[Empgamer]

A few years back I used to carry a Palm Tungsten T3 and a mobile phone which was all well and good until about 2 years ago when the battery on the T3 started to need charging every day through over use. The time for replacement came, together with (hopefully) the consolidation of numerous 'records' that I had scattered around elsewhere (e.g. diaries and passwords etc from a Psion 3 circa 1993!!!). So I started the search for a device that would do the lot. My main requirements were, and still are:

1 Password/number storage app
2 Reasonably sophisticated list application
3 Shopping list app (purpose designed)
4 Good and reasonably sophisticated note app (categories, colour etc etc)
5 Good 'To Do' app
6 Good quality diary/calendar

and, if achieveable, a good quality phone.

The main things for me that all the above apps need to have is:

a Nice graphical user interface
b Ability to synch effortlessly and well with a desk/laptop (either Mac or Windows in my case as we use both).

Now after a couple of years I am still searching for that one device that ticks all the boxes well. At the moment I am using a combination of a Nokia E51 and an iPod Touch as they are about the best combo for me and I'm reasonably happy with them, albeit the Apple device has a few shortcomings still which prevent me switching to the iPhone and the extra annual costs that entails. Despite the very affirmative statements to the contrary on many Apple based sites and forums I think I can best sum those shortcomings up as a 'lack of serious/effective business integration'.

For over a year I tried a TyTn II. After that 12 months I have to say I really loathe Windows Mobile devices. I found the TyTn to be a real pain to use; slow, laggy and dated in terms of interface design. For me, an overall unpleasant device to use. And the phone? Well, just about the worst phone interface I have EVER used. Sure I know people mess around with these things tweaking them, adding this and installing warranty invalidating 'cooked ROMs' but hey, for £400 and with a shed full of other things to do in life I really can't be asked. And should I really HAVE to. Sure I put apps/programmes on Macs and Windows PCs but I don't actually have to dabble with OS changes just to get the damn things to do what they are supposed to do.

But, and it is a fairly big but, the Windows Mobile arena is fairly well serviced with apps that do all or most of what I want above. Programmes like List Pro, Phat Notes, SPB Wallet etc etc do a really outstanding job, are synch-able (for back up), often don't cost the earth and are as sophisticated as most users would want. In particular I find the native interface with Outlook (and this is what for me a serious calendar should look and function like) is superb, albeit the interface with Notes is not SO effective and the To Do/Tasks is not quite so sophisticated as the desk top version. Regardless though I HATE using the TyTn, really hate it.

So I switched back to a Nokia phone (what a joy) and an iPod Touch (as I did really need a new player). So far I have found that this combo does pretty well most of what I want. Ultimately, if Apple gets more heavily into 'serious business use' for the iPhone I may well switch to that because as a phone (and I have had use of one) I do find it very user friendly.

The shortcomings here for me though still centre around that 'BUT'. 'Things' for the iPhone makes a capable 'To Do' manager (albeit I think the desktop is still way overpriced) and I look forward to SPB Wallet hitting the UK iTunes App Store. The Shopper and Take a Note apps are also, for me, reasonably well accomplished. That said many such apps do not synch or do not synch well with laptpops/desktops, heck even Apple's own Note app can't synch with the desktop version in user friendly manner, why not I have to ask? The Apple calendar app for me is also way too basic, almost like an afterthought, very Janet and John IMHO. So that perfect device for me remains elusive.

Sure I know many people who say "ah but I use this" or "do this" to achieve X, Y or Z. I know there are many options and work-arounds but they are just that. Work-arounds. I would rather the iPhone was developed a little more with serious business use in mind because some people want a greater level of sophistication on that front (and by some I don't think it's just a few). If I were an IT/Comms manager I'm not sure I would really consider the iPhone for serious corporate use. I'm sure many will disagree and say "ah but that's not the point" or "not the target audience" but in today's climate I think the any share that a company can grab of a market, without seriously impacting on its existing customer base can only be a good thing.

For me, the iPod Touch/iPhone is a joy to use and of course does all the other things that a Windows Mobile device does not do or does not do at all well. With a bit more tweaking and sophistication for me it really would be a killer device (and I can't see the new Palm Pre detracting from that, albeit I can see it being a serious contender for WM users and those needing serious business use). I just hope it happens. Until then I think I'll have to stick with the phone/Touch combo and get by.

Anyone after a TyTn II