Antiwireless?

[ironguy]

Hey all,
I'm looking to get a pocketpc that has NO wireless capabilities. No irda, no bluetooth, no wifi.

Anybody know of one?

[Brad Adrian]

Is that need due to a workplace constraint that prohibits such capabilities? If not, you can always turn those features off. If so, then you may have a really difficult time, because even the older Pocket PCs without BT of WiFi usually have IRDA for syncing and sharing files between devices. None of the dozens of devices I've owned since 2000 are completely "wireless-less."

[ironguy]

Yes, it is a workplace restriction. No wireless of any type. I have an HP Ipaq 2215 with irda and BT. Even though both capabilities are turned off, it is not allowed in the area.

I might have to resort to <gasp> an old Palm!

[Sven Johannsen]

I might have to resort to <GASP>an old Palm!Not sure the old Palms didn't have IR.

[Brad Adrian]

There's GOT to be some way to make this work without resorting to the dreaded "P-word!"

1. You could put black electrical tape across a Pocket PC's IR window, and pinky-swear not to ever take it off.

2. You could try to actually sync with Activesync using either WiFi or Bluetooth; that nearly ALWAYS ruins the PPC's ability to communicate correctly wirelessly.

3. With a little judicious wire-snipping on the inside of your device, you might be able to disable the unwanted features. Of course, that will nullify the warranty and possibly nullify its ability to function at all.

4. With a little bit of copper wire and a pair of pliers, you could build a miniature Faraday Cage to put around your device; that will keep any signals from coming in or out.

Have I missed any other "outside the box" ideas?

[ironguy]

Not sure the old Palms didn't have IR.

The original Palm didn't have IR, but it was an option you could buy and install yourself. Of course, now we're talking non color and MANY years old...

[ironguy]

There's GOT to be some way to make this work without resorting to the dreaded "P-word!"

1. You could put black electrical tape across a Pocket PC's IR window, and pinky-swear not to ever take it off.

2. You could try to actually sync with Activesync using either WiFi or Bluetooth; that nearly ALWAYS ruins the PPC's ability to communicate correctly wirelessly.

3. With a little judicious wire-snipping on the inside of your device, you might be able to disable the unwanted features. Of course, that will nullify the warranty and possibly nullify its ability to function at all.

4. With a little bit of copper wire and a pair of pliers, you could build a miniature Faraday Cage to put around your device; that will keep any signals from coming in or out.

Have I missed any other "outside the box" ideas?

I've actually done all these things! I still have to be able to prove to 'the powers that be' that I have no wireless. They actually do put foil strips ov er IR ports. Bluetooth is another matter...

[Cybrid]

I've actually done all these things! I still have to be able to prove to 'the powers that be' that I have no wireless. They actually do put foil strips ov er IR ports. Bluetooth is another matter...
yikes. I wanna say quit working there but that isn't really constructive. Paper and pencil?
For point of reference are laptops and other electronics restricted too? Many items like ipods, mp3 players even cellphones have PIM capabilities....

[ironguy]

My company laptop was 'emasculated' last week. Ripped open and his litttle wireless card removed.

No portable devices that have record capability are allowed. No iphones - or any cell phones. Something like an ipod nano or shuffle is allowed.

My laptop has an encrypted drive (sloooow). Fun stuff, eh?

[Cybrid]

No portable devices that have record capability are allowed. No iphones - or any cell phones. Something like an ipod nano or shuffle is allowed.
well if it is "record capability" that is prohibited then even mp3 players would be excluded as they have voice recording capabilities. In that case you are stuck with pen and paper.

If the only exclusion is "broadcasting capability" then you would be safe with PIM capable MP3 players. Not a great solution but better than none...

[ironguy]

<sigh> that's the conclusion I came up with. Couple of people have electronic Franklin Planners...zzzzzz

[Brad Adrian]

My company laptop was 'emasculated' last week. Ripped open and his litttle wireless card removed.
YIKES! That hurts just to THINK about it. Poor little laptop, just sitting there, minding his own business and then suddenly SNIP!

Good luck, friend. I'm not going to ask what kind of super-uber-secret work you do, because it sounds like then you'd have to kill me -- or at least yank out my wireless card!

