EricGoldsmith.com

Someone recently asked me what Instant Messaging client I use on my BlackBerry.

Last fall I was looking for an AOL IM (a.k.a. AIM) client for my BlackBerry 8800. After much searching and evaluation, I settled on JiveTalk. It connects to virtually all IM networks (via gateways), and is a true IM client application - not a wrapper around SMS, like some products.

It’s not free, but the cost is minimal, and it’s truly one of the best products I’ve found. Highly recommended.

Nicely done …

The state of the Mobile Web has bothered me for some time. So, I’m putting my money where my mouth is, and learning more about the attempts at standards, like W3C’s Mobile Web Initiative, and the challenges.

I’ve been using a BlackBerry 8800 for a few months now. Mainly for access to my company’s e-mail and calendar, but also for IM and Web access. This is the first BlackBerry, or Smartphone for that matter, I’ve used, and I must say that I’m sold.

Having a mobile Web browser with me all the time, I find myself trying to look up movie reviews while I’m browsing videos at Blockbuster. Or trying to do a price comparison for something I see at a local retail store. Or trying to find (and reserve) a book at my local library, that someone just recommended in a conversation. I don’t want to wait until I get back to a computer to do these things, I want to do them in real-time, from where I am.

Notice I said “trying” in each case above. Nearly every time I try something like this, I come away frustrated and disappointed because the Web sites are barely usable (and sometimes not at all) on a mobile device.

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My daughter is taking an accelerated math class in her elementary school, and was told she needed a TI-36X Solar calculator. This thing is incredible - it would have lasted me through college (granted that was …ahem…a few years ago). It has so many features, each key has three (and some four) functions. All for only $20. Amazing.

That got me to thinking about my first serious calculator - my trusty HP-15C (picture). Paid over $100 for it back in 1980-something. It got me through the latter high schools and early college years, until I upgraded to an HP-28S (picture).

As I was surfing around for info, I discovered folks were selling them on eBay … for hundreds of dollars!

 I’ll let you know what mine goes for. <g>