If I Could Only Choose One Tech Device, it Would Be..

If you are a techie like me, you are heavily dependent upon your gadgets. Every day I circulate between my desktop, game console, netbook, and cell phone. However, if some sort of draconian measure was to be passed requiring that each person choose only one tech gadget, I would have to choose my netbook.

Why the netbook as opposed to other tech devices? First of all, it's extremely portable. I can haul it around in my messenger bag (which my kids constantly refer to as a "purse") with little difficulty. With a desktop, portability is out of the question, as are most console game systems. While game consoles can be carried around somewhat conveniently, they still need a monitor to be useful, and carrying around a separate monitor is not an option.

The next reason I would choose my netbook is that it has a physical keyboard. I do a lot of typing, and a gadget that does not have an actual keyboard simply won't work. I have tried typing on the iPad and other tablet computers only to find it extremely slow and, in the case of the iPad, very annoying. Many cell phones have keyboards, but these are not useful for legitimate typing due to their size.

I also enjoy the ease of internet connectivity possible with my netbook. Anywhere with free WiFi allows me to get online without a problem. Phones and tablets can also go online, but their online experience is limited by comparison. My netbook can access the full version of any site and download quickly and easily when I need to.

While not enormous, I appreciate the screen size afforded by my netbook. I have a 10.1 inch model, and that seems to be just about perfect for me. I would consider going up to 12 inches if I was going to purchase a newer model, but that would be as large as I would be willing to go. Anything over 12 inches begins to interfere with the portability of the unit. With my 10 inch model, I can see everything clearly and with sufficient size and definition to make even playing simple video games possible.

The connectivity ports on my netbook are also a big plus. The USB ports allow me to connect to just about any other type of device, while the built-in SD card reader lets me transfer files easily between cameras or other computers. The microphone and speaker ports also allow me to use the computer like a large video phone if I go on Skype.

In conclusion, while I can live without a lot of tech gadgets, my netbook is an absolute necessity. Without it I would be stuck at home when I needed to use a computer or at the whim of a phone or tablet that doesn't do everything I need.