perfect? Hardly. The keyboard is good but small and so harder to get used to. The screen does seem tiny, smaller than the iPad even though both are 10 inches. But for now the netbook works for me. I assume that I will indeed transition to a tablet, but not until some good Android tablets come out or possibly a second generation iPad. My new computing architecture now lines up as follows: Droid Incredible – small, Asus netbook – medium, iMac – big. At every level, I’ve got it covered, and notice that it also happens that I end up with three different operating systems, Mac, Android and Windows. The best tool for each need and I overcome the OS by living as much as I can in the cloud. I don’t think much about OS anymore, I think more about apps and function.

I’d love to Hear what you all are thinking and doing with your environments. Let me know in the comments.

There are indications now that Amazon may try to make a new Kindle with color and multi-touch technology, bringing it much closer to an iPad. I think it’s very dangerous for Amazon to rush headlong into a competition with Apple on their own turf. Maybe the smart play is to remain the dominant player in black and white e-ink technology and let Apple have the rest. Amazon’s strength has always been traditional black and white books, not magazines or comics. Here’s an even smarter play, make a full iPad version of the Kindle reader. Amazon needs to remember their focus, they are a bookstore not a hardware manufacturer. By making a great Kindle reader for the iPad, they stand to sell more books from their online bookstore, even possibly cutting into Apple’s store.

2010 will be THE year of the tablet computer as Sony has also said they want to enter this market. No doubt there will be others. 2010 could also be THE year traditional publishing makes the turn to digital distribution. People have been predicting the death of traditional publishing for years now. These new tablet machines go a long way to bringing that prediction to pass.

2010 is going to be a HUGE year for eBooks and e-Readers. Lots of new technology is going to ship and competition is keeping everyone on their toes. I still say Amazon has the inside track due to their powerful online store and brand name. The wild card is, of course, Apple who is yet to release their tablet machine. Apple, due to the nature of what they are capable of, could change the game completely.

The flexible displays like the Skiff have been in development for years and it’s exciting to see the first generation finally come to market. It’s a good time to be a geek.

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

I’m not sure I like the name Smartbook but I love the concept. Apple will no doubt stake out the high end, which leaves lots of room at the lower end. In general, it’s going to be a very hot year for tablets with yet another possible tablet from Google.

If you have not been a believer in mobile wireless computing, time to wake up and smell the coffee. It’s an exciting future and it’s coming, fast.

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

So here’s the problem with this. Two different pieces of hardware. The device is unlocked, which is great, yes, but I cannot take it over to t-mobile because it’s not compatible with their 3G. I need to get a different version of the phone. So, what’s the use in that?

I don’t think we’re going to see our way out of this wireless mess until all the carriers get on 4G LTE and we can truly have one set of hardware standards. Than, an unlocked phone will really mean something.

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

Here is what I can report.

It’s fast, really fast, much faster than my iPhone 3G.

The screen is fantastic. Again, better than my iPhone 3G.

It’s simple and elegant. The most elegant phone, both in hardware and software next to the iPhone. Does it surpass the iPhone? Hard to say and it may just be a personal judgement call for most. But thank goodness, this is the first real, serious competition for the iPhone and it should get Apple scrambling to innovate and improve things on the iPhone. This will be great for customers.

Here’s my bottom line. For more technically savvy users who are getting tired of Apple’s maniacal control over the iPhone, the Nexus One from Google will be great. They will love it and it will sell well to this market. The geek cread on this phone is off the charts. For the mass audience who doesn’t know or care much about the inside baseball aspects of the market, they will likely be perfectly happy with the iPhone. What they will get unhappy about is the continuing problems with the AT&T network. If AT&T exclusivity does run out next year and Apple is able to open up to more carriers, I think AT&T is in real trouble. I do think Apple does need to distance themselves from AT&T as they are like a boat ancor that will bring the iPhone down eventually.

Android phones up to this point haven’t been exciting or interesting at all. The Motorola Droid was the first to change that and this Nexus One will move things along even faster. 2010 is going to be a fun year for mobile. It’s Android vs. iPhone. Game on!

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

So it looks like the infamous Google phone is for real. I’m happy about this for several reasons. Most importantly, Apple needs the competition to keep them sharp. All the others, namely Palm and Microsoft, have fallen away quickly in the iPhone storm. Only Blackberry remains strong. But Android, after a slow start, is picking up serious steam and looks like they will become a strong number two.

I am also growing weary of Apple’s control issues. Controlling the entire end to end experience as Apple does have it’s benefits but is leaving me feeling a little constricted. I think I’m ready for a change and the Google phone looks like the first phone truly worth leaving the iPhone for. I wish it were on Verizon, though, as I’d love to stick it in AT&T’s eye at the same time. Yes, it will run on Tmobile but seriously, I’ve been on Tmobile. Not again.

If the iPhone is the “Jesus” phone, what is the Google Phone? John The Baptist?

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

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I have owned many computers in my time and many Macintoshes. They have all been great and special in the way only a Mac can be. This MacBook Pro however, is by far the most elegant computer ever. It’s looks fantastic, it feels fantastic. To own this computer is to know what Steve Jobs means by “insanely great”.

So far, this MacBook Pro doesn’t get hot like my old white MacBook. It cuts through video like butter. They keyboard is similar but better than the white MacBook. Illuminated keys are just plain sexy. The screen, wow, eye popping is the only way to describe it. No, I don’t mind the glare and yes there is alot of it. Somehow, I adjust and never really notice it. I love the new trackpad and multi-finger gestures.

My daughter is also thrilled with her new white MacBook as she has upgraded from a typical PC laptop. My wife is getting a Kindle in a few weeks; the whole family is happy.