Wireless laptop users question

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Ive never had any wireless equip such as a laptop or
PDA

I like the idea of having some kind of wireless unit
not only for home use...... but also travel use such as
in "hot spots"

But having never used a hot spot Im not savvy on how it
all works.

When you travle around with a wireless laptop or
PDA.... does it automatically "sense" that a signal is
available?

Basically how does it all work? Does it connect up
automatically to an available wireless network?

Also....what do you guys prefer? A wireless laptop?
Or just a wireless PDA? What form factor seems to work
out best when traveling or down out the local wireless
coffee shop?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

<me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:0hg2o0tg0fp39q2rjnm72gtod1qeih583i@4ax.com...
> Ive never had any wireless equip such as a laptop or
> PDA
>
> I like the idea of having some kind of wireless unit
> not only for home use...... but also travel use such as
> in "hot spots"
>
> But having never used a hot spot Im not savvy on how it
> all works.
>
> When you travle around with a wireless laptop or
> PDA.... does it automatically "sense" that a signal is
> available?

If you set the software to yeah - a pop up window will pop up when the
wireless device detects the presence of a wireless network and will tell you
about it, what its called, whether it is encrypted (to stop you accessing it
without permission which all sensible access points owners should do but
sadly don't), and so on.

>
> Basically how does it all work? Does it connect up
> automatically to an available wireless network?

If you ask it to try to yes (but this is often not a good idea - more on
that in a sec) - but, you have to pay to use a wireless network, like at
starbucks or whatever. You usually go in and ask to use the hotspot, you
pays yer money and then you get the password to access it (because the pay
services are obviously encrypted to stop people accessing them for free),
which you input into your wireless device's software (either at a webpage or
in the connection configuration) as I understand it. Or you can get a
monthly subscription to a hotspot service (btopenzone for example), sort of
like an ISP subscription. That's a basic description of it.

If you are looking for free net access via wi-fi I am afraid it ain't gonna
happen without consequences - connecting to someone else's wireless access
point to either look at their stuff or browse the net through them without
their permission is a criminal offence. This is why telling your device to
connect to any available network is not a good idea. Just cos a access point
is open and available for you to connect to doesn't mean you are allowed
to - the sad thing is, many people who have wireless access points don't
know their butt from their elbow and will leave them unencrypted and open to
abuse without even knowing they are, and if you take advantage of this, it's
your bad. Rather like if you see a front door open and a new dvd recorder
sat there in the hallway, it's still wrong to go and take it, even though it
wasn't guarded and it was there for everyone to see. You get me ?
There are free wi-fi hotspot around the world and these are ok to connect
to (there are online directories for these) - but unless you know for sure
the one you are connecting to is free and meant to be accessed I would
advise against it.

>
> Also....what do you guys prefer? A wireless laptop?
> Or just a wireless PDA? What form factor seems to work
> out best when traveling or down out the local wireless
> coffee shop?

A pda fits in yer bag better. ;-) I've got both but I don't do alot of
hotspot usage - the real issue is, will a laptop or pda suit you better for
the rest of the things you want to do with it ? I find my pda great for
whipping out to send sms to my mobile via bluetooth so I don't have to use
the tiny phone screen and keyboard, or play mp3s on when I am bored and out
and abou, or keep up to date with my schedule at a glance, but I would find
it pretty annoying to try and play ragnarok online on it. ;-)



Rachael

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Its very cool. Unfortunately, for reasons that I don't know, Toshiba
did not release this unit in the US. I don't think there is anything
stopping Americans from purchasing it on www.shoptoshiba.ca , though.
If you decide to go this route and need to import one, let me know, I
can help.

Feel free to get in touch with me if you have questions, or post here if
enough people are interested in the same topic.

me@privacy.net wrote:
>>Once you get fully outfitted, you run the cost of an entry level laptop
>>with a really decent PDA + accessories. But I am ultra portable and
>>effective now - in my PDA bag I have the unit, a case, a bluetooth GPS,
>>an 802.11b access point, a car/wall charger, and a pen/stylus. I'm
>>ready for any sort of connection except for dial up. And there are
>>bluetooth modems available - I just haven't had enough need of this to
>>worry about it.
>
>
> Very cool!!
>
> I will check into this Toshiba model you have