Several weeks ago I started thinking about replacing my Xiaomi Redmi
Note 5A (Android-based, dualSIM) with two devices. I won't explain
right now, why I want to do that, that's what episodes I-III will be
about in the future. Instead of that, let me specify the two devices:
1. The first one - let's call it an online phone - will be anything
capable of running WhatsApp - that is quite the only requirement
I have for it.
2. The other one - let's call it an offline phone - will be a Palm OS
based smartphone.
- Why WhatsApp?
My wife is at home, taking care of our little autie. My father lives
160 kilometers from us and is five days a week alone. My sister and my
mother commute twice a week those 160 kilometers - that's quite a lot
in a country that is 500 by 300 km. And we all are on WhatsApp and
exchange dozens of messages every day, including pictures and videos.
WhatsApp may not be open, secure and good in any of the meanings these
words have, but it works, at least for my family. My father was kind
of affraid of computers and cell phones his whole life and now there's
an app he's able to use to see the progress of his only grandchild and
not to feel alone most of the year. I'm not going to break this.
But as the online phone won't be doing much more than WhatsApp (and of
course calls, text messages, e-mail + maybe one or two another apps
like banking), it should be small and nonintrusive. Those big, flat,
touch-operated monsters slowly enslave us, steal our time, bend our
backbones. I can even see it on myself with the Xiaomi and I think it
has to stop right now.
-Why Palm OS?
As far as I can remember, the only smartphone that did what I wanted
and nothing more, was my Palm Centro back in 2009. I want that back.
But as I am now ten years older, my eyes are not what they used to be
and I'd prefer Palm Treo as it has a little bigger screen and
keyboard.
---
That's quite it. The scene is set, persons introduced, the plot may
begin. It'll be a while before I have both these phones and have them
in a condition for daily usage. But I'm in no hurry - the Xiaomi works
and does what it's supposed to do. It does a lot more, which really
turns me mad now and then, but I'll manage - it's not forever.
PS: I started this text in the first half of February, when I thought
I will use my wife's old Blackberry Q5 as the online phone. But just
couple of days ago one of my friedns gave me SonyEricsson Xperia Pro -
for free, in decent shape and with full packaging. As it's even
smaller than the Q5, I have now my online phone and Episode V will be
about it. Search for Treo continues...
