The Experiment: Following in Steve Cedrone's footsteps...maybe

[CTSLICK]

So I have a biz trip this week and like Steve Cedrone did recently I am thinking about leaving the laptop behind in lieu of:

Dell Axim w/spare battery
Gomadic Charging/sync cable
Ambicom Bluetooth CF Card
T68 phone/T-Mobile Unlimited Data Plan
Targus Universal IR Keyboard.

Once I get connected to the internet via the bluetooth/T68 combo I am able to use the Citrix client for PPC to log into our system, run the corp. email and log into the software I support. Not too bad when I tested it.

I am really having a hard time deciding if I can actually leave the laptop behind. Maybe I'll bring it as a backup the first time and see how it goes. But it would be so nice to leave that 8 lb beast of a laptop behind! Either way I'll check back in with my results.

Any advice from folks who have gone down this path is appreciated. I leave tomorrow.

[Steven Cedrone]

Good luck!!! Just make sure you have a back up plan if things get "rough"...

Steve

[targetdrone]

What does your laptop do that your PPC doesn't that you can't do without for the trip? Play DVD's, play online games...

It looks like you have everything you need. Just make sure you have enough storage and have a backup on CF or SD card.

[CTSLICK]

What does your laptop do that your PPC doesn't that you can't do without for the trip? Play DVD's, play online games...

It looks like you have everything you need. Just make sure you have enough storage and have a backup on CF or SD card.

To answer this I will refer you to the post just prior to yours...have a backup plan...from the man that knows :wink: .

So yes, I am bring the laptop but I am going to make every attempt to use just the PDA setup.

I've got a 256 SD loaded with apps and music and a backup 128 SD just in case.

I'm off to the airport...more later...I hope. :mrgreen:

[CTSLICK]

Checking in from the road. GPRS data connectivity seems to be working. Speeds range from "time is standing still" to "hey thats not half bad". Occasional problems getting connected but once I'm on I don't seem to get dropped.

Also coming to terms with the new keyboard. The placement/size of the Shift keys and space keys are taking the most time to get used to. Its a good thing I'm not a touch typist. I could see a key board like this giving a touch typist fits. I end up using a combination of keyboard and stylus taps, it seems faster that way.

I was able to pull down my POP email ok with the Inbox app but am having trouble sending via smtp. I may have to use my yahoo account as a backup.

As always...more later.

[maximus]

Did you bring the subaru with you ? :D

[Steven Cedrone]

Also coming to terms with the new keyboard. The placement/size of the Shift keys and space keys are taking the most time to get used to. Its a good thing I'm not a touch typist. I could see a key board like this giving a touch typist fits. I end up using a combination of keyboard and stylus taps, it seems faster that way.

Since I "hunt and peck" most of the time, I noticed that 99% of the time while typing I had my stylus in my hand. Some actions are just easier to accomplish with the stylus.

Keep the reports comin'...

Steve

[Techtoys]

SMTP can be a problem if you use GPRS and your ISP expects you to dial in with their number. I am sure there is a technical term or two missing, but basically they block you sending mail from another connection - to help prevent spam I guess.

There is a workaround - use your GPRS providers' e-mail to send and your POP3 settings to retrieve - most will give you an account for free.

Can you try any wireless hotspots in the airport? Here in London the internet kiosks in the terminal used to use an unsecured wireless network, so if you had a WiFi card you could surf to your hearts content. Now it is a BT openzone, and has a terrible charging plan.

[CTSLICK]

Well the first full day on the road trying to be laptop free produced an interesting surprise. But first...

For whatever reason I cannot send email via POP from the PPC Inbox. I dont know if it has anything to do with my ISP (Roadrunner) or if its something else. I can receive my email just fine but send just will not work. It just times out.

This situation produced my first hardship. I needed to send an attachment. No problem, I figured I I would just use Yahoo Mail. No good again, the wap page has no attachment functionality and the regular webpage would not allow me to attach the file. BAH! So I fire up the laptop ready to admit defeat. More problems, I can't get my dial up numbers to log me in. Surprise...suddenly my backup plan was no more. I either connect via the PPC or not at all.

