However, I eventually traded out the Mini for a new laptop because I needed to be able to get out of the house occasionally and write, really write, on a real keyboard. It’s a particular need of mine because I like to sit down and work on long essays, but that’s a function that a PDA/phone will never be able to address.

Even with a Bluetooth keyboard, I’d be loath to do much more than email and basic input on such a small screen. That form factor is perfect for consumption and communication (i.e. 90% of what we need to do on the go), but not always creativity.

So, as a Newton fan, I can’t help but think that the iPhone is still only the verge of ’shifting the paradigm’ – what it lacks, as Jose says, is a real input method, and some of those Newton OS touches that made it feel like all your data and applications were seamlessly interconnected (if that makes any sense – I’m thinking of, eg., tapping Assist). At the moment, because all my work involves writing at length, I have to carry the iPhone and an Eee PC, or, when I don’t want/need to be online, the good old MP2100 plus keyboard.

Fingers crossed all the chatter about the “brick” project being a big iPhone/small tablet device turns out to be true.

I’m still amazed at how easily and seamlessly my phone integrated itself into so many aspects of my life. For over a year now, it’s either been in my pocket, or on my nightstand. It’s both an awesome tool (for instance, my primary tool for event reminders) and great fun (I can so easily google crossword puzzle answers from anywhere).

Last week we were without power/internet for an entire week, and the fact that I was able to stay connected, get information that I needed, and keep my life relatively well managed was a great testament to the iPhone’s universal usefulness.

Very thoughtful post, Patrick. I think it’s a game changer – but I think the tipping point has been the AppStore. So many applications and developers. Let’s hope that Apple decides to do the right thing, gets rid of the NDA and allows its dev community to innovate and collaborate together like they do with the desktop.

Game changer – absolutely!

Of course, that’s not to say I wouldn’t mind getting my paws on an iPhone anyway

… did you have a secret, smaller Newton than everyone else?

If that’s the size of a “small”, I’d hate to see your “big” paperback books!