I'm always fascinated by the process of selecting gear for various expeditions - the trade-offs of proven technology vs new technology, weight vs usability, battery life vs bulk, etc. I enjoy reading people's gear lists and their justifications for various bits, so here is my electronics gear list for my upcoming road trip and ski trip (I may post a followup with my non-electronic gear later in the week): The Premise: Ten days driving across the northern states of the US avoiding motels and massive highways (after initial stop to hang with the family). Then five days in Salt Lake City skiing with friends, followed by a quick blitz back to DC in hopefully less than four days. Support Electronics: #1, Motorola Droid - Of course I need a phone for emergencies, but the Droid will also act as my tether to the technology of civilization. E-mail, facebook updates, blog posts, etc. all at the touch of a finger, as well as navigation and research (the most importan...