The 81-day experiment

My device selection, BlackBerry Pearl, T-Mobile Dash, or Motorola Q? The selection has been made

Finally, and for those who didn’t get a chance to participate in our Lunch & Learn webinar this week, I have selected the smartphone that I will be using now, knowing that the 81-day-experiment is over. The winning device is the T-Mobile Dash, and Jacob Bohall won the drawing and a smartphone (Jacob was one of many readers who guessed that I will be selecting the Dash, even though more readers were leaning towards the BlackBerry Pearl).

The BlackBerry Pearl was actually my first choice, however, the fact that it doesn’t have a QWERTY keyboard was the showstopper for me. I use e-mail extensively, and typing quickly is a critical need. The SureType™ method is actually quite impressive, but still, when you just have a couple of minutes in between meetings or calls, and you want to respond to an urgent e-mail, every second counts.

In the Webinar on December 5, I reviewed the 9 devices that I used in the 81-day-experiment, highlighted their strengths and weaknesses, and rated them in five different areas. The workbook (PDF format) which includes the presentation slides with the ratings, as well as the methodology for selecting a smartphone,  can be ordered at:
http://www.people-onthego.com/Wrkshps_Handheld.html (scroll down on that page to see the Workbook link).

In addition, we have the following upcoming live events that you will be able to register for soon:

a) A repeat of the 45 minutes complimentary lunch & learn Webinar about the 81-day-experiment and about selecting a smarpthone, which will be scheduled for the January/February 2007 timeframe.

b) A full 90 minute workshop about selecting a smartphone, also presented as a Webinar, which will also be scheduled for the January/February 2007 timeframe.

Meanwhile, the 81-day-experiment blog continues to provide updates on the latest devices, and additional tips and insights on selecting a smartphone, and more case studies from users who want to share their experience with selecting and using a smartphone.

Stay tuned for more!

The 81-day-experiment findings are being published and my device selection coming up on Dec 5, 2006

This week, and as I recover form the Thanksgiving meals (and that cold that got worse over the weekend but getting better today), I am making a visit to the Cingular store nearby to put my hands on the latest devices including the BlackJack and 8525 and get the latest stories on the upcoming devices. Meanwhile, here are a few updates about the findings of the 81-day-experiment.

First, I am releasing a series of articles relating to the findings at the Web Worker Daily blog (http://webworkerdaily.com/) the first two articles have been posted, and there will be several more to be posted in the next few weeks. Here are the titles and the links of the articles that have been published:

The 81-day-experiment in review:

http://webworkerdaily.com/2006/11/20/how-to-pick-a-smart-phone/

The BlackBerry Pearl, Cingular 3125, Cingular BlackJack, and T-Mobile Dash Compared:

http://webworkerdaily.com/2006/11/27/dash-3125-pearl-blackjack/

Second, I will be announcing my next device (the device that I will be using as my own) next Tuesday Dec 5 at a lunch & learn webinar. You can still send your entries for the drawing (your guesses at which device I will be selecting) to the81dayexperiment@people-onthego.com and you are welcome to attend the complimentary webinar by registering at:

http://www.people-onthego.com/lunchandlearn-ontheair.html

Third, and the most interesting and exciting part of the 81-day-experiment, is the fact that I continue to have informative conversations with smartphone users about their experiences with their smartphones. You can see some of these conversations on you blog in the form of case studies and questions and answers. The goal is to include more of this valuable information as more devices are released and more issues and insights are reported..

Fourth, we will soon be publishing the findings in a book which is intended at helping users select the device that best fits their needs. So stay tuned for more information about the book in the upcoming weeks.

Meanwhile, happy “smartphoning”!

The 81-day-experiment update, and the next experiment

Yet another beautiful day in San Francisco. It seems that the beginning of the Fall season has been postponed yet again. No complaints here.

Announcing the device that I will be using

I have received many inquiries in the last few days about when will I be announcing the smartphone that I will be using for myself now that the 81-day-experiment is over. Finally, I have a date for this announcement. This will be December 7 during a Webinar which we will be holding on that day. This Webinar is part of the “lunch & learn on the air” Webinar series which we hold every Thursday at 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm Pacific Time. To register for the December 7 Webinar, or any of the lunch & learn Webinars, please visit the “lunch & learn on the air” Webinar series (the December registrations will open on December 1^st).

What is happening meanwhile?

Meanwhile, I am continuing to review and analyze my findings, and prepare to write more about them. I am also continuing to post case studies from users, as well as news and updates about new devices, and potentially using new devices, and answering some of the questions that I receive offline. If you are interested in contributing your case study, please e-mail us at the81dayexperiment@people-onthego.com with Case Study in the subject line. If you are interested in entering the drawing, you can still send your guess of which smartphone I will be selecting also to the81dayexperiment@people-onthego.com (we will continue to take entries until December 7 at 8:00 am Pacific Time).

By the way, I have not chosen my smartphone yet. There are two devices that are pretty high in the running, and a third device that I am also considering.

A new kind of experiment has started

This new experiment, or activity, was inspired by the 81-day-experiment. This one is about physical exercise. My main effort at People-OnTheGo centers on productivity and bridging the gap between technology and people. Working in the field of productivity, and being among busy professionals who are working at being more productive, I noticed that physical exercise is such a critical part of staying productive and achieving results all around. What I also experienced and noticed (at least for some of us) is that it is not easy to drag ourselves to the exercise activity, and make time for it, and not to mention sustain it over time.

The 81-day-experiment did require some significant commitment to plan the devices and activities and most importantly to execute on the plan day after day. It was in a way an experiment of discipline. But it got to be easier over time. It became a habit. They say it takes 30 days to form or change a habit, so 81 days will for sure do it.

The 81-day-experiment made me wonder how productive and fulfilling would it be to engage in a physical exercise activity every day for 81-days. Will it become a natural part of the day and easily sustainable over time? Will the cumulative effect be much greater than the sum? Will it result in greater productivity gains? Will it slow down the Interent time? Will it help reduce the stress of the information overload? Hence, the 81-day-exercise program was born. It started on Wednesday November 8, 2006. I will be reporting on it in the less-is-more blog. Stay tuned for more, or you can even join in!

What is coming up next in the 81-day-experiment?

So what is coming up next? Now that the 81-day-experiment is over, what is on the horizon for the 81-day-experiment blog? Here are some preliminary thoughts on what might be coming up in the near future:

a) Case studies from users: This is to allow you to share your experience relating to your current and previous devices.  If you want to contribute your case study, please e-mail the81dayexperiment@people-onthego.com with Case Study in the subject line.

b) News and updates: As new technologies and devices are released, I will keep an eye on them, and provide some updates when applicable.

c) Using more devices:  When new and innovative devices are released, I will consider using them, and writing about my observations again, just like I did in the 81-day-experiment.

d) Questions and answers. As I get questions from readers and workshop participants, I am likely to write about the relevant ones in the blog-- either providing the answers or soliciting ideas/information from other users.

e) More observations about the findings of the 81-day-experiments. In addition, these findings will be also analysed in more details and published--The exact format has not been finalized yet, but I will keep you updated.

Finally, if you haven’t yet participated in the drawing that we will be having soon, you can still do so by e-mailing your entry (your guess of which smartphone I will be selecting as my own device) to the81dayexperiment@people-onthego.com. It is likely that I will not make my selection until I finish analyzing the findings and publishing them. But hopefully this will happen in the next few weeks so that someone will be starting the holiday season with a new smartphone they didn’t expect.