This past weekend the wife and I went down to Chicago to celebrate our anniversary. We have gone for the last few years and there is always something great to do. We usually find a hotel in the Schaumburg area. I like the Chicago area since I can always be connected - either through my phone or its very easy to find Wi-Fi for my PowerBook. However this year, I left my laptop in the hotel room. If you knew me, this is usually a big deal - I keep my 12″ PowerBook with me wherever I go. But more and more I am finding that I can leave it home. Although its ultra portable and I carry it in a small bag, its really nice not having to tote it around all over. I am finding my Treo is helping free me from my computer. All the reasons why I kept my computer with me are now being solved by my Treo.

Main reason - communication. Whether its calling or emailing or instant messaging, I can handle most of my communications needs with my Treo. Only thing missing - Skype - but I really don’t use that much anyway.

Another huge reason - information. This is a big one for me - I like to have a lot of information available to me when and where I want it. Whether its movie times, maps, phone numbers, and other various info off of miscellaneous websites - I have pretty much everything I want or may need at the tip of my fingers.

Reason 3 - fighting boredom. If I am sitting and waiting for something, it’s really nice to pull out my Treo and either play a game or chat with a buddy.

This weekend, I really worked my Treo out. On the way down to Chicago, the wife used Infoman to check on movie times and theater locations. On the subway on our way to downtown Chicago, snapped a couple pictures of some street performers. In the long line at the Sears Tower, the wife and I enjoyed playing Word Watch together to pass the time. Checked prices on some boat tours via Blazer and Skweezer. Downloaded a .wav file of the SNL Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger skit while we were at Billy Goat’s Tavern & Grill on Navy Pier. Responded to an email from Carl at PalmLoyal, while watching fireworks on Navy Pier. Got some clues from Cachemate and off the web while doing some geocaching (I’ll talk more about this later). Checked gas prices via Infoman. I wish I would have had the new Traffic app by Palm to check traffic conditions before we left to go home on Monday - *sigh*. And lastly, the wife used the BT DUN in the car to look at various maps on the way home to find a way so we could stop by someone’s house on our way home. The Treo is just a great device to have.

Technorati Tags: Games, Google, mobile web, Palm, Palm Software, Chicago, Treo