[C. Rosella]

I am new to the world of PDAs, in fact I haven't even purchased one yet, but I was wondering about bluetooth & wifi.

With the palm tunsten e2, for example, it says it has "built in bluetooth technology." How does this work? I read that you can link it to your computer without wires, but does your computer have to be bluetooth equipped and how do you know if it is? Other than connectivity to the computer, does bluetooth have any benefits? I have absolutely NO clue about any of this.

With those that are wifi equipped, does this just mean that anywhere that there is wifi you can connect for free? Does it have any benefits other than this?

Do you have to pay extra fees for either of these services?

Basically all I want is a palm that I can use on the floor while working to access essential information. I also want my PDA to be up-to-date and capable. If bluetooth &/or wifi provide great benefits, then I would like to make sure I buy a PDA with these features.

Thanks for any help you are able to provide.

[ZASHAGALKA]

WiFi means that it can indeed connect anywhere that is providing wireless access: most hotels/coffee shops, etc. My hospital is wifi'd.

Bluetooth is a specific tech that lets you communicate with other bluetooth devices.

Personally, I think the wifi is more important. A wifi makes a PDA an internet device.

~faith,
Timothy.

[boomerfriend]

My PDA has the wireless capability but not Bluetooth. I have the HP iPAQ 1955. I have found it to be handy but haven't used it as much as I thought I would. Most coffee shops I've found in my area charge for their service. Also, the hospital I worked in for my last clinical was not wireless so I couldn't get service there. Perhaps the next facility will be. It's a nice feature but it costs you more when purchasing a PDA. I'd vote to get it if you can afford it.

[DtwSailor12]

I do have a presentation that explains the different connection options that are available for a PDA.

The best way I describe bluetooth, is a connection to another bluetooth device within a 5 to 10 foot range. My main hobby is sailing, and I explain bluetooth in that after spending a week on my boat with no shower facilities, when I get back to port, and you can smell my body order, you are within my bluetooth network. The key to bluetooth is that you have to configure both devices to "bond" to each other in order for information to travel back and forth.

In regards to "Wi-Fi" and "hotspots", these are a wireless connection to a computer, rather that be in your organization ie hospital, office. This is identitcal to how your desktop computer will connect to your server or another PC with a Local Area Network, but without the need for wires.

A Hot-Spot utilizes this connection, but the computer that you are connecting to, is connected to the internet, so that you are able to access the internet. The majority of public hot-spots require a connection fee, ie T-mobile at Starbucks. If you have a wireless network in your organization, then it should allow you to connect to the internet. IF you are in the process of desiging a wireless network, please remeber to lock it down with encryption and WAP.

If you are in a hospital setting, then the bluetooth functionaility is not that important as you have to be withing the "body odor" distance of the computer you wish to connect to. This means that in a patient's room, there would have to be a computer that you connect too, and then you would have to configure your device to connect to each system. This could get very complicated, very quickly.

If your organization has a wireless system up and running, and this connection allows for an internet connection, then that is your best bet, and the coverage area is substantitally larger than bluetooth.

IF your organization does not have a wireless system, then all is not lost. Most commerical applications are designed for a "sometimes connected" device in that when a connection to the internet is made, the software will update. E-Pocrates uses this type of technology. In order to keep your unit up to date, then "Synch" it to your interent connected PC daily, and this will accomplish the same thing.

Hope this helps a little.
MD

[boomerfriend]

Gosh! That's got to be the best explanation of WiFI and Bluetooth I've ever read. Thanks a bunch!

[Brian_SRNA]

Thanks for the great Info.

Brian