Assume you want to buy a cheap PDA that you only need for web browsing via WiFi network and for MS word. What software/hardware do you need to buy for that, and will it work with any PDA or just the newer ones.
You’ll need to get software that supports your PDA as not all use the same OS and not all support all software.
FWIW I have a Palm Tungsten E that comes with software for reading and editing Word and Excel files. Works pretty well but Ineed reading glasses to make out spreadsheet cells that tiny. You’ll need reasonably high resolution to even do that so the cheap ones may be out.
Mine doesn’ t have Wifi but Palm makes a Wifi card that plug in to the expansion slot.
If you buy a Pocket PC with wireless built in, it will probably have everything you need on it. IMHO, browsing the internet on a PDA sucks unless you go to a site designed for PDAs like pdaportal.com.
In my experience, setting up the wireless to access your network is not very intuitive.
I just need web browsing and MS word so I’m not sure if I should go with a used 700Mhz dell or a PDA
The cheapest standalone solution would probably be a used Pocket PC with pocket Word and built in Wi-Fi. They go for ~ $150 on eBay.
If wanted to go the Palm OS route, a program called Documents to Go provides a good interface for working with MS Office documents. I have version 5 or 6 on a Sony Clie, but they are at least up to version 7, which requires Palm OS 5.
To add Wi-Fi to a PDA not originally equipped, you can use a CF or SDIO wireless card interface (~$70-100 and up), but then you give up your memory card slot. You can also connect to a computer with an internet connection through a bluetooth network if the PDA is bluetooth-enabled. I have used this option on my HP iPaq, and found it to be basically a waste of time. IMHO, a 320x240 screen is basically useless for internet browsing. Make sure you try one out first before spending the money on a PDA for web browsing.
I really just need something to tide me over until black friday in November. I’ll probably be able to get a good laptop (1.5 Ghz, 40GB, etc) for $300 then.
Maybe I should get a 400-800mhz laptop instead. They go for about $250 on ebay and I may like that better than a $150 pocket PC.
How do you add WiFi to a Laptop w/o it?
No contest. If you want one machine to use Word and to surf the web, PDA no way. Surfing the web with a PDA is like looking through a keyhole as your neighbor is looking at the internet in the next room. Editing a big word document on a PDA is like painting your house with chopsticks.
When looking at used lappys, keep in mind that no sellers really warranty batteries, so you might be out another $75 bucks or so to stay truly mobile with it.
Just about any laptop can be made wireless with the addition of a PC (formerly PCMCIA) card. They run from $10-75, depending on what kind and how fast they are (801.11b vs 801.11g). You should be looking for a laptop with a working wireless g card that the seller can demo prior to the sale, or make sure the laptop will take a 32 bit (Cardbus) PC card.
Here is a website with a great, if sarcastic, breakdown of the used laptop situation:
http://www.daileyint.com/hmdpc/used.htm
Basically, I agree. If you are going to have money for a new laptop in November, buy it now, make two payments and then pay it off in November. You’ll have 10 more months on the warranty, a new battery and a new machine with XP and a fast processor that can run the latest software.
I got a “refurbished” Tungsten C for $250. Comes with built-in wifi, and documents To Go (version 5) for all my rudimentary portable MS Word/Excel needs.
That said, surfing the web on a PDA is like driving on a spare tire. You can do it, but it’s not recommended for non-critical situations.