Depending on Your Handhelds

Let's face it, handhelds are like love and marriageit's all packaged up with a service contract that
you can't live with 'em and you can't live withoutwon't let me out unless I upgrade for each new
'em! Aha you say, I do not depend on mytech advance and add another year to the
handheld. I can do without my cell phone, my iPod,contract.
my Palm pilot. Really? Frankly, I doubt it! I love myI suspect I will get in to similar straitjackets
handhelds but there is a real problem other thanwherever I turn. Surely those handheld PC's must
too much dependence and that's technology.be the same. PDA's as well, right?
Yes technology because it's moving so fast, IThen I stumble over a piece on the use of a new
can't keep up with it. Take Apple's iPod as anhandheld cardiology device that an eminent
example. Should I lay out the $349 for thecardiologist believes will replace the stethoscope
Apple's latest iPod? It's rated at 80Gb will containas the primary instrument of choice to perform
up to 20,000 songs, up to 25,000 photos, and upthe initial POC (point of care) screening for cardiac
to 100 hours of video or any combination of each.abnormalities. Thinking about that made me realize
This will allow me to browse movies on thethat the role of handhelds is with us to stay, that
iTunes Store, download the ones I want and syncthe existing technology will be continuously
them to my new iPod. Ditto for TV episodes,updated and ultimately replaced and more
new games, songs, audiobooks, and freeimportantly that that is what is important. I need
podcasts. How can you turn that down? But Ito embrace it and to celebrate it.
know Apple will have another new wonder in aPhew! Now that I've got that off my chest, I can
few short months that will make all this totallywork on learning more about what is really
obsolete and then where will I be? What ahappening on the front line of technology and get
quandary! Should I buy or not?with it. Finally says my life partner!
Cell phones. Well it's the same there right? Only