Mobile Computing
* Winner of the Western Publications Association 2004 Maggie Award *
as Best Online Newsletter!
October 7th, 2004
proudly presented by
PC World
Technology Advice You Can Trust
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/1/0/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
PC World Contributing Editor James A. Martin helps you make the most
of your computing on the go with tools, tips, and product
recommendations about handhelds and notebooks and more.
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October 7th, 2004
In This Issue:
- Feature: Get More Out of Your Camera
- Notebooks & Accessories: How to Find Low-Cost Notebooks; MPC's
Snoop-Free Notebook; IBM Recalls Overheating Power Adapters
- Gadgets & Services: Updated Documents To Go; Austin's Filling
Station Is Cool Hotspot; A Windows Mobile Browser Alternative
* Feature: Get More Out of Your Camera *
The typical mobile professional's bag bulges with a notebook, a PDA,
and a mobile phone (or smart phone), not to mention business cards,
folders stuffed with papers, and the occasional half-eaten ham
sandwich. And there's probably an MP3 player in there somewhere, too.
So I'm loath to suggest adding yet one more thing to an already
overstuffed bag. But suggest I will: On your next business trip,
consider packing a digital camera.
Yes, you can take pictures with many cell phones today. But most offer
image resolution no greater than 640 by 480 pixels, which simply isn't
enough to capture fine details.
A digital camera can be an extremely useful tool for capturing
information as well as images. I'll give you a few examples, plus
provide tips on backing up your image files on the go and shopping
resources.
Digicam as Business Tool
Show and Tell: Are you meeting with prospective customers to discuss
your new product line? If so, showing them pictures can help you get
your point across effectively. You could put together a Microsoft
PowerPoint presentation or show pictures with your notebook, of
course. But if the meeting room has a TV set, you can easily present a
slide show by hooking up your digital camera (on which you've already
stored your product photos) to the TV. Most current digital cameras
come with video-out cables that connect to a TV monitor's video input
jack.
Get Details: When you're at a trade show, you may see dozens of
products on display in booths, the details of which you'll need to
recall later. With a digital camera (and permission from the booth
attendant), you can snap pictures of products for your own use later,
or to e-mail to colleagues. Of course, product literature containing
photos is often available in trade-show booths. But with your own
camera, you can zero in on the details that interest you the most.
Record Information: I've used my Minolta Dimage Xi to capture
information that would have been cumbersome or difficult to write
down. For example, when I was testing the NeverLost GPS system in a
Hertz rental car, there were several times when I needed to make notes
about what was displayed on the GPS screen. Rather than trying to
describe it in written notes, I simply snapped pictures of the screen.
(Note to highway patrol officers who may be reading this: I was parked
at the time.)
Copy Notes: If you're in a meeting where someone is writing on a
whiteboard or flip chart, you can record those notes easily with a
digital camera. If you're the one making those notes, take pictures of
them afterwards and e-mail them to attendees. You could even import
the images into a Microsoft Word file and add additional notes. (This
tip from Gary Kustis of Lakewood, Ohio appeared in a recent newsletter
and is well worth repeating.)
Backing Up Your Image Files
Now that you have all this valuable information stored on your digital
camera, you need to back it up.
Most current digital cameras store images on flash memory cards, such
as Secure Digital cards or Sony Memory Sticks. If you're traveling
with a notebook and it happens to contain the appropriate flash memory
card slot, you can just copy the image files to your hard drive.
If your notebook doesn't have built-in flash memory slots--and many
don't--you'll need an external card reader. They're inexpensive,
small, and lightweight. For example, SanDisk's $20 ImageMate USB 2.0
Reader/Writer connects to your notebook's USB 2.0 or 1.1 slot and
comes in versions for four different types of flash memory cards:
SD/MultiMediaCard, CompactFlash, XD-Picture Card, and Memory
Stick/Memory Stick Pro. For details, go to SanDisk's site:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755723/0/
You don't have to carry your notebook just to back up your digital
camera files, either. For example, Kanguru's new Slim FC-RW ($250) is
an external CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive with slots for flash memory cards. You
can insert your camera's flash memory card into a slot on the drive
and burn a backup CD of the images without needing a computer. You can
also connect the drive to a TV and watch DVDs, the company says. For
details, go to Kanguru's site:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755724/0/
Delkin's USB Bridge ($70) is another option. The palm-sized device
lets you connect two USB devices without a computer. Using the USB
Bridge, you could connect your digital camera (as long as it has a USB
port) to an external hard drive or other USB device to copy files,
according to the company. For details, go to Delkin's site:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755725/0/
For more digital camera backup tips, see PC World columnist Dave
Johnson's newsletter on the topic, "Photo Backup Tips and Tricks":
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755726/0/
Dave's tip-filled "Digital Focus" newsletters on digital photography
are archived online:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755727/0/
Buyer's Resources
What if you don't have a digital camera and are now convinced you need
one? Check out the following:
* "How to Buy a Digital Camera," with an explanation of specs,
shopping tips, and more, is at:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755728/0/
* PC World's Top 10 Digital Cameras are ranked, with pricing, specs,
and test report results, at:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755729/0/
Your Digital Camera Tips
Do you use a digital camera on your business trips? If so, I'd like to
hear about it. Send e-mail to me at:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
* Notebooks & Accessories *
Tip: How to Find Low-Cost Notebooks
PC World notebook expert Carla Thornton's recent article, "How to Buy
a Laptop on a Budget," is full of advice. Among other tips, Carla
lists the features and capabilities you're likely to compromise on if
you buy a notebook costing $1000 or less.
