No Treo Pro to Show

Just yesterday I was given a Treo Pro for a couple days by a friend of mine who happened to buy it for himself. Unboxing the device and being able to hold it in my hand gave me a promising impression of just how far Palm had improved on the design evolution of the Treo line. Slim and sleek in its glossy black and more sexy than most phones, this particular model was well on its way to keeping a smile on my face. With great expectations for a higher resolution screen, bundled wifi and a 3.5mm jack, I was eager to transfer PIM information from my Nokia E71 and then my SIM card. The initial plan was to have my friend use my Treo 750 as I got to know the Treo Pro for myself, but this was not meant to be for too much longer.

Once all important PIM data had been beamed from my E71, I spent some time getting familiar with the overall make of the device. I immediately began comparing my own Treo 750 to it and took pictures. After Palm had taken it through a drastic physical overhaul, the Pro truly looked as if the previous models had signed up for a rigorous fitness routine topped off with a make-over. It was shocking to finally hold a Treo that didn't have the girth that I had become used to since owning my first 680 model a few years ago, and it was at this point when I believed the Palm business was due for a positive turnaround after the failed Foleo. The glossy black appearance was stunning as I held it in the light of the room, but this also brought to my attention the many fingerprints and horrible smudging it was prone to easily show at first sight. I suppose having WiFi on a Treo would have been something to smile about, but in the age of 3G this was almost a non-issue. GPS was truly a great new feature for this model that I was eager to use with Google Maps. Getting a first look at the new display was indeed a new marvel from my old 750, but the novelty soon wore off since I had already been familiar with high-res screens from other recent models I had played with. I thought that the 3.5mm headphone jack would excite me at least a little bit, but honesty had set in once I realized a phone could never replace my iPod. The speaker was indeed an improvement in regards to its side placement which prevented muffled audio, and if I'm not mistaken I also noticed an increase in playback volume. A notification light built into the select key was a good addition worthy of acknowledgement, but the lack of soft keys was not. The chrome-like circular d-pad, logo and camera lens border added a stylish touch to the expanse of glossy black and was greatly appreciated along with the new packaging and reshaped power adapter. Taking off the back panel for the battery was not as bad as I expected from reading previous online reviews, but having to do so for microSD card access would definitely get old very quickly for me.

I then took to navigating the interface on Windows Mobile 6.1 with the circular d-pad...and that awful QWERTY! Even though I had wanted to really like what the Treo Pro was offering, I couldn't overlook the noticeable con that stemmed from those soft, plastic Centro-inspired buttons. Its layout was too cramped and more so than when I had first used my Nokia E71 and Sony Ericsson P990 in the past! There wasn't enough vertical space amidst the buttons to allow quick and effortless typing, so I really had to keep a watchful eye on where my thumbnails were pressing which was quite irritating. One plus about the keypad was that its compact form required less traveling for my thumbs unlike the E90 Communicator. I realize how spoiled I am with the E71 punctuation mark buttons everytime I must press that damned function key for certain common characters. After writing a couple of email entries, editing some notes and contact information on this keypad, I was getting bored of the Treo Pro with each passing minute. I honestly didn't take time to look at the included software apps other than Google Maps. My GPS experience basically echoed that of the HTC Touch Pro and TyTN 2 which were very reliable with the use of the QuickGPS feature. Locking to a signal happened within a minute once I was outside under clear sky and remained steady.

Call quality seemed to be adequate and on par with my 750 when I held voice conversations and answered voicemail, but the speakerphone did seem to be a bit louder. Playing back music tracks was fine and I noticed no distortion in the upper levels at all. Despite my utter disappointment in the QWERTY, I did manage to crack a smile once I listened to the Windows Media Player through my own in-ear headphones! Great sound from the audio tracks was plenty sufficient and almost reminded me of my N95, and I stress the word almost. Signal reception was basically on the same level as other Windows Mobile devices where it was not too strong but adequate for normal operations without dropping calls.

