Boy Toys Online
from
September/October 2002
by Michael Rosenberg
Here are some captivating new gadgets that you can order directly from the manufacturers' websites.
It's a cell phone! It's a PDA! It's both!
A new offering that has it all is the Samsung SPH-I300. This is a cell phone with all the phone features you'd expect, including a small LCD screen for functions like caller ID, date, and time. But the SPH-I300 is also a Palm OS-based color PDA that provides Web browsing, e-mail, PC synchronization, Graffiti handwriting recognition, an address and phone book, a calendar, and the use of any Palm applications you may already have. To buy it, go to www.samsungusa.com/wireless. The price is $499.99 (but look for rebates).
Another cell phone to consider is the Nokia 9290 Communicator. With a color screen and a keyboard, it's a cell phone on the outside and an electronic organizer on the inside. The 9290 has a full range of features—PC synchronization, e-mail, a Web browser, and MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint support. A drawback: It's kinda clunky. The phone is available at www.nokia.com. $599.
Radio days, anyone?
A nifty add-on for 3-volt Ericsson cell-phone users is the FM Radio Handsfree HPR-11. The built-in FM radio lets you listen to your favorite station between calls, and cuts out when you're on the phone. Go to www.sonyericsson.com and search for the HPR-11. $24.
Going wireless at home
A hot development in this area is the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000. Intel sells a starter kit, which includes a central box called the Access Point and two
cards that plug into a pair of notebooks and enable them to communicate wirelessly. The Access Point connects to a cable modem. This technology is 802.11a-compliant, which means that it uses a new set of radio frequencies to give you better performance. The product also includes data encryption that keeps conversations and e-mail private. You can check it out at www.intel.com. $749.
You might also want to take a look at the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless Gateway (notebook or desktop). It connects to a cable, DSL, or ISDN line and provides a firewall and data encryption.
You'll need a wireless network card, which is not included. The Wireless Gateway can be ordered at www.3com.com. $280.
