Be careful when buying hardware claiming PDA compatibility

[Ed Hansberry]

Be careful if you are buying hardware that is primarily designed for desktops but you want to use it with your Pocket PC, especially in the burgeoning bluetooth market. There are a lot of bluetooth WLAN solutions coming out, and while ultimately most will eventually work just fine with your Pocket PC, it may not right out of the box.<br /><br />Daniel Brahms ordered the Blue Gear bluetooth USB kit online. I checked a few places like <a href="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/3329002">Outpost.com</a> to see what they had listed for this product. Lots of claims at the site, including "True Versatility - Synchronize the data between your Bluetooth™ enabled PDAs and other Bluetooth™ enabled devices with your computer to experience BlueGear innovation." However, once you get the box, there is a nice little disclaimer.<br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20020820-bluegear.jpg" /><br />• You have to purchase the software that allows your PDA to work<br />• You cannot purchase it <i>yet</i>. It is still in beta according to Amazing Technologies, the company that makes BlueGear.<br /><br />No doubt the kit is cheap - $129 to network two PCs. Far cheaper than any WiFi solution, though the cost of the software is an unknown at this point. Just be careful when buying bleeding edge technology like this. I'd wait until you saw an independent online review or got a money-back guarantee. Thanks to Daniel for alerting us to this and taking the time to scan in the box and email me the above image.

[dbrahms]

NOTE: I purchased it in June and tried to order the PDA app...was told the ipaq app would be ready in 60 days. Called after 60 days (august) and was told "end of the year"...then, I got an email response which stated October 2002. not sure if they know what's going on....the beta version they were kind enough to send me comes with ZERO support (which they state in advance) along with a "simplified set of instructions"...which was 65 pages and much of the text was in Japanese. Grrr....

[T-Will]

Another product that claims to work with all PPC 2002 devices is the Linksys WCF12 card, but it did not work with my Toshiba E570 and tech support said it was not compatible with the Toshiba... :roll:

[dbrahms]

Another product that claims to work with all PPC 2002 devices is the Linksys WCF12 card, but it did not work with my Toshiba E570 and tech support said it was not compatible with the Toshiba... :roll:


STATE THE PRODUCT SO OTHERS ARE WARNED!!!!

[T-Will]

Um I did...LINKSYS WCF12

Others have claimed that they got it to work though so maybe Linksys was just throwing me some BS...who knows... :?

[Ed Hansberry]

Um I did...LINKSYS WCF12

Others have claimed that they got it to work though so maybe Linksys was just throwing me some BS...who knows... :?
Works just fine with my iPAQ 3800. Wonder what Toshiba has done with their CF implementation that messes it up?

[johncj]

Far cheaper than any WiFi solution

$129 to network two PC's is about what WiFi costs right now. You can get two 802.11b cards for $60 to $70 a piece. If you use Windows XP, you can even bridge to your wired network at no additional cost. Why do you say that the Bluetooth kit is "far cheaper"?

[marlof]

Well, it's just that Ed is this huge Bluetooth fan, that will say anything to have people choose Bluetooth over WiFi solutions. G,D&R

[Ed Hansberry]

$129 to network two PC's is about what WiFi costs right now. You can get two 802.11b cards for $60 to $70 a piece. If you use Windows XP, you can even bridge to your wired network at no additional cost. Why do you say that the Bluetooth kit is "far cheaper"?
I was thinking more of a real LAN with a basic wireless access point/router, not ad hoc. You are right, if you just want to slap two NIC's in there, you can do that for about $130-$140 depending on the brand, maybe $150+ if you need a CF NIC.

[Will T Smith]

http://www.cosmi.com/html/product%20pages/palm_pocket_pc/portable_journal.htm

I picked this up at Staples as it advertised Journal Capability and was buying other products.

It clearly states that it

"Works with both Palm and Pocket PC Handhelds"

Upon installation, I discoverd that it was only a DESKTOP application. The alleged "PocketPC/Palm" functionality was an option to manually export and import .rtf files. It doesn't even do the export/import automatically.

BIG RIPOFF!!!!!!!!!!!

Most of SwiftWare (www.cosmi.com) appear to be discounted/discontinued software. That's fine for the desktop. However this "PalmTop" program is not for PalmTop. Based on this outrageous false advertisement I would recommend everyone AVOID Swiftware when browsing the lines at your local Staples.

http://www.cosmi.com/html/product%20pages/palm_pocket_pc/../../../images/product%20photos/Palm/100x100/protable_journal.gif &lt;---- DONT WASTE MONEY ON THIS !!!!!!!

[dunneldeen]

I, personally, am waiting for the Microsoft bluetooth keyboard and mouse. I assume that their bluetooth dongle will be Pocket PC compatible. :roll:

[Ed Hansberry]

I assume that their bluetooth dongle will be Pocket PC compatible.
I wouldn't assume anything.

[heliod]

$129 cheap?

Get the MSI PC2PC BT USB Key. It costs less than $80 and gives you out of the box Pocket PC Compatibility.

In 5 minutes I was activesyncing including passthru. Other 10 minutes and I had the network working and I could access network shares and the Internet via my proxy.

And the thing has 200 meters range in open space (reduced to +/- 70 meters across walls), so it covered my whole apartment.

My wife used to complain that I was most of the time in the second floor of the apartment sitting in front of the computer (she already calls the computer "the other" :P ). Now I sit most of the time by her side surfing the net with the Pocket PC !!! :twisted:

[jmkeuning]

I'm just confirming what was said about Cosmi Portable Journal. the program sucks. I think I am going to write them and make them give me my money back. I may even sue them for the $12 I paid for it.

I'm not kidding.