Here's what you may not get in a budget portable: top performance,
weight less than 6 pounds, a screen 15 inches or larger, sophisticated
ports (for connecting to a TV and so on), media card slots, high-end
multimedia features, and the Windows XP Professional operating system
with its additional security features.
Check out the rest of Carla's advice at:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755730/0/
Review: MPC's Snoop-Free Notebook
The stylin' silver MPC TransPort T2200 ($2972) features a biometric
fingerprint reader embedded in the wrist rest that's designed to
thwart thieves, hooligans, and the occasional miscreant. Registering
your fingerprint is easy, says PC World reviewer Carla Thornton, but
the security software runs extremely slowly upon boot up. Carla's
advice: Use the fingerprint reader just to re-enter your password.
Otherwise, it's much faster to gain access to your system using a
password. The notebook performed well and comes with a number of
features, such as a MultiMediaCard/SD Card/Memory Stick card reader
and lots of legacy connections (including a PS/2 splitter). Full
review:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755731/0/
Check the manufacturer's pricing:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755732/0/
News: IBM Recalls Overheating Power Adapters
If you're using an IBM ThinkPad I Series notebook purchased between
January 1999 and August 2000, you're way past due for an upgrade. But
if you can't bear to part with your old pal, you should at least get
its AC adapter replaced. Why? Because power adapters for those
portables can overheat and melt, posing a fire and electrical shock
hazard to users. IBM is recalling the power adapters. Customers in the
U.S. and Canada can call 800/410-5629 for a replacement. International
customers should go to their nearest IBM Support Center. More details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755733/0/
* Gadgets & Services *
Hands On: Updated Documents To Go
DataViz's new Documents To Go Premium Edition 7 ($50, $30 to upgrade)
for Palm OS devices adds native support for PowerPoint, JPEG, and
bitmap image files. Documents To Go allows Palm OS users the ability
to view and edit Word and Excel files and view PowerPoint
presentations.
In the past, Documents To Go converted all PowerPoint presentations
into a DataViz proprietary format that a PC without Documents To Go
installed couldn't read. Native file support for PowerPoint means that
you can now easily send and receive PowerPoint file attachments on a
Palm OS device using VersaMail or SnapperMail. Or you could copy a
presentation stored on your Palm OS PDA onto a SD card, then transfer
the presentation onto a PC (with an SD card reader or via Bluetooth)
for printing or editing. Unfortunately, the PowerPoint files are
read-only. Still, for those who rely on PowerPoint slides, native file
support is a welcome addition--and a step above Microsoft Windows
Mobile devices, which don't include PowerPoint support. More details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755734/0/
Reader's Choice: Austin's Filling Station Is Cool Hotspot
The Filling Station in Austin, Texas has "the world's best
hamburgers," along with "super chicken dishes" and free Wi-Fi access
for customers, writes newsletter reader Sam Dorfman of Dallas. This
laundry-turned-restaurant resembles an old gas station and features
vintage car memorabilia, not to mention a dish entitled "chicken fried
chicken burger," which presumably is served with a side dish of
Lipitor. Burgers are $6.25 to $8.25. You can visit the Web site for
more details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755735/0/
Other nominees for cool hotspots? Send them to me:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
News: A Windows Mobile Browser Alternative
Opera, the alternative Web browser popular with anti-Internet Explorer
types, is coming to a Windows Mobile Smartphone near you. The
Norwegian browser developer Opera Software says its Windows Mobile
version will feature small-screen-rendering technology that optimizes
Web page viewing on Smartphones, the company says. Details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755736/0/
* Pass It On *
Know someone who needs to stay current on the latest mobile computing
news, reviews, and tips? They can sign up for this newsletter at the
PC World newsletter subscriptions page:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/99/0/
* Suggestion Box *
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've
missed? Contact me at:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
* See James Martin's previous Mobile Computing Features at:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/237304/0/
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=====================================================================
Top News From PC World
* First Look: Voq Cell Phone Needs Work
Sierra Wireless promises easy corporate syncing, but we hit some
snags.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755718/0/
* Tech 2004: Where the Candidates Stand
We uncover the candidates' views on Internet taxes, privacy, and other
tech hot buttons.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755719/0/
* Check out all of today's news...
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/54/0/
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* How-to *
* Take Command: Make Office Work Your Way
Tips on several Word tools and functions, password-protecting new
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http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755720/0/
* Internet Tips: How Do I Know When a Virus Hits My Computer?
Detect and eliminate viruses and worms that manage to sneak past your
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http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/755721/0/
* Home Office: New Tricks With Images and Videos
Make your point crystal clear with free pictures and movies off the
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See all How-to:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/242605/21421680/846/0/
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