Wireless PDA's

[JJSuperman]

I am looking for a PDA that supports wireless web surfing, and I would like it on the palm OS. I could only find two models that offered such features, a Handspring and a Palm. Are there more out there than that?

Should I give up on the Palm OS and go for Pocket PC? Will I have more choices then?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[kgraeme]

Define the wireless you want:

1. Digital phone network (e.g. Sprint)
2. 802.11b
3. Bluetooth

 

[vetteguy]

Are you talking about using the Palm.net service? (or whatever it's called)? Like kgraeme said, there are a few ways to do this, so we need some more information. If you're wanting to do actual web surfing via a browser, you're going to be more limited with a Palm unit.

 

[JJSuperman]

I would like to be able to check my email (Hotmail) and also check stocks, sports, etc. I hope that helps a bit. Thanks for the reply.

 

[vetteguy]

Well, we're getting there..but now we need to know how you plan on connecting to the internet. Are you going to be in an environment with a wireless access point? Are you going to connect using your cell phone? Or do you want a wireless modem (minstrel sort of thing)?

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: JJSuperman
I would like to be able to check my email (Hotmail) and also check stocks, sports, etc. I hope that helps a bit. Thanks for the reply.

You said what you want to do, but not where.

Tell you what, talk to the great folks over at brighthand's discussion boards. They're dedicated to PDAs. The site also has a Guide to Wireless article. It doesn't tell you what product to buy, but it helps explain the different types of wireless and what they offer.

My basics:

Wireless phone network - Basically the same thing as what digital cellphones offer. Expensive, but it has the broadest portability. 10kbps to 1mbps depending on the network. Don't expect 1mbps. Usually doesn't offer native websurfing, instead needing to go through a translater service or relying on WAP for reformatting pages to your PDA.

Available in PalmOS and PocketPC forms. Most prevalent on PalmOS in the models you found.

802.11b - Wireless ethernet. High speed but limited area. You can only use it within the range of a wireless lan which is often just a building or office area. Starbucks made big news by announcing a rollout of wlan in all their stores, though I think they've scaled that back these days. Theoretical 11mbps speed, but usually closer to 3mbps. PocketPC offers a mostly HTML 3 capable version of IE as well as PocketOutlook. No conversion of web sites needed, but screen resolution can make it interesting on some sites.

Available for any PocketPC that can take CompactFlash type I or II or PC-Card slots.

Bluetooth - Wireless USB. It connects the PDA to another device, usually a phone. The phone talks on the network, the PDA talks to the phone. Same limitations as the phone network above, plus working out the details of PDA/phone compatability.

Both PocketPC and PalmOS. Usually an add-on card, but some devices are coming with it built-in.

 

[JJSuperman]

Well I appreciate the information. YOu have been very helpful. I guess wireless isn't as developed as I thought it was. I wanted something with the range of a cell phone. As I am constantly traveling around town during work, I am almost never in the office. I wanted something to keep me updated on news while I am running around.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: JJSuperman
Well I appreciate the information. YOu have been very helpful. I guess wireless isn't as developed as I thought it was. I wanted something with the range of a cell phone. As I am constantly traveling around town during work, I am almost never in the office. I wanted something to keep me updated on news while I am running around.

Perhaps you would be happy with this. It is a fully functioning PocketPC with cell phone capabilities integrated (called PocketPC Phone Edition). It works on Voicestream's GPRS data network. Is this more what you were thinking?

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: JJSuperman
Well I appreciate the information. YOu have been very helpful. I guess wireless isn't as developed as I thought it was. I wanted something with the range of a cell phone. As I am constantly traveling around town during work, I am almost never in the office. I wanted something to keep me updated on news while I am running around.

The development of mobile wireless is something I'm keeping my eyes on. I work doing IT for researchers and field agents and they want to be able to do things like collect/access data while they are in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin where there aren't even relay towers. Someone actually asked about satellite capabilities for use while in a canoe on a river.

 

[JJSuperman]

Gosh, that voicestream was what I was looking for, but look at the price! I think I am going to have to wait for this technology to become more mainstream before it is realistic. I mean 5mb? Sounds like a tiny amount to me. Thanks.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: JJSuperman
Gosh, that voicestream was what I was looking for, but look at the price! I think I am going to have to wait for this technology to become more mainstream before it is realistic. I mean 5mb? Sounds like a tiny amount to me. Thanks.

If you're referring to the price of the PDA, that's about average for a PocketPC, so no matter what type of wireless access you were looking for, you'd be spending at least that much on the hardware. If you're talking about the service plans (which I assume you were talking about) then yes, they are pricey, but this is relatively new stuff (for the US) so don't expect it to be like cell plans for awhile.

 

[kgraeme]

Heck, even cell plans are way overpriced in the U.S.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: kgraeme
Heck, even cell plans are way overpriced in the U.S.

Not compared to what they used to be. I get 500 anytime and unlimited weekends from VoiceStream for $29.99 a month. I remember when plans were 30 minutes/month for $30, and overage was $.50/minute. Actually, I remember when it was even higher than that! And plus, cell phones were $400 (well, there still are $400 phones, I have one, but you can get a very decent one now for under $100). If the wireless web is anything like cell service, within the next 2 years we'll see it fall to reasonable levels. One thing to keep in mind is that the wireless web network is running on GSM networks, which are (comparitively) new to the US (as opposed to Europe).