After only two hours of using it as my main phone while testing out reception and sound quality, it was boxed again and ready for a drive back to my friend's home for good. For me a QWERTY means EVERYTHING in using a smartphone device day after day, and the Treo Pro's offering simply couldn't satisfy me. Working with buttons what were seemingly cramped to the very bottom of the phone's front face was uncomfortable for my thumbs in the middle of typing. Speed typing was not possible since I could never be too sure that I was pressing the correct button, and at this time I realized how much I underestimated the curved layout of my old Treo 750. As much as I wanted to love the new changes to the physical build and the additional features, I could never justify spending the money to make this a backup model to my Nokia E71. My refurbished 750 shall be enough for now as a backup despite its lack of GPS, WiFi, 3.5mm jack, slim form and a high-res screen.

Honestly, I guess the Samsung Epix would be worthy of a look if I ever need a comparable Windows Mobile backup to my E71. I wish my buddy the best of luck with his new Treo Pro and will be curious to hear what he thinks of it after a month or so of steady usage.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71-2

Symbian Swiss Army Knife

As much as I will always love my Treo 750, I simply had to take my SIM back to the E71. I guess it's good to have an exercise every now and then that teaches someone the importance of being happy with what they've got. The versatility of the E71 cannot be matched by any other device that I've ever owned before in my life, and I do understand the magnitude of such a statement.

I have relied on this model for the longest so far after all the sliders and qwerty bars and touchscreens, and it has been the smartest move for me and my smartphone usage. To this day I continue to be amazed at how much multitasking I can get completed with open applications running in the background, so the E71 has become my trusty companion.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71-2

JOIKUSPOT NOT NEEDED!!!

HOLY SHITE!!! This Thanksgiving has been MOST AMAZING because I have just enabled Bluetooth tethering between my MacBook and my Nokia E71!!! This has been possible without the help of JoikuSpot and I am beyond excited at this point!!!

A few years ago when I owned the Nokia E70 fold out QWERTY I had experimented with the Bluetooth settings and got a tether connection to work for a brief moment, but it turned out to be a temporary fluke. Since then all attempts had become failures even with the help of the Nokia PC Suite via Boot Camp, so as a result I came to rely on the Internet Sharing app on Windows Mobile smartphones. After a while I never thought that any Nokia device would ever be capable of tethering in any way, but that was until I got my E71 and found out about JoikuSpot. This app basically turned my 3G enabled Nokia device into a wifi hotspot for my laptop, but the main drawback was that I could not get into secure websites that required a password. All this time I had put up with the limitation of of JoikuSpot and got tired of not being able to access secure websites such as online banking and my personal email, but I figured that Internet Sharing on my Treo 750 was a proper solution. With this being the case, I tolerated switching my SIM card between devices and that eventually started to get old very fast.

Upon reading posts on Howardforums.com I was inspired to try out another tether link in my Bluetooth preferences on my new MacBook and hoped for the best. IT WORKED! I am currently writing this blog post on a MacBook that is connected to the Internet via the Bluetooth connection on my Nokia E71 that has been active for nearly an hour through incoming calls and messages!! It is a bit slower than wifi, but still tolerable all the same.

I am now thoroughly impressed with my E71 and it is officially a Swiss Army knife of all trades for my personal smartphone usage!! I am almost confident enough to declare that I don't even need my Treo 750 anymore for backup purposes, but I won't be too hasty in making such a decision.

I had better disconnect the E71 from my unlimited data plan before I forget and think that I am on wifi!
--
TRENT
Sent from my 13" Aluminum MacBook

Ana Moura - Aconteceu

Another great Fado artist, Ana Moura.

Mariza - Meu Fado Meu

A great way to relax after such a stressed night is Fado music on my iTunes library. Mariza and Ana Moura are simply beautiful and captivating.

Both Phones back to Normal!

I am happy to announce that both of my phones are back to normal operation with my AT&T data plan!

WHEW! After such a long ordeal I am happy that I can at least hold on to my only two phones that I have left.

