Avoiding the Bat-Belt Syndrome?

sangfroid asks: "As my personal technology products have increased, I've started to look more and more like a Batman wannabe. I now carry an iPod, a PDA, a Cell Phone, a Leatherman and a GameBoy (for the subway, really -grin-). Cargo Pants are out because of work and I don't particularly want to carry a back-purse everywhere I go. Is there a solution that doesn't require me to give up all my technology? A PDA/Phone might help but the holy grail would be a HD-based PDA/Phone/Music Player. How do you deal with all these devices without looking like a gargoyle? Is the answer better technology or no technology?"

Comments

one word: manpurse

[bandy]

Get yourself a manpurse. They're sometimes called a "satchel", a "kit bag" or a "courier['s] bag". Put your technology in it. Add a few other things from your pockets such as your cellphone and the big Swiss Army Knife as well. Then get used to carrying it. You'll look better, honest.

I got mine for under ten bucks at a local swap meet. It has slots that fit PCMCIA cards, a big pocket for my Newton MessagePad 2100, pen/pencil/stylus holders and a good spot for flat documents. On vacation it doubles as a camera bag, and of course the cell phone pocket on the strap means never having to figure out which pocket I put it in.

Re:Consolidate / Do without

[pi_rules]

That pretty much just leaves the Leatherman, which honestly, you don't need with you at all times McGuyver. If you really must have it handy, then consider a swiss knife.

You, my fellow Slashdottter, are apparently not the type that would carry such a device. To each his own, but trust me -- carrying such utilities is not only useful to yourself but useful to others.

I have a Swiss Army Knife, but it's -really- large. My mother got it for me and I tell you this thing is great. I think thinkgeek.com features it even. It's the uber knife. I usually don't carry it. I do however carry a 3" folding belt knife all the time.

Once you're accustomed to such things you cannot do without. I'll provide some examples.

One day I'm going home for lunch (I live really close to work) and I pull into my apartment complex. I see a stranded couple there with their hood open. I'm a nice guy so I pull over to see if I can help. they've got a transmission problem. That much they know. They don't konw what's wrong though. I look under the car and see a big puddle of oil, I dip my finger in it and sure enough -- it's red. So, they've got an automatic tranny leaking fluid or something. I gander under the hood and spot a rubber hose that's just plain disconnected. That's where their leak's coming from. I'm wearing a knee length wool coat, shirt, tie, slacks, basic business attire. I toss the coat into the snow, tuck my tie into my shirt, and hunker down underneath the car. Inspect hose, determine that it's an easy clamp to refix and:

Yank my handy-dandy Swiss Army knife out of my pocket yank out the flat-blade screw driver and reattach the hose snuggly for them. I'm the friggen hero of the day for understanding basic (very basic) mechanics, having a tool to fix the problem, and I'm willing to get down and dirty to fix it. I snug the hose into place and let them know that they should probably drop a quart or maybe two into their tranny before driving it off. The funny part is the guy asked if I'd drive them to an auto parts store to buy tranny fluid. He didn't notice he was "stranded" 200 yards from an auto parts store. They were happpy and when I finished lunch the car was gone. Mission completed.

Carrying "crap" like this isn't always useful to the person holding onto it. However today when buying a battery for an older car of mien the salesman couldn't yank the silly stick-on security sticker so I yanked out my 3" blade (shirt, slacks, dress shoes again) and pryed it off for them.

You may think the "MacGuyver" mentality is silly, until you're broken down on the side of the road and some tech geek pulls up with a Leatherman on his belt, a set of socket wrenches in his trucnk, and jumper cables to boot.

Consider it a challenge. Most of us here can walk into any IT department and help them out. But, can you pull up to the car of a stranded individual and get them back on the road? If you have the mental capacity to swap hard drives you can fix most road-side problems. Be prepared, help your fellow man out, and carry the "burden" of being prepared for little things. It just might be your own arse.

Yeah, this doesn't help the original poster at all I guess. Except I would say don't give up any -useful- device you carry. Drop the GBA if anything.