# What's the most technology youve carried on yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409 "2002-06-22T05:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/1 "2002-06-22T05:54:56Z")
Alright, dig this: I’m currently ‘on-call’ again; i.e. my workplace burns down, some sewer rips open, electric fails, I am the man to call the shots. I’m the guy they call to make the emergency decisions until the next day. Along with this dubious title/duty is a big-assed binder with a pager. However, I’ve told the on-duty people to call me on my cellphone. But, being in North Dakota, my personal cellphone may not work everywhere I’m supposed to be tomorrow. So, I carry my shop’s cellphone, which has been indicated to go anywhere in the state and can still get reception. So, tomorrow, as I carry help Webelos learn archery at a day camp, I will carry two cellphones, one beeper, one ‘airfield operations’ radio, and one more ‘civil engineering’ radio (Scope Shield). I think I’m geeked out. Doesn’t anyone else carry more than this? Why am I reminded of that one particular Dilbert cartoon? 😃 Tripler One radio short of a station. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/2 "2002-06-22T06:02:52Z")
Damn beer. . . “‘as I carry help’” should read: ‘as I help’ And, the subject title should be “you’ve”. Tripler Damn beer. . . ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/3 "2002-06-22T06:07:15Z")
Let’s see. Pager, cell phone, two way radio, digital camera, CD player. You’ve got me beat. But that’s my everyday load that I ride around with on a bicycle, not an aberration. ---
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/4 "2002-06-22T06:49:30Z")
Lessee … standard workday beltline/pocket load equals: • cell phone • pager (sometimes two) • Palm Pilot • flashlight • Leatherman Crunch • reversible 2-n-1 pocket screwdriver • Gerber E-Z Out thumb-opening knife • hemostats • magnetic ID badge • remote-entry key fob for car (w/keys, duh) • sharp-ass scissors (latest addition) plus assorted other sundries. I have been known to go so far as to add a hand control for a hydraulic surgical table to all this. _That_ gets some interesting looks. I say “belt_line_” because I haven’t yet found a pair of scrubs with actual belt loops. Give me time. - Dave ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/5 "2002-06-22T07:09:36Z")
Compared to what? A 15th century peasant? Everything I’m wearing right down to my aftershave. 😃 If you mean electronic gadgets, that would be (right now, at work) a short-range radio, digital cell phone, two-way alphanumeric pager, Palm Pilot, keyless entry key fob and windproof cigarette lighter. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/6 "2002-06-22T07:28:57Z")
My brother let me carry his cell phone the other day when he dropped me off at the Unemployment office. I felt positively rich! ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/7 "2002-06-23T00:35:47Z")
I remember adding it up once while walking to school. It came up to just over $1000 worth: Palm Pilot Cell phone Watch MP3 player Calculator Can’t remember what else… ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/8 "2002-06-23T02:01:27Z")
I carry a laptop to school, along with support gear (disks, floppy drive module, Ethernet card and cable, etc.) Total weight: seven pounds ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/9 "2002-06-23T02:09:14Z")
All at once? Laptop, Handspring Visor with Targus folding keyboard, Archos Jukebox (5 gig portable hard drive/mp3 player), cellphone… other stuff like my Leatherman I don’t think of as technology. ---
**Author:** ![EnigmaOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EnigmaOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnigmaOne)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/10 "2002-06-23T02:57:42Z")
I can’t discuss that stuff…most of it’s classified. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/11 "2002-06-23T03:25:59Z")
Let’s see… at one time: [ul] [li]Handheld Amateur Radio (I’m KC2IBN)[/li][li]Palm with folding keyboard[/li][li]CD Player[/li][li]Digital Camera[/li][li]Calculator[/li][li]CD folder (93 CDs)[/li][li]CD/MP3 player[/li][li]Digital Watch[/li][li]Leatherman Pulse[/li]li a small bendible antenna for my Ham radio, if I’m wearing my coat goes in the sleeve[/li][li]Cell phone[/li][li]FM radio[/li][/ul] yup… I think that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/12 "2002-06-23T06:02:06Z")
