The most difficult thing about leaving Network World back in July was handing in my BlackBerry. The three-year-old wireless e-mail device definitely showed some road weariness – a thumbprint on the screen, scratches all over the casing - but it was in pretty good shape overall. I was another story.

My thumbs twitched nervously from not being able to pound out a quick memo. I watched enviously as nearby BlackBerry users scrolled through their messages. But after a few weeks, the withdrawal symptoms subsided, and my thumbs - indented weirdly along the sides - returned to their natural shape. 

But when the freelance business began picking up at year-end, I realized I had to get back to the world of pocket-sized devices. Anyone who runs a small business knows that you’re out and about on errands, meeting with clients, going to the computer store, etc., yet need to stay in touch and answer e-mails promptly. Unanswered e-mail is lost business. And searching for hot spots near each of your stops just isn’t feasible. 

I considered all the options - the Palm Tungsten, the HP iPaq, the Sprint/Palm Treo, even the Sidekick. I considered going with the Microsoft PocketPC platform, the Palm OS or an enhanced phone of some sort. I also had to decide whether I wanted to be a synch-to-the PC mobile device user or a real-time-message receiver needing a monthly service (which significantly increases the investment).

I tested them all, too, visiting office supply and computer stores, and cell phone providers. I reacquainted myself with Palm’s Graffiti (even though the Tungsten has a keyboard). Before the BlackBerry, I was a Palm user who never quite gelled with the stylus or mastered Graffiti. So that pretty much ruled out a return to the Palm, despite its nice integration with Microsoft Outlook.

My Treo friends tried to convince me to join them. They like the Treo’s cell phone/PDA combo and said I’d get used to it. But battery life spans make me skittish about losing both my PDA and cell phone at once. Also, I’ve seen people try to access information on the Treo while talking on the phone (without an earpiece), and it seems impossible.

Finally, others said I should spring for the iPaq with its 802.11 connection; the closest thing to a laptop in a handheld. But I’d rather enjoy the ubiquity of the cell network, instead of being hot spot dependent.