The PDA Guerilla: Enter the UPC

Lately I have been struggling with a connectivity problem. I dropped and broke the WiFi case for my PDA, leaving me without Internet connectivity on my Palm T3. Of course if Palm had been smart enough in its product design to build WiFi into the T3 I would not have that problem, but that is actually symptomatic of another problem. Palm's product direction clearly does not fit my needs. Palm seems to have moved totally away from PDAs to Treo smart phones. This may work well for many people, who basically want a device to get calls, read emails and perhaps do occasional searches for restaurant locations. What I need is much closer to a computer in my pocket, that I can take notes on in interviews and meetings, write articles in, get every web site, not just ones formatted for tiny Treo screens and that work with the Treo's limited software. And I need a machine that can use the much faster speeds of WiFi networks when that is available, for instance in my home office, as well as the much more pervasive cellular network when WiFi is not available.

Server to user: Sorry, no VoIP for you.

Imagine picking up your phone to make a call, only to hear that your license has expired. Sorry, no dial tone for you. That's exactly what happened to me on Monday morning when I put on my voice over IP head set in my home office, fired up my laptop, and launched the soft phone program I use to connect to Computerworld's hybrid VoIP/digital PBX some 105 miles away. The problem set in motion a series of events that finally resulted in restoration of service yesterday afternoon - nearly four days later. Fortunately, this is not a production implementation - I'm participating in a pilot program, so this is exactly the kind of thing that one might expect early on. Wanting to make this pilot project work, however, I had steadfastly refused to put a land line in my new office. In this way I, as the only pilot user relying on VoIP as my primary phone service, would be forced to use VoIP. Or so I thought. Instead, for the last few days I was forced to work from my old location. That has made life confusing, to say the least.

Taiwan Tests Cell Phones for Subway, Shopping

The convenience of a 'contactless payment system' comes with walk-by ads beamed to handsets.

Taiwan Tests Cell Phones for Subway, Shopping

The convenience of a 'contactless payment system' comes with walk-by ads beamed to handsets.

Everex Readies Sub-$300 Linux Notebooks

In the works to join the new Green gPC are more notebooks and mobile devices.

Study: BlackBerry users are most satisfied smart phone customers

BlackBerry users were the most satisfied smart phone owners in a new customer study by J.D. Power and Associates.

Study: BlackBerry users are most satisfied smart phone customers

BlackBerry users were the most satisfied smart phone owners in a new customer study by J.D. Power and Associates.

Everex to launch sub-$300 Linux notebooks next year

Everex says that, in addition to the sub-$200 Linux desktop it introduced this week, it will roll out a host of sub-$300 laptops next year.

Everex to launch sub-$300 Linux notebooks next year

Everex says that, in addition to the sub-$200 Linux desktop it introduced this week, it will roll out a host of sub-$300 laptops next year.

Everex Readies Sub-$300 Linux Notebooks

In the works to join the new Green gPC are more notebooks and mobile devices.