I _am_ looking for electronic devices, but I guess anything will do. So I made it to the Camporee today. I go back tomorrow. Here’s what I carried: [ul] [li] Two Motorola Cellphones (one personal LMT, the other was the shop’s)[/li][li] One Pager[/li][li] One GPS reciever[/li][li] One Palm Pilot (not mine)[/li][li] One _Scope Shield_ ‘CE’ Radio (way the hell outta range)[/li][li] One ‘Airfield Ops’ UHF Radio (also way the hell outta range)[/li][li] One Cobra FRS Handheld Radio (local camp stuff)[/li][/ul] Yes, this is the most ‘technology’ I’ve carried on one belt loop, completely disregarding my rifles/weapons. Tripler My rifle has more technology than the current Space Shuttle. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/13 "2002-06-23T06:37:20Z")
“What’s the most technology you’ve carried on yourself?” A folding Barlow pocket knife. A bolt action rifle. But I’m thinkin’ about gettin’ one of them GPS things. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/14 "2002-06-23T08:14:50Z")
Laptop Mobile phone Discman I don’t often carry a lot of technology - usually it’s just my mobile (and now that I have a digital camera, probably that as well). ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/15 "2002-06-23T11:58:52Z")
My “Batman Factor” was certainly up there a couple years ago. These days, I carry only a laptop and cell phone, but back then, I was regularly carrying a 2-way pager, cell phone, MP3 player, Palm Pilot, digital camera and a small voice recorder. I’m still waiting for that all-in-one device. Damn convergence is always slower than everyone wants it to be. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/16 "2002-06-23T22:17:19Z")
Laptop, two cell phones and a digital camera. ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/17 "2002-06-23T23:10:21Z")
Personal organizer, digital camera (not mine; Yearbook staff’s) and mechanical pencils and pens of all denominations and creeds. Me not afraid of technology. Now I worship Moon and drag woolly mammoth carcass into hovel. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/18 "2002-06-24T01:50:52Z")
cell phone palm V cable to connect the 2 walkman 1 red led ‘flashlight’ 1 white headlamp LED ‘flashlight’ 1 keychain LEd white instant on flashlight 1 backup convention flashlight 2 telephone test sets 2 line toners, 1 probe 1 meter sometimes gps sharper image personal cooler Palm V modem laptop I’m, sure there is more but that’s all I got right now oh and a whole mess of batteries ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/19 "2002-06-24T02:56:52Z")
::AHunter3 empties out Targus bag and examines contents:: • One Mac PowerBook (WallStreet), upgraded to 512 MB / 500 MHz / 60 GB • One laptop battery in expansion bay 1, one CD/RW drive in expansion bay 2 • One spare battery • One floppy drive module • One Zip drive module • Two expansion bay hard drives (18 GB and 8 GB) • One Apple DVD-ROM expansion bay drive • One PowerPrint serial-to-parallel adapter + CD with drivers • One low-end CapSure video digitizing CardBus card • One ixmicro Road Rocket 2nd-monitor card with VGA and Mac monitor adapters • One Orange Micro dual Firewire CardBus card • One PowerUser USB CardBus card • One Apple MPEG digital video decoding/decompressing CardBus card • One HDI to DB-25 SCSI adapter / SCSI Disk Mode adapter • One HDI to Centronix 50 SCSI cable • One SCSI 50-pin terminator • One S-video to RCA video adapter • Two Dual-RCA-to-stereo-minijack adapters • One long twin cable with RCA jacks on both ends • One stereo minijack to mono minijack adapter • One rather elderly Connectix QuickCam serial port video camera • One Apple ADB mouse • One ethernet crossover cable • One Cat-5 ethernet cable • One Macintosh serial printer cable • One 3COM Megahertz CardBus modem • One 3COM-card-to-Nokia-cellular-phone adapter • One Nokia cellular phone • One short modular analog telephone cord • One VGA to Mac DB-15 monitor adapter • One AC adapter with associated cable to laptop power-in • Two American AC wall to AC adapter cords (one short one long) • CD wallet containing ~1300 mins’ worth of MP3s + various s/w installers That’s a bit more than I regularly carry around with me on a daily basis. Usually I don’t have more than about 3/4 of that stuff in the bag! ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/20 "2002-06-24T06:02:12Z")
I’m pretty sure that I used to carry a calculator when I was taking statistics… That would be it, I think. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409.md?page=2)