Comments on: Enfora Wi-Fi Case Now Shipping

Enfora's case that not only provides protection, but wireless access, is now reported to be shipping. The Wireless Portfolio case features a built in WiFi (802.11b) receiver and a battery for mobile internet access.
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Good for T3 owners-

madmaxmedia @ 10/7/2003 2:09:38 PM #
Not as 'mobile', but at least battery will last...

RE: Good for T3 owners-
peitron @ 10/7/2003 5:40:19 PM #
Looks kinda chuncky to me.

_____________________________________________
"Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?" - Groucho Marx [IIIx > m130 > m515 > TT > T3]

Connect to non-puc

Doo @ 10/7/2003 2:18:24 PM #
This is awesome and just what I need. But darn it, the Z2 doesn't have the PUC. Any word on other versions?

Scooby

RE: Connect to non-puc
statik @ 10/7/2003 3:03:59 PM #
The website shows an IRda based version as well.

Crazy 'bout a http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/henryshaulers/">Mercury...
RE: Connect to non-puc
Doo @ 10/7/2003 4:21:18 PM #
That would rock. Better yet a Blue tooth to wi-fi. Now there's a kill add on to my Z2.

RE: Connect to non-puc
epotter @ 10/7/2003 5:32:45 PM #
I'd buy a bluetooth to wifi device in a heartbeat

RE: Connect to non-puc
Admin @ 10/7/2003 5:55:13 PM #
I don't have one, but I thought the Zodiac was going to have a palm universal connector?
RE: Connect to non-puc
robrecht @ 10/7/2003 6:15:38 PM #
It was going to have the UC, but they changed their mind with the last press release.

Thanks, robrecht
RE: Connect to non-puc
I.M Anonymous @ 10/7/2003 8:11:16 PM #
>>I'd buy a bluetooth to wifi device in a heartbeat<<

That would be great. It could be a little bricklike device about the size of a pack of cards, that you could just throw in your pocket and get WiFi access from your BT palm.

RE: Connect to non-puc
Nate @ 10/8/2003 12:47:34 AM #
Isn't the throughput speed of the IR connection really slow? I don't think you'd want to connect that way...

BT to WLAN
HardyM @ 10/8/2003 4:54:07 AM #
Your last heartbeat until buying.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O50F25326
Possio PX20 WLAN to Bluetooth Gateway.
Available at Expansys, ~1000$/€.
Do you still want to buy it?

RE: Connect to non-puc
tiger_bb @ 10/8/2003 10:04:05 AM #
ZODIAC from Tapwave use its own connector, so, no hope on using this Enfora Wi-Fi Case...

bluetooth-to-wifi
mj6798 @ 10/8/2003 4:04:20 PM #
The other nice thing about Bluetooth-to-WiFi is that you can leave the thing in your backpack or bag--it doesn't have to be attached to the PDA. Someone's bound to come out with one sooner or later. Of course, you could use a UX-50 and some custom software for the purpose :-)

RE: Connect to non-puc
Doo @ 10/8/2003 4:42:42 PM #
I think I'll wire up my own connector to go between the PUC and the Z2. It shouldn't be to hard. I could spend $150 to get a bluetooth net adapter to my home network. Or just mod this and use the WI-FI I already have. If I get the access point, I limit myself to the range of Blue Tooth. If I mod it I get the range of WI-FI but add the bulk.

RE: Connect to non-puc
Doo @ 10/8/2003 5:13:32 PM #
On second thought I don't think it will work. There isn't room for the Z2 in the case. Bummer.

cool

babsknupp @ 10/7/2003 2:22:13 PM #
Been waiting for this and just placed an order. This is really cool, to add wifi to any of the PDA's with the PUC. And battery life won't get drained. Neat! Better than waiting for the SD wifi card to materialize. Also, with the T3 SD card problems, I'd worry that the wifi card would get fried too. (since the forthcoming Palm SD wifi card is Sandisk)

Remember anew today those moments when you were happiest and most complete – and make their possibilities someone else’s reality
RE: cool
xavier @ 10/7/2003 3:53:02 PM #
Doesn't seem like this form factor would work too well with the T|T's sliders...perhaps the IR model would do. Anyone know if the IR data transfer speed would keep up with WiFi?