Ultimately, the solution to this little problem surprised me. While I was logged into our corporate Citrix server I was browsing for a file when I remembered that Citrix is set up to log the user's PC as an available drive. So, I checked and to my surprise the contents of my Dell were mapped as "Local C:". I was able to copy the file from my PPC to the Citrix server and then send it using the corp email client on the server.

Overall, Citrix on a PPC via GPRS works pretty decent. It is subject to latency problems that will sometimes knock me off line. Luckily, Citrix does not dump your session right away so if I logged back in I could usually pick up right where I left off.

My software vendor was really surprised to see his software running via Citrix on my PPC using nothing but a cell phone. His team all gathered round to check it out. Geek heaven! A couple of the programmers mentioned that they could probably make a version more suited to the screen. You could really see the wheels turning...what fun.

Enough about Citrix.

I have been able to download a 1.8Mb cab file (twice already) for an app that I beta test. While it takes some patience it worked. I just worked on some Word files while it downloaded in the background.

Keeping up with email was easy. I am forwarding my biz email to my POP account and if there was something really important I could respond...just not via POP...grrr.

Keeping up with PPCThoughts is fairly easy too. Just waitin' for those soon to be announced mobile templates...Come on already ;). I chose to type this post in Word and then paste it into the web page. Much easier to deal with long post this way. Short posts are easy enough right on the web page.

More later...

[Janak Parekh]

For whatever reason I cannot send email via POP from the PPC Inbox. I dont know if it has anything to do with my ISP (Roadrunner) or if its something else. I can receive my email just fine but send just will not work. It just times out.
Are you using T-Mobile GPRS? If so, try this server for SMTP: myemail.t-mobile.com and see if that works. It's possible Roadrunner won't let you send email through their SMTP unless you're hooked into the cable modem.

--janak

[CTSLICK]

Did you bring the subaru with you ? :D

Ahhh Maximus...king of the off topic thread hi-jacking posters... :wink: :D Just kidding...

As much as I would love to have the WRX with me it would have been a heck of a long drive. Tough to drive an Olds Alero rental around, I keep waiting for the turbo boost to kick in...it just never happens :wink:

[CTSLICK]

techtoys,

I did try to get to my T-mobile email but could not get logged in. I'll try again, thanks for the reminder.

Janak,
Thanks for the tip I'll give it a try.

Your both probably right...Roadrunner most likely won't let me send email if I'm not not their server.

Thanks again

[maximus]

Ahhh Maximus...king of the off topic thread hi-jacking posters...

Am sorry. It just that sometimes my mind jumps around uncontrollably. But I always try to bring a topic back on it's path though. :)

The WRX was actually one of my final choice when I was purchasing my car ... but the Evolution VIII just simply too irresistable :wink:

[dh]

Yeh, the Mitsu dealer down the road from me just stocked up on EVO VIIIs. Tough choice between that and the new Scooby STI.

(Since Steve is taking an interest in this thread I shouldn't talk about cars. - Sorry Steve)

[CTSLICK]

Day 2 yielded no big surprises, which is what I needed. I had solid connectivity via gprs all day long. T-mobile has terrific signal strength where I am. I was once again able to easily keep up on email, check up on websites download needed files etc etc.

I found a small gap in my portfolio of installed PPC apps. I use Total Commander as my file explorer as well as a way to create or decompress zip files. Unfortunately, I didn't know that it does not handle password protected zips. Slight inconvenience but I was able to work around it with the person who sent the file. So I'll be looking for a cheap solution to this...your recommendations are welcome.

I have been giving Fitaly a good work out on this trip and am really starting to like it. It was a struggle for a while and then it just kinda started to flow. I am thinking seriously about plunking down the reg fee.

My only complaint at this point is constantly working on the small screen. Its ok for a while but I find it tougher to work for longer periods. I'll be happy to have my screen real estate again.

[Janak Parekh]

Day 2 yielded no big surprises, which is what I needed. I had solid connectivity via gprs all day long. T-mobile has terrific signal strength where I am. I was once again able to easily keep up on email, check up on websites download needed files etc etc.
I take it SMTP worked? :)

--janak

[CTSLICK]

Janak,

Thanks for the reminder on the SMTP thing. That remains the glaring failure in this otherwise successful tale. But maybe I entered the info wrong. Was I supposed to enter just myemail.t-mobile.com in the SMTP setup or do I need to include the SMTP: in front of it. :oops:

[maximus]

I've got a 256 SD loaded with apps and music and a backup 128 SD just in case.