--
TRENT
Sent from my 13" Aluminum MacBook

Test Email from Nokia E71

This is a test email from my Nokia E71 and I am hoping that it goes through after all of the trouble experienced with my data plan. I have just now reset the mailbox on my device and am hoping for the best in this situation.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71-2

Data Plan Problem Fixed...to a point.

After many minutes of being on the phone with tech support, the data plan situation has finally been handled! After numerous resets to my data, everything was returned to normal.

This email itself is proof of that!

There is only one problem...my Treo 750 has been fixed, but my Nokia E71 is still having trouble sending emails. No matter what email I start to send it goes into queue and will not budge! If it isn't one thing it's another! If resetting the Nokia E71 doesn't help, I may have to think about selling that off to Gazelle.com and going with my Treo 750 permanently.

I will have to wait and see.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

FRUSTRATION!!

I had left the AT&T store without any resolution to the matter!

I even have a new SIM card in my phone and STILL cannot get data access!

Texting and voice calls are working fine, but the Internet and Email features are STILL not working!

I am on the phone for a second time with a representative who is trying to help me.

--
TRENT
Sent from my 13" Aluminum MacBook

AT&T Data Issue

I am right now on the phone with a representative from my carrier to solve an issue with my data plan. For no apparent reason I could not get access to the Internet or my email on my Nokia E71, and my Treo 750 shared the same fate. I have just been taken through some steps to change Internet settings, but that didn't work.

I may have to go to an AT&T store to get a new SIM card altogether.

--
TRENT
Sent from my 13" Aluminum MacBook

Phone Switch, Phones Gone

It is the afternoon, and out of sheer boredom I have switched my SIM card to my Treo 750 for some variety in my predictable Symbian S60 life. I think that the E71 is starting to wear on me a little bit since I have had it for so long without switching to a new device. Now that all of my other phones have been shipped off to Gazelle.com, I am only left with this Treo 750 to break up the monotony of my days.

Yes, I have only TWO phones in my possession that belong to me and no longer have an arsenal of gadgets like I used to. While I must say that it was bittersweet to sell all of those handsets to Gazelle.com, it was definitely for the best. I can use the extra money for further payments onto my debt and still maintain my high FICO score. Being restless with a limited number of devices does test my endurance in resisting the urge to buy new tech toys with credit, but I am so far succeeding in the best way that I can.

Having material things isn't everything, but I can certainly understand the struggle in giving them up. I was watching the Suze Orman show the other night and happened to catch an interview with a woman from California named Dawn. She and her family are in DIRE financial turmoil with over 200K in credit card debt from over 23 cards and live in a multimillion dollar house with luxury cars they cannot afford (that was only the tip of the iceberg)! When facing the prospect of selling her home and her possessions to pay off these creditors, she honestly said that she couldn't see that happening any time soon. As shocking as this may have been to some folks, I completely understood where she was coming from. After being accustomed to living a certain lifestyle within a certain image for so long, it's difficult to just let all of it go in one swift move. I remember how nice it was for me to cruise around the downtown area in my 2007 Jetta Wolfsburg with the sunroof open while talking on some new phone I just bought with credit, and it was AMAZING! Keeping up that image of being well-off gave me a great feeling because it validated who I was as a person. I was basically living through things instead of through my own well-being and almost got myself in trouble, but I fixed it in time before it was to late. I wish the best to Dawn and her family, but it may have to take something drastic to happen before she can see the importance of taking swift action to solve her predicament.

Using the Treo 750 again hasn't been so bad so far, but I am learning that the mobile versions of websites are best suited for it with Internet Explorer. Using Opera Mobile for full desktop versions of sites appears to be too much for the Treo, especially when using Facebook.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

John Williams tribute from Corey Vidal

An amazing video!

Final Post from the MacBook Pro / Farewell to E90

This is officially my final post from the MacBook Pro now that I have decided to sell it to Gazelle.com along with 5 of my smartphones: Nokia E90, N93, Samsung i780, BlackBerry Curve and HP 510.

