Interesting, four days with only mobile net
I think it was Saturday that my net connection suddenly decided to snuff it.What is a bit of a tiff right now is that basically the entire country is sort of at a standstill, between last Friday, ok, well, New Year, to be honest and until the 6th of January, Twelfth night, the last of the holidays. Not just because of the holidays per se, but also because they are using them to convert to Euro. As of Jan 1st, we now have € in this country and well.. switching currency in an entire country is a pretty big thing.
Anyway, I called and chatted with a very pleasant chap at UPC, my ISP.. Not sure, but for some reason, the service people, helpdesk people, etc, when able to speak English, seem a tad more polite, just in general. Probably only my own perception.. So, because of the switch to Euro, being Saturday, and all that, he had no chance of filing a case. having worked with systems and organisations, I told him I understand perfectly. It’s not like he can pop down to the service technicicans with a Post-it, and get things going in another town. The basic rule nowadays is “If your case is not in the system, it doesn’t exist”. Nothing he or anyone else of us can do about it, really. But he told me to call first thing this morning again, which I did. So Wednesday mornign, a technician is supposed to appear on my doorstep.
I have long desired a netbook. I know, for some, they are most likely of limited use. And of course, I don’t expect it to do all the things that a PC can do. But the thing is, what is most important for me, when it comes to having a net connection is text communication. Simple as that. My mobile actually covers my most basic needs, with one single exception.
I use Java applications for my most needed functions: GMail’s native Java app (highly recommended if you have a modern but regular mobile phone and are using internet in it), Twibble for Twitter, GoTalkMobile for Googletalk, AgileMessenger (ICQ, MSN) and the native browser or Opera Mini browser for the rest.
My mainly used bookmarks are the mobile sites (apart from Gmail and Twitter, then) of Ping.fm, BBC News, Google Reader, Evernote, Remember The Milk, Facebook, LinkedIn, Wapedia (mobile Wikipedia).
So basically, when not working, I handle about 90% of all my connectional needs through the mobile. And this from a complete net junkie. :) Well, actually, communication junkie. I was completely uninterested in computers until I discovered email back in 1993. I still remember that day and the wow sensation, throwing myself on the phone to my best friend in London, telling him to get it as well and fast…
PS. Be careful when writing posts and drinking wine at the same time. One may get a slight tendency to ramble in one’s writing when inspired by the spirits of Dionysos. :)
[This post was written on my PC around lunchtime and then sent through mail a couple of hours later, from an internetcafe. My points of view or sobriety may have changed since then, though it is not likely. Or desired. :) ]
