Nanotech is another catch-all term that makes me unhappy.

You know what is a really awesome piece of nanotechnology? All the proteins and enzymes that are making your neurons function, right this very moment. How do you download their state? Look at their conformation and who they are interacting with.

Nanotech isn't just making a computer smaller. Much of your body already operates on the "nano" level, and does it pretty efficiently.

I'll admit nanotech really isn't my field, but I understand enough of it to know that it isn't a panacea. If a materials science person wants to jump in on this I'd be appreciative (to either confirm/deny what I said)

Totally agree. I merely speak in principle - my apologies for being vague and hand wavy - I didn't mean to.

My main point was that brain uploading need not be done all at once.

This is somewhat like how the 'Ndoli Device' works in some of the short stories of Greg Bear. (I'd especially recommend the story 'Learning To Be Me'.)

Greg Egan

Ah, yes, of course... 'Learning To Be Me' is Egan's story, and the 'Ndoli Device' or 'Ndoli Jewel' appears in some of Egan's other stories as well. (I vaguely recall seeing the same term used elsewhere, maybe a Bear book, and thought it might be a specific allusion back to either Egan or some other common precursor.)