Are there any good PDAs out there that have internet access??

PDAs and 802.11

• Hello, I'm interested in the current status of PDAs and their ability to use the 802.11 wireless technology. I'm looking for a list of currently available PDAs that can access the internet via 802.11. I'd like to also know if the ability to access it is built in or requires a separate piece of hardware, and if 802.11A or B. A bonus (not required for a complete answer) would include info about upcoming new PDAs that will have this ability.

• Answer:

  tljunior-ga, Thanks for providing the opportunity to research this question. There are several varieties of PDA in the market place. I have confined my research to non-tablet PCs (Pocket PC, Palm, Linux PDAs, etc). Pocket PCs [integrated]: Toshiba e740 Pocket PC Acer n20w Symbol PDT 8000 (optional, but integrated) Symbol PDT 8100 Symbol PPT 2800 Intermec 700 Color HP iPAQ 5450 Casio IT-700STD Palm: Handspring's Springboard-capable models (http://www.handspring.com/products/Product.jhtml?id=250018&cat=170003) Upcoming: All 2003 HP iPAQ 5000 series Late 2003 Dell handhelds (similar to http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/topics/segtopic_axim.htm) The following PDA "add-in" hardware supports 802.11: Linksys WCF11 Instant Wireless Network CF Card Socket Communications Low Power Wireless LAN type I CF card D-Link DCF-650W CompactFlash (CF) type II Network Card Xircom SpringPort Wireless Ethernet Module for Handspring Visor and Palm A host of other similar cards also support it, but these should get you started. Ability to use these depends heavily on drivers. In addition, PDAs such as the iPAQ which can with an expansion pack accept a PCMCIA card will usually work with any PCMCIA card supporting 802.11b. No news on 802.11a or 802.11g yet, from what I could find. Now that Texas Instruments has implemented lower-power 802.11b solutions (http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=2254), we may see more 802.11b PDAs. In addition, SyChip has Secure Digital 802.11b in the works, which will also expand reach (hopefully to many Palm OS devices). (http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1941) 802.11b is only just now starting to become available in integrated handhelds. Many prefer the iPAQ model, as it allows you freedom to use 802.11b with many popular applications as well as to switch out and use something else when necessary. Speculations: Danger (www.danger.com) and (www.sharp.com) are probably next to release devices. Good luck in your search! Thanks! arimathea-ga Google Answers Researcher Search methodology/sources: Combinations of terms: 802.11b palm pda ipaq "pocket pc" 802.11 wireless socket PC CF SD on Google Searches on Infosync (http://www.infosync.no) Searches on Expansys (http://www.expansys.com) Personal knowledge