This just barely qualifies as a bicycle post, it’s really a gadget post. Here’s the thing. I love gadgets. Really. While I’m not always up on the latest bicycle gadgets and I prefer less to more in my cockpit, I do enjoy taking a decent gadget with me when I travel. Of course when one goes by bicycle less is always better.
I’ve gotten by with just my HTC EVO 4G phone for the most part – it saw me across Iowa rather well. I did have several batteries with me and I had to recharge more than I would have preferred, but hey, I was connected when I needed to be connected.
To be honest I almost took my iPad with me, but the thought of having to carry it with me everywhere really turned me off. It’s just a little big to be comfortable. And though I could have had the Pork Belly folks carry it for me in my luggage between stops they HIGHLY recommended not bringing tech toys. I understand completely. As it is my iPad has a wee dent that compromises the screen in one small area (it’s still very usable, but when held at certain angles you can see where the screen is being pushed in).
So what to do? I could easily have taken my 2nd generation Kindle. The problem there is that I’d have had to carry a light with me to read by, requiring more battery power. Ultimately I did carry a light but oddly never really used it. I just read from my phone for the approximately ten minutes every evening it took me to fall asleep. I also used it as a flashlight when I needed to run to the head in the middle of the night.
But the new Kindle Fire, being smaller than the iPad, seemed like something I absolutely had to have to test on bicycle trips. Right? I mean why else would I want one?
In any case mine has shipped and will be here in a couple days. Once I get in a few rides I’ll post on whether it’s a decent bike-able tool. I’m hoping!
I can’t wait.
Slower, cheaper, less useful…