Ok, so I am going to make some changes, that should improve my lifestyle. I just need learn how to do one thing.. carry a bag everywhere I go.

So today I have a 32Gig iPhone 3GS. It has a camera, but not a very good one. It takes video, but not very well. This is the only thing I carry with me (electronics wise). I pay about $80 a month for my phone service. That's $960 a year. The phone can be sold for $450 on eBay.

So, I am going to sell my iPhone, and get these things:

First, a bag to carry all my crap in. I have ordered this:

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/laptop/laptop-messenger-style/d-lux-racingstripe-laptop-messenger#product=2-122564

The bag looks great.

I have also ordered a 64Gig 3G iPad, that should come at the end of the month.

I have a keyboard doc for the iPad that will easily fit in that bag, in case I need to type a lot.

I just ordered this camera:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-LX3S-Digital-Stabilized-Silver/dp/B001CCNDK4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1271312604&sr=8-2

This camera takes outstanding photos, and very good video. This video was shot with this camera.

http://vimeo.com/5202737

I will get a cheep phone on a pay as you go plan. We have plans here that for $25 you get 400 minutes that last 3 months. I never use the phone that much in 3 months, so I will just pay $100 a year for the phone.

So, I spend $30 a month for unlimited 3G with the iPad, I pay $100 a year for phone. That's $460 a year. All the gear I ended up buying (bags, cases, iPad, camera, memory cards, keyboard, camera batteries and stuff) came to around $1,500, but I can sell my iPhone for $450.

So that's $1,050 more for all the hardware, but I now have a much better camera, video camera, and an iPad (much better touch computer then the iPhone).

And the kicker is, I save $500 a year is service fees, so in 2 years I break even (well, do better then even because all this new gear will be worth more in 2 years on eBay then my iphone would be).

Now I just need to wait for all this crap to show up at my door. All I have at the moment, is the iPad keyboard doc. Everything else is ordered, but not yet here.

I can't wait! :)

Looks like a good set up you have there

Nice. When are you going to NZ? You'll be able to take some beautiful pictures with the camera (rather than the iPhone).

May 1st (so two weeks and a day).

Apple says I should get the iPad before then, but I am getting worried.

My hope (and this most likely won't happen), is that being NZ thought the launch of the iPad was going to be late April, that Vodaphone in NZ will have everything in place to accept it for service. I doubt they have a contract in NZ for unlimited @ 30 a month, but anything they have will be better then using AT&T with a remote plan.

The phone I would be getting on the pay as you go plan, would be CDMA, and I don't think that will work in NZ (no sims, and I don't know how easy it is to have the same phone on more then one plan).

So, at this point, I will just be using Skype while in hotel rooms (unless I really need to use my phone @ $2.00 a minute)

Oh, and I also bought 2 extra batteries for the Camera. I figure with 3, I should not need to charge any (being I don't have a charger that works in NZ).

I do have a car adapter the has a wall outlet on it. I asume all cars have the same DC outlet, so when I am driving from town to town, I can charge if I really need to.

Regardless, I will be in NZ, so I will be happy! :)

So, has anyone used that Camera? I bought it off internet research. Never held one in my hand.

Haw haw, you have a purse.

... in seriousness, I kind of envy women getting to have purses. It's very useful to always have some kind of container/storage, and the things inside it are also useful as well.

Yea, but I figure if all the guys in Big Bang Theory use them, then it must be for cool people!

Hey, I'll have you know I use a manbag... they're pretty cool because you can fit tons and tons of things in them, for example, I've, on a few occassions, taken my PS3 and laptop into college for when I get bored, since on Tuesdays I go into college for 30 minutes at 9am, then I have no lessons until 1:15pm, but there's no point me going home for that time since it takes an hour to get home and another to get back anyway. With these things in my bag, I also have enough room for my college work, and other random bits and bobs.

Manbags = The future of storage devices.

Just wait til you spend five minutes trying to find your keys in there, unless you still just keep thewm in your pocket giving that unsightly "pocket bulge" (not the good kind). Just kidding, my wife's purse seems like a huge hassle, I can't imagine carrying a bag with me, but more power to ya.

I'm really not sold on the Ipad yet, you'll have to let us know how it works out for you once you get it. And have fun in NZ, I'm jealous. It looks like a beautiful country.

They have what's called a napoleon pocket for your keys and stuff.

And thanks with respect to the trip... I can't wait! :)