First-world problem; or, ceci n'est pas un marketing survey

[firecat]

Lately I sometimes find myself idly shopping for a digital camera, an e-book reader, or a device that will put Google and email access in my pocket. I already have an iPod (the touchless variety) that I like because it's big enough to store my entire music/audiobook library, a cellphone that's nothing special except it has a qwerty keyboard, and a digital camera that I like because it's tiny and don't like because it doesn't have image stabilization.

It occurs to me that if I follow through on this shopping, I have a fundamental choice:

• Carry one device that does a mediocre job of most or all of these things and has one battery and power cord and computer cable and takes up one pocket in my backpack.
• Carry four or five devices that all do their respective functions very well and all use batteries and power cords and computer cables and backpack pockets.

It also occurs to me that people I know have solved this issue for themselves in various ways. So I'm soliciting anecdata. (Hey, it's cheaper than actually buying anything.)

Do you regularly carry portable device(s) that serve any of these functions? Why did you choose the devices you did? Are you happy with your current solution?

Digital camera
E-book reader
Cell phone
Wireless Internet
PDA
Music player

Comments

[amadi]

I recently upgraded to an iPhone. It does everything I honestly need to do when just going about my life. If I need to do business reports, etc. then I still need my laptop. If I want photographs (or keepsake video) as opposed to snapshots and video clips, I still have a very nice Canon digital camera that's often in my bag. But as I predicted when I bought it, now that I have the iPhone I don't carry the laptop or camera with me as often as I have in the past. I have a flexibility with it that no prior phone offered.

If it's at all a consideration, I'd recommend going to an Apple Store, telling them that you need to really test one out and to let you fuss with it for a while, and then go to town with what's there. And then remember that there are 100k other apps you can add. (Including a Kindle app. I use another eBook reader, mainly because I dislike Amazon's terms for Kindle downloads.)

[firecat]

I probably won't end up getting an iPhone because the plan is so expensive compared to my current cell phone plan, but I have played with the iPod touch. I really hated the onscreen keyboard. But I liked other stuff about it. Do you find the onscreen keyboard easy to use?

I would not buy a Kindle for the same reasons you mention.

[amadi]

The plans can be pricey. I am paying $76 and change per month (with all the taxes) because I'm getting a 21% (post-tax) discount via my employer, and that's with just the basic data package and the cheapest voice plan and no texts, for I am a loather of the texting, indeed.

I am getting used to the keyboard. I would like it even more, especially on my very arthritis-y days, if I could use some kind of stylus, but Steve Jobs hates disabled people styluses, so that won't be happening.