So my latest strange obsession is a desire to own a Treo. This obsession is strange because I have always managed to restrain myself when it came to the PDA revolution--I mean, it wasn't so useful to me, I don't keep a good data book, or a good calendar, I'm just not that organized.

And I already have a phone I like. And I already have a digital camera. Viewed from this angle, this thing really has nothing to offer me.

But there's just something about it. Most of the work I do now is online, and the idea of being able to go online virtually anywhere at virtually anytime is ridiculously attractive. And not only does the Treo already have a full keyboard on its little phone sized body, you can also buy one of the nifty little expandable keyboards for it.

Oh there are so many things I could do with a spare $500, and one of the least necessary would be this little phone. But there have been at least a half dozen occasions in the last few months where I thought "Damn I wish I had my camera with me." And the rather sad fact is that I nearly always have my phone (though I do tend to leave it in the car quite a bit instead of carry it with me.) So while I had always thought the idea of camera-phones sort of silly and worthless, I am starting to see the appeal...

Eventually, I'll probably wind up with one. I predict this because obsessions like this, for me, are usually only killed by blazingly bad consumer reports (which I will, of course, need to investigate). But I'm in no hurry, because first I'll have to get the car tuned up, and make sure all the bills are caught up, and put some extra money toward paying off the credit card, and make sure my tax-paying-fund is up-to-date (ah, the joys of self-employment). So I have (plenty of) time to visit the web-page, and simply sigh over the possibility of totally mobile internet freedom.

Of course, once I have it, I will simply sit at home, and admire it, and never go anywhere anyway.