HandEra to Support 802.11b CF Card (Updated)

Posted By: Ed Wednesday, October 10, 2001 3:03:34 PM

HandEra is in the process of creating drivers for the Symbol Wireless Networker, an 802.11b CompactFlash wireless LAN card. HandEra is developing the drivers for the HandEra 330, and are currently in beta testing and should be available from them in mid-November. The Wireless Networker is currently available through several online retailers with prices ranging between $150 and $180.

Update: According to PalmStation, HandEra is also writing drivers that will allow the TRGpro to use the Wireless Networker.

"CompactFlash wireless LAN technology will deliver immediate, cable-free communications to today's most popular handheld computers, including the HandEra 330, for wireless access to critical business applications,'' said Chuck Furedy, vice president, Worldwide OEM Sales, Symbol Technologies, Inc. "The quest for all things wireless is moving forward and Symbol is providing the security and connectivity demanded in today's enterprise environment and tomorrow's 'connected' communities.''

About 802.11b
802.11b Wireless LAN, also known as Wireless Ethernet, is a radio frequency (RF) network access technology. It allows users to access information wirelessly throughout a home, business or campus location. The technology is most often used to expand the coverage of a wired LAN, but, it can also be used to replace wired networks. The technology can require the installation of access points (radio transceivers) to provide wireless coverage across a local area. Wireless LAN can also exist in a Peer-to-Peer setting, between devices that have WLAN access modules. The 802.11b standard ensures interoperability among WLAN networks by implementing regulations for WLAN product manufacturers. Businesses, schools, and other institutions often find it beneficial to standardize equipment so that they can combine hardware from different vendors. Home users who purchase 802.11b compliant products are assured that they will work with products produced by various manufacturers.

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Ok..

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 3:48:44 PM #
Well this is nice, very good for handera, but I'd rather see them make this for springboard architecture, the wifi market for visors is ripe for the picking, they come out with a $200(-) unit, and it'll sell for sure. I know I'd buy one.

RE: Ok..
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 3:52:25 PM #
There is an 802.11 Springboard, and personally I'd rather see one for the HandEra 330.

RE: Ok..
cscullion @ 10/10/2001 3:56:54 PM #
It's the Xircom SpringPort Wireless Ethernet Adapter (SWE1100). I've used it and it works great.

Chris Scullion
Xircom SpringPort Wireless Ethernet Adapter
Ed @ 10/10/2001 5:04:27 PM #
You can read a mini-review of it here:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1969

---
News Editor
RE: Ok..
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 8:51:09 PM #
You can find the Xircom SpringPort 802.11b adapter at 2BuyStore for $219.77. I've had one for about 3 months now and I really like it.

http://www.2buystore.com/shopdisplaydetail.asp?id=072513

Enjoy,

James

Excellent!!!

ganoe @ 10/10/2001 3:54:19 PM #
Excuse me while I try to contain my enthusiasm. I'm expecting that they should be announcing Bluetooth support soon as well. Way to go HandEra! They certainly know how to keep making the Palm OS fun to use.

RE: Excellent!!!
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 4:32:00 PM #
I asked Handera a little while back if they were going to support the 802.11 CF cards and I got a positive yet non comitting response. Though deep down, I knew they were going to do it, they seem to have their priorities in order.

This is great news indeed, finally I can make use of the CF slot on my 330

Nice going Handera!

Yawn....

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 4:15:55 PM #
Another great vaporware announcement. Hardware fits in the slot but doesn't work until somebody writes code and tests it.

RE: Yawn....
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 4:24:11 PM #
The first line of this news article: "HandEra has announced plans to create drivers" is kind of odd, because the drivers exist and are in beta testing.

RE: Yawn....
covingto @ 10/10/2001 4:24:49 PM #
What exactly are you referring to? The hardware exists and is currently for sale.
The software exists in a beta form and is being tested for release (unlike Micro$oft, these
guys actually test their code ;) This may be a pre-announcement, but it's for real ... not
just vapors this time. :)

RE: Yawn....
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 4:51:46 PM #
Not much good to buy hardware without the supported code for the device. Will handEra have to write a driver for every new CF device?

RE: Yawn....
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 5:07:28 PM #
Well, any hardware device usually needs to have a driver written for it. That's nothing new. As it is though, the 330 and TRGpro do generically support CF cards that behave like RAM cards, serial cards (including modems and I think Bluetooth, given a Bluetooth stack to run on top of it of course), and NE2000 Ethernet cards.

