Here I sit blogging in the NJIT computer lab (we love wireless networks) because I know going to the Registrar at lunch time is something tantamount to water torture.

So Sarah’s Palm IIIe crapped out the other day due to what appears to be a screen-related failure: when I powered the unit up after a long stretch of having been off, the screen was all streaky and unreadable. This was a bitter-sweet event for me because, in my heart of hearts, I know that it means spending money on gadgetry. That this otherwise mortal sin is passed over by the Walker Household Budget Committee and my Best Buy recipt forgiven.

Right. Anyway, I immediately went to the web and tried to figure out what replacement Palm would be best for my wife. Generally, when I consider purchasing a Palm for someone who isn’t an obsessive, pathological, geek-monger such as myself, I try to go for value. And, there are a great many Palms available for around $150. I’m not talking about the trash that Palm has been trying to pawn off on unsuspecting newbies such as the Zire, but older Palm Vs and Sony Clies that, while a few years old, still deliver a great form factor and some wonderful features.

So, like any good husband, I discuss this with my wife to alert her of the situation and discuss with her the possible options when she stuns me with the words “I actually really wouldn’t mind taking your Palm.”

(beat)

I probably heard her wrong, “Well, I figured that maybe we could upgrade each of our Palms like every 18 months or so and sort of switch off who gets the new Palm, just to be fair…”

“No, I just really wouldn’t mind your upgrading each time and my just taking your old one.”

And it sinks in: not only do I get to spend money on a gadget, but I get to spend money on a gadget for me. This is huge. I ask my wife if she’s sure; yeah, she’s sure. I kiss her and thank her and can’t wait until dinner’s over when I can start pouring over eBay and Amazon and SonyStyle to find the uber-handheld that would be a significant upgrade and a good value.

This is what I found.

I love my wife.

Note: Don’t anybody ask why in the world I wouldn’t get a Pocket PC: Here’s why.