With the advent of the iPad, mobile Internet devices are shaping up to be the the hottest tech story of the year. Frankly, I’m over the hype, so I wanted to know what the everyday reality is for tech-savvy folks around the office. What devices are worth their weight? What do they have, and what do they want?

I quizzed a few tech-forward CMDers to find out what’s in their bags and on their minds, especially when it comes to tech trends. The results yielded some popular apps and devices you might want to bag for yourself.

Dean McBeth, power user

It has to be good to go on two wheels in order to make it into Dean’s Chrome bike bag. Here’s the tale of the tech tape for this digital strategist. Watch out Sun Tzu.

ASUS Eee PC netbook (We hear Dean’s been doing a lot of cloud computing lately.)
HP Elite laptop
Sony camera
Microsoft wireless mouse
iPhone
Clear WiMAX dongle
Moleskine (“The original PDA”)
Iron Maiden Blu-ray Flight 666 DVD (on loan from Patrick Anderson)

If you were trapped on a desert island, what could you not live without?
A solar-powered laptop

What was the biggest trend in mobile Internet devices in 2009?
One word – DROID

What is your prediction for the mobile technology space in 2010?
It’s all about the iPad this year.

What do you wish you had in your bag?
I can’t tell you my first answer on the company blog, so how about a solar charger.

Whose bag would you like to peek in and why?
Lance Armstrong’s – he always has the latest cycling gadget.

What feature should all the folks out there be sure to get in their next mobile device purchase?
4G

What is the best app you’ve downloaded in the last 30 days?
Foursquare

Erik Sebellin-Ross, multimedia maestro

Erik’s flair for online trendspotting comes across in his social media consulting, and his Timbuk2 commuter bag holds multiple options for staying connected and storing media.

HTC TouchPro2 Windows phone
iPod Touch
Nintendo DS Lite with ScribbleNauts and Gunstar Superheroes
Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
Monster Cable Beats by Dr. Dre (translation: expensive earbuds)
SD card adapter
Moleskine
Stabilo left-handed pen
Handfuls of USB drives and game cartridges

If you were trapped on a desert island, what could you not live without?
My iPod touch

What was the biggest trend in mobile Internet devices in 2009?
Proliferation of social networking apps

What is your prediction for the mobile technology space in 2010?
Bigger screens and longer battery life – the iPad will set a new standard for interactivity on the go.

What do you wish you had in your bag?
No surprises there – an iPad

Whose bag would you like to peek in and why?
George Clooney’s – “Up in the Air” got me thinking about what people like him carry around.

What feature should all the folks out there be sure to get in their next mobile device purchase this year?
The ability to install apps – feature phones are so 1990s.

What is the best app you’ve downloaded in the last 30 days?
Eucalyptus, the e-book reader that connects to the Project Gutenberg database

Tracy Johnson, the minimalist

Associate Creative Director Tracy makes it a three-fer for Moleskine journals – the only common element that runs through all three bags in our straw poll. Count on Tracy to have insightful recommendations up her sleeve, if not in her teeny Overland bag.

iPhone
Earbuds
USB drive
Moleskine and colored pens

If you were trapped on a desert island, what could you not live without?
My iPhone

What was the biggest trend in mobile Internet devices in 2009?
More apps than ever before

What is your prediction for the mobile technology space in 2010?
More quality, less quantity – we’re past the stage of gimmicks and the next cool thing. We’re all waiting for the devices that actually make our lives easier.

What do you wish you had in your bag?
Unlimited battery supply – I have every gizmo I could want and I upgrade eagerly, but when it comes to battery life, I have to plan my use. I hate that.

Whose bag would you like to peek in and why?
The guy who writes the Museum of Modern Betas blog – he’s searching the globe for new apps, so I want to know if he actually embraces them.

What feature should all the folks out there be sure to get in their next mobile device purchase this year?
Touch-screen capability

What is the best app you’ve downloaded in the last 30 days?
Momento – it aggregates your social media posts into a daily journal you can add content to.

So, what’s in your bag?

During the past month, I joined my fellow CMDers for the annual Bike Commute Challenge. Okay, so in truth, I only rode to work a total of five times last month (shhh… don’t tell my team captain!). But as a team, CMD logged 2,245 miles and saved around 2,155 pounds of CO2 in the process. And that’s all that really matters, right? A group of individuals doing what they can to benefit the larger community.

That’s the philosophy that CMD has adopted for its commitment to sustainability. As a company, CMD believes that operating in an environmentally sustainable manner is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes smart business sense.

This was the guiding principle that led to the first year of our company being named one of the 100 Best Green Companies in Oregon by Oregon Business magazine. Given the caliber of leading green experts in the state, we were thrilled to be recognized. This effort lends credibility to our company as well as to the many clients and vendors we work with.

CMD’s sustainable practices are consistently reviewed and prioritized by an employee-led sustainability team that works to advance our company by setting goals, spearheading initiatives and engaging with employees. If you’re hoping to begin a similar initiative in your organization, you might find some of the programs we’ve implemented helpful.

1. Reduce waste – CMD focuses on reducing the use of raw materials by giving strong consideration to vendors who use recycled materials, offer environmentally preferred solutions and help reduce waste/increase efficiencies. We also reduce waste streams by choosing reusable products and expanding our recycling program (lots of blue bins!).

2. Conserve energy and water – CMD makes an ongoing effort to be more energy efficient and we actively assess our energy usage to evaluate solutions for continued improvement.

3. Encouraging the use of alternative transportation – Activities such as the Bike Commute Challenge, carpooling or other alternative modes of transportation are important not only to the environment, but to our company’s culture as well. Just ask the group of CMDers who bike over to the PDX food carts for lunch!

4. Making a positive impact on the community – We dedicate time, talent and resources to advancing the cause of select worthy, environmentally focused nonprofits, such as SCRAP, that are working to make a real difference in the community. In this way, CMD’s influence to foster greater environmental stewardship reaches well beyond our own core business and affects many others.