No Yawning
Ed @ 10/10/2001 5:08:48 PM #
Quote:
The first line of this news article: "HandEra has announced plans to create drivers" is kind of odd, because the drivers exist and are in beta testing.
That was kind of awkward sounding. I edited the article to clean it up a bit. Still, you got what I meant.

I would in no way characterize this as "vaporware". It shouldn't be called that unless months pass beyond their announced release date. It is way to early to even consider criticizing HandEra for what is, in my opinion, an excellent development.

---
News Editor

What Code?
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 4:37:25 AM #
There's already CF Ethernet support for the TRG/He330. You can do all the standard tricks (Network Hotsync, Mail, web browse, etc.) without rewriting applications. - If you can do it with a modem, you can do it via ethernet.

As far as drivers - Everything uses drivers. What's new about that?

yes

Raishe_werk @ 10/10/2001 4:56:06 PM #
now i can war drive on my handera instead of having to buy a ppc to do this.. i hope its real

-Raishe
"Monster Pig kills Jesus
More at 11"
RE: yes
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 5:07:41 PM #
Make sure you publish that war-driving software when you are done!

It could become a sport!

RE: yes
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 3:03:47 AM #

Whats "War Drive" ?

RE: yes
mikecane @ 10/11/2001 11:46:10 AM #
"War driving" is moving around with a Palm/PPC/laptop with WiFi recption ability. You then try to see if you can find corporate wireless networks to use. For honest people, this means nothing more than having a free way to tap the Net while on the street. For evil bastards like bin Laden, it's an open door for cyber terrorism and other destruction.

RE: yes
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 12:15:26 PM #
My, its a good thing you're not alarmist.
Cyberterrorism? Get a clue.

RE: yes
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 12:21:24 PM #
War Drive was invented by Zefram Cochrane in 2065. It forces a mixture of deuterium and warp plasma into the matter-antimatter core, where the two cancel each other out and form pure energy. This allows us to break the lightspeed barrier.

War drive is engaged when captain kirk says "Engage"

RE: Make it so Numbah One
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 12:55:26 PM #
LOL!
Good thing Cochran isn't a cyperterrorist!

RE: yes
Token @ 10/11/2001 12:56:18 PM #
Ummm, that is "warP drive". "War Drive" comes after we get assimilated and Bill Borg of the Microsoft hive outlaws the use of the letter "P".

RE: war driving
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/6/2001 6:33:59 PM #
war driving, noun

A computer cracking technique that involves driving through a neighborhood with a wireless-enabled notebook computer and mapping houses and businesses that have wireless access points.


"Wireless technology sets data free from the physical confines of wire — which also means that controlling who receives the data is problematic. Peter Shipley, the director of labs at OneSecure, told me about his new hobby of driving around Silicon Valley and picking up networks on his laptop. War driving is replacing war dialing in the wireless age."
—Carole Fennelly, Unix Insider, December 2000

www.logophilia.com/WordSpy/wardriving.asp


Great card

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 5:21:48 PM #
I'm using one of these on my new HP Jornada 568 and its great, to be able to be on the network at high spped with such a small package is amazing. BTW the new Pocket PCs blow away any Palm. Even though I like Handera their device will not be nearly as fast because of the crummy 33mhz processor. Palm is dead in the corporate world.

Oh no the trolls again ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 5:25:21 PM #
Here they come...

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 6:20:26 PM #
If it happens, I feel sorry for his/her partner lol.

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/10/2001 9:07:12 PM #
Yeah, for $600 they ought to blow away any Palm. For essentially the same price, I could buy a HandEra 330, this wireless card, and a wireless access point.

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 12:35:20 AM #
It's a good thing you use your Jordana all by yourself, it makes yet another rehash of the first two failed WinCE attempts seem more acceptable. Your device is actually been good for sales, as the OS does seems to finally be coming along, and the rest of the guys in my group get a good look at how the differing platforms perform. After seeing who can do what and how fast, they bought Palms. Matter of fact, I just configured a network today in another department (with my Palm) and had to access their storage room. The tops of the file cabinets were setup like cradle farms, with rows of brand new M500 cradles setup for charging up their shipments of new Palms. They have the money to get what they want, and still choose Palms. While we are at it, you may as well drop the Mhz argument. Unless both devices are running the same OS and applications, it's like bragging that you can drive 120 kilometers per hour, and your friend can only go 110 miles per hour. Palms have at least a 4 to 1 processing speed advantage over PPC.

