Smartphones are becoming more capable all the time, with features that are beginning to rival full mobile computers. I have been following a few people online recently that are making concerted efforts to leave the laptop at home and only travel with the smartphone. It’s an interesting proposition and while I think it can be done by some folks, there must be times when a larger screen and keyboard would fit the job at hand a little better. I keep thinking back to the Celio REDFLY that I looked at a while back, and it seems to be a decent compromise of mobility and functionality for these folks mostly using the smartphone while traveling.
The original REDFLY I looked at paired with Windows Mobile phones to simply extend the display and keyboard. My evaluation proved to me that it was perfect for those times when I needed to do more extensive data entry, such as long email responses. It was also a good tool for working with spreadsheets and Word documents, something I wouldn’t even try on a phone.
The folks at Celio, makers of the REDFLY, have produced a version of the little laptop that work with some BlackBerry phones. There is a good fit with this REDFLY, given the focus of the BlackBerry on strong messaging features. I can see how the ability to connect the BlackBerry to a notebook-like device could be a good tool for those trying to travel as light as possible. I’ll soon know for certain, as the folks at Celio are sending over a REDFLY for me to try with the BlackBerry. That means you’ll soon know for certain too, as I will share that whole experience with you. Until then, refresh your memory of the REDFLY with the video overview I shot of the original version.
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