Handtops, UMPC - When last did your Handtop save the bacon?

My OQO just saved the day for me today, when last did yours?

At the moment, we are seeing a lot of discussion / speculation about handtops future, new and old. Much of that revolves around the theoretical usefulness of said devices, and what they should/should not be. I would like to interject a little bit of reality into this fascinating discourse, and relate a real world experience that has, in a single day, justified my getting the OQO.

Christmas is the time for giving, and without being in anyway cynical, this means doing a bit of Christmas shopping.

In the past, I have managed through good luck or (less likely) good planning to get my Christmas shopping done over a long period leading up to the holiday season, obviating the need to rush out at the last minute and join the frenzied crowds clogging the corridors of the local shopping malls. This year, I found myself giftless (ungifted?) with only four shopping days to go! Panic sets in! This was a situation that had to be rectified immediately.

Part of the reason for the lack of pre-Christmas shopping activity was an ever increasing workload, due in no small part to the launch of the new version of our software looming ever larger on the horizon. Because everyone else is busy, I have taken over some of the tech calls from our larger customers. Added to my usual hectic work schedule, this has kept me at my desk for longer hours than usual.

However, not wishing to be the geek not bearing gifts (apologies to Homer), I decided that a quick plunge into the pre-Christmas maelstrom was required. I grabbed my wallet, cell phone, OQO and courage, and headed off to the local Mall.

All was going swimmingly well, particularly as the Mall’s air-conditioning was for once set high enough to cope with the crowds, and I had stopped for a caffeine boost at my favorite watering hole when my cell phone shattered my piece of mind.

One of my biggest customers had a serious problem, and needed help NOW! (they did ask nicely)

In my pre-OQO days, that would have meant asking if I could call back, dropping everything and rushing to the office in order to solve the problem.Irritation for the customer, red face for me! Not today! Out came the OQO and HSDPA modem, and five minutes later, give or take a second or so, the problem was solved, and a happy Silly Season was assured for all.

This was why I bought the OQO. Forget the slow CPU, ignore the less than perfect typing experience on the thumb keyboard, ignore the hot casing and the short battery life. This little machine, for all its aging design and many shortcomings saved the day! I packed it away, savored the last of the java, and plunged back into the fray, secure in the knowledge that any emergency could be dealt with on the spot.

Regardless of who would like us to believe that our handtops are not perfect, could be so much better, need to be re-thought and re-vamped and re-done (and it goes on), the truth is, these wonderful little machines get the job done, they are with us when we need them, and no 12 pound desktop replacement monstrosity can do what they do.

To all on this forum, may it go well with you this festive season, and may you have much joy using your favorite device!