PDAs, WiFi, GPRS...

[ViperV990]

I'm thinking about getting a PDA, but before flushing down a few c notes down the drain (again), I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask around a bit

First of all, I know very well I'm not a very well organized person by nature. I'm not that kind of person to carry an organizer around, be it digital or in paper. I'm not getting an PDA to become organized. I might become organized (if hell decides to freeze over...) but that's not what I'm primarily looking for.

The main thing I'm looking for is wireless connectivity. I want to browse the web when I'm away from my rig. I wonder if it's practical with such a small device...

Regarding the connection, I believe my current options would be WiFi and GPRS. How well do they work? Please keep in mind I've no practical experience what so ever with either technology...

I'll be attending CalPoly Pomona this fall, I wonder if there's a way to access the WLAN on campus, which requires LEAP? What about "other places"? I remember reading about Starbucks and McDee setting up access points? Is public and widespread WiFi coverage just merely a dream?

My cell phone carrier is Cingular. I live in socal. I've a BlueTooth-capable Ericsson T68i, although if I actually decide to get a PDA I might wait for the Treo 600. How's Cingular's wireless internet service? Pricing is my main concern here. I'd like to know whether it's smarter to pay per-minute, per-MB, or is there is a fixed rate for unlimited access? I didn't bother with the RIM/Blackberry "data plans" since to my understanding they're IM/e-mail only. But either way I doubt it'll be economical if I were to "hang out" in these forums on a GPRS connection

Lastly I'd want to know if there're any good websites that deal with PDAs.

Thanks

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

with my experience surfing the next on my dell axim is horrible

 

[vegetation]

Go for Tmobile with their unlimited internet plan ($10 -- don't pay the $19 plan unless you need specifically VPN), then use a bluetooth phone like the Nokia 3650. Then bluetooth enable your laptop and do your browsing. PDAs are horrible at serious browsing. If you're going to do full browsing then you need a full computer to do so. No sense getting a crippled PDA when a smartphone like the 3650 can already browse the web in a limited crippled way.

 

[ViperV990]

Not sure if I want to switch carrier. My Cingular contract has another 4 months to go, plus I'd love to keep my current #... but would u mind to give me more specific info on that $10 unlimited plan? I think I've seen it in HD but I can't find it anymore. I found Ross' thread but it's nowhere near $10

Of course I can browse the web much better with a laptop, but I want something that I can whip out from my pocket (like a phone) whenever I feel like If it has to be I wouldn't mind to set up a website to capture other sites and chop them to the right size... There're only a handful sites that I really want to visit regularily. Although I remember reading about a future PDA with a SVGA screen.