Archive March 2008

Wireless for the Attention Deficit Crowd

by mobileman (03/04/2008 - 16:33)

As my loyal readers will know, I spend a fair amount of time commuting to and from Manhattan. Part of my commute is via NJ Transit trains. During this one hour per day, I try to find ways to either be productive or amuse myself. Since I carry a wide array of wireless devices, I get to try out different modes of time-killing. I also get to observe how my fellow travelers deal with the drudgery and boredom of train travel.

So here are my top five devices for train travel:

Number 5:

If you happen to be lucky enough to snag a seat and have at least 30 minutes of travel, a laptop with an EVDO card is tops. You get to do work, watch movies, shop or whatever. Nothing is as efficient at wasting time than a Web-enabled laptop.

Choices 4 through 1 are for the cases where you may not have a seat -- an all-too-frequent occurrence on NJ Transit trains.

Number 4:

WAP and video-enabled phone. Using video on a phone is awkward on a crowded train because you need some form of headphone. Also, video on a very small screen (a la a Krazr) is at best a 30-second distraction rather than a 30-minute entertainment. Reading some news articles on WAP or engaging in some social networking is fine for killing a little time. And if all else fails, your phone can make voice calls!

Number 3:

Kindle

My previous blog offered a review of the Kindle. It is a great device for killing 30 minutes on a train. You can easily read a book or a newspaper in a very small space. The screen is very legible and the selection of content is huge. But, you can't make a phone call, which your fellow passengers will probably appreciate.

Number 2:

iPhone

Nothing compares with the iPhone for non-phone infotainment. You can browse the Web, listen to music or watch a movie. E-mail and chatting are also possibilities, although the lack of corporate email features keeps this device in the number-two spot. The iPhone is also the sexiest device, and as I have said in previous reviews, can actually make you more attractive to a potential mate.

Number 1:

BlackBerry

I know, I know -- you are probably thinking "boring." Well, the

BlackBerry gets top marks obviously for e-mail. The Java game capability, with a large screen and trackball has many possibilities for entertaining distractions. I became a Sudoku addict/expert in less than a week on my BlackBerry! There are some OK video options, although much inferior to the iPhone. As long as I don't want to listen to music, I prefer the BlackBerry for the mix of work productivity and entertainment.