Atrix Gingerbread review

Hey all!

I've had the Gingerbread running for a day now and I'm ready to make a quick +&- list for the new 2.3.4 Android upgrade.

Nice features:

+I am digging the "all Apps" button, bottom right of the screen, it's handy!
+The improved response time between screen switching is nice.
+New icons are a welcome change.
+New keyboard has vastly improved response and (so-far) more accurate letter choice.

Slight (and not-so-slight) irritants:

-The round settings button from the bottom middle of the home screen is gone, and getting in there is now a two-step process, as I tend to run my handset whithout data or background enabled to conserve both battery life and plan data, this is kind of a pain.
-When entering text my auto punctuate function is not working. I have disabled and rebooted, then re-enabled and rebooted - without change. I hope to find a way to fix this, as instead of punctuating, it's stuffing random "Droid thinks this is the next work you might type" words where I wanted a period. Geez.
-Biggest irritant do far? Android Marketplace! I have always been very conservatve with my data use, so I am usually only surfing the Marketplace for new apps when connected over wifi. Previously I did all my surfing on the browser, as the Marketplace app required background data enabled. The Froyo version prompted me whenever I used the browser if I wanted to use the app to open the content requested,which gave me the option to continue to use the browser, ensuring all my downloaded stuff was queued ONLY via wifi. Now, not so much. I have already hit up the peeps over at the awesome XDA Dev Forums, but since 2.3.4 is still shiny and new, I'm not holding my breath for immeadiate answers.

All things considered, I'm enjoying the new interface. I have noticed it's taking longer to charge, but that's the first time since I upgraded it. In all fairness that battery is freaking massive to start with, so I guess It takes the time it takes.

More on the newness in about a week after I've gotten to spend some quality time with Gingerbread.

A few thoughts about computing...

My constant reading has always included tech literature, and if they had not been "misplaced" while I was away studenting, I would till have a damn-near complete collection of PC Mag back issues kicking around. But no crying over spilled milk there.

Recently I have been discussing with other IT industry professionals where the business and personal computing worlds are finally going to be interchangeable. Some argue they already have. I have been a huge fan of self-styled "Cranky Geek" John C. Dvorak for many years now, and I am inclined to agree with his ongoing opinions regarding tablet form factors finally providing the last link between personal and professional computing. With the incredible shrinking industry size and power requirements, hardware components have physically come a LONG way from where we started at. Pair that with SaaS and cloud operations, and today's advancing Cellular data networks and continuously increasing coverage maps, that future is already happening around us today.

With the advent of Social Media, our current generation of kids will be growing up in a completely connected society. Enabled to reach out from anywhere, to anybody, instantly. I think Nikolai Tesla would be both pleased about the advancement, and disappointed the rest of us took so long to drag telecommunications this far! It's going to be an interesting tipping point, and statistically, in a few short decades, we will be a world society linked together by universal connectivity.

Summary: I don't think we have arrived at the intersection of personal and professional computing, but I can see it on the horizon. I'm excited, and you should be too! Wearable computing? Heck yes! Better? Integrated computer! I'll keep the organic CPU for now, but reliable, tested human upgrades in my lifetime?......Count Me In! Interesting times!