2 Sony Gadgets, 6 Nokia Phones, 1 Highly Thankful Writer

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to spend a day driving a Porsche. It started out as a cool morning, but gradually became hotter as the day progressed, and became nice and cool into the evening. I remember small things like that, because that day was special. I was driving a Porsche, and everyday is an ordinary day compared to the day you drive a Porsche.

The above paragraph is possibly one of the ways I’m going to start the article for my review of the absolutely astounding Sony DSC-R1 – Sony’s 10.3 megapixel marvel.

The Porsche similarity is apt, believe me. This is a special product, something you only see owned and used by folks much richer (and maybe more ‘in the know’) than you. The fact that it has features and abilities that go beyond the sheer amount of ‘megapixelity’ adds that bit of mystery too. “Sure it can take high megapixel shots, but the enormous CMOS allows you to take highest quality JPEGS at 1 shot/sec too.”, is sort of like saying, “Sure a Porsche can go really fast, but it’s tuned suspension can make it go around bends well too”.

Another terrific gadget I have right now is the Sony Ericsson W550i “walkman” phone, apparently the European version of the similar W600, except it’s in GSM mode, and it folds sideways like an old Motorola model (I forget which).

I initially didn’t like it but it grew on me, and now I like having it around. Strangely though, it doesn’t have a calculator, which I think is odd. I hardly use that function but I had to one time when I was helping my niece with her homework. Anyway, that article will come out on March 8 if I do my homework early enough.

As for the 6 Nokia phones, that’ll have to wait until tomorrow, when I attend a Nokia event in KL Malaysia, my first ever international trip related to PDI. I’ve known of the trip for weeks now of course, but it’s only really sunk in last Thursday when I met my tripmates, one of which happened to be no other than m|ph editor in chief Adel Gabot, of which I finally had the pleasure of meeting.

UPDATE!: I found the calculator! It was hard to find using a different wallpaper theme other than the default, and also there are only 5 new Nokia phones on the Malaysian launch, not 6. tsk tsk gotta pay more attention..

At this point, I’ll get mushy on all of you, and try to put in words just how grateful I feel towards Pam, ma’m Chelo and all of the people whom I’ve worked with for choosing me to go on this trip. I know it’s SOP for most writers, but I’m only a contributor and I feel quite honored about getting chosen.

This also in the light of how, around the same period last year, things were pretty grim, like a slow downward spiral when my situation was getting worse and worse. Apparently though, things have started looking better, and I am obliged, if anything, to do my best to deserve it.

Who would have known all those cliches about windows opening when doors close, about things only getting better, about how one should keep his chin up would actually bear fruit? I know now that God gives us opportunities fairly and rather frequently if you think about it. I once wrote how I believed He had a plan for me, and trusting Him seemed the right thing to do.

I have not been led astray.