I have already completed archiving all of my documents, backup files, iTunes and iPhoto libraries onto DVD+R data discs, and I am about ready to do a factory reset right after I finish this entry. I have taken out the original packaging for the Mac and prepared the software restore discs for use.

The switch to PC from Mac is under way and I am very excited and a bit apprehensive at the same time. I have never worked on a PC full time at home since I have been an avid Apple fan for so long, but this is necessary for keeping up with schoolwork. I simply have grown tired of switching between Mac and PC on a daily basis and want to have the convenience of just ONE machine. A dual-boot Mac was not the answer and Parallels certainly was not the answer, so a full PC conversion will have to do.

I will be without a laptop for a while until the payment arrives from Gazelle.com, so there will only be Internet access from either my Nokia E71 or a PC desktop at school.
At this point I am not sure what I will be able to come across for a PC laptop since I have returned the Asus EeePC 1000HD, but my wish list does have the Sony Vaio Z Series in mind. Being stuck without any laptop to call my own will be a challenge, but it is only temporary until I can save up enough to get a suitable PC alternative. The money received from Gazelle.com for the sale of my items will certainly be going toward this new PC, and I am excited to begin comparison shopping.

This new venture into the PC world will indeed be an adventure for sure as I get accustomed to being with it full time...once I get it. Leaving behind the Mac platform completely may not fully hit me until my Mac is on its way Gazelle.com, but it is certainly for the best! Breaking from the Mac Pack and going with the PC Posse won't be too much of a culture shock since I do have some familiarity with mostly XP and some with Vista.


Last but not least is the parting of ways with my Nokia E90 Communicator as well as some other models. It was great using the E90 while it lasted in my world, but it is time to move on with the E71. I just could not pass up the chance to earn extra money from selling it to Gazelle.com, so away it is going without any hesitation on my part!
Now that these phones are all going away with my MacBook Pro, I will be left with my trusty Nokia E71 and backup Treo 750.

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro (for the last time)

Switching

At this stage in my personal computer ownership I am seriously contemplating a switch from my MacBook Pro to a PC. Yes, believe it or not, an Apple fan is about to make the move over the brink and into the unknown! For a long while I have been devoted to the Mac through so many uses from music library management to video editing, and this all began with my first 12inch iBook a few years ago. As time had passed I have become less interested in video editing and more so in word processing for school and iTunes maintenance. While I still use the MacBook Pro on a regular basis for everything that is not school-related at this point, I have been wondering why I couldn't just sell my Mac and make the move to PC completely. I could use the extra money and quite possibly lessen the stress of constantly going back and forth between platforms (or increase the stress of getting accustomed to the PC as my main machine). The thought of migrating my entire iTunes library to a PC is a daunting prospect, but it can be done with the help of DVD storage media. I still have the music folder of my Zune library on my 32GB Corsair thumb drive, so that could also be included on the PC as well.

I think that a part of me is just yearning for some sort of a change in my life to break up the monotony of Apple, Apple and more Apple. For a long time there had been exclusivity for the Mac to the point where I almost became a full fledged fan boy. My first exposure to my own personal PC in 2002 was quite unfortunate since I had borrowed a friend's OLD ThinkPad with very limited specs, but at the time I had no knowledge of computers. Fed up with this old laptop not being able to efficiently run XP in order for me to use iTunes, I broke away and purchased my first Mac: a white 12inch iBook laptop. Along with my acquisition of the 3rd generation iPod with the touch sensitive buttons, that was when my lasting love affair with Apple had begun. Years had passed as I witnessed the emergence of new devices, innovations and the switching campaign, and I was even hired to work at an Apple store! All of this seemed too good to be true and I even imagined myself with a life long career in Apple, but the novelty eventually wore off and my Mac was just another computer.