Quick question. The apps on the SD card, is that a running apps, or the installer ? If they are installer, how are you going to install that (in case of emergencies) into the PPC ? I have been looking for ways to install programs directly from SD card, if at all possible.

[Janak Parekh]

Thanks for the reminder on the SMTP thing. That remains the glaring failure in this otherwise successful tale. But maybe I entered the info wrong. Was I supposed to enter just myemail.t-mobile.com in the SMTP setup or do I need to include the SMTP: in front of it. :oops:
Just the server name,"myemail.t-mobile.com", without quotes. It certainly works in the Northeast with my Pocket PC's Inbox applet. I've heard that in certain parts of the US one needs to call up and get a username/password for it to work, but it's worth giving it a shot.

--janak

[bjchantry]

I had the same problem with my ISP here in South Africa, it would fail on the send but worked fine on the receive. I called them and they told me to change my sending server to ismtp.worldonline.co.za from smtp.worldonline.co.za and in the options area check "Outgoing e-mail server requires authentication". Don't actually know what that does, but it worked. Hope this helps.

[CTSLICK]

I've got a 256 SD loaded with apps and music and a backup 128 SD just in case.

Quick question. The apps on the SD card, is that a running apps, or the installer ? If they are installer, how are you going to install that (in case of emergencies) into the PPC ? I have been looking for ways to install programs directly from SD card, if at all possible.

I was talking about apps that I have installed on my SD card. Since I bought Sprite Backup I don't anticipate needing to have a way to re-install apps off a SD card. Since Sprite can make a self-executing back up files. If my device hard resets on me then recovery is very easy. I make daily backups and keep the last three days just in case. I've used it 3 times already and it worked flawlessly each time.

I'm no expert here but I believe the only way to install apps from an SD is to have the cab files not the installers. There are not many apps out there that I have seen that just give you the cab files. Maybe a developer can chime in with the technical reasons behind this. I really think that as wireless connectivity improves that this needs to change. We need installers that can run right on the the device without the need for a PC

[CTSLICK]

What a wonderful surprise to log in this evening and see the new mobile forums. They are a huge improvement...get ready to take my money guys because I am SO there for the subscription service.

I hate to say it but after 3 days of wireless connectivity it almost seems mundane. It just works.

Its late so I am going to cut this short. I have to be at the airport at 0600...ugh. But I hope to add some comments on battery life and the stability of my Dell with all this stuff going on. Nothing scientific, just some real world subjective observations.

[maximus]

What a wonderful surprise to log in this evening and see the new mobile forums. They are a huge improvement...get ready to take my money guys because I am SO there for the subscription service

Users of the mobile forum will be charged 10 cent/KB. he heh.

[Jason Dunn]

There are not many apps out there that I have seen that just give you the cab files. Maybe a developer can chime in with the technical reasons behind this. I really think that as wireless connectivity improves that this needs to change. We need installers that can run right on the the device without the need for a PC

The road to mobile install nirvana is:

mobile.handango.com (http://mobile.handango.com) + Spb AirSetup (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/airsetup/index.html) = Bliss :mrgreen:

[CTSLICK]

There are not many apps out there that I have seen that just give you the cab files. Maybe a developer can chime in with the technical reasons behind this. I really think that as wireless connectivity improves that this needs to change. We need installers that can run right on the the device without the need for a PC

The road to mobile install nirvana is:

mobile.handango.com (http://mobile.handango.com) + Spb AirSetup (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/airsetup/index.html) = Bliss :mrgreen:

I hope some developer types start looking to apps like this one.

Jason, can you comment on the reception this piece of software is receiving?

[Jason Dunn]

Jason, can you comment on the reception this piece of software is receiving?

Right now it's in limbo because Handango is blocking all .exe files from being listed in their Over-The-Air mobile site. We've been after them for months to fix this, but nothing so far. Until they allow AirSetip exe files to be listed, everything is "on hold" so to speak. Once they allow it, I think you'll see more developers adopt this solution.