RE: Great card
Hed @ 10/11/2001 12:23:48 PM #
I just ordered a Jornada 568 for $454 shipped, which is actually less than I paid for my m505.

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 12:42:44 PM #
> I just ordered a Jornada 568 for $454 shipped, which is actually less than I paid for my m505.

That's good as you'll soon find that the Jornada is actually worth less than the m505.

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 1:32:35 PM #
The new HP and other Pocket PCs just blow the Palm away which is why the corporate world is turning to them in droves and dropping Palm like a hot rock. If you have read any of the reviews of the various wirless ethernet solutions you would know that Palms are significantly slower using wireless ethernet due to their slower processor amont other things. Also try browsing the web on a Palm over a wireless ethernet connection. Its a joke. Also integration with Office is much, much simpler with Pocket PC's. I was able to get rid of about Tinysheet, Install Buddy, Backup Buddy and Wordsmith when I went from the Clie to the Pocket PC. Now I have used pretty much all the Palms out there as well as CE devices quite intensively and I can tell you that the new Pocket PCs are jsut outstanding. They are smaller, lighter, more expandable, and much more capable than Palm. The battery life on my Jornado is 14 hours which is more than enough and there is an extended battery that is 28 hours. its about the size of a Palm III but so much more capable. With a Symbol CF wirless ethernet card it is an amazing tool. Any Palm is primitive in comparison. As if thats not enough of an advantage the management at Palm is arrogant, clueless, out of touch, and unable to innovate.

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 1:56:38 PM #
Another chance to point out that IDC, a major industry analyst, has predicted that the Palm OS will continue to dominate the handheld market through at least 2005. Pocket PC will have between 15 percent and 25 percent of the market this year. That''s pretty much what they have now, though its a lot closer to 15 percent.

They made this prediction even after looking at Pocket PC 2002 and the new handhelds that will be released using it. They appear to think that these won''t be enough to increase Microsoft''s share of the market and certainly not enough to overshadow the Palm OS for at least 4 more years.

IDC analyst Alex Slawsby says this is because corporations have been less aggressive in adopting handheld computers than predicted. Microsoft has done everything it could to make large corporations like their OS and they weren''t interested. This isn''t my opinion, it''s Slawsby''s.

That gives Palm Inc. at least 4 years, which is about 3 more that will be necessary to come out with OS 5 on ARM chips, which will negate even the percieved Pocket PC advantages. Ignore what the doomsayers and MicroSerfs say, the Palm OS will continue to dominate the handheld market through at least 2005.

p.s. Did I mention that the Palm OS will continue to dominate the handheld market through at least 2005?

RE: Great card
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 4:00:37 PM #
I was at the PocketPC 2002 Launch and played with all the PPCsm running 2002.
conclusion: Some of the enterprise stuff is Amazing IF they can get it to work consistently,
too big (only jornada comes close) , they need battery expansion packs because of all the juice they are sucking,
and the UI of 2002 is still not as PIM robust as Palm. Seriously do some user research before you start bashing the Palm OS.
I encourage all PPC2002 to be happy with what they have and let Palm users enjoy likewise.

TRY before you buy!

HandEra Rules.

RE: Great card
lorenzszabo @ 10/11/2001 4:31:14 PM #
I have a very interesting question: What's the use of PPC users, posting their opinion on a Palm-related web-site?

Guys, PalmInfoCenter is a great place for news, but 80% of the comments are useless and have nothing to do with the original information.

Who cares? No-one really wants the HandEra 330

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 5:48:03 AM #
The only people who have actually bought this Franken-Palm are the 12 geeks that post here every day saying how much they love HandEra.

These people are so predictable - notice how quickly they respond to every HandEra post, trying to make it seem like anyone actually is buying them.

By the way, what ever happened to HandEra's promised release of AutoCard for the m505? Wait a minute. Nevermind - now that PiDirect, MSMount, etc. are here, Handera can sit on AutoCard forever and no-one would know the difference.

RE: Who cares? No-one really wants the HandEra 330
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 7:31:10 AM #
You are right.