TT should be fine-
madmaxmedia @ 10/7/2003 6:03:33 PM #
Why wouldn't the TT and slider work with this case? The PUC slots on the back of the TT are not affected by the slider.

RE: cool
Altema @ 10/8/2003 11:47:07 AM #
"Anyone know if the IR data transfer speed would keep up with WiFi?"

No, the IR would be the bottle neck. IR cannot even keep up with a 9.6k cellphone connection. It's good for remotes and beaming addresses though.

RE: cool
T.W.G @ 10/8/2003 12:24:59 PM #
Hi,

I agree that this is a cool and intelligent solution!

The IR-version can't to full speed because fast IrDA is limited to 4MB/s.


greetings from the german Review guy ;-)


Thomas


T.W.G www.twgmusic.de

Palm Powered Handheld Reviews from T.W.G at: www.pdaforum.de

RE: cool
blind505user @ 10/8/2003 8:13:36 PM #
Palm IR only runs at SIR speeds, 115kbps rated. I have done testing an at best, Palm can actually do 22kbps with all of the overhead.

Wouldn't work, that is why nobody bought the IR networking products.

Anthing like this...

mgrace74 @ 10/7/2003 2:57:38 PM #
Does anyone know if any such product like this is out there for the Sony Clies, especially the ones that don't have CF access for CF Wireless cards. Thanks.

Mike

RE: Anthing like this...
TTrules @ 10/8/2003 3:04:26 PM #
There is a sony wifi card available.

One Palm to rule them all!

Great, but which web browser ?

masbret @ 10/7/2003 3:00:29 PM #
Looks like a great product, but with the right softwares. I wasn't able to find a web browser (highres) that works with my Zire71.
Does anybody knows a good one I could use ? Can the browser sold with the Tungsten be bougth somwhere ?

IIIx => m105 => m125 => m130 => m515 => Zire71 => ???
RE: Great, but which web browser ?
madmaxmedia @ 10/7/2003 5:32:26 PM #
Go to Cliesource and dig around in the forums, you might find Web Browser Pro 1...

Universal Connector Speed

Luisito @ 10/7/2003 5:33:29 PM #
Anybody knows how fast is the universal connector?
I would like to know the bandwidth in bps that can be achieved with the UC.
This Wi-fi case is a great product, I hope the prices drop fast.

Liusito (palm m105 >> palm m125)


RE: Universal Connector Speed
Lucky Bob @ 10/7/2003 6:24:31 PM #
115 Kbps. Not blazing fast, but...

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: Universal Connector Speed
bcombee @ 10/7/2003 8:02:57 PM #
Actually, the Universal Connector can do 230Kbps on some devices. The Dragonball VZ supports the high bitrate, but I'm not sure about the UARTs on the ARM-based devices.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
RE: Universal Connector Speed
Lucky Bob @ 10/8/2003 3:50:35 PM #
Oh, cool! I just read the 115 Kbps speed from Brighthand (http://www.brighthand.com/article/Enfora_Soon_Releasing_WP802b).

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: Universal Connector Speed
IanJD @ 10/12/2003 6:44:25 PM #
That's a bit puzzling; I just hotsynced a 10Mb file to my TT3 (and got the same result with the TC) in 28s, which suggests a 3Mbps speed. Is there something about hotsync which gets around this 115kbps / 230kbps limit?

RE: Universal Connector Speed
speerman @ 11/18/2003 12:07:24 AM #
You hotsync using USB. If you had a serial cradle then you'd be limited to the 115k/230k speed.

