Internet access on the go. How? What with?
Discussion
I've got broadband for my iMac at home, and I can usually access the internet at work if I need to... so I've never had any experience of using WiFi type gadgets. However, I find myself spending more and more time away from home/work on trains and in hotels so it would be really handy to be able to get online, send emails, peruse PH etc.
So far, I've thought about these options:
1. Asus Eee PC. I've been following the thread and I checked one out today in Toys R Us. This looks like a brilliant piece of kit for a the price and seems to be ideal for my needs. Will it sync okay with my iMac for bookmarks and stuff? What about setting up email accounts on an Asus Eee - how easy is that?
2. iPhone. Looks cool and would save me carrying around a separate iPod and phone etc. Should sync seamlessly with the Mac, no? People rave about the interface, but I wonder just how practical it would be if, say, I wanted to write a post as lengthy as this one on it. Not keen on having to pay a monthly tariff to O2.
3. iPod Touch. As above but without paying a monthly subscription? Also I would still need a separate phone (as I would with the Asus Eee).
4. Another sort of smartphone. Same drawbacks as the iPhone but not as sexy??
5. Proper laptop. Too expensive and not as portable as the others.
Anything else I should consider? And what about paying for WiFi access when out and about - presumably the cost of this varies depending on whose connection you use? Any comments or advice welcome!
So far, I've thought about these options:
1. Asus Eee PC. I've been following the thread and I checked one out today in Toys R Us. This looks like a brilliant piece of kit for a the price and seems to be ideal for my needs. Will it sync okay with my iMac for bookmarks and stuff? What about setting up email accounts on an Asus Eee - how easy is that?
2. iPhone. Looks cool and would save me carrying around a separate iPod and phone etc. Should sync seamlessly with the Mac, no? People rave about the interface, but I wonder just how practical it would be if, say, I wanted to write a post as lengthy as this one on it. Not keen on having to pay a monthly tariff to O2.
3. iPod Touch. As above but without paying a monthly subscription? Also I would still need a separate phone (as I would with the Asus Eee).
4. Another sort of smartphone. Same drawbacks as the iPhone but not as sexy??
5. Proper laptop. Too expensive and not as portable as the others.
Anything else I should consider? And what about paying for WiFi access when out and about - presumably the cost of this varies depending on whose connection you use? Any comments or advice welcome!
coyft said:
I have a powerbook 11' and a Nokia N95. If I have the laptop and no wifi, I can use the N95 as a wireless modem and access the net through the laptop. If I haven't got the laptop then I can surf using the N95. Seems to work pretty well and the data plan I have with Tmobile is pretty cheap, unlimted at £7.50 per month.
Thats what I do, works well, ISDN speed.
Geoff,
I've been using Palm PDA's and Treo smartphones for ages, they are great to carry around in your pocket and are great for emails and viewing Word and excel documents. They aren't 3G though, so very slow for internet useage. Which will be the same as the iphone if your not in a wifi area.
I bought an Asus eee a few weeks ago for much the same reasons that your looking for. As its a proper PC that can be carried around easily. Its really light, although carrying it around still needs a case. So I'm not taking it everywhere with me, which I do with the Palm. But the Xandros Operating system is great, I was expecting a few crashes and problems with file types, which I've experienced before with linux. The eeeuser forum is brilliant for tips on customising the settings, and it is possible to use the eee with a phone modem without installing XP or OSX, haven't done this yet though as I'm waiting for a bluetooth dongle to arrive. As for wifi zones, all McDonalds are now supposed to have free wifi as does the old Wetherspoons, which I'll be testing in Newcastle next week.
Hope that helps.
I've been using Palm PDA's and Treo smartphones for ages, they are great to carry around in your pocket and are great for emails and viewing Word and excel documents. They aren't 3G though, so very slow for internet useage. Which will be the same as the iphone if your not in a wifi area.
I bought an Asus eee a few weeks ago for much the same reasons that your looking for. As its a proper PC that can be carried around easily. Its really light, although carrying it around still needs a case. So I'm not taking it everywhere with me, which I do with the Palm. But the Xandros Operating system is great, I was expecting a few crashes and problems with file types, which I've experienced before with linux. The eeeuser forum is brilliant for tips on customising the settings, and it is possible to use the eee with a phone modem without installing XP or OSX, haven't done this yet though as I'm waiting for a bluetooth dongle to arrive. As for wifi zones, all McDonalds are now supposed to have free wifi as does the old Wetherspoons, which I'll be testing in Newcastle next week.
Hope that helps.
Very useful replies - thank you. As I suspected, this is turning in to a bit of a minefield...
The Asus Eee is still the front runner at the moment, mostly due to it's nearly-full-size keyboard. I am certainly no expert with new technology, but I can properly touch-type. Although my main concern is to get online away from home, I suspect that I will find myself using this from all over the house, rather than having to go to where the Mac sits on my desk.
The Asus Eee is still the front runner at the moment, mostly due to it's nearly-full-size keyboard. I am certainly no expert with new technology, but I can properly touch-type. Although my main concern is to get online away from home, I suspect that I will find myself using this from all over the house, rather than having to go to where the Mac sits on my desk.
SGirl said:
PDA of some description? T-Mobile do a good deal on data. I'm using an MDA Vario III and it's pretty good for data access.
I've got an MDA Vario III as well, it's a great bit of kit. Added to the unlimited data access (I'm paying £22) it's also got TomTom satnav which for me makes it a killer bit of kit - it's saved me spending £xxx on a TomTom device.That being said - it can't compete with a proper laptop for sustained browsing, so don't be fooled by the slidey tiltey keyboard/screen.
Edit to add - how do you intend to use the EEE to access the web away from home?
If you go for a 3G/HSPDA phone on T-Mobile, and pay a bit more for Web'N'Walk plus, you can use the phone as a modem for a laptop. Assuming you can connnect the phone to the EEE via USB it should work. I don't think the EEE does bluetooth though.
HSPDA is plenty fast enough and widely available these days in most places other than the arse end of no-where!
Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 20th December 23:57
Even with my joke post - the Eee is fine for what you mention even with the standard Linux install - which is pretty good.
You'll need GSM access like a USB modem for areas without Wifi but other than that, it's cool.
It's very easy to us as standard, but you can make it as complex and Linuxy as you fancy really - just limited by storage space (big SDHC cards are the obvious solution, or USB keydrives.
You'll need GSM access like a USB modem for areas without Wifi but other than that, it's cool.
It's very easy to us as standard, but you can make it as complex and Linuxy as you fancy really - just limited by storage space (big SDHC cards are the obvious solution, or USB keydrives.
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