A cell phone, PDA, digital camera, digital video recorder, iPod, computer and/or portable media storage and DVD player. That’s not an unusual assortment for today’s travelers to lug around. But we’re starting to see some convergence. Cameras (mostly crappy cameras, but cameras nonetheless) embedded in cell phones. Phones embedded in PDAs, such as the Blackberry. PDAs and internet embedded in phones, such as the Sidekick II. Even camcorders come in phones now.

My biggest complaint about managing so many devices, other than the bulk of carrying them all, is keeping track of the darned power cords. There isn’t a hotel in existence that has enough available power outlets to keep them all charged. And power cords for devices I don’t use often just get lost around my home and I end up hunting for them during those last panicky moments before heading to the airport.

What the industry needs is a meeting among Crestron, Archos, and Motorola. Crestron has the best wireless touchpanel media center for Internet and email and files, as well as home control. The embedded PC takes care of many computer functions and can often replace the laptop, PDA and portable media. It can also play digital media files. Archos makes the best portable media players that can actually schedule and record off the cable box or satellite broadcast. Motorola makes darned good phones.

An alliance of these three for creating the definitive portable, wireless personal media device would be an absolute killer product. There would be no competition – none. If it’s priced right, there’s not a manufacturer around that could sell anything with fewer features.

Offer it with different screen sizes, with its own stylish shoulder strap bag, with compact headphones (Bluetooth even!) and easy connection to wireless hotspots, let me upload from my iPod, and it’s game over.

This device will be a reality at some point, no doubt. I hope sooner than later. But I want it made by companies I already know are the best at what they do.

Set up the meeting. I’ll even buy lunch.