[Sven Johannsen]

Good luck, friend. I'm not going to ask what kind of super-uber-secret work you do, because it sounds like then you'd have to kill me -- or at least yank out my wireless card!

Brad, really not that unusual of a restrictive environment. I'm pretty much in the same boat where I work. I just live with leaving my gear in the car. On the bright side, I rarely have to take any work home ;)

[Brad Adrian]

I just live with leaving my gear in the car.
Sorry, I don't understand what you're saying. Are you telling me that there are people out there who can actually bear to not have their WM device right next to them for extended periods of time (e.g., longer than 20 minutes)?

I just can't relate to that kind of lifestyle. ;)

And, actually, I know a lot of companies are strict about portable devices; it especially became more of an issue once all the phones and PDAs started packing cameras.

I've never worked for a company that had such restrictions. Does that also mean they don't allow employees to take work home, have a notebook PC or own a USB thumbdrive? I'm not a workaholic by any stretch, but I'd go nuts if I couldn't at least do SOME work at home instead of staying in the office until 9pm. I'd MUCH rather leave work at a consistent time, and then do additional work on a notebook once my parenting duties for the day are complete and the kids are in bed.

[ironguy]

I CANNOT take work home with me. Very nice. On the other hand, if my pager goes off, it usually means extra time at work. I leave my phone and PPC in a little locker outside my work area. I can hear them calling me, not understanding why it's so dark. Poor things...

[Sven Johannsen]

Does that also mean they don't allow employees to take work home, have a notebook PC Can't have a personal one at work, and the 'company' ones are limited. You know those things that occaisionally get lost and there is a big deal about it in the news? The fewer there are, the less that happens.
or own a USB thumbdrive?I can certainly own one. Can't take it to work though :)

I'm sure Ironguy and I have one thing in common. The folks enforcing the policies aren't always tech guys, but security guys. If there is a camera hole on the device, the assumption is there is a working camera. If it looks like it has a radio, it isn't getting in and little you say or do is going to convince them it is hidden, disabled, broken, whatever.

[Cybrid]

Can't have a personal one at work, and the 'company' ones are limited. You know those things that occaisionally get lost and there is a big deal about it in the news? The fewer there are, the less that happens.
I can certainly own one. Can't take it to work though :)

I'm sure Ironguy and I have one thing in common. The folks enforcing the policies aren't always tech guys, but security guys. If there is a camera hole on the device, the assumption is there is a working camera. If it looks like it has a radio, it isn't getting in and little you say or do is going to convince them it is hidden, disabled, broken, whatever.

I have lighter restrictions where I work but even those are so haphazardly implememented that it has become routine and actually amusing to circumvent them.

I work in a retail enviroment. My work PC is locked down to the corporate website and intranet plus the order system. To save on licensing costs, this machine does not even come with MS Office. I have a basic xls, doc viewer. Much of the communication that comes down from the Head Office is in the form of xls, doc files and now for the kicker.

Some of these files need me to edit them and then resubmit them back up the chain. So I need to now go use the admin pc which I am not supposed to touch. The "edits" are actually sales data from the order system which is locked down so that you can't get the data in a file...you can only print it. So I print then re-input the numbers into an xls file then move over to my work pc and send out by email.

There are also three separate segmented networks from which moving data requires using a USB key. Which requires using admin privileges... And If I needed to submit surveillance photos for theft issues. I need to burn a cd from a admin only locked PC (Loss Prevention eyes only) , take that and use it in the photolab pc (danger! will robinson! danger!) to copy it over to a USB then take that over to the connected PC (no cd drive) to email.

This is all done with the tacit knowledge of everyone involved at all levels of the company. We do this simply because the restrictions and policy implementations were placed years ago and haven't been updated to match the current business needs and realities. What a flipping waste.

[Brad Adrian]

Are you people with such strong restrictions at work AT LEAST allowed to bring your Furbies in to the office?

[ironguy]

Fortunately, my company provides those at work. We have a central area where Furbies are kept.

Are you people with such strong restrictions at work AT LEAST allowed to bring your Furbies in to the office?