Even though this had been the case, I was still content with my MacBook Pro for video editing and multimedia management...until I started school at ECPI. Upon realizing the hard way that the Mac did have the potential to fail me amidst situations of incompatible document formats and malfunctioning attachments, I still maintained my preference for MS Office ON THE PC. I can recall how frustrated I was at Panera Bread whenever I tried to use the Apple iWork office suite to complete my schoolwork...that's if I was lucky enough to have access to a document or a powerpoint. The interface of iWork just couldn't compare to that of MS Office 2007, and I was not about to spend time getting accustomed to it under the pressure of assignment deadlines for class. Plain and simple, MS Office for the PC was what I was used to for word processing, and there was never any worry of any kind of compatibility errors on a finished product. The fact of the matter was that ECPI's reliance on the PC still remains iron-clad to this day, and in order to make my education easier I thought it best to conform. That was when I eventually sought out my own PC laptop to use for school. No matter how much I adored my Mac, there was no denying the learning curve I would have to tackle for iWork '08 after being so familiar with Office '07. Once I had passed my Computer Applications class and had a deeper understanding of Office '07, this was solidified even more.

There are certainly down sides to converting over to the PC. While I could think that it's a matter of becoming more efficient for a PC dominated world, others could see it as a sign of my lack of openness to that which I don't understand. There is also a chance that being a full time PC user could in turn expose me to the well known criticism of the Vista OS, not to mention the effort of finding a suitable alternative to the flawless iMovie for possible video editing(if necessary in the near future). The point of this whole switch is to be more efficient for school and then eventually for the workforce, for I don't see a surge of Macs taking over the business world anytime soon. This somehow reminds me of the current Apple campaign for "I am a Mac and I am a PC". I am coming to terms with the notion that my Mac may never be anything more than that young guy in the hoodie who knows enough about multimedia and video editing and graphics, but falls short with completing tasks within the office suite. For me personally, the iWork suite needed much improvement when I last took the time to sit down and open it on my MacBook Pro a couple years ago or so. I remember opening up Numbers and suddenly feeling the urge to run back to the familiarity of Excel, and this same effect applied to Keynote versus PowerPoint and Pages versus Word. While iWork wasn't horrible by any means, it just couldn't measure up to the standard that suited me in MS Office. Another concern would be the iMovie replacement that I had mentioned previously. Whatever software I would have to rely on to edit video footage, there is no doubt that there could be MORE to get used to in comparison to a different office suite. I could be shooting myself in the foot in case I realize that the quality of iMovie cannot be replicated by any PC software application, but that's a risk worth taking since I don't really see myself going with filmmaking as my career of choice. After selling my camcorder, it is most likely that I am resigned to using only a laptop webcam and my Canon SD750 for taking footage in the future. I can only hope that I would be able to retain the use of my microphone headset that I have been using for my recent YouTube videos.

One more thought that comes to mind are my multimedia libraries. Both iPhoto and iTunes are LOADED with content that cannot just be disregarded an cast into oblivion. My idea of a solution would be to save ALL of my content to data discs, and the double layer DVD is exactly what comes to mind! Thank goodness for that SuperDrive in my MacBook Pro. But if I go with DL DVDs that would immediately limit my new PC search to those laptops compatible with double layer discs. But wait, in order to make a FULL conversion to the PC wouldn't I have to be rid of iTunes completely and continue with building my Zune library? That would mean selling my iPods as well! Holy ****!! This may be a lot more involved than I thought, but I could still just hold on to iTunes and transfer my entire library to the new PC and be done with it. Previous moments of instability with my Zune library on my previous PCs may influence me to remain loyal to iTunes, but we shall see. As far as my photo albums are concerned, I don't have a need to load those onto a computer but don't mind storing them onto a data disc for safe keeping.

I am just curious to find out how much I can gain from being a bona-fide PC user for the first time in my personal life. Windows XP has always been present in my professional life during my 6 year employment at an office, but that was all about performing tasks for a job because I had to. This time around with using Windows would be with Vista, and I would be performing functions with it as a personal user and not an office worker. It sounds so exciting when I think about it, but there is some apprehension to totally do away with Mac altogether. Would I come to miss the graphical interface of Mac OS X and the convenience of the iLife suite in my computer usage? Would I regret selling out to join the Dark Side headquartered in Redmond, Washington? I don't know, but I am hopeful that nothing but good can come from such a move.

