Wireless Internet access on Pocket PC 2002- Is it worth it?

[seanturner]

I have just written a review on the practicality and returns of wireless internet access on the PocketPC. Please check out my article!

http://www.pdajunkie.net/wirelessinetppc.htm

[Jorgen]

Interesting article. Yes, sad with the web-browser; I hope Opera will one day show MS how to make a PPC browser like they have done on a number of other platforms. And while PockerPC Thoughts does format their site nicely, we *still* - Jason, are you reading this? I have emailed you twice about this - don't have access to the forums. :(

Personally, I only read my email on my PDA once in a while. However, I do update AvantGo via my WLAN (or Starbucks if they have free WLAN access).

Jorgen

[Pony99CA]

It was a decent basic article, but didn't really have much to do with wireless Internet access. Everything you talked about regarding the Pocket PC applications applied to wired access or dial-up access.

As for the E-mail client, you said:


To make up for its cumbersome browser, the Pocket PC does have an excellent POP3/SMTP/IMAP client.

I don't know that I'd call the client "excellent". Let's look at some of the deficiencies:

* It doesn't support HTML (except hyperlinks).

* Setting up an account isn't as easy as it could be (and page 1 of the New account setup has truncated text)

* Modifying an existing account is even more difficult (you have to figure out to double-click on an item in the Service tab of the Options dialog, and you can't change the name associated with the account).

* Clicking Send in a new E-mail doesn't actually send the message, but just queues it in the Outbox (the Send button should say Queue if the message won't be sent right away).

* There's no Redirect capability (like forward but without quoting).

* There's no option to view full E-mail headers.

* Sometimes a message will get locked, such that you can't read it or delete it (although I've only had that happen once, and I think it was on my 3650, so it may have been fixed).

Steve

[Janak Parekh]

Interesting article. Yes, sad with the web-browser; I hope Opera will one day show MS how to make a PPC browser like they have done on a number of other platforms.
I've got one word: Thunderhawk. :) Makes it infinitely practical.

--janak

[seanturner]

I've got one word: Thunderhawk. :) Makes it infinitely practical.

--janak

Although on after spending a ton on my iPaq 3850; I have nothing left over for other applications :cry: Especially those which require a yearly subscription :x

[seanturner]

Although my friend Josh just posted a review of Thunderhawk. Go check it out.

http://www.pdajunkie.net/thunderhawk.htm

[Pony99CA]

Interesting article. Yes, sad with the web-browser; I hope Opera will one day show MS how to make a PPC browser like they have done on a number of other platforms.
I've got one word: Thunderhawk. :) Makes it infinitely practical.

Maybe, if you don't mind giving up storage for it and paying almost $50 per year. :-( For those that don't, here's a link to Thunderhawk (http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/index2.html).

Steve

[Janak Parekh]

Maybe, if you don't mind giving up storage for it and paying almost $50 per year. :-( For those that don't, here's a link to Thunderhawk (http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/index2.html).
Yeah, I know, but it was worth it to me. I sit in enough meetings where being able to surf a little is worth it.

Besides, I view it less as $50/year and more like $50, since there's very few pieces of software I have that last more than a year or and a year-and-a-half anyway. ;)

--janak

[Pony99CA]

Maybe, if you don't mind giving up storage for it and paying almost $50 per year. :-( For those that don't, here's a link to Thunderhawk (http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/index2.html).
Yeah, I know, but it was worth it to me. I sit in enough meetings where being able to surf a little is worth it.

Besides, I view it less as $50/year and more like $50, since there's very few pieces of software I have that last more than a year or and a year-and-a-half anyway. ;)

Well, as always, it's a cost-benefit tradeoff. You find it worth it, and that's great. I think $50 once is a bit expensive for a piece of non-vertical Pocket PC software, and $50 a year is, of course, worse.

I think you'll be using Thunderhawk for more than a year unless one of the following happens:

* Pocket Internet Explorer subsumes the functions of Thunderhawk.

* A third-party provides a better or cheaper equivalent of Thunderhawk.

* The Pocket PC OS adds support for new screen resolutions and orientations.

* You get tired of paying for it. :-)

* You dump the Pocket PC. 8O

I don't think #1 or #2 will happen, as Thunderhawk isn't just software, but a client/server service (http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/faqs3.html#sales3). Also, there are patents on Thunderhawk.

#3 may happen, but the font support will have to get better (Thunderhawk uses proprietary Bitstream fonts).

You've indicated #4 doesn't seem applicable.

If #5 happens, you shouldn't be here. :-D

Do you envision any of those happening?

Steve

[VintageSlots]

I have just written a review on the practicality and returns of wireless internet access on the PocketPC. Please check out my article!

http://www.pdajunkie.net/wirelessinetppc.htm

Yes, PIE leaves a lot to be desired. However, I think you need to discuss other types of Internet applications that one can take advantage of on an Ipaq.

For example, you did not mention anything about Instant Messaging. In addition, I use an application on my Ipaq which allows me to take over my office phone while I am on the road. This application is the IP Softphone for Pocket PC from Avaya. When I am at airports & convention centers that support public 802.11 networks I use my Ipaq to make and receive calls.

[Janak Parekh]

I think you'll be using Thunderhawk for more than a year unless one of the following happens
Point taken, Thunderhawk is not your regular cup of tea. I guess the fact that upgrades are essentially free in a service-based product are a small mitigating factor, but apart from that I'm probably just rationalizing. Would you prefer if I say "it's worth it to me"? :D

--janak

[seanturner]

Yeah, I tried to focus mostly on built in applications for the novice user. So I didn't include terminal services. But, yeah, I probably should have talked about Messenger.

While you're on the topic however, we did get a review of Net Front 3.0 done. Take a look at it here:

http://www.pdajunkie.net/pdajunkie_net_netfront30.htm

[FredMurphy]

I'll wait to see what the version of PIE that's bundled with CE.NET (PIE 5.5 I think :? ) is like before I shell out on Thunderhawk. Currently thinking about getting a Nexio which runs CE.NET so the 800 x 480 screen should help a lot too. :)

Obviously other devices based on PocketPC 200x may be different again.....

Fred

[Rirath]

IE and Nyditot do the trick well enough for me and what limited web surfing I do on the PPC. Honestly I think this "article" is far too broken up. We're talking about 2-3 paragraph segments. You're at the conclusion before what I consider to be the intro is finished; Most of us have posts here longer than this. Check the PPC Thoughts articles on what I consider the real deal. (not that I ever agree with any of em)