Death of a PDA

I bought my Sony Clie PEG-NX70V/U a long time ago now. It must have been about five or six years ago now. I paid over $500 for it and for a long time I felt like it was an overly expensive purchase.

With time I began to love the basic features, using them the most often. I was lured to the multi-media version, but found myself only using the voice recording feature for my podcasts. I don't need a camera, video, etc. in a PDA. I still prefer a dedicated digital camera, my PSP for video and pictures, and my iPod for music and for use as a digital wallet. But I really used the PDA for reading eBooks, PDF versions of mainly text HTML files, my world clock, storing passwords and other secure information, and keeping notes during meetings. I liked the folding screen since it would keep the PDA at a comfortable distance while lying down and reading. So ergonomically and functionally, I grew to accept the Clie as a part of my daily life.

Now, living in Japan, it's difficult to just run out and buy a new one. I'm considering making a move to live without one and slim down my digital quiver.

• planner, to do list -> on my new cell phone
• phone book -> essentials on my cell phone, the rest on my laptop at home
• emergency on-the-go storage -> PSP
• world clock -> my brain (oh no!)
• voice recorder -> Edirol R-1 (often buggy and it's bulky)
• eBook reader -> ???

The last one is a major issue. I can't figure out how to convert my secure eBooks into a text format for reading on my PSP. I wish Sony would allow folks the leeway of hacks or legitimate 3rd party software for the PSP platform. They're so f*ckin tight-assed. I could boycott them on that issue alone. But that doesn't solve my problem. Back to the internet...