A Place for My Stuff

Being a gadget freak has it drawbacks, especially if you’re a male.  So now I’m carrying around a Palm Tungsten C (bulky), a cell phone (also bulky until I get a new one), sunglasses in a case, bifocals in a case, a wallet, a tape memo recorder (I don’t believe in digital) and various writing implements.  I also have whatever book I’m reading available for those fast food escapes away from the office. Occasionally I might have my digital camera and/or GPS with me.  Heaven forbid if I ever did actually get an iPod.  So how do you carry all this stuff?  Pockets will only hold so much before you start looking like your legs are deformed.

What we (men) need is something for OUR stuff — something that serves the same purpose as a purse, but don’t dare call it that, and don’t dare associate it with anything to do with fashion.  I guess one of the old bookpack/daypack things might work, but that looks a bit informal for work.  A briefcase would probably do the job, but briefcases are usually designed to hold flat things – papers, briefs, if you will.  These other items have bulk.

A true gadget freak would argue that the trend is toward smaller, multifunction devices. Why have all this when you could get a PDA phone with built in camera and media recorder/player?  Preference and quality of service would be my argument.  The next phone I get will probably be a camera phone, but I won’t rely on it to take the quality of pictures I need for my multimedia work.  I prefer an old-fashioned mini tape recorder for capturing ideas while driving.  I’m very linear in my dictation, so analog tape works best for my style.  As for combining a PDA and a phone, I often find myself using my PDA while on the phone.  That’s just not possible with a combo unit.

So, designers, I’m waiting.  Make it stylish, but don’t call it that.  I prefer either black or tan leather.  Make it versatile.  Make it light enough to be comfortable, but heavy enough to clobber the first redneck that calls it a purse.