My current mobile configuration: PalmPilot M105 (probably the lamest one you can still use), and a 120mhz 2gig laptop.

The biggest downside to the laptop was the boot time. Win2k took five minutes. Then I realized I can start the bootup prior to reaching my destination. Problem solved!

The PalmPilot's two apps are: AvantGo and Notepad (built in). I can scribble notes that I transcribe later, and read my PIM textfiles when I need a phone number or other detail.

The laptop lets me run a wifi card. From there, I rent cheap web space on two powerful internet servers. It's incredibly fast to upload, compile, & run my code.

At HOME, well, that's another matter. I don't mind waiting 20 hours for my latest project to run. The machine remains responsive. I can do other things in that time. But the screen is massive, the drives aren't full. I'm not stupid. But would you believe I use a dialup? I've stressed finding solutions with ready materials, and a dialup compelled me to consider both my objectives and my methods. Do I mind the 6 hour wait for Net Framework 1.1? Not a bit. So far, no real downside. Now that comment's gotta make the geeks cringe.

Mobile computing costs me a under $200 to replace. And I still feel remarkably powerful. In the end, skills, ideas, and organization do the work. If you can run a wifi card, code editor, cmd box, and a browser, you can write complex online software (ASP.NET or whatever) at a wifi cafe. If your PDA can sync and show a text file, and you can scribble a note, you have maxed out the core meaning of PDA.

Yes there is a bleeding edge. The bleeding is from the 10x premium you pay for dubious or unevolved features that won't make you more effective. But it's a seductive little addiction for them, isn't it?