And not necessarily in a bad way. Check this out:

Back when I was a teen, i was a massive dork and really wanted a PDA. I had a very small circle of friends and no extracurricular activities so I didn’t have a need for a PDA because I had no appointments and had memorized all the phone numbers I needed to know. I just really liked the idea of having a pocket computer back in the late 80’s/early 90’s.

That’s why I saved up a bunch of money and bought a Psion Series 3 (I believe, based on the timeline).

I tried really hard to use it despite the fact that it make me look like a complete tool but in the end I couldn’t justify the limited use — and it’s limited capabilities — so I returned it. That experience didn’t stop me from migrating to the Palm Pilot shortly after, and then to a Windows Mobile device (which I stupidly left in a shopping cart one day).

I don’t know if this PocketMage is real or not, and I hate that we have to live in the timeline where I have to wonder if that is so, and also if backing a project will result in nothing to show for it. Do I need something like the PocketMage? Absolutely not. Do I want something like the PocketMage? Also no. The e-ink display is a great idea because it reduces battery draw, and using the smaller inset screen as the “active” display area is a great idea; the top-lid touch-scroll bar is total flippin’ genius, though.

What I really like is that such a thing can exist, and that people are capable of getting excited about it. I know there are people out there who are/would ask “why do we need such a throwback device in 2026? We have smartphones!” as if “we have smartphones” is a good and proper defense of anything. I always hope people realize that the “why do we need another [insert something here]” is a bad-faith question: we need options for when the current thought leader enshittifies and as hard as it is to migrate, we need to be able to do so. I wouldn’t expect the PocketMage to replace a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or computer. I wouldn’t expect it to be something that is used daily or hourly. But I do appreciate that there are people who have reached the point where they question the reliance on current “cutting edge tech” so hard that they get blown back 30 years and declare that they’re OK with it.