Thanks to Bill Coleman for sending me an interesting article comparing smartphones and traditional computers – Smartphones Bring Hope, Frustration As Substitute For Computers. It fits in well with a conversation I had the other day about the relationship between fiber and wireless. The conclusion to both conversations being that to maximize productivity and quality of life we need both.

We need smartphones and wireless to keep us informed on the go. To help us interact all day every day. To keep us constantly connected. We need laptops, desktops or some might maintain tablets and fiber for work that takes a longer time to produce or consume. Wireless and smartphones also have the advantage of being more affordable – at least on a short-term basis. So they often play a secondary role of introducing people to technology.

The article paints a picture of several people trying to make do with smartphone access. One story particularly struck me because it highlights the value of each tool…

Ashley Street, 23, a single mother in Philadelphia, has seen both the promises and pitfalls of relying on smartphones. When Street was briefly homeless and sleeping in a park, she used her phone to find a shelter, she says. When she was laid off from her job at McDonald’s, she was able to apply for a new job via her phone’s Web access.

But when Street recently tried to use her phone to fill out a student aid form so she can attend culinary school, it seemed almost futile. Just as she was nearing the end of the application, the phone’s wireless connection failed, and her information disappeared from the screen.

“I had to do it all over again,” she says. “I actually almost cried.”

I think it makes the case that all of these are tools in a toolbox. Having only a smartphone is like having only a hammer. It’s better than nothing but it doesn’t fix every problem. Sometimes you need a saw

I’m living my own toolkit kind of day today. It’s the last day of school for my kids – half day as a special treat to working parents. I’m at the park, typing on my laptop. My MiFi is no longer charged – so I do research and stay connected (email, text, Facebook messaging) through my smartphone. I’m typing on my laptop. It’s not a perfect solution (that would be a babysitter!) but it works. Having options keeps me productive and improves the quality of life for my favorite new third grader!