Maybe this is nothing more than a sad attempt to justify buying yet another new PC laptop, but either way I am happy that I have the funds from returning the Asus EeePC 1000HD. The only thing to do now would be to sell all of my smartphones and my Mac to raise enough for a good laptop. One particular model that intrigues me is the Sony Vaio Z Series, but it is currently out of my financial grasp at a price point of $2000!

--
TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro
(how ironic!)

New Sony VAIO notebook : Z-Series

Wow! I simply have no words.

Asus EeePC 1000HD returned

I had recently returned my Asus EeePC to Best Buy, so I am currently without a PC for school and am searching for a full fledged ultraportable model. After spending some time with the dependable netbook I learned that my demands for performance were too much for its potential, so I decided to leave it behind. Each time I booted it up for schoolwork usage I somehow missed the totality I used to get from an actual laptop. Multitasking was quite a chore for the little tyke, but this shouldn't have been a surprise to me at all. Nonetheless I couldn't accept the netbook as my main machine, not even for occasional school assignments.

Funds remaining from the return are sitting in my account and are ready to be spent toward a new laptop, but I am at a loss as to what it should be. To maintain ultraportable sizing in addition to having amazing features will of course require me to spend a little more than the $400 spent on the EeePC, so I will have to use much caution in making my choice.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71-2

Hardee's Little Thickburger Badonkadonk Commercial

My 1999 Honda CR-V EX

Since my trading in of the recent 2007 Jetta for the much older 1999 Honda, I have no doubt been reaping the financial benefits of a lower amounts for monthly payments, property tax fees and insurance premiums. Seeking out this high mileage mini SUV was the best thing I could have done for a versatile vehicle to keep for an indefinite period of time. Getting accustomed to the higher line of sight while driving has been absolutely no trouble whatsoever, and the increased interior space is a welcomed luxury indeed. However, the age of this vehicle has left its outer form with some minor blemishes, and the weirdest thing is that I really do think they add character to the CR-V (or I am simply too occupied to worry about the aesthetic appeal of a nine year old car). After giving this thing a thorough cleaning on the inside I finally feel true ownership over it, and it is really a pleasure.

It is so funny how little I am bothered by the minor scratches on the outside of the car, for I would have been MORTIFIED had it been my 2007 Wolfsburg Jetta. At this point the Honda is truly a means to get from point A to point B and looking cool in a sportscar is NOT the name of the game anymore. I also believe that having a leased Jetta that didn't really belong to me but to VW had also played a role in how careful I was to maintain the looks of that car. Since this '99 CR-V with over 178K miles is actually in MY name and belongs to no one but ME, I guess I am just happy as long as it runs reliably and gets me to my destination safely. Having that cassette deck adapter has certainly rescued me from boring drives with a solid iPod hook up to the car stereo. I may not be showing off in a modern manner with a Volkswagen, but the Honda is at least pulling me through these current times.

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro.

Life Lesson Learned

I am not one to be cynical in a time of such great promise, but this is truly sad. I recently received an insulting comment on one of my YouTube videos and went through the usual routine of blocking the sender and removing it from the comments listing. Before deleting it, I felt the need to capture it with my Nokia E71 and share just how ignorant and crass people can be when they are online and out of sight! After receiving a number of comments like this I have admittedly become numb to them and thought it best to just ignore them, until now.

There is much hurt and anger that can come from seeing something like this in my personal inbox, but nothing can be helped if I recklessly give in to those feelings. In a situation like this it is better to recognize that there is always a presence of negativity to balance out the positivity, much like an eternal equilibrium of some sort. There can be no dawn without the dark, no new growth without the ashes, no healing without the wound.

The only thing I can do at this point is recognize that the poster of such a comment has no idea of who I am as as individual, thus there are no specific grounds for it. It is also better to realize that to live life without any sort of stress or trouble is indeed a far-fetched dream that will never have the opportunity of coming true. With this in mind I can only move on with life with the purpose of looking forward. Another life lesson learned.

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro