Your multi-device Mobile strategy. Poll results and analysis.

Reading Steve Litchfields review of the N82 this morning and then Warners interesting cogitations reminded of the multi-device strategy poll I posted a while back. Only a few days ago I was saying that I had been ‘locked-in’ to the N82 because of the camera and gps-related features and it’s because of this that it’s become my #1 ultra mobile PC partner device. It could be better (keys, dim screen, very slow browser, battery life) but right now, I don’t see a device that could challenge it with the sort of media-focused work I’m doing. In fact, partnered with the Q1 Ultra its damn-near perfect and constantly puts a question-mark over my desire for a MID/Carrypad. For me, at the moment, the 2-device mobile strategy is the one that fits best. But what about everyone else? Read on for more about my own strategy and a walk-through of other peoples ideas.

[Read full article after the break…]

As I said, the N82 and Q1 Ultra (with HSDPA-of course) combo is near-perfect for me and certainly the best combination of devices I’ve ever used but I’m coming to the end of a two-month XP TE evaluation period now with the Q1 Ultra (it was a Vista-base device originally) and I’m wondering if I should seek a new partner for the N82. Bearing in mind that I don’t own a notebook computer and that I don’t do heavy processing on a PC unless I’m doing video work at home on my desktops, a netbook might be a nice choice for coffee-shop moments but it would under-perform compared to something like a Q1 Ultra Premium so there doesn’t appear to be much logic in using a netbook, especially when you consider that the Q1 has a better screen than all the current 7" netbooks (apart from some of the expensive options like the VyePC SH8) and that the Samsung accessory keyboard is far better than the Eee PC/SH8/Cloudbook ones for productivity work. There might be some advantage in moving to a 9" screen netbook and combining it with a MID but if the battery life is anything under the 5 hours I get with the Q1 Ultra with the 4-cell battery, it’s not even worth considering. A very stylish 1.8Ghz Silverthorne-based 6-hours battery life, 9" 1280×800 convertible touchscreen device with 3G built-in and a very fast 16GB flash drive at around $1200 and 1KG (A cheaper, lighter P1620 or V5) would be interesting to asses but moving up to anything bigger or more powerful would just be a waste of space, too heavy, lacking the touchscreen and would probably be too expensive. Considering that Silverthorne or Isaiah-based devices won’t be with us until well into the summer, the smartphone + high-end ultra mobile PC choice is the best for me right now so I’m seriously looking into an upgrade to the Q1 Ultra Premium. Kevin Tofel of jkOnTheRun has nothing but praise for the device so now that I’ve learned how to use the Q1 Ultra keyboard (I’m up to nearly 60% of my normal typing speed which is very fast for a thumboard) it makes perfect sense. I’ll be going for XP though as I don’t need the inking that was the deciding factor in Kevin’s choice of Vista. If I can find an importer and sell off a few of my older UMPCs and if nothing better turns up in the next few weeks, this is the route I’m going to persue.

But what is it that you people here want in your multi device strategy? The results of the poll indicate a similar two-device strategy amongst readers.

There’s an overwhelming desire for a ultra mobile PC (defined in the poll as  ultra mobile PC = 5-7" slate/slider. Ghz-class) with over 50% of you wanting to combine it with a featurephone or smartphone. Interestingly only 16% of you want a MID in your strategy. 23% of you want a netbook in your strategy. Of course, the result doesn’t represent the general public’s view but it’s interesting to read some of the reasons why people made their own choices.

Kong writes: Currently I’m using a ultra mobile PC (the Flipstart) and a smartphone (an i-Mate SP3i with WM6). I would carry the phone with me all the time and the ultra mobile PC whenever I have a bag of some sort. Internet access on the ultra mobile PC is through the smartphone to save me from having multiple data contracts.

H-Man chooses a similar strategy but leaves out a productivity element in my opinion: Smartphone + ultra mobile PC – Vario III (Tytn2) for phone stuff, but also quick internet browsing and GPS (navigation) + Everun (with extended batt) as MID use: internet browing and email, plus music player. I could "downgrade" to a feature phone (but that must be a sexy one, with 3G and build-in modem). I really like all-in-one devices like smartphones/pda phones, but they do not have the screen-size you need for acceptable internet browsing. So for now I’ll stick with this combination.

cyte4til7 goes for the three device strategy and looks to replace his PMP and PocketPC with a MID:  my phone criteria is very simple: the phone with the best reception. Beyond that my strategy would be: 1) A pocketable slider mid running linux that can handle PIM tasks and mp3s. aka replace my iPod and my Palm. 2) A flash-based mini-laptop with a 90-95% keyboard and linux (eee I drool over thee).

Rodfather explains his two-device strategy: iPhone, Fujitsu U810…So I guess I would fit in the feature phone + ultra mobile PC category. I use the Fujitsu all the time and work in 2 locations. So I dock the Fujitsu and remote desktop to my laptop at times. UMPC’s give me more flexibility with the touchscreen for taking notes during meetings. I have my Onenote files synced up with my desktop and work laptop with FolderShare so I can access my notes from anywhere.

Nate115 highlights pocketability: An Asus EEE 4G (running WinXP), a Dopod 838Pro (WinMo 6), and iPod Touch. No matter what, I always have the Dopod and Touch, since they’re pocketable. On days when I know I’ll be at my desk and doing paperwork, I lug around [a] big laptop. However, on the days when I’ll be away from my desk and may only need my device for surfing the net and checking emails, then I save my back and shoulders and take the EEE. In a later posts though, Nate115 mentions that a MID could be useful and makes a great comment about a single-device solution: If I could only make one choice (phone, MID, Netbook or smartphone), then it would smartphone all the way – I don’t think anyone can really live without a mobile phone anymore, and any chance to reduce the gadget count in one’s pockets is welcome in my opinion.

Reverendo highlights the fact that I didnt leave space for devices like the P1620 in my poll and Goes fo a high-end smartphone + high-end UMPC: A P1620 as mini-tablet and notebook substitute + an ultra-slim PDA-Phone with HSDPA which I would use as a modem for the 1620, fast entries and contact access, calls and quick notes (I’ve got my eyes set on the LG KS20). Maybe I wouldn’t even need the full functionality of a PDA-Phone… maybe a good, slim 3G Phone would do the trick (sth like the Samsung U900 SOUL).

Reverendo, I think this would be the sensible choice for me too in the future. A SE Xperia-like smartphone with that high-end convertible ultra mobile PC although I’d also add a cheap featurephone with good camera as my party companion. Until such time as my ideal mininote becomes a reality though, ill be sticking with my N82 + Q1 Ultra.

I’ve closed the poll in the forums now but feel free to continue to add your thoughts in the thread or here in the comments. The more we talk, the more we learn!