Most people hate the Handera. Also unlike the geek posters said; the Handera unstandard aspect ratio of 2:1 makes it incompatible with many programs (mostly games).

RE: Who cares? No-one really wants the HandEra 330
GrouchoMarx @ 10/11/2001 11:29:17 AM #
I don't know what your source is, but I have yet to find someone who "hates" HandEra. I know several people who didn't buy it because it wasn't color, but they don't hate it. Try the thousands of people in the various TRG/HandEra users groups, who absolutely love their 330. HandEra has sold more 330s than they did TRGpros, in less than one third the time. I'd call that a successful product.

As for AutoCard, it's designed for the 330 and TRGpro, HandEra's own devices. Are Palm or Sony providing transparent loaders for legacy apps? No, they're letting pay extra for PiDirect, MS Mount, etc. HandEra has has AutoCard in public beta for months, and it works like a charm, and is free. HandEra was the first company of any kind to provide that sort of program, in the form of AutoCF for the TRGpro.

As for the AC who complained about its 2:1 aspect ratio, I suggest you get a ruler. The HandEra 330 uses a QVGA screen, that's 240x320. That's a 3:4 ratio, the same ratio used by your desktop VGA monitor (hence, "quarter" VGA). That's a very standard resolution, unlike 320x320 which is used by nothing except the CLIEs. It actually works very well on the vast majority of programs. Yes, some games break. Most of them are doing something non-standard and screwy anyway, and even many of those have been updated for the 330. But really, if you're playing a lot of games, why are you using anything but a CLIE (which is far and away the best Palm gaming device)? The 330 is a business-oriented device. If you want a Palm gameboy, get a CLIE.

Or are you just whining because you don't have a 330? :-)

--GrouchoMarx

I kinda like mine...
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 12:59:20 PM #
Why do I have to be a geek to like my 330?

I love the way Autocard works. I have over 65 applications available on my launcher screen, with almost no load time. The way the 330 utilizes card space was pioneering genius in the TRGPro and is still impressive (though unstable with some less card-oriented apps, like Noah lite).

I sold my IIIc and got the 330 'cause I wanted more memory...boy did I get it!

I think that maybe the 330 is just a little misunderstood. I don't think folks know just how innovative and useful the little bugger is. I gotta say, I do love mine. And this is my first post, so add one more to the tribe of Handera lovers!

Wow - it took Garfield 6 hours to respond to a HandEra post!
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 9:24:45 PM #
Are you feeling ok, "Groucho". Or have you resigned your post as "Defender of all things HandEra"?

By the way, while there may be around three thousand members of the TRGPro Users Group on Yahoo Groups (I'm one of them), even these people seem to realize that other PDAs like the CLIE line offer better packages overall.

It's sad to see the HandEra fanatics repeatedly attempt to put down the CLIE by suggesting it's only for games. The CLIE's screen makes it a more useful business PDA than the HandEra, no matter what you want to believe. And calling the CLIE a toy 1000 times doesn't fool those of us who bother to evaluate PDA on their own merit.

Even peple in the TRGPro Users Group are starting to realize that HandEra missed the boat if they were trying to appeal to typical professionals (rather than the geek fanatics that post here).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TRGPro_Users_Group/message/5683


RE: Wow - ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 10/11/2001 10:40:44 PM #
Having a color screen makes it more useful as a business PDA??? Care to explain why the m500 is selling so well too? Color is the only thing the CLIE has over the 330. On the other hand, the HandEra 330 has many other useful business features that the CLIE does not have. So when is 802.11 coming out for the CLIE? I thought that was what this thread was about. I couldn't use a CLIE for my work in any case, while the HandEra 330 has the features I am required to have. It's hard to not call the CLIE a toy. In my opinion the color is maily only useful for looking at pictures and playing games, especially at the current cost and quality. If I wanted a Palm OS handheld for just typical business PDA functions there are other better options that cost considerably less than the CLIE. If I wanted a high-end business PDA with solid expansion and connectivity options, the 330 is it, and it's cheaper than other options. The CLIE shows up in neither of those categories.
All I see are a bunch of sorry CLIE owners who are disappointed with lack of useful options and expandability who run around blasting HandEra every chance they get. I mean why are you in this thread anyhow? It's about HandEra! BTW that loser who keeps going around posting HandEra rules along with all the foul language on this and other sites isn't a HandEra owner, for those of you who haven't figured it out yet.

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