Mobile web access from PDA through phone

[rdhawkins]

If I want to be able to browse the internet anywhere whats the best way, I'm thinking of a BlueTooth phone (t610) and a BlueTooth HP iPaq, not sure of model yet though.

What sort of speed do you get and is it usable to browse the web on the small PDA screens?

I've never used a Pocket PC based PDA before, do they have a pen and graffiti system like Palm?

Its for the missus really so I want to make sure its usable before splashing out.

If anyone's doing or has tried this then I'd appreciate your opinions.

Rob

[chim_girl]

Rob

I've got an iPAQ and Bluetooth phone and have given my thoughts, on this thread

HTH

[TheHobbit]

I have an HP Ipaq 5500 and either use it at the office via WiFi (built-in) at 11meg, or connected to a Nokia 6310i via Bluetooth (built-in) to gain access to the net via GPRS. OK, so you won't be downloading DVDs or anything, but I find it completly usable for web browsing etc........ but remember it has a smaller screen! I also have it configured to sync via the internet with my exchange server, so e-mail/contacts/calendar are always up to date too.....

If you remember the smaller screen etc etc be mindful of it's abilities and limitations, and go in eyes open I'm sure you'll be very happy with it.

edited coz I mistyped what phone I have

>> Edited by TheHobbit on Thursday 8th January 17:03

[rdhawkins]

Thanks for the replies! Thats really helped, a few guys at work were saying its not worth it as its too slow.

As long as you're browsing 'normal' web sites (rather than Flash infested ones) then it sounds like a goer.

Anyone know the difference between the iPaq 4150 and 5550, both seem to have WiFi and BlueTooth. I'd probably go for the 5550 anyway as its not that much more.

How good is the phone -> PDA interaction, is it all automated or do you have to setup the phone each time you want to access the internet. Does the phone connect to the internet when the PDA tries to access a web page. Ideally it needs to be idiot proof as the wife isn't very technical (thats my job and if you ask here thats my only job )

[TheHobbit]

rdhawkins said:

As long as you're browsing 'normal' web sites (rather than Flash infested ones) then it sounds like a goer.

yep.

rdhawkins said:

Anyone know the difference between the iPaq 4150 and 5550, both seem to have WiFi and BlueTooth. I'd probably go for the 5550 anyway as its not that much more.

not sure, I have the 5550..... maybe the biometric scanner? amount of memory?

rdhawkins said:

How good is the phone -> PDA interaction, is it all automated or do you have to setup the phone each time you want to access the internet. Does the phone connect to the internet when the PDA tries to access a web page. Ideally it needs to be idiot proof as the wife isn't very technical (thats my job and if you ask here thats my only job )

erm.... it seems from my tinkering to be completly automated, yes. open pocket IE, enter url, pda links to phone, calls gprs, gets page. it will sync on a schedule too, but I found that it would interupt phone calls, and so I sync manually now. that might just have been an oddity with the nokia though.

[rlk500]

I had an XDA for about 10 months. Personally I found the performance very variable, from good to unusable. I think the technology is a little underdeveloped at the moment and the screen sizes/orientation are pretty cack for serious web browsing. IMHO they are really at gimicky toy level at the moment, coupled to the fact that a lot of sites are not optimised for pda access, therefore the surfing experience you get can be pretty poor.

[AJLintern]

You can get PH on them though - what more could you ask?

[jam1et]

I use a Compaq H3970 and a Nokia 6110i (via bluetooth) on Vodafone's GPRS network. Works every time. I found the configuration instructions on Vodafone's website needed altering to suit my hardware - not so easy if you're more of a novice.

[rdhawkins]

Another question, do you have to have a dial up account with an ISP to do this or does the network (O2 in my case) provide this for you.

I have broadband at home and as such don't have a dial up account!?

[chim_girl]

I dial in via Floom, free of charge and has been 100% reliable for over a year now.

[Mr E]

P800/900 and forget the seperate devices?

Works for me....

[TheHobbit]

rdhawkins said:

Another question, do you have to have a dial up account with an ISP to do this or does the network (O2 in my case) provide this for you. I have broadband at home and as such don't have a dial up account!?

I'm with Vodafone, and they provide the GPRS internet connectivity. You pay for the data transfered rather than the time you're connected.

[TheHobbit]

Mr E said:

P800/900 and forget the seperate devices? Works for me....

I did think about those, and the XDAII, but decided there I times when I want to go somewhere, don't need my contacts/email etc, and want a smaller phone that I can throw in a pocket.

Horses for courses.....

[watkid]

i am sending this via wifi from home and it's very quick. Tried it with bluetooth,- nokia 6310i - but that was quite a bit slower. I love my 4150 and wifi

[jam1et]

TheHobbit said:

Mr E said: P800/900 and forget the seperate devices? Works for me.... I did think about those, and the XDAII, but decided there I times when I want to go somewhere, don't need my contacts/email etc, and want a smaller phone that I can throw in a pocket. Horses for courses.....

Exactly the same reason I went for the separate devices. Although I suppose you could just take the sim out of the pda and stick it in a small mobi when you want to go to the pub.