NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: KEITH SHAW ON WIRELESS COMPUTING DEVICES 09/21/04 Today's focus: Vacation time: How connected do you want to be?
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Sun, sea and surfing the Web * Links related to Wireless Computing Devices * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia NW Special Report: Preparing an Infrastructure for Mobile Applications. Mobility, properly done, increases productivity and decreases operating costs. So get up to date information about building a mobile infrastructure, dealing with security issues, the latest networking options, connectivity alternatives and operational support enhancements. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81446 _______________________________________________________________ OF COURSE YOU KNOW HALF OF ALL EMAIL IS SPAM. But do you know which half? And how to keep it out of the in-boxes of corporate management who finger spam as their chief frustration? Get the practical answers and innovative technology tech you need now to solve No. 1 problem threatening every network-driven enterprise at Strategy & Management for Messaging & Spam, a September must-attend event from Network World. http://adserver.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81509 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Vacation time: How connected do you want to be? By Keith Shaw Remaining on the subject of traveling access points, I received an e-mail from a reader who took an access point with him on vacation. He explains: "As lame (or sad) as this sounds, I actually did buy a Belkin 4-port wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Router from Staples before leaving for our annual week at the Cape this year. Not exactly business travel, but since we run our own business, we always bring a laptop on vacation (for better or worse). "This year, we shared a house with another family (who also 'needed' to check e-mail on vacation) and were amazed to learn that there was a cable modem there and that it was available for us to use. We had already searched for wireless hot spots and were a bit bummed to learn that they were all 10 miles away (we were in Harwich). "So for $50 (minus a $30 rebate), I bought the wireless router and we were able to have three laptops up and running checking mail in the morning and after the kids went to bed. Despite the fact that I hate being that connected while on vacation, it really did make life so much easier than dialing in (as we had in previous years) or traveling to Starbucks or Kinko's. I'm sure we would've spent more than $20 that week connecting three laptops at the hot spots, too. "Of course, it also made it easier for us to order movie tickets early one morning when it was going to rain all day (sparing us from standing in line with the other sad vacationers). We were also able to find some cool restaurants and other attractions/activities by searching the Web. So all in all it was well worth the additional weight and cables we carried with us, but you can be sure we'll do the same thing for our next vacation." While this was a good argument for the traveling access points, what struck me was the reader's willingness (although there was some guilt) to bring technology along on the vacation. I always used to chuckle when I heard stories about people checking their e-mail on the beach, or reading surveys about harried IT executives who have to check their e-mail or fix a network problem when they're supposed to be on vacation. The prevailing thought was, "Man! Turn that device off! You're supposed to be on vacation!" That's the whole guilt thing, that when you go on vacation you're supposed to turn off all contact. Well, for those who can. But now I'm facing this dilemma. As I write this I'm preparing to go on a two-week vacation, and I have several projects in the air that I'd like to keep updated on. Furthermore, the deluge of e-mail that I receive on a daily basis makes me want to monitor it regularly while on vacation, if for any other reason than to eliminate all of the unnecessary e-mail (even the stuff the spam filter doesn't catch). For about the last year, I've returned from vacation and have been miserable slogging through the hundreds of e-mails that pile up when I go away. It was also much easier to stay away from the workplace before, if only because there was a lack of access. But now, with wide-area wireless networks, wireless LANs and hotels that offer high-speed connections, it's very easy to get connected. This makes bringing the laptop along more tempting. And like the reader who was able to use the laptop to find movie times, sometimes bringing it along can actually enhance the vacation. On my last trip to Florida, we brought a laptop along because the hotel was offering free wireless Internet, and it helped us find the closest eyeglass repair shop after my sunglasses got damaged. Devices have gotten better, too. I can bring along a number of smaller devices if I don't want to lug the laptop along. For my vacation, I'm considering bringing along a RedCannon Fireball KeyPoint ( <http://www.redcannon.com/> ), a USB-based device that lets you surf the Internet and check e-mail on Internet kiosks or PCs without leaving any data behind on the machine. In addition, I may have access to a new BlackBerry device from RIM to keep up with e-mail. I don't plan on keeping the device on all day, and I won't be spending my vacation inside a cyber-cafi. However, I won't feel guilty about bringing these devices along, if for any other reason than I'll be keeping up with my e-mail, so that when I return, I'll be able to enjoy the week after the vacation and get back into the swing of things that much quicker. I'm curious to see what other readers think. Am I crazy for bringing some wireless devices along on vacation? What did you do on your last vacation? Send me a note at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, and let me know. _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Keith Shaw Keith Shaw is Senior Reviews Editor at Network World. In addition, he writes the " Cool Tools <http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/cooltools.html> " column, which looks at gizmos, gadgets and other mobile computing devices. You can reach Keith at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia NW Special Report: Preparing an Infrastructure for Mobile Applications. Mobility, properly done, increases productivity and decreases operating costs. 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