PDA For Me
Pocket PC's with embeded Wi-Fi adaptors, click here
I was shipping a package by UPS when I forgot my shipping address. Caught in a pinch, I pulled my trusty PDA out of my shirt pocket. Because of its instant-on feature, I looked up the shipping address immediately right on the spot. Now that's very cool. It is small enough to carry around conveniently when I am out and about. When it is time for lunch, I read my favorite eBook stored in my PDA. It's very strength is its weakness too. My PDA has no access to my PC nor to the internet when on the road. Oh no, what am I to do?
This is where the wireless network or Wi-Fi hotspot comes into the picture. Hotspots are often found in shopping malls and airports. Imagine me browsing around my favorite bookstore. Instantly I check my email messages while standing in the book aisle. Now that's very, very cool indeed. Wait a minute...what if I print out my email message as a hardcopy? This is all done wireless and untethered to any printer cable. Upon returning to the office, I hand over the paper copy to my office assistant. I call that doing work while having fun!
As you can see, a Wi-Fi hotspot makes up for a lot of the PDA's shortcomings.
A hotspot is a PDA rest stop with lots of useful services. My company
installs hotspots at various locations in Seattle. Besides the printing
services mentioned above, hotspots come with:
electricity bases for recharging laptops and PDAs
terminals with large keyboards for convenient editing of PDA documents
hotspot building directory, store specials and promotions
email, online chat and PDA telephone services
and, of course, surfing the internet for MapQuest directions to your after-lunch appointment
| Your PDA can print email attachments and messages, documents, maps and Contact information to convenient printing locations while you are on the road! - click here - |
A hotspot eliminates many of the gadgets one would otherwise have to
carry on the road. The only accessory needed at a hotspot is a single wireless adaptor for the PDA or a similar adaptor for the laptop. It enhances the freedom and mobility which is the hallmark of PDAs. Nevertheless I feel that there are a few essential accessories that go well with PDAs. See the next page (The Basics) for the details.
Back at the office, documents stored in PDAs can be copied back to the
office server or office PC assuming the office has a wireless network
installed. Otherwise,
one has to connect using Activesync with a USB cable in order to transfer files back and forth between a PDA and the office PC. If no Activesync is available, you can transfer files via a mini drive.
If you plan on editing a large document in your PDA, consider the option of using the office PC's large keyboard to type directly into the mobile device. Not only is the necessary software available for free, but it is more convenient than using the PDA stylus, especially when there is a lot of typing needed to complete the task.
A Wi-Fi hotspot can be installed in a home, and not only at the office. Imagine reading your email messages on your PDA while watching news on your TV in the living room. The same PDA device will access your computer's hard disk drive to play music and video files via this wireless network. Think mobile music center in your home! Listen to internet radio from the kitchen. In addition to the wireless adaptors mentioned above for your computers, you would need a wireless router (speed: 11Mb or faster 54Mb) for your broadband internet connection. Your whole family shares this high-speed internet connection. The savings will more than offset the cost of a home wireless network which, these days, is about $250 for all the necessary equipment.
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