One of the things I'm curious about is the performance difference between the serial and SDIO interface. My BT access point is essentially a wireless serial connection and is surprisingly slow. I haven't done any tests but I can watch the progress bar while loading a 35k image. In this case, the WiFi SDIO seems that it will beat BT on both the internal and the wireless connection speeds.

"Now we have a chance!!!"

vesther @ 10/7/2003 6:03:03 PM #
Tungsten T3 Owners now have a chance to add something that was missing when the TT3 was first released--WI-FI!!!

Like I said, the Tungsten T3 might have a Battery Life Handicap, but has a stretchable screen, Intel PXA263 Processor, 52MB Useable Memory, and Flash ROM. I also mentioned that with a Wi-Fi Add-On, it would be a well-balanced handheld rivalling the Tungsten C.

My Primary Handheld: Palm Tungsten C "Air Swallow"
My Secondary Handheld: Palm Tungsten T "Sea Chugger"

Wi-Fi wasn't missing.
RAMdŽd @ 10/8/2003 9:48:45 AM #
Not every PDA nor the majority of users need be handicapped with battery sucking Wi-Fi, and the attendant keyboard that most units have.

This is a great device. Wi-Fi if and when you want it. The sled can stay in a drawer, briefcase, or backpack, until you need it.

The already marginal battery life of the T3 is not further drained., and the PDA doesn't ruin the line of the suit.



______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

Compare to the Guyver

jciao @ 10/7/2003 6:15:15 PM #
So let's compare this to the Guyver...

The Guyver:
$150 to $299. plus the communications card ($60)
1000 mA battery
100 to 120 grams in weight
Sledge form factor
Can add other cards

The Enfora Folio:
$169 to $199
700 mA battery
Folio (larger) form factor
Wifi only

It appears that these are pretty comparable products. I wonder if the price of the Guyver has dropped at all since its release.

What they do have in common is that you don't lose the SD slot where you may have files that you want to email someone.

RE: Compare to the Guyver
RAMdŽd @ 10/8/2003 10:03:56 AM #
I prefer a sled form factor over the 'folio type, for compactness.

The Enfora looks to have an overall more refined finish compared to the Guyver, but is larger.

I hope this is just the beginning of competition. I really like the T3 but don't see either of these options as the answer I'm looking for.

But competition is always good, so while either one of these is workable, I hope something else comes along. Whether it's a sled or 'folio type, compact and would be appreciated.

______________________________
An armed society is a polite society.

What I would like....

palmhiker @ 10/8/2003 11:04:09 AM #
What I would like is a sled-type device, the same size as Palm's Power to Go unit, with a built-in battery, Wi-Fi and the pass through UC (like the Power 2 Go).

This would be smaller than this Enfora case, would not inhibit use of the UC (for my keyboard) and would leave my SD slot alone (unlike the SanDisk SD-WiFi). It could also recharge your battery, like the Power 2 Go.

Am I the only person who could use something like this and would be willing to fork over $200 for it?

RE: pass-through UC
Palmary @ 10/8/2003 2:31:09 PM #
I'm relating second-hand info here, but the reviews of the PowerToGo unit that I've read claim you cannot use a keyboard. Apparently the Palm goes into Hotsynch mode as soon as you try to connect a keyboard via the sled. The UC pass-through only applies to charging.

RE: What I would like....
IanJD @ 10/8/2003 3:31:09 PM #
Yes, I haven't been able to use the XT keyboard at the same time as PTG, but hotsync works fine through it.

RE: What I would like....
palmhiker @ 10/8/2003 4:32:17 PM #
I had read on another forum that someone was using the T3 with the Power2Go and a keyboard, and it was working. I wonder if there is a newer driver for the T3 that makes this possible?

RE: What I would like....
IanJD @ 10/9/2003 2:58:28 PM #
Actually, after a bit of experimenting, it seems that the Rev.B. UT keyboard doesn't work with PTG if you have the v2.0 keyboard drivers installed. All other combinations seem to work OK.

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