I have a new computer, the HP Tablet 4400 running Windows Vista Enterprise. One of the many good parts about my job is that I get new technology on a regular basis. New computers, new phones, etc. What strikes me each time is how deeply personal my computing experience is. My computer is *mine*. It works the way I want it to, it has the data I want on it. It has my dictionary, my macros, my view of the world. It's got my RSS feeds, my favorites on IE, my pictures in the right folders, my documents. It works better when I'm connected to the Internet, but even when there's no connection I'm smarter with the PC than without. It's got my notes, my email, my recordings, my music. At work, all this is backed up to the network, and at home, it's backed up to my netcenter drive. There is a day I see coming where it will be backed up to the cloud, and what's mine will be ever more accessible to me on multitudes of devices. That day is quickly approaching.
Seven years ago, I went for a run with a co-worker in Forest Park in Portland. As we ran, I said that I was smarter with my computer than without, and I wanted a device that was with me more or less 100 percent of the time. My phone (the Blackjack) is getting close to that ideal -- not quite right for serious reading, but the Live Search app is simply incredible, and having my calendar and numbers always is a huge step up. (if you've not got live search on your smartphone, do not pass go, do not collect $200).
We are all consumed with the rate of speed with which the media world is evolving. It's worth looking at the software and hardware worlds as a reference point -- if this is the benchmark, we've not even scratched the surface. Buckle up